[humming "amazing grace"]
(SINGING) Was lost,
but now, I'm found.
Was blind, but now...
[playing harmonica]
[cooing]
[inaudible].
Lookie, lookie.
Oh.
There.
Look at your belly.
See, baby?
Oh.
[grunt]
Hey, Pierce!
Come see my sister's baby.
What kind of friend
are you if you don't
wanna see my sister's baby?
I gotta go see
Soldier's mother.
Soldier's mother sick?
- No, but I gotta get - Over there and back
before my mother leaves.
Oh, boy, come on.
You got something against
my sister or something?
You got more excuses.
Come on.
Hey.
[baby babble]
Pick her up.
She's too little.
[laugh]
Pick her up.
I might hurt her or break her.
MOTHER: Haven't you
ever held a baby before?
No.
[chuckle]
Who's the daddy?
- MOTHER: You can - Be, if you want to.
[laugh]
PIERCE: I don't need
no responsibilities.
Oh, you make me sick.
I wish there was some way I
didn't have to deal with men.
Look, I came over here to
see a baby, not to be insulted
behind somebody else's dirt.
- Hey, there's a bright - Side to everything.
- Won't you run to - The store for me,
- and get some milk and - Cigarettes, please?
Look, I don't mean to be mean.
- I told you... I gotta go - See Soldier's mother.
But it's just
around the corner.
[sigh]
Hello, Pierce.
There's something I had
to tell you, but I forgot.
I guess it wasn't that
important then, huh?
Do you, uh... do you...
Do... do I what?
Never mind.
I'll ask you later when my mind
is better, because I forgot.
You not gonna say goodbye?
PIERCE: Bye.
[knock on door]
Come in.
Hello, Mrs. Richards.
[clears throat]
[clattering]
[crunching]
You think Soldier
will ever act his age
and stay out of trouble?
He wrote me a
letter, saying, when
he got outta jail this time,
he said, he ain't going back.
- He even asked me to - Look for him a job.
[sigh]
Mrs. Richards, you know,
Soldier may get into trouble,
but he's never done anything
that was evil or vicious.
I mean, he's never sold dope.
He ain't nothing like these
kids walking the streets today.
And, well, if you look
at it, Soldier and I
are pretty much alike.
[groan]
You and your brother
never got into trouble.
And your brother's
getting married.
Yeah.
He's getting married.
He's marrying a girl whose
parents got a lot of money.
Old man's a doctor.
She just don't seem real.
I mean, she's always
talking about how lucky
she was when she was a kid.
[snore]
(MUMBLING) Fish and hunting...
[snore]
You're his best friend,
and if you can influence him
to do the right thing
and stay out of trouble,
if you do that for me, I
will forever be in your debt.
You don't have to worry,
Mrs. Richards, I promise you,
I'll do whatever I can to
keep him outta trouble.
Hello, Pierce.
[slap]
Pierce, be sure to
mark in all the specials
and keep them separate.
- And then mark in the rest - Of the clothes so we can get
- started the first - Thing in the morning.
[ding]
[muttering]
Yes, sir.
- See what your mother - Can do with those.
Tell her those are my
church-going trousers,
- and I have to have - Those back right away.
[muttering]
Mom.
Yeah, son?
Mr. Bitterfield is in.
Wants you to fix these.
[sigh]
Just tell him we'll
fix them and just
throw them in the trash.
When he comes back, we'll
tell him they got lost,
and we'll give him a pair
of those unclaimed pants.
[muttering]
Yes, sir.
Why don't you, um...
come back tomorrow?
My boy... you don't mind me
calling you "boy," do you?
Young people seem to [inaudible]
thing an old person has to say.
But, my boy, I got a piece
of good advice for you.
You marry someone
just like your mother.
She works miracles.
[inaudible]
- MRS. MUNDY: Pierce, - Have you ever had
your hands on my prayer book?
Here it is.
When you get old, everything
happens to your memory.
[inaudible]
- Hey, you got me, - But let me show you.
[struggling]
Oh, both of you, act your age.
- You're too old to - Be carrying on so.
Can I help you?
I'm looking for work.
- I was wondering, maybe, - If you might have
some work you need done here.
I'm sorry, but
there's no work here.
I've got two grown men
out back to do everything.
Yes, well, uh...
thank you anyway.
Sure.
[grunting]
I got two grown
men acting a fool.
Son, never
underestimate an old man.
[shout]
Forgot your hat.
You ought not to do your
father's hat like that.
[engine starting]
[music - johnny ace, "anymore"]
SONG: Now, darling, I
proved I really love you.
And I've always been real true.
But I can't believe you anymore.
You promised me...
- That was your - Brother on the phone.
He's coming by and bringing
his sweet, little girlfriend.
That sweetness you call is
about as fake as a $3 bill.
- Don't you act ugly in - Front of her tonight,
and don't say one
word out of place.
Don't worry.
I don't have to be there.
- You be there, because - I want her to see
that you can be civilized.
- And what do you have - Against her anyways?
'Cause she's bragging all
the time, how she's had this,
and she's had that, how she's
been spoon-fed all her life,
living way up on Sugar
Hill, and bragging that
her daddy's a big whatchamajig.
Wendell oughta marry somebody
he knows, come around here.
I thought you had some kind
of sense, but now, I don't know.
- Help me with these - Clothes, damn it.
You have to go over to Big
Mama's and Big Daddy's,
- and see if they need - Anything, and pick
up my pot from Aunt Hattie.
[knock on door]
[panting]
Where my mother's pot?
I know you have better
manners than that, walking
in here without speaking.
You act like you own the place.
I'm sorry.
I... guess I was
kind of in a rush.
- That's no excuse - For bad manners.
Well, I was trying to hurry
home before Wendell came.
HATTIE: Do you
want a bag, honey?
No.
Thanks.
How you, Big Mama?
I'm just hanging
on, son, hanging on.
I wish I could stay.
I gotta run.
[humming]
[splashing]
How are you doing, Mr. Monday?
You know, I
always wanted girls,
but the Lord gave me boys.
Well, I guess you have to be
satisfied with what you got.
[pat]
Bet you have a lot
to be thankful for.
Why, no, Pierce.
I used to have a lot of
things to worry about.
I had to worry about my
grades, whether people like me,
and, oh...
I have two older brothers.
I had to compete with them too.
Tell me.
They teach you how to pick
cotton in charm school?
Why, no, Pierce.
Charm school taught young
ladies how to be ladies
and how to be charming in
the presence of gentlemen.
And did you know that a
man's worth and measure
was once determined by
the amount of cotton
that he chopped in a day?
And how much cotton have
you chopped, Pierce?
Has Pierce been giving
you any more of his mess?
Why, no.
- I was just telling Pierce that - If it wasn't for his brother,
I'd be marrying him.
Is my brother trying
to steal my girl already?
My secretary's typing
up a list of names,
- so if there's anyone you wish - To add for the reception,
call her.
When are you going
to have a secretary?
- I'm sure as soon - As Pierce makes up
his mind as to what
he's going to be,
he's going to be
quite successful.
I got them in church.
If I could only live to see them
settle down and raise a family,
I will have done my job, and
the Lord can call me onto glory.
I've got just this one
between me and a full life.
- Don't blame me - For your problems.
Who else am I to blame?
You ungrateful thing.
- If it weren't for - Me and your papa
making all those sacrifices,
trying to give you the best
we could.
- You just as thankless - As you can be.
I'm not thankless.
- You shouldn't be talking - About the best man like that.
[water running]
Pierce, you oughta say
goodbye to them before they go.
You all right?
Is Pierce retarded?
Just ghettoized.
Give us this day...
our daily bread?
[snort]
[muttering]
[snoring]
[soft singing]
Pierce.
Up front, please.
Yes.
- He can't remember what - Name he used on the ticket.
You can't find your ticket?
No.
I don't know where it is.
See, I think two
wee... two months ago,
I put some clothes in, coulda
used the name of Bob Walter.
- Why'd you wait so long - To pick your clothes up?
Just got the money.
Hm.
I don't see it.
Uh, the last time, you
used the name of Jack Ace.
Look under the name of Corn.
You picked those up already.
I don't know why we have to
keep track of all your aliases
and whatnot.
- People wouldn't have to change - Their name if they weren't
up to some kind of dirt.
[slam]
- Well, lady, I'm tired - Of coming in here,
and you giving me trouble.
- Well, do you know - What they look like?
I believe I do.
Come here.
- Let me know when - You find it, huh?
Mm-hmm.
Tommy.
How are you, Pierce?
Where you going,
all dressed up?
Who, me?
All dressed up?
This is just some
things I threw on.
You notice anything
different about me?
Nope.
I arched my eyebrows.
You ever buy shoes
that you didn't like?
These make my legs
look different.
You ever been to a prom?
Well, in a couple of
years, I'll have my prom.
I was thinking, if
you weren't busy...
they're young anyway.
These could be
them, I'm not sure.
I remember what I was saying.
I'd like for you to
take me to the prom.
- That's if I don't - Have stomach cramps.
Well, I'm going to see
Smokey Robinson tonight,
and I better go get dressed up.
Pierce, you've got
to go around to Big
- Daddy's 'cause Hattie - Wants to go out
tonight and be with the people.
- Ain't no telling what - Time she'll return.
[slap]
Please don't start that mess.
[music - johnny ace, "anymore"]
SONG: But, darling, this I
must tell you, as I walk, dear,
from your door, you'll
never be worried anymore.
I'm counting the days.
I promise you that when
Soldier gets outta jail,
this time, he ain't going back.
How you doing?
Uh, could you do me a favor?
Sure, whatever.
Could you give Soldier a job?
If you wanted a job, yeah.
But Soldier?
No, Lord.
I'm sorry.
Soldier, no.
Thanks.
Hey, Bob, I was wondering
if you can do me a favor.
Yeah, Pierce, anything.
Good.
- You know Soldier's - Getting outta jail, right?
That's too bad.
That's one fella they should
keep in jail till he rot.
Yeah, Pierce, what was
that you wanted to ask me?
Uh, nothing, really.
[announcements on speaker]
[honk]
[announcements on speaker]
[laughing]
Hey, man.
[inaudible] What
time'd your bus get in?
Man, my bus got
here a half hour ago.
[chuckle]
Man, I had to catch the bus.
You wouldn't believe it.
What happened to your car?
- Somebody put some sugar - In the gas tank, man.
Motor problems.
Who was it?
[laughing]
Nah, it's good, man.
Let's go.
Let's go this way.
[tap]
[tapping]
[crying]
What are you doing, crying?
I'm coming to stay.
My girl starts to
cry when I come home.
Ain't that something?
I'm coming to stay.
[doorbell]
Finish eating your food.
Who's your girlfriend now?
Who is it?
WALTER: It's... it's Walter.
Who do you say you are?
Yes, good evening.
Uh... is Pierce in?
Uh, tell him we're
out in the car.
Thank you very much.
Good evening.
- That was some of - Your friends outside.
MAN: You see what
your friend did?
Look at his face, look at it.
Your friend is sick, sick.
- And you tell him - I'm looking for him.
I'm looking for him, kill him.
[inaudible]
[coughing]
What do you want me to do?
What did you do to him?
What are you hitting me for?
[crying]
We're just holding a
friendly conversation.
Look, we just come by here
to let you know, to tell you,
so that you could
tell your friend,
before somebody shoots his ass.
[sigh]
What's the matter?
[baby crying]
Yeah, I know.
OK, don't cry.
There we go.
Yeah.
OK, all right.
Is Soldier managing to stay
out of trouble these days?
I, uh... haven't
seen him do anything.
Every time I hear, you
got a different woman.
Hey, you know me, I gotta have
a different woman every time.
Hey, come on, help me out here.
[grunt]
[laughing]
[shout]
[clatter]
[grunting]
Hey, hey.
[scatting]
[snapping]
(SINGING) Come with me, darling.
Come with me.
Hey, man.
[scatting]
What happened to Lanell?
Who?
Lanell.
- He was killed - Robbing a liquor store.
Where is everybody?
It's you and me.
My stomach hurt.
It's no fun being a woman.
I went to see Smokey
Robinson last night.
Oh.
[slap]
- Do you think Billie - Jean Williams is pretty?
I don't like men
that are too cute.
[groan]
Yes, my darling?
You have clothes to pick up?
Why, I would think you'd be
home, watching "Howdy Doody."
You ready for your bath?
Oh, got to go pee first.
- PIERCE: Why don't you - Raise up the toilet
seat before you pee down it?
Who?
PIERCE: You.
Them boys did that.
PIERCE: What boys?
You and Wendell.
- Y'all don't even - Clean up your room.
I can't get you [inaudible]
come out and cut the grass.
[unzipping]
[water running]
[humming]
Big Mama.
Hm?
- What's that blue - Stuff in your hair?
My... my hair?
Oh.
My hairdresser.
She do what she wants
to do with my hair.
I don't have nothing to
say about how I look.
- I wouldn't trust you - To give me a shave.
I'll give you two bits
if you shine my shoes.
[scrubbing]
Will you take these house
shoes off and put these on?
- You don't wanna - Wear those right now.
Why can't I?
Your feet are swollen.
Which reminds me, it's time
for you guys' medicine.
MRS. MUNDY: Can I help you?
Yeah, I, uh... left some
clothes here I gotta pick up.
Well, do you have a ticket?
No, I, uh...
I lost it.
I dropped it someplace.
You two together?
If you got something to
do, don't keep waiting.
I... I think we got
the wrong cleaners, man.
What happened?
Man.
She had us covered, man.
Bullshit.
- Hey, girl, don't you - Talk to me like that.
Say, punk, give me the gun.
Who you calling punk?
Hey, give me the gun, man.
Give me...
I said be quiet.
Don't hurt my baby.
[grumble]
[distant singing]
SOLDIER: Hey, man, you ever
get in Barbara's drawers?
PIERCE: Nah.
SOLDIER: It's OK
for Sheila to cheat
on her husband to be with you.
But it ain't OK for you
to cheat on Sheila to...
man, you are weird.
[empty clicking]
[panting]
[dog barking]
Hey.
[tires screeching]
Man.
Pierce.
Pierce, have you seen him?
Got a letter from Boise.
He's got the neuralgia.
Been to the doctor,
and he can't work.
- Well, I guess that - Means he wants
me to send him some money.
He's got those great,
big, old, grown boys there.
Why don't they find a job?
- The Christian - Thing to do is always
to help those that are in need.
If they need cotton, like
they did when I was growing up,
there would be
jobs for everybody.
And these people who are
always in trouble and on dope,
you put them out there in
some Mississippi cotton
field in the hot
sun, and make them
pick 500 pounds of cotton
a day, and work their ass
off like a Georgia mule.
That's the way old folks talk.
The old people used
to try to tell us, boy,
you better mind how you walk.
There's trouble ahead of you,
and your days are numbered.
I saw the wedding dress today.
It was so beautiful.
It's the prettiest dress
I ever seen in my life.
I wish I could live
parts of my life over.
Pierce, please don't
embarrass me tonight.
I don't feel like going.
After this wedding, you
can do whatever you wish.
But I'm gonna tell
you this one thing...
her family was nice enough
to invite us to dinner,
and you, young man, are
going to show your respect.
I didn't raise any heathens.
- You gonna be at your - Brother's side at his wedding,
and those are the only two
facts in life I know right now.
I don't like those people.
- What on Earth do - You have against them?
- I just don't - Like those people.
Oh, you must have some reason.
I can like and
dislike who I please.
She parks her
expensive car outside,
people gonna think we have
money, and break in here
and rob us.
She walks around
here signifying.
I don't like people who've
had it easy all their lives,
never had any worries.
Son, will you let me
take you to see Dr. Jackson
and let him take a look at you?
I know there's only one God,
one Father, one divine power.
That power is with us now.
I thank you, Father,
for this food
and for these new relationships.
And so it is.
Amen.
Is something wrong with
the wine, Mr. Mundy?
- MR. MUNDY: I would've - Liked to have something
stronger, something
like Old Grand-Dad.
Wine's fine.
He don't need nothing else.
Well, now, if you would like
something else, whatever it is,
I can get it.
He's fine.
I wished I was in your shoes.
Pierce, are you
feeling all right?
Pierce, what sort
of work do you do?
I went to school to be a
heavy equipment operator.
- Nobody told me that - Everybody was going
to school to be the same thing.
I drove a semitruck
until the strike.
I was a brakeman
at the railroad.
I drove explosives and all
sorts of dangerous material.
Mother, will you pass
me the cheese, please?
How come you didn't want to
be a lawyer like your brother?
I don't have the smarts
for that kind of thing.
- You see, I like - Working with my hands.
What is this salad made of?
Ah, Maria, what's
in the... oh...
[speaking spanish]
Or whatever you call it.
[speaking spanish]
- I think what she's - Saying that what you think
is an apple is a potato.
Thank you.
Are you finished?
Thank you.
- I'm glad you - Don't have to crack
these things with your teeth.
- It would have been - Heavenly if one of my sons
could have been a lawyer
and the other a doctor
like your two children.
Doctors and lawyers,
biggest crooks in the world.
Getting full as ticks
off other people's blood.
No.
I wouldn't go as far as to
call all doctors crooks.
Lawyers and mechanics, they have
you where the wool is tight.
Young man, if you're
looking for real corruption,
look at politics.
All I know is, the higher up
you go, the lower the people
you find.
That's a nice paradox.
- You'll have to - Excuse my dear brother.
He has a very romantic
view of the have-nots.
Sonia, how did
your trial turn out?
We won.
[clapping]
Tell us how you did it.
Well, the prosecution was in
a hurry to present his case.
It seems that his wife was
in the hospital giving birth,
so it was back and
forth to the hospital.
Anyway, the judge was retiring
right after this case,
so he couldn't have been
happier for a short trial.
So I kind of let my client
know that any delays
would be in his best interests.
The next thing I know, he
came down with stomach pains
and couldn't even walk.
The moment we got into court,
the prosecuting attorney
threw the case to the jury...
- Somebody should've - Taken a baseball bat
- and went to town - Upside his head.
Hush.
- When you're fighting - For a man's life,
you get to know him as a person.
What about the dead girl?
Excuse me.
I'll be right back.
Excuse me for a minute.
This has been a very
interesting evening.
Yes, it has been.
I've enjoyed you all.
We're so glad
that you invited us.
We had a lovely evening.
Thank you so much.
Pierce, come on,
sweetheart, let's go.
Thanks.
Pleasure.
It was a pleasure.
Yes, just wonderful.
All right, good night now.
Thanks very much.
- All right, all - Right, good night.
[slap]
[shout]
Did someone say anything?
I didn't hear nothing.
You really showed
your ass tonight.
You acted so ugly.
I was so ashamed.
You need to be
locked up somewheres.
You want me to hold
him while you hit him?
[music playing]
- Today must be - My lucky day, huh?
What do you mean?
- I mean three pregnant women - In a row coming in here,
one right after another.
Must signify something, huh?
How old are you?
I'm 30.
- 30, and you're - Not married yet?
Nope.
So what are you waiting on?
- Soon as I can find me a - Woman who has a 9:00 to 5:00,
who can cook, and bring
home all the money, baby.
Give me my clothes.
- I don't have time - To waste on fools.
[chuckle]
Say, lady, your son has
got a serious problem.
I wish that was all he had.
- Everybody knows - What you been doing.
[laughing]
What's happening?
Ain't nothing.
I hear you.
You see this, don't you?
How you doing, Mrs. Mundy?
Soldier, you been
outta jail all this time
- and just now coming - Around to say something?
Oh, I've been doing fine.
I've been real busy,
looking for a job.
- Oh, hell, I haven't got - Time to talk about you
and your bad manners now.
I'm late for prayer meeting.
- So how long's - She gonna be gone?
- Well, it'll be a - Couple hours before
they get to hoopin' and
hollerin' out there.
Hm.
Do me a favor.
Anything.
Um, I wanna show her
something in private.
[struggling]
Your friend is sick.
Baby.
[grunting]
Come on.
Let's go to a motel.
I'll pay for it.
No.
Listen, I ain't got time now.
My jones is too heavy.
Don't be such an animal.
- SOLDIER: Pierce, come - Here for a minute.
There you are, buddy.
- Bring me a big, - Tall glass of water.
Yeah, it's cool.
[murmuring]
Oh, all right.
Thanks.
What is this?
[sigh]
[snoring]
Pierce.
Pierce, my baby got a headache.
Bring me an aspirin.
- And... and, uh... bring - Some more water.
I be right back.
Won't take me but five minutes.
Pastor Isaiah's always saying
we can't remember nothing.
[screaming]
Oh my... Soldier, what...
[screaming]
My goodness, Soldier!
What are you doing?
Hey.
Get your butt here.
Hey, wait a minute.
Go on, you've done enough
damage to your mother.
Come on.
[laughing]
Come on.
[crying]
I swear to God...
Hey, uh...
I'm really sorry, OK?
[clatter]
[laugh]
Oh, hey, Angela.
Would you do me a favor?
- Would you go around - The corner and tell
Pierce I'm waiting for him?
- What else have you - Got in your pocket?
- Oh, I ain't got - Nothing in my pocket.
But listen here, I'm
ready to go, you know?
- I'm getting tired of - Waiting on Pierce.
- Besides, you know, I was - Thinking, where we going,
we ain't gonna need three.
Oh, really?
Really.
[laughing]
- Are you gonna run around and - Tell Pierce that that Soldier
boy wants him?
I ain't nobody's
messenger boy.
What are you doing?
- Showing her how - To swallow them.
[cough]
[groan]
Thank you.
Where is her?
She's in the room.
BIG MAMA: She got company?
Nah.
Boy, would you be upset if I
asked you to turn off that TV?
It play all day.
It's the devil's work.
What?
That TV.
Do you ever asked any of your
friends whether they were saved
or not?
No.
Your friend Soldier,
does he have religion?
- Why do you wanna - Know what Soldier say?
He just ran across my mind.
You got time to read to us?
Any place?
26 Psalms.
[clears throat]
"Judge me, O Lord, for I have
walked in mine integrity.
I have trusted also in the Lord,
therefore, I shall not slide.
I have hated the congregation
of the evil doers
and will not sit with wicked.
Gather not mine
soul with sinners,
nor my life with bloody men.
As for me, I will walk
in mine integrity."
BIG DADDY (VOICEOVER): Go on.
PIERCE (VOICEOVER): "The Lord
is my light and my salvation.
Whom shall I fear?
If I ascended up into
heaven, Thou art there.
If I make my bed in hell,
behold, Thou art there.
ALL (VOICEOVER): If say, surely,
the darkness shall cover me,
even the night shall
be light about me.
But the night
shineth like the day,
and the darkness and the
night are both light to Thee."
Jared, wake up.
Come on, wake up, Jared.
Son, wake up.
[sirens wailing]
Wait.
He's my baby.
Wait, Jared.
Hey, hey, calm down now.
Calm down.
Calm down, calm down.
[siren wailing]
Easy goes.
Easy.
3, 4, 5.
[singing hymn]
[police radio chatter]
1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Let's check him.
We still haven't got anything.
Let's go again.
2.
Let's check him again.
I don't believe
we have anything.
Wrap him up.
[phone ringing]
[bark]
[barking]
Have you seen Pierce?
No.
[laughing]
Tell me about the party
the other night, man.
- OK, this... this - Chick came up to me.
- I guess she been liking - Me for a long time.
But, you know, I'm...
I'm a...
Soldier.
Soldier is dead.
Soldier is dead!
MAN: Your friend?
Oh, wow, man.
Hello, Operator?
I'd like to make an emergency
call to Natchez, Mississippi,
please.
The numbers is 295-8396.
Thank you, Operator.
[dialing rotary phone]
Hello, who's this?
Hello, Auntie?
Soldier's dead.
[crying]
Well, she's taking it a
lot better than I expected.
Yes.
Um... yes, I'll call you.
- I think it will - Be this Saturday.
Yes.
God take care of you too.
"If ought but death
part [inaudible] me."
I do declare, you've
been like a son.
I'll see my boy again, for
we will dwell in the house
of the Lord forever.
You know, death comes
in twos and threes.
I'm sorry, but, uh...
viewing hours are over, OK?
Pierce.
MAN: I heard the bad news,
but those things happen.
This is nice.
You got to be kidding.
- PIERCE: Is this - Apartment for rent?
MAN: Yeah, but it's cheaper
to live in Beverly Hills.
- PIERCE: You know, - I came by to see
if you could be a pallbearer.
- MAN: I ain't got - Nothing else to do.
[knock on door]
Come in.
The door's open.
How y'all doing?
Say, I heard about your buddy.
Jean, you better be still.
OK, baby.
I was wondering if you
could be a pallbearer.
See, we've been working seven
days a week, 11-hour shifts.
If my mother died today,
I couldn't leave work.
So I'm sorry.
[mumbling]
Daddy, Pierce is at the door.
Tell him to come in, sugar.
Come in, Pierce.
PIERCE: Hey.
Hey.
Just in time for supper.
No, I wish I could,
but my stomach's
been bothering me lately.
Thanks anyway.
Don't be like that.
The kids ate.
- I'm just gonna fix - You a small plate.
Just eat a little.
I thought we'd eat like
white folks tonight.
You, um... do you
think you could
be a pallbearer this Saturday?
Saturday.
Hm.
Ain't your brother getting
married this Saturday?
You missed the rehearsal!
When is the wedding?
Saturday?
- OK, you have to change - The wedding, you see,
because the funeral is Saturday.
Boy, you better
stop this bullshit.
Excuse me, Mom.
- I ain't had nothing to - Do with that boy's death,
- and I got plans, and it - Don't include the dead.
I'm getting married
Saturday on time.
Please.
Sonia.
I wanna ask a favor of you.
Please!
- Sonia, can you change - Your wedding date?
What?
Or the time, even.
- Either early in the morning - Or... or later in the evening.
Please?
You wanna ask me for a favor?
You've never tried
to be nice to me.
You've insulted my
parents, me, everybody.
You've never even spoken
to me without being rude.
And now, after all those
remarks about my middle-class
this and my middle-class that,
you wanna ask me for a favor?
I don't care anymore.
Why can't you change
your wedding day?
You live under my roof
without paying rent.
And when you was out of
work, I didn't say a word.
And I've never asked
you for a favor,
but I'm calling in my debts now.
You promised me you'd be best
man at your brother's wedding,
and I'mma holding you to it.
I'll take care of this.
Son, you got everybody upset.
This thing has been planned
for over a year now.
The invitations been sent out.
The honeymoon trip been
planned right after.
Do you understand
what you're doing?
You know, something
might happen.
Why, they might even
change the funeral.
You never know
about these things.
You know, they might
just change the funeral.
[pat]
[knock on door]
Ah, Pierce.
Have a seat.
This day is killing me, all the
relatives coming in and all.
Were you gonna say something?
- [MUSIC - JOHNNY ACE, "NEVER LET - ME GO"]
SONG: Just let me
love you tonight.
Forget about tomorrow.
My darling, won't you hold
me tight and never let me go.
Dry your eyes.
No tears, no sorrow.
Cling to me with all your might.
Oh, here I am.
Oh, that looks great.
You do look lovely.
Oh.
And this is great.
- You know, I'm glad we - Got this one and not
- that other one, 'cause - This really looks good,
especially with this gown.
You're not nervous.
No.
[laughing]
[chattering]
SONG: We said we'd never part.
But lately, I find you're
a stranger in my heart.
Give me the right, in
summer or in spring...
(SINGING)... fervently kneel.
Here, bring your wounded
hearts, tell of your anguish.
Earth hath no
sorrow that heaven...
Come here.
Where you been?
- We've been looking - All over for you.
- You got to go have your picture - Taken with your brother.
I already had it taken.
You couldn't have already
had your picture taken.
The cameraman just got here.
- Look, I'm supposed - To be at the funeral.
- You gotta find somebody - Else to be the best man.
Where's that ring?
It's right here.
I gotta go.
Oh, no.
You... you must be kidding.
And look at your clothes.
And go somewhere and comb your...
you plant yourself
somewhere, and don't you move
until this is all over with.
I don't understand this.
I just don't understand.
I'm sorry, everyone, but
there will be a slight delay.
You see, Sonia's favorite uncle
is coming from out of town
- for the wedding, - And my husband's
going to pick him up now, and
they should be here any moment.
Excuse me, excuse me.
[pat]
Papa, I gotta go.
- Can't you wait a - Few minutes longer?
It's going to
start any time now.
Just trust me.
How long is it gonna take?
It's not gonna take long.
Trust me.
PASTOR: Can you remember that?
- Well, if you can - Remember all of that,
remember that God is able!
God is able.
Welcome.
You're one of us now.
It's wonderful to have
you in the family.
Hey, let me use your car.
- My car? - Why?
For what?
Don't ask me for what,
just give me your keys.
Sure.
It's around back, doesn't
have much gas in it though.
PASTOR: can remember that,
then you oughta remember
God said, ah, lo, I'm with you.
AUDIENCE: Yes, Lord.
PASTOR: Always!
Always!
Even to the end of the Earth.
If you remember when things
wasn't going too well
with your family,
and you thought
that mom and dad was gonna
break up, and maybe they...
[singing]
["wedding march" playing]
Where is your son?
I don't know.
- My wife went out - To look for him.
This is ridiculous.
[singing]
[music playing]