All language subtitles for Robin.Roberts.Presents.Mahalia.2021.LIFETIM

? hello, heartbreak ?

? you're at my doorstep
once again ?

? why me, oh, my ?

? my poor heart ?

? hello, heartbreak ?

? I'm saying this
for the last time ?

? won't let you take me
down this road again ?

? hello, heartbreak ?

Get off my premises
with your mess. Go!

? Why have you left me
feeling this way? ?

? Dazed and confused ?

? now all I can do
is sing the... ?

? ...blues ?

The wash is done.

The floors scrubbed, too.

Please, aunt Duke, please don't
give me the stick. Please?

Oh, I ain't

giving you the stick.

Thank you, ma'am.

But you ain't

getting baptized Sunday.

God brought me home early

to see...

...you ain't ready.

But they made my new dress
so pretty.

You don't deserve that dress.

Please!

I won't let you go in that water

no dry devil

to come out a wet one.

You the devil!

When you come out that water,
you got to be perfect.

God demands...

He wants your best!

You see I do the best
with my gift...

To heal people who sick,
feed anybody hungry,

raise children
ain't even my own.

Before you baptized,

you got to decide...

What you gonna do
with your gift?

I already did.

People love my singing,
tell me all the time.

You seen them out there
gathering to listen.

That's my gift.

And you wanna use it

whining, moaning,

singing the blues?

Ain't people's lives
hard enough,

full of despair?

Halie, when you ready

to come out that water...

...you'll have
a special understanding...

Your gift

will tell you how to live,

carry you anywhere
you want to go,

long as you work hard enough.

You got to deserve it.

Now clean that stove.

Yes, ma'am.

Mahalia?
Are you almost done?

The kitchen needs cleaning.

Yes, ma'am.
I'm comin'.

? Oh ?

? There are some things ?

? I may not know ?

? there are some places ?

? dear lord ?

? I cannot go ?

? but I am sure ?

? of this one thing ?

? that god is real ?

? for I can feel ?

? him in my soul ?

Thank you, god! Hallelujah!

? Yes, god is real ?

? my lord ?

? he's real in my soul ?

? yes, god is real ?

? for he has washed ?

? and made me whole ?

? oh ?

? his love for me ?

? is just like pure gold ?

Hallelujah!

? My god is real ?

? for I can feel... ?

? Him in my soul ?

- ? oh, oh, oh! ?
- Stop!

-? My god is real... ?
-Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!

That twisting, that gyrating,

get that jazz
out of this church!

B-But pastor,
this how we sing down south.

I sang this song
the day I got baptized.

It's blasphemous.

You'll never sing that way
in this church.

Blasphemous?

This was my conversion.

When I came up out the water,

god himself
put those words in my mouth!

This is a church, miss Jackson.

Not a nightclub.

I only sing in god's name.

And David said, "make
a joyful noise unto the lord."

Don't you read your Bible?

Excuse me, miss Jackson?

Here you go.

Four dollars.

I told the pastor he still
needs to pay you for the week.

It's in the Bible.

Thank you...

Miss, uh?

Estelle. Allen.

I wish I could find
the sheet music

for the way that you sing.

'Cause you're from
down south, huh?

I came up here to go to school,
become a nurse.

Thought I'd make a little extra,
church singing,

but that don't look
too possible now.

If you'd like to know
how we sing in Chicago,

you should go
see professor Kendricks.

He's a wonderful tenor
who gives voice lessons.

How much do he cost?

Four dollars.

? it's me, it's me ?

? it's me, o lord ?

? standin'
in the need of prayer ?

? not my father ?

? not my mother
but it's me, o lord ?

Oh...

You're familiar already
with this material?

Yes, sir.

Well, good. Let's begin.

From the refrain.

? It's me, it's me ?

-? it's me... ?
-Slower.

Ahem.

? it's me, it's me ?

Slow-er.

? it's me... it's me ?

? it's me, o lord ?

? standing
in the need of prayer ?

? it's me, it's me
it's me, o lord ?

? standing
in the need of prayer ?

Now, again...

...from the diaphragm.

With dignity.

Yes, sir.

But can I please work my way
through the song a bit further?

I'm a little nervous.

Why, of course.

Ahem.

? It's me, it's me ?

? it's me, o ?

? lord ?

? standin'
in the need of prayer ?

All right.

? It's me, it's me ?

? it's me, o lord ?

? standin'
in the need of prayer ?

Good, continue.

? not my father ?

? not my mother
but it's me ?

-? o lord ?
-all right, that's enough.

? Standin'
in the need of prayer ?

? not my moth... ?

Young woman,
stop that...

Yelling.

That's no way
to develop a voice.

It's a discredit

to the negro race.

White people
will never understand you.

If you want to have a career,

you'll have to be prepared
to work a long time,

to build a dignified voice...

...that glorifies our people.

Because that voice...

Will never do.

Miss, what you crying about?

Somebody mistreat you?

Miss, whatever it is...

He ain't worth it.

God say,
"don't let no man define you,

steal your joy."

Thank you.

I needed that.

I'm hungry.

Mm, yum.

This your husband?

Yeah, that's Ike.

He treats me good.

Well, miss,

I believe, one day, you gonna
be famous in this world,

and walk with kings and queens.

My aunt said that to me once.

I told her, the only thing
I wanna walk with

is a good pair of shoes.

Now go on,
get some more cornbread.

It's open!

Now get you three another plate
before all the food is gone.

Hello!

Hi, everybody.

Wow, it looks like
a big family gathering.

You could say that.

Oh?

This how I grew up.

No matter how poor we were,

my aunt Duke would feed anybody
that was hungry.

But I trust
you got enough to eat.

Well, what's wrong, Mahalia?

I just... I just came by
to see how your lesson went.

I ain't studying
no high-class stuff

and I ain't singing
for white people.

I'm singing in the church
for god.

And I ain't got no ambition

to be some high-class
society negro.

You wrong.

You think
I don't know hungry?

I grew up, every morning,
every night,

we was hungry.

I didn't have
no aunt Duke to feed me,

so I stuck my ear to the radio,

learned to speak this way

so I could make
a better kind of life.

Have a good evening,
miss Jackson.

Hey, Estelle.

You like ham hocks?

No.

But I do like cornbread.

"From the diaphragm."

? it's me, it's me ?

? it's me, o lord ?

Okay, professor.

I can't believe you had me
going to that man.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

But you know what?

You really do... you really do
belong on the stage.

Only if the stage
belongs to god.

What? You don't believe me?

Mm-mm.

Honey, I been tested plenty.

I had this one bandleader,

he wanted me
to sing the blues so bad,

he was willing to pay me
$100... a week.

How in god's name did you
say no to that much money?

'Cause the "no" that I told him
was in god's name.

So god told you
not to sing the blues?

God say
his words would give joy,

and bring others joy. Too.

Now, I could sing the blues
if I wanted to,

but that ain't
the life I wanna live.

I done lived way too much
of the blues already,

growing up.

You remember the great flu?

When all them folks
was wearin' the masks?

Mm.

Well, my aunt Duke...

...She took them in,

all the sick and suffering,

then my grandfather died,

and my mother...

Anybody singing the blues
is alone and in a deep pit.

But god's word... oh!

When you sing god's music...

I just feel so much hope.

I can't stand to live
with any more pain.

Happy Valentine's!

Oh, you scared me!

It ain't Valentine's day,
you fool.

Oh, yeah?

Every day married to you...

It's a Valentine.

We got company, Ike.

Excuse me.

Isaac Lane Grey Hockenhull.

RotC, Tuskegee institute.

Fisk university.

From Como, Mississippi,

by way of pine bluff,
Arkansas.

This is Estelle Allen.

-Hello.
-Oh, yeah!

From that church
that threw you out.

Pleased to meet you.

Estelle's gonna be
my new piano player.

- Mm.
- I...

I am?

I like Estelle!

Don't know how she got you
to finally take singing lessons.

I tell Mahalia all the time,
she should be an opera star.

Well, how do you and god
feel about that?

Oh, hell, no.

? Elijah rock
shout, shout ?

? Elijah rock
comin' up, lord ?

? Elijah rock, shout, shout ?

? Elijah rock
comin' up, lord ?

Amen.

? Elijah ?

? Elijah... ?

? Eli... ?

? ...jah ?

? Satan is a liar ?

? and a conjurer, too ?

? if you don't mind out ?

? he'll conjure you ?

? if I could ?

? I surely would ?

? stand on the rock
where Moses stood ?

? Elijah rock ?

? shout, shout ?

? Elijah rock
comin' up, lord ?

Amen!

? Elijah rock
shout, shout, shout

? Elijah rock ?

? I'm comin' up... ?

? Lord ?

-Estelle?
-Yeah?

I've been waitin'
to tell you.

You're pregnant?

No.

But I do pray
for a big family one day,

but we need money first.

So,

Ike's mother...

She's finally selling us
her cosmetic formula.

We going into business
for ourselves!

Oh, halie, that's wonderful.

I got all her secrets
and everything.

I think I might

start cooking up
some beauty products tonight.

Mm, well, I want to be
your first customer.

The magic skin cream
costs a dollar.

Oh. Mm.

There you go.

Ike's so excited
to start this business,

he quit his part-time job
at the post office.

He did?

Oh, well, that...
That could turn full-time.

That's good, steady pay.

Oh, Mahalia.

I want you to meet
a student of mine,

Mildred falls.

I think she could be
good for you.

Ah, she's right.

I'm almost in need of
a full-time piano player.

Somebody that can come on time
and keep up.

Can you keep up?

Oh. No. I'm...

Mildred's been
to hear you sing many times.

She's just never
introduced herself.

Well, can you get my bounce?
Get my rhythm right?

I could learn.

Well, come back to me
when you're confident

you can bounce.

I'm always in need of
a piano player

'cause none of the good ones
are too reliable.

Because some of us

can't afford
to lose our regular jobs

travelin' over
god's green earth with you.

Well, god will provide
to those who commit

to his demands.

Now, I got to get home,

start cooking up
my new wealth.

Remember, Tuesday,
we got a funeral to play.

Come early.

? I'll bring
your magic skin cream ?

That woman...

She's hardly got
a stitch to her name,

but she's a queen.

Mahalia! Mm.

Where you been, Ike?

Everything
we've been waiting for...

Good pay for singing.

No nightclubs.
No blues.

"Federal...

Theatre...

Project presents..."

The hot mikado!

All-negro cast,
a national tour, babe.

I thought we were starting
a cosmetic business together.

This is bigger!

How come you start one thing
and you quick jump to another?

Selling cosmetics
ain't gonna get us much further

than you hollering
in them churches.

"Hollering"?

You... you could
reach the heights.

We play this right,

our lives could be as big
and beautiful as your voice.

I ain't no horse
racing a track, okay?

Look, why can't we live a life
as big as your college degree?

Maybe in a hundred years,
college will do a negro good.

Until then, the post office
is high as I'm able to climb.

Look.

Give this audition a try.

Tomorrow, I'll start
selling cosmetics.

All we need

is a little scratch...

Get us really going, huh?

And then, we can
finally start that family.

You think we ready?

Let me prove to you
the best kind of man I can be.

? Can you hear the sound ?

? coming through the sky ?

? like a mighty trumpet ?

? from the clouds on high ?

? it's the sound of triumph ?

? it's the sound of victory ?

? it's the sign of hope
for you and for me-e-e ?

Ain't the auditions
in there?

Well, they say
there's no parts for kids,

but I figure I sing loud enough,
they just gotta put me in.

Well,
I figure about the same.

Yes. You're in the right place.

Oh, I wasn't so sure.

We need your name

and a telephone number
where we can reach you.

That's it.
They're inside.

All right. Um...

Oh. Where's your music?

Oh.

Oh, dear.
They won't want to hear that.

You need some sheet music,
a regular song.

There's a big
sheet music store...

Lyon & Healy... at the corner
of Jackson and Wabash.

Okay.

Uh, well, how much does
a regular song cost?

No more than 50 cents.

Thank you, ma'am.

Mm-hmm.

Here you go, ma'am.

Mm-hmm.

You ready?

Oh. Uh...

Something wrong?

Would you prefer
a different key?

No, it's... it's just

I just don't recognize
the arrangement, that's all.

Have you ever sung before?

Only in church.

Great. One final try, then.

Miss?

? Some... ?

Miss, are you all right?

? Sometimes ?

? I feel ?

? like a motherless child ?

? sometimes I feel ?

? like a motherless child ?

? sometimes I.... ?

? Feel ?

? like a motherless child ?

? a long way ?

? from home ?

Thank you.

Miss? Did you get the part?
Did you?

No, I don't think so.

They ain't said nothing,
they just sat there.

Oh, man!

I was hoping you could
introduce me to the director.

Young man,
who takes care of you?

Sometimes, my aunt,
but mostly I stay at the church.

You ever eat
a peppermint pickle?

"Seek the lord
where he may be found

and serve him
the days of your youth,

and when you grow old,
he may not depart from you."

My grandfather taught me that
when I was around your age,

after my mother passed.

What do you think
he meant by that?

That I should be
praying every day?

Yes, and serving, too.

You got to find god
in all things.

I found him, miss Mahalia.

Really.

He in these peppermint pickles.

God,

this the best day
of my life.

Aww.

And mine too.

Oh, good god, I love my wife.

Now, which garden
did you steal these from?

From Mahalia's
house of flowers.

See, one day, we gonna run
all kind of businesses together.

All right. Hello there.
Who are you?

Mr. John sellers, sir.

Whose boy is he?

I'm, uh, praying on that.

Isaac Lane Grey Hockenhull.

RotC, Tuskegee institute,
Fisk university.

Proud husband
of Mahalia Jackson,

the national stage star.

-What?
-Mm-hmm.

I got the call earlier.

You got the part!

Yep. $60 a week.

They wanted to tell you
at the audition,

but said you ran off.

Can you get me a job, too?

Yeah, yeah.
Uh, I'm gonna work on that.

Hold on.

Ike...

I don't know.

I got this feeling today
when I was on the stage like...

Like I was carrying
my mother with me,

and I barely knew her,
but she was there.

And then I go outside,

and I find this boy,
and he's without a mother, too.

Mm-hmm.

Ike...

If I sing hot mikado,

I got to live hot mikado, too,

and-and sing about fast livin'
and raisin' Cain

ain't somethin' I believe in.

But this boy,

I feel like this is god
answering our prayers.

Christ, Mahalia!

I'm so damn sick of this.

Can't god answer
both our prayers for once?

Not if you don't deserve it!

Not if you don't work for it.

Racing form?

So how was selling cosmetics
going today?

I figured out
how to use my science degree...

Studying and testing
a new handicapping system.

Ain't nobody doing this
in racing.

See? I'm using my degree.

Now, please,
can't you see we need this?

God is showing me
exactly what I need,

and if I can't make a living
"hollerin'" in the church,

then I'm gonna go
back to school,

open a storefront...
A real business.

Come here, honey.

Please,
don't give up this job.

I am gonna find you a job

and I'm gonna make you
a real home.

Just make sure you do better
when the time come

for you to prove...

"The best kind of man"
you can be.

I got a Valentine's
from Ike yesterday.

Uh-oh.

Say "even though we been apart
longer than we been together,"

he still remember every minute.

He still remember
all them gambling minutes, too?

Girl... I tried.

John! Where'd you park my Buick?

I didn't see you drive by.

Well, I got a good spot.

Oh, you got your license!

Congratulations, John.

Thank you, miss Estelle.

Are my tires
touching the curb?

I just cleaned them
whitewall tires.

They better not
be touching the curb.

I can check.

Uh-uh-uh.

You think your mama

will ever let you take
that car out on a date?

Won't have time.

As soon as school's out,
we have the revival circuit.

When will that woman ever
be satisfied for one minute?

She has a good business,

the only colored person I know
that owns a whole building,

has three tenants
paying rent!

When will god tell her
she has enough?

Well, mama believes
he already did...

...when her record
with Decca flopped.

How were the whitewalls?

Fine, but the rear's out
way too far.

Somebody take that corner tight,
tear off my bumper.

Move the car.

Bye, John.

Bye, miss Estelle.

Why are you still doing
them summer tent revivals?

Between the shop
and all your engagements here,

you're actually losing money
when you travel.

It's 'cause I got to reach
the people.

Especially them poor folks.

You know, that tent goin' up
is like Christmas for them,

and that money, well,
it'll take care of itself.

So long as I can bring
something to the people...

...I'm satisfied.

Yeah, all right.

Except...

I need a piano player.

Oh, lord.

Come on, I can pay
your full salary now.

And when you're not playing,

you can work here,
like a regular job.

You know I hate
all that traveling around.

Chicago's got everything I need.

But I will keep an eye
on the shop for you

while you're gone.

You know, I'm thinking about
going to beauty school.

-That's nice.
-Mm-hmm.

But I still need
a piano player.

Halie, I already
introduced you to one.

? Mm ?

? hallelujah ?

? god is good ?

? oh, hallelujah ?

? god is good ?

All right, all right.

"Bounce" don't mean fast.

Mildred...

...why don't you
try that again?

? Mm, mm ?

Now keep your eyes
on Mahalia.

No matter how many times
you rehearse,

she's never gonna sing the song
the same way twice.

Oh, god.

? Hallelujah
god is good ?

Now give her that bounce
with the left.

? Ahh ?

? ooh ?

And with the right,
you gotta talk to her.

All right.

? Mm, mm, mm ?

She's got it...

...but she ain't got it yet.

Mm.

Look, I gotta
get back to the salon.

You handle this.

You all right?

She can be rough.

Thought I did okay
at the end.

She seemed happy.

Honey, she's never gonna be
happy with your playing.

That's what you have to accept
if you take the job.

I got it?

-Really?
-Yes!

-You sure?
-Yes.

Except,
don't expect any praise.

Mahalia saves her praises
for god.

Your real job...

Help her find her voice.

When does she want me
to start?

She's already packed.

We're traveling?

Yeah!
I think you...

I think you start
in Mississippi.

Mississippi?

Oh, you don't like Mississippi?

Well, I was born down there,
but I was a baby when we left.

I haven't touched
the south since.

? Oh, my... ??

Come on, sing with me.

? Oh... ?

? Lord.. ?

? Sits up high ?

? and looks down low ?

? lord, I know... ?

Why we stopping?

Oh, go! Go, go, go!

We need gas.

Well, let me
do all the talking.

How ya doin', sir?

Y'all from Chicago?

Yeah.

Sorry, sir. Poor boy.

He tired,

and we been driving
for a long time.

We just poor missionaries

on our way to sing
in a poor little ol' church.

We'd be forever grateful
if we could

just buy us, uh...
A little bit of gasoline.

Will you help us
do the lord's work, sir?

You should know...
"Esso".

Esso.

Every summer we down here,
we only stop at an Esso station.

Get that through your big head!

I didn't want to wake you.

Well, hell, I'm woke.

You sure
ain't no southern girl.

No, I'm not.

You see how I got to talk
to the white folks

like I ain't got no sense.

I understand
why you did that.

There's a lot that
you're gonna learn, Mildred.

For one, when we get down
to our "little ol' church..."

Shoot, you gon' see

what the holy spirit
is all about.

Clarksdale, Mississippi!

We're so glad to start
our revival with you here!

And the way I see it is,

I don't care if a man
is a gambler or a thief...

...a wino or a murderer.

That's right!

Every man and every woman
has got to believe in something.

-Something they can look up to.
-Amen!

We got to learn
to show kindness to others,

especially to those...

...Who don't believe

in feeling.

That's right!

What can we do
but help each other?

-Yeah!
-God don't need

nothing from us
but to love each other,

and to help each other.
Amen!

-Amen!
-We all his children! Hey!

We all his children!

Amen!

? Ohh... come on, children ?

? sing ?

? about the goodness
of the lord ?

? come on, children ?

? shout ?

? all about god's great reward ?

? guide our footsteps
every day ?

? keep us walking
in the narrow way ?

? come on, children
let's sing ?

? come on, children
let's shout ?

? come on, children
let's sing ?

? about the goodness
of the lord ?

? he ?

? has been ?

? my all and all ?

? and he, my lord ?

? will never, mm, mm ?

? let me ?

? fall ?

? that is why I can sing ?

? that is why I can shout ?

? because I know
what it's all about ?

? the good ?

? goodness of the lord ?

? my lord, o lord ?

? mm ?

? hey ?

? I feel him in my spirit ?

? do you feel him
in your spirit? ?

? Ohh ?

Whoo!

? Yeah ?

? oh ?

Whoo!

Ain't this good, y'all?

God is so good!

Didn't he wake up this morning?

Didn't he put food
on your table?

And clothes on your back?

I can walk. I can walk!

Great god almighty!
Praise the lord!

I can walk and you did it!

It's the singing!

That wasn't me.

He ain't walked in 20 years!

You healed him!

No, no, no. That was god!

The power of god!

It ain't me.
That ain't me, sir!

I can see!

Don't you feel him?
In your spirit? Whoo!

Come on, mama.

Mama, it's all right.

You healed me!

I did not heal that man.

No, mama, I don't understand,
but it was... it was the singing.

It was god!

It was the music
that made the miracle.

God was moving through me.

Ooh, and Mildred.

Did you feel that?

I pray to make another record

like I pray
to find another husband,

but every time
I come close to either,

god chooses
a different prayer to answer.

Well, we may not
be as big and powerful

as, say, Columbia records,

but once you sign,

we stay loyal to our artists.

I believe Apollo records
is the perfect home for you...

To feel comfortable,
to branch out.

"Branch out"?

You see the variety
of artists we record?

I think you'd be wonderful.

I think you could really
sing the hell out of the blues.

What negro can't
sing the hell outta the blues?

That's what life's been
for most of us.

See, Mrs. Berman,

I'm so tired of getting
so close to making a record

only to find out

that people want me
to sing some other kinda way.

Now, people don't understand,

that pain
that you hear in the blues,

it ain't got nowhere to go
once it's inside you.

The blues
can't guide you how to live,

like gospel.

Now, gospel,
that's the cure for the blues.

I love your voice,

but I still got
a bottom line.

Tell you what.

I can give ya...
Two hours of studio time.

Two hours?

That's my best offer.

Gospel music,

my people.

Fine.

Do we have a deal?

Now, let's clarify
these two hours.

You mean two hours

from the time the man
push the button,

two hours recording,
right?

Yes, miss Jackson.

You'll have a full two hours.

? I'm gonna move on up
a little higher ?

? I'm gonna meet
Abraham and Isaac ?

? yes ?

? I'm gonna move on up
a little higher ?

? I'm gonna meet
the prophet Daniel ?

? oh, I'm gonna move on up
a little higher ?

? I'm gonna meet
the Hebrew children... ?

Oh, oh, uh-uh-uh-uh!
What you got the light on?

I did not say
push the button yet!

Lady, I can't be here
all night.

Well, Mrs. Berman,
you said two hours...

You didn't say
which two hours.

Mahalia.

We've been here all day.
You made your point.

I'm not trying
to make no point, all right?

I'm just trying to rehearse
so that we get it perfect.

That's it.

When's the next booking?

Tomorrow, 10:00 A.M.

We'll be done by then.

Why you so quiet?

It's so good to meet you,
miss Jackson. I am...

I know who you are.

Well, I'm honored.

They got you here to watch
all the colored folks,

but let me tell you something,

you need to watch them...
Make sure they don't

-gyp me on my time.
-Oh, I-I don't work for...

All right.

Now, Mildred.

I know they trying
to make you move faster,

but you don't worry
about none of that,

you take your time, all right?

You don't need none of this.

You got to feel this
in your heart and in your body.

Now, if you ever feel lost,

you just keep your eyes on me...
Always keep your eyes on me,

'cause we ain't gonna get
another chance like this again.

All right.

? Oh, I'm gonna move on up... ?

? Yes! I'm gonna
move on up a little higher ?

You playin' all right,

but you playin' like
a kindergartener.

Why do you keep
putting this in your hand?

I said you gotta play
from your gut and your heart!

? ...a little higher, huh! ?

? I'm gonna meet
the Lily of the valley ?

? 'twill be always
"howdy, howdy" ?

? 'twill be always ?

? "howdy, howdy" ?

? 'twill be always ?

? "howdy, howdy"
and never "goodbye" ?

? oh! ?

? Mm! ?

Ahem.

Uh, excuse me, ma'am?

Excuse me.

Miss Jackson ready for the man
to, uh, press the button now.

Something else...

What now?

You got my up-front money?

Mm-hmm.

In cash?

Then let's make a record.

Here you go, brother.

Get you some breakfast.

See? We out by 10:00 A.M.

And they say colored folks
can't be on time.

I hope Mrs. Berman
don't fire you.

Oh, I don't think anyone
could keep the job

of handling you,
miss Jackson.

I don't even know your name.

Reverend Russell Roberts.

Reverend?
Oh, I'm too tired for fooling.

Shiloh baptist church,
Atlantic city.

One of my parishioners
records with Apollo.

I've heard about you

on the revival circuit
for years,

wanted to hear you sing
for myself.

Oh, lord, you're serious?

So when will your record
come out?

Whenever Mrs. Berman decide,
if she decide.

It may never come out.

Your business is tough.

So is yours, reverend.

Russell.

Well, I truly don't know
what will come of this

other than none of us
got any sleep.

Nine years ago,
I cut my first record and...

...only place it hit
was the graveyard.

If you read
the liturgy closely,

you'll find reference
throughout the Bible,

that faith requires...

Look, you don't
have to school me on the word...

I know my Bible,

even thought I didn't
get to finish school.

Most of my thoughts
are unlearned, but I, um...

Then to put it plainly...

"To she who knocks,
it will open."

My calling often
brings me to Chicago.

Well, clearly,
I ain't hard to find, reverend.

Come on, Mildred.

Lord knows,
if I wasn't baptized,

I'd let that man
? dip me in the water ?

Again and again.

Girl, get the phone,
it might be John.

That boy ain't called me
in over a week.

Hello! Mahalia's beauty salon.

Is it John?

Hi, Estelle! How you doin'?

What...? Wait, uh, uh...
What's that station again?

What you runnin' for?

? the Lily of the valley... ?

Mildred.

Mahalia...

It's us.

What gospel show that on?

No, no, no.
It's some white man's show!

Some white man's show?

Mildred! That's you playin'!

Yeah!
That's you singing!

Since I heard
this song the other day,

I can't stop playing it.

It's from a woman
on the south side

with a golden voice.

Her name is Mahalia Jackson,

and if she were
singing the blues,

she'd be another Bessie Smith.

What she sings
is called "gospel".

I am not a religious man,

but I pray
people buy this record.

Thank you! Thank you!

You said in your word

you would never leave me
nor forsake me.

? oh... ?

That was
Chicago's own Mahalia Jackson.

Before this song became a hit,

the holy grail of gospel sales
was 100,000 records,

but since the release
of "move on up a little higher"

two years ago,

it has sold
over two million copies.

Now, tell us something
we don't know about you.

Um...

"Mahalia" was the name
of one of my aunts.

She was a girl
of the slave days,

and she dreamed of jubilee

and better days to come.

My mother gave me her name.

And by "jubilee",
you mean gospel?

Uh... jubilee
is a burst of freedom,

and that's what I feel
when I sing.

I, for one,

cannot wait for you to deliver
this glorious jubilee

to the cultural elite
of Carnegie hall.

I don't believe
my type of songs

belong there, Mr. Terkel.

-You can call me "studs".
-What do you mean?

Don't you got a real name?

That's the one I'm stuck with,
it's as real as it gets.

But how real...

Is this news release?

It don't matter what I said,
it matter what I sign,

and I didn't sign no contract
for no Carnegie hall.

Well, stop the press releases.

I-I don't wanna hear
nothing else

about Carnegie hall!

I'd love to hear you sing
at Carnegie hall.

I thought you hated traveling.

I'd travel for that.

I think
we should do that concert.

I ain't studying
no Carnegie hall.

Now I got to get
to the grocery store,

'cause Russell
is in town tonight,

and I'm gonna cook him up
some gumbo.

Again?

Look, I'm tired of you

screwing up your face
every time I talk about the man.

It's been three years.
You don't get no vote!

I just don't think
he's for you.

Why? You don't think I deserve
a good, educated preacherman?

It's how you act.

Act?

You bend a little too much.

What're you getting at now?

In his presence,
you lower yourself.

That's where you're wrong,

'cause I don't stoop
for nobody but god, and I...

Oh, god.

Oh!

Halie?

Oh...

Halie!

Oh...

I'm all right.

Go back to work!
I'm fine.

Oh! Oh, no.

Shoot!

Oh, lord.

Please, please...

Can I help?

Can you cook?

As well as I can sing.

? amazing grace ?

Oh, now you making
my ears hurt.

Dinner gonna be late.

Oh, this isn't like you.

How you know what I'm like?
You don't see me every day.

I've had enough
of your cooking

to know this burnin' up
the kitchen

means something is wrong.

Well, they want me
to sing at Carnegie hall!

Oh!

Mahalia Jackson stepping
into the "magic circle"!

I don't belong
in no Carnegie hall.

Who do you think I am?

? victory... ?

Now, see? You laugh.

Look, Duke Ellington's
played there.

That's because he's class.

Baby.

Russell, I'm scared.

I ain't no trained opera singer.

I don't belong there.

Now, I ain't good enough.

I ain't sophisticated,
I ain't educated, I don't...

And what the heck
is the "magic circle"?

Mahalia Jackson,

you are the smartest,

the strongest of faith
god ever put on this planet.

All you need

is take one seed
of what you give others,

plant it in yourself.

God, why did you put me

at Carnegie hall?

Lord, please...

Please let Mildred
be able to play tonight.

You know I'm not used to singing
with any other piano players.

What am I gonna do?

Halie,

Mildred says
she's able to play.

You have to trust her.

It was just food poisoning.
She's-she's...

She's better now.

Mildred knows my arrangements
like the back of her hand.

Today,

when we was rehearsing,

up on that stage
without her...

It was like I opened my mouth
and god just took away my gift.

I sounded like a bird!

A little bird!

Well...

If I'm gonna flop,
then...

...I'm gonna flop big.

Mm...

I'm comin'.

Mildred?
Come on in here, now.

? amazing... grace ?

Oh...

Mm!

Oh, what is this?

This ain't a funeral.

Baby, it's supposed
to represent the magic circle.

They say
that's what it feels like

when you step on the stage
at Carnegie hall.

Lord knows,

I need all the magic
god can give me tonight.

Oh, put it down,
I want you to meet my boy, John.

He alls himself "brother John"
and he sings

folk music and blues
at the Apollo theatre.

It's good to meet you, sir.

You too.

And this is
my good friend, Estelle.

Hi.

She owns my beauty shop.

The only thing is
she don't know she own it yet.

Halie...

The shop's always been
something for me to lean on,

but now it seems like
it's leaning on me.

I...
I can't accept such a gift.

Why does everybody think

I'm just giving all the time?

I didn't ask to buy it.

I-I can't afford it.

Well, give me a dollar.
Can you afford that?

Thank you.

John?

Go tell the promoter to bring up
the rest of my money in cash.

It's Carnegie hall, mama.

I got to take me
wherever I go.

Okay.

No, I got it.

? how I got over ?

? how did I make it over ?

? you know my soul
looks back in wonder ?

? how did I make it over? ?

? tell me how I got over ?

? how did I make it over? ?

? you know my soul ?

? looks back and wonders ?

? how did I make it over? ?

? Mm ?

? soon as I can see Jesus ?

? the man ?

? that died for me ?

? man that bled and suffered ?

? oh!
Hung on Calvary ?

? and I wanna thank him ?

? for how he brought me ?

? and I wanna thank god ?

? for how he taught me ?

? oh! ?

? Thank my god
how he kept me ?

? oh-ho, thank him ?

? he never left me ?

? and I'm gonna ?

? thank him
for old-time religion ?

? oh! I'm gonna thank god
for giving me a vision ?

? oh, I'm gonna join
the heavenly choir ?

? and I'm gonna sing
and never get tired ?

? and I'm gonna sing ?

? somewhere 'round the altar ?

? oh, I'm gonna shout ?

? all my troubles over ?

? lord, I'm gonna thank you ?

? thank you for being
so good to me ?

? yeah ?

? how I made it over ?

? had a mighty hard ti-i-i-ime ?

? you know my soul
looks back in wonder ?

? how'd I make it over? ?

? Mm, mm, mm ?

? Comin' from the north
south, east, and west ?

? the only way
to the land of rest ?

? and I'm gonna join
the heavenly choir ?

? and I'm gonna sing
and never get tired ?

? and I'm gonna sing
somewhere 'round the altar ?

? oh! I'm gonna shout
all my troubles over ?

? lord, I'm gonna thank ya ?

? thank you for being
so good to me, mm ?

? well ?

? I wanna thank you
at this moment ?

? oh, I'm gonna thank you
at this moment ?

? you said touch ?

? In my name ?

? you said touch ?

? in my name ?

? oh, I feel ?

? I feel like running ?

? oh, I feel ?

? I feel like running ?

? lord, I feel ?

? I feel like running ?

? I feel
I feel like runnin' ?

? lord, I wanna thank you ?

? thank you for bein' ?

? so ?

? good to ?

? me, yeah ?

Sister Jackson, you are truly
a living legend in your time.

Incredible.
Broke attendance.

Columbia records wants
to make you an offer.

Where's Mildred?

We worked hard
for the lord tonight.

Can you get my slippers?

Mama, that was
the most beautiful performance.

Thank you.

I am so proud of you.

When's your next
record coming out?

I'm certain that Carnegie hall
is gonna want you back.

We'll see.

All right,
thank you, everybody,

but miss Jackson
needs her rest.

What's going on?

You're bleeding.

We need to get you
off your feet.

Can we get an interview?

Thank you.
Have a good night.

Excuse me.

Go on, now. Thank you.

Thank you all for coming.
Have a good night.

Let's just get you
to the room, okay?

Oh, my g...

Hoo.

Help me up. Help me up.

I ain't goin' to no doctor.

Lord, I keep praying

not to have
all this anger in my heart,

but it's so hard.

Why god? Why?

God's not the only one
here for you.

I wish you'd believe in me, too.

Russell, please!

Now, you can tell the newspapers
that it's bronchitis,

but I know
this is not bronchitis.

Come on, now.

Tell me what happened.

I hate doctors.

That's a strong word, baby.

I know,

but see, with doctors,

we like experiments to them.

They don't care about
a colored woman's health

unless it's to teach 'em
how to fix up white folks.

I had this one doctor...

He all right,

he's some kind of specialist
or something...

And he, uh, he got in a fight
with one of the other doctors

and took over my case,

and he said that I have
something called sarcoidosis.

Is that...

No, no.
It is not cancer.

But I had these fibroids
on my lymph nodes

that were removed,

and I had tumors, too.

And, uh...

They, uh...

...they took my insides out.

They took...

Y-You had a hysterectomy?

And I feel...

Like everything
that make me a woman is gone.

Empty.

Broke,
in a way that can't be fixed.

I feel this...

Burning in my heart...

I'm so sorry.

I got all these questions,
you know, like,

why me?

Why can't I carry a child
like I've always hoped for?

Why the one...
One doctor that I trust

let this happen to me?

It's like he took away
this opportunity

for us to have a family.

We will get through this.

All I want is you.

Family begins with you...

However, and whatever,
that looks like.

So come on...

Step into the magic circle
with me.

Now...

When are you gonna let me
carry you over that stoop?

Ouch.

Ah, don't make me laugh.

Russell, you the one thing
I can decide on

that I don't have to pray on.

Dear lord,

you said be strong
and let your heart take courage.

Well, I've been praying
over this contract,

and you either want me
to sign this

or convert to being a lawyer.

Are you opening a new gate...

Like in the Bible?

"Behold,
I'm doing a new thing..."

...or is this really a deal
with the CBS devil?

Is that one of the new songs
from Columbia?

Yep!

They confident she gonna sign.

I don't know,

it sounds different
than her other material.

It's too pop.

It's a "sweetened water" song.

If she sings this,

I'll have to fight
to find its salvation.

I'm gonna have them

put it in here
that I ain't doing no radio show

unless you the writer,

studs.

Now, CBS said
you on the blacklist?

Well, hell,
I'm on the "blacklist" too.

I'm afraid
you're mixing with an agitator.

But you do the show
no matter what.

You don't worry about me.

Well, I ain't.

I'm worried about being

in millions of white folks'
living rooms by myself.

I need you!

I'd follow you anywhere...

As long as you don't
try to redeem me.

Ooh! If I could get you saved,
we'd be all right!

She's been playing one of those
new "sweetened-water songs."

John.

Don't tell the man
all our secrets.

Now, if you want
some sweet water.

Uh, no, thanks, Mahalia.

I don't like that southern tea.

I ain't getting you tea!

I take it
you don't want her to sign.

Columbia don't know our music.

Mama will lose the audience
that brought her up.

They'll wanna add
symphonies and big bands.

And probably, first thing,
they'll fire Mildred.

Ain't nobody ask you
about no Columbia records.

And ain't nobody
gonna fire Mildred.

Here you go, studs.

Oh!

I-I didn't think
you drank whiskey.

I ain't gonna say if I do
or if I don't,

but there will always be
a bottle in my home

for you, studs.

Without you,

I would've sold
a couple million less records,

and Mildred'd still be poor.

Don't give her none.

So, if we gon' do this,
how's it gonna work?

I figure it will go
like our other interviews,

only more in-depth.

I'll ask questions about

the background of the songs,
or where they come from.

-Mm-hmm.
-We'll do an episode

on your relationship
with Thomas Dorsey, of course.

And one of you growing up
in New Orleans,

and another about your travels
in the south.

So you want me to say...

...how, when I go up

in a department store
in the south,

how I can't get a sandwich,

or a bottle of pop?

How I can't even get a cab,

or when
I'm driving in a nice car,

how I got to play the "mammy"
when the police pull me over,

call me a "nigger woman,"
and shake me down for my money?

That's what you want?

You want me
to air the truth, right?

I do, Mahalia.

But...

I know, baby.

We both blacklisted.

Only difference...

I can't never
get off that list.

CBS is very proud to bring you,

live from our studio
in Chicago,

the Mahalia Jackson show.

? I sing ?

? because ?

Imagine...

? I'm happy ?

...there's millions of people
listening.

Millions.

Listening to our halie.

Mama's like
the loaves and the fishes...

Splitting herself
into a million pieces,

trying to feed everybody.

? Oh... ?

But I wonder, once...

Once this miracle is over...

...what's gonna be left
of Mahalia Jackson?

Ike came by last night.

What, to give you a Valentine?

To see the new house.

How much you "loan" him
this time?

I know.

I know the man
ain't never gonna me back,

but I gotta
keep giving anyway.

God made the marriage.

We supposed to be together
for a lifetime of somethin'.

Now, Ike...

Ike ain't no partner,
like Russell.

We supposed to build
a temple together.

Well, I do hope you and Russell
find time to get married,

as crazy and busy
as your life is getting.

Halie?

What's on your mind?

It's like the people either
love me or hate me.

And they feel so strong,

it's overwhelming.

Like, I get
all this fan mail,

then I got a letter
and it said,

"please don't be a Beulah.

For the sake of our race,

talk as intelligent
as you sing."

Mm-hmm.

Then all these white folks,
they come to my concerts,

and they tell me
how wonderful I am,

then they get mad when I buy
a home in their neighborhood,

and shoot out
my picture window.

I told you not to move
to Chatham village.

Isn't a dream home supposed
to be wherever you dream?

Did you get that window fixed?

I got that repairman to put up
something else, too.

"Dear lord, in this house,
you are wanted

and welcome."

Now, that's
for god's protection.

Don't you think an armed guard
would be better?

I got one of them, too,
thanks to mayor Daley.

Well, who's gonna get
close enough to see this plaque?

Oh, the people,

they gather out here
sometimes

while I'm rehearsing inside.

It reminds me
of when I was a little girl,

singing with
them Victrola records,

and all the people

would gather outside
my aunt's to hear me sing.

Are you ever gonna sing
some Bessie Smith for me?

Oh, now, studs,
if you my true friend,

you don't ever want me to get to
where I got to sing the blues.

? o holy night... ?

I love the house.

I am so happy for you.

But three Christmas trees?

Yeah.

One for the father, the son,
and the holy spirit.

I figure,

why not give 'em all
their own tree?

I can't take this, Mahalia.

Yes, you can.

If it fits.

How can I represent the people,
looking this fancy?

Speaking of
representing the people...

I got a call the other night
on behalf of a young reverend...

Martin Luther King.

Says he wants me to sing
at one of his rallies

for his bus boycott,

asked me my fee.

You heard of him?

'Course I heard of him.

What you think?

What'd you say your fee was?

Aw, hell, studs.

You know I don't charge
the walkin' people.

You be careful.

They play rough down there.

The Bible tells us

we are made of both

a natural body
and a spiritual body.

-Mm-hmm.
-And I believe,

sister Mahalia,
that through your voice,

you are able to connect
the natural and the spiritual

in a way
that people need today.

Well, thank you, Dr. King,

but people need food
more than they need singin'.

Mahalia's always
cooking up food for people.

Well, I hope for
the opportunity

to taste Mahalia's cooking
one day.

Mm, that's right...

Get a person's stomach full,

then you can
talk about salvation.

I apologize, Dr. King.

I'm a little nervous.

Mildred don't like
coming down to the south.

Dr. Abernathy told us

how they bombed that church
near his house last week.

I guess...

They assumed
it was his church,

but they bombed
the Methodists instead.

Oh, lord.

I don't know
if you been drinking lately,

but your playing been slipping.

I'm starting to feel all alone,
up there singing,

like I don't know who you are.

And I got a lot on my mind,

'cause, with Russell,
getting all these medical tests,

tsk, I don't know
what's going on.

Even though I know
you don't like the man.

It's not
that I don't like the man.

It's how you act around him.

You shouldn't believe
that you're inferior to any man.

That's why I left my husband...

Never felt like
I was good enough for him.

Hold on. You were married?

To a preacher.

I was still married
when I started playing for you.

Why wouldn't you tell me that?

Didn't want you to know

that I had any other concerns
in my life.

You kept getting rid
of piano players

for being too unreliable.

So are you saying
I ended your marriage?

No.

Being a preacherman's wife
ended my marriage.

I'm embarrassed

you came back after singing
like that tonight,

and started cooking.

Well, Coretta didn't
give up her kitchen easy.

Oh, I believe this pie's
nearly as great as your voice.

Mm.

Dr. King...

Please.

My Christian name.

Martin...

How do we hold on to faith

when times are so bad?

Mahalia...

...faith is something
you can't hold or keep.

The things most important to us
are invisible...

Freedom,

hope,

love, god...

...they're all ideas
based on faith.

Living requires faith,

whether you accept it
or not.

So the big question
we all face

is not
whether to believe or not,

but what to believe.

So, if god is personal,

we each alone in our faith?

Well...

Like your sweet potato pie...

It's going to taste different
to each of us,

but it's something there
for all to share.

God made enough for everybody.

Mm.

I always dreamed of one day
building my own temple...

A place of learning.

Mm.

Because I always believed

that everybody deserves
a chance at an education.

That's a beautiful dream,
Mahalia.

My aunt Duke
took me outta school

in the fourth grade...

So I never felt like
I got to study

or learn how to read music.

Well, maybe god doesn't know
how to read music either.

Back from her world tour,

please welcome
the queen of gospel,

Grammy-winner
Mahalia Jackson!

You make me feel like a star!

It's midnight...

And it's raining...

But it's Sunday mornin'

and we gonna have church!

? Didn't it rain
children? ?

? I'm talkin' 'bout rain
oh, my lord ?

? didn't it ?

? didn't it, didn't it
oh, oh, my lord ?

? didn't it rain? ?

? Didn't it rain, children? ?

? I'm talkin' 'bout rain
oh, my lord ?

? didn't it, didn't it, ?

? didn't it, oh, oh, my lord ?

? didn't it rain? ?

? Well ?

? it rained 40 days
40 nights ?

? without stoppin' ?

? Noah was glad when
the rain stopped droppin' ?

? knock at the window
a knock at the door ?

? crying, "brother Noah
can't you take no more?" ?

? no, crying, no
no, you're full of sin ?

? god got to keep
and you can't get in ?

? just listen that rainin' ?

? will you listen
that rainin'? ?

? Just listen that rainin' ?

? all day, all night ?

? all night, all day ?

? just listen ?

? it's rainin' ?

? just listen
it's raining ?

? will you listen?
It's raining ?

? some moanin'
some groanin' ?

? some groaning
some praying ?

? well, ohh... ?

? Didn't it rain, children? ?

? Rain all night long? ?

? Didn't it, didn't it ?

? didn't it
oh, oh, my lord ?

? didn't it rain? ?

My lord!

My, my.

Look at the rain!

Now it's stopped.

"To many,
Mahalia Jackson's appearance

eclipsed all other performances
that night.

Hers was the set

that made everyone stop

and catch their breath."

Now that's too much.

And this...
"Miss Jackson's bursts of power

and sudden rhythmic drives

build to a pitch

that leaves you unprepared
to listen afterwards

to any but the greatest
of musicians."

There's more?

Oh, yeah.

"Mahalia Jackson
has a rapturous quality

unparalleled on records.

The accompaniment
hardly counts, so..."

"The accompaniment
hardly counts?"

Wait.

Read here.

"Mildred falls,

the supreme gospel pianist..."

How do you like that,
miss Jackson?

Well, you still
got me to please.

Hello?
Mahalia's big wig salon.

Oh, you think that's funny?

Mama.

If you don't stop singing
in them clubs,

I'm gonna stop
putting you on my program.

And miss Mildred need to stop
with her poor taste.

She a reflection of me.

Mama, you are getting too high.

How I'm "getting too high"?

Mahalia?

Did you know
this was bone cancer?

I thought
it was bronchitis.

Why would you
keep this from me?

Mahalia.
Mahalia, I'm joking.

As soon as I found out,
I told them to call you.

Well, when you start treatment?

My god.

They say, at this stage,
the chemo would kill me faster.

Look, my aunt Duke
had remedies,

like herbs, liquids, powders...
We can try it all.

I done seen miracles happen.

I have, too.

Like when we first met...

Up all night
in that recording studio,

and all the people
that song reached?

But more than your voice,
I love your spirit.

How you know about life
in ways most people can't see.

I'm scared
I'm gonna lose that.

Russell,
you helped me more than god

when I was
up in the hospital,

and I ain't never relied on
anybody like... like that before.

Hold on there.

You all right.

Breathe.

You all right, baby.
You all right.

You know, my prayers...

They're feeling
more like wishes now.

I used to pray...

That we'd...

Build a family together,

have little Mahalias
and Russells

just running around.

Would've been beautiful.

You know...

I could be the one
to carry you across that stoop.

You know I could!

I know you could.

? I've... ?

? Been ?

? 'buked ?

? and I've ?

? been scorned ?

? and I've ?

? been ?

? 'buked ?

? and I've been scorned ?

? I've... ?

? Been 'buked ?

? I've ?

? been talked about ?

? sure ?

? you're born, mm... ?

Tell 'em
about the dream, Martin!

Tell 'em about the dream.

Go on! Tell 'em!

Come on now, Mildred!

You off again.

Golly!

What you doing to my voice?

I got to go home. I'm...

I'm tired.

I'm tired, too,
but we got to rehearse. Come on.

I know you...

I know pushing hard,
and this your way of mourning.

I'm so sorry about Russell,
I truly am.

But I can't work
any more tonight.

We don't get this right,

I ain't putting you
on television

in them cheap-ass
cotton dresses.

There! I said it.

I don't like
how you letting yourself go.

Night, Mahalia.

This got to do with that
extra $100 a week, don't it?

That's why
you ain't working hard.

Look, now, it ain't my fault

you don't know
how to manage your money.

Well, it's a sickness!

And that drinking, too.

Yeah, I'm drinking.

I ain't perfect either.

But the reason I can't
get my money straight

is 'cause
you too much in charge.

Why do all my checks
go to you?

What you getting at?

How come
everybody pay you my money,

and then you pay me?

Why I ain't paid directly?

I hire you!

You my piano player.
I ain't your singer.

You been paying me
the same money

the past five years

while your fees,
they just keep growing bigger,

bigger than your wigs!

Now you countin' my pockets.

You slipping.

I don't even recognize
who you are anymore.

That's 'cause
you're not looking at me...

You always think
about yourself first.

How could
you even fix your mouth

to say somethin' like that?

All the people I feed?

All the scholarships
that I raise money for?

What would you be
without me?

Real reason
I'm never good enough,

the reason
nobody is ever good enough

is 'cause you don't
feel good enough yourself.

Get out.

Go on. Get out.

I can have any piano player
I want in the world.

I'm Mahalia Jackson.

And I don't need
no Mildred falls!

You want perfect
but you sure don't give it.

Ain't nobody perfect!

God accepts our imperfections!

Why can't you,
"Mahalia Jackson"?

Mildred.

Mildred, hey...

Oh, god...

Oh, god.

Where you at?

Oh...

Ohh...

Hello...

...heartbreak.

I'm saying this
for the last time.

? don't ?

? won't let you
let me down that road again ?

? hello, heartbreak ?

? why have you left me ?

? feeling this way? ?

? Dazed and confused ?

? ? Now all I can do
is sing... ?

...sing the blues.

The wedding

of gospel singer
Mahalia Jackson

to salesman-musician
minters Galloway

came as a complete surprise.

She has sung
before queens and presidents,

stunned musicologists,

overflowed such world-renowned
music halls

as the state opera in Vienna

and Albert hall in London,

and five times faced
a standing-room only audience

in Carnegie hall.

How is my wife feeling today?

Married.

I love you, too.

I'll toast to that.

It's new year's Eve.
Can't we serve more than punch?

I'm gonna punch you
if you say another word.

I'm kinda thirsty.

Would anybody else
like a real drink?

I'll take one.

Did you kiss Martin goodbye?

I'm gonna kiss you goodbye

the next time
you embarrass me like that.

Now, what you need
to go get that beer for?

Well, I can drink
in my own house.

Your house?

Woman,

is this not my house?

Of course, it is, dear,

but ministers
should only be served coffee.

Come on, baby.

This is Chicago,
not some backwoods town.

Most of those ministers drink
and you know it.

You disrespectful.

So, if I'm gonna
drink in my house,

then I'm gonna need to offer it,

otherwise what sort of manners
would that be?

Mahalia?

Stop messing around.

Mahalia?

Hey, Martin.

I'm in town for the day,
Mr. Galloway.

I've come to see Mahalia.

She's not feeling well.

That's why I've come.

She needs her rest,
reverend king.

Son, open the door.

I'm going to see Mahalia now.

It's...

Easier when we have the devil
to point to,

like the devil bull Connor

with his police
and their dogs,

but now
the work's getting harder.

The hate against us
is still there,

but it's more hidden.

It's not the devil outside
but the devil within I fear.

That's where I struggle.

It's where
I struggle, too, Martin.

Except for your visits...

I feel so alone.

It don't even feel like
god's listening anymore.

My boy, John, won't speak to me,
says I've gotten too high.

Minters says
I've gotten too low,

too selfish.

He wants
my temple money

to build a hotel.

I don't know what to do.

That man gives you so little
for all the big taking he does.

He may look like Russell,

but he ain't
nothing like Russell.

He do look like him,
don't he?

People been saying that,

but when you say it,
it feel so true.

Oh, lord...

What have I done?

It's like I've been so busy
spreading the gospel,

I done forgot how to live it.

Mm.

Russell...

I shoulda married him,

had a couple of good years
together.

But you did.

You had the love
you were supposed to,

but now you gotta ask
if you've strayed.

No, I pray every day.
I've never stopped praying.

But Mahalia,
are you listening?

Can you still hear
what he say?

I don't know...

The first time god spoke,

when I came up out that water,

the joy in my faith
ain't never been greater.

It's that feeling
that you know.

That you know,
that you know.

That you know,
100% in your body.

I don't tell people this,

but I was once driving home
to Atlanta

when god spoke,

and I found myself,
for two hours,

floating up above the road,

hovering up over everything.

Did you feel his voice?

Like, um...

Like a burning bush?

You know.
You understand.

One night, in Mississippi,

god healed a man
through my music.

I mean, the man just jumped up
out of his wheelchair.

-It happened.
-I believe you.

God's always talking
to all of us, but it's...

So hard to listen.

How are you doing, baby?

I've missed you.

When I come beside you,

I don't feel

the dread I feel
every other day of my life.

What's troubling you?

I get this feeling

god wants something from me,

and I don't know if I have
the strength to give it.

I just want to go home.

But I don't know
where that is anymore.

If I go before you...

...will you sing our song
at the funeral?

Don't you dare
leave me here by myself.

You will never be alone
when you use your gift right.

Sing it for me now?

Only if you sing it with me.

? Prec... ?

? ...Ious lord ?

? take my hand ?

? lead me on, oh ?

? let me stand ?

? I'm tired ?

? Lord knows I'm weak ?

? and I am worn ?

? through the storm ?

? through ?

? through the night ?

? lord, take my hand
lord ?

? guide me to the light ?

? take ?

? take my hand ?

The reverend
Dr. Martin Luther King,

39 years old...

? Precious lord ?

...of the non-violent
civil rights movement

in the United States

was assassinated
in Memphis tonight.

? When my way ?

? grows drear ?

? precious lord ?

? I need you to linger
linger near ?

? when my life ?

? is almost gone ?

? hear my cry ?

? ooh ?

? hear my call ?

? Hold my hand ?

? lord, lest I fall ?

? take my hand ?

? precious lord ?

? and lead ?

? lord, lord, lord ?

? lead me home ?

For my main man...

James Baldwin, Dinah shore,
Jesse Jackson...

They're all turning up

for your comeback celebration
tomorrow.

I ain't been nowhere, but...

Sick, broke,

and divorced...

Again.

I see you was
in the paper this morning,

being interviewed,
instead of the other way around.

Everybody thinks
I discovered you,

and to tell you the truth,
for some stupid moments,

I believed them, too.

So you finally believe?

You understand

that only god discovered me?

No.

I mean the people
on the south side,

especially the ones

in that little storefront church
where you started out.

They're the real people
that discovered you.

Don't start worshipping me.

You gotta put your faith
in god.

You're the truest person
I know.

I ain't perfect.

I got my demons.

Yes, Mahalia. We all do.

But you never quit fighting
for yours,

you never quit trying
to live up to your beliefs.

I hear the joy in your voice
and also the struggles.

We ain't any of us perfect...

...but when you sing,
oh, lord,

it feels like we could be.

...I mean,
without these wigs...

I don't think the people
gonna recognize me.

Hold still.

I know what I'm doing.

Been doing this longer
than you ever did.

Sometimes, I wonder,

if I would've just kept
running the hair salon,

and not let everything else
get so big...

-What's so funny?
-Uh-huh.

Halie, nothing about you
has ever been small,

even when you didn't
have a stitch to your name.

You've been on a mission
since I met you.

Remember when I sent you
to that... that music lesson?

Mm-hmm.

You tried calling me a...

A "high-society negro."

Said how you never
were gonna learn how to sing

to "please white people."

What, you saying
I'm a hypocrite?

Mm-mm. Not at all.

See, all them white folks...

They came to you.

They the ones that changed,

not you.

That... is what
I wish you could see.

Why do I feel like
something's missing?

Well, you have lost
a lot of people in your life.

Thank god, you still here.

That's because I quit
playing piano for you.

Lord help anybody

that come between your singing
and god.

What's that supposed to mean?

That, at your best,

god wasn't the only one
up on that stage with you.

After all these years,

you ever think about
reaching out to Mildred?

Well, I hear
she's not doing too well.

Well, unless you blind,

hearing ain't the same
as seeing.

-Hi.
-Hello there!

Look what the cat
done dragged in.

Mm-hmm.

You look good, Mahalia.

Your comeback,
it brought me luck.

Oh, lord.

I took the purse at Hawthorne
in the second.

Whew, talk about a beauty.

Ike.

You're like a bad penny.

How you doing, Estelle?

How you keep looking so young?

I pay my debts.

Well, then... here.

Ah, you old fool,
it ain't Valentine's.

Well, I figure
ain't no telling

if we both still here
by next Valentine's, so.

Ike...

You ain't never
paid back before.

You trying to make
a comeback, too?

Nah.

We too late for that.

I guess I'm still
trying to prove

the best kind of man I can be.

The best of my life
was spent with you.

I remember
every minute we had together.

Tsk.

I like your hair.

Figure about time
to quit the wigs.

Come on in.

Don't you have somewhere
you need to be tonight?

Not for a few hours,

and how am I
gonna make a comeback when...

...half of my best voice
is you?

This time,
I'll get the money right, too.

Oh, Mildred.

I heard you was on hard times,
but...

Arthritis.

How long you been suffering?

Is...

Is this is why
you were drinking?

I'm sorry.

I never told you.

It's my fault.

Damn.

It's so good to see you, halie.

Well, hell,
it's good to see me, too.

It's good to see you, too.

I wish you well tonight.

Why don't you come
up with me?

Oh, I would love
to have you on that stage.

You don't have to play!

No, I ain't stepping on
no stage I ain't playing on.

Besides...

I don't think I ever
played perfect for you.

I never sang perfect either.

But...

Closest I've ever been...

...Was with you.

Oh.

Wish god would let us
play together one more time.

I got the perfect place.

Oh, my...

How you all doin'?

Oh, we're doing good!

-Amen! Amen!
-Welcome.

You know the first time
I sang at Carnegie hall,

I was so scared,

I forgot the words
to the opening number.

And I had to look to Mildred
for help.

She's been my mouthpiece
for 20-some years.

So...

What are the words
tonight, Mildred?

Of what?

Of the song we gonna sing.

Go on now!
What you wanna play?

Let us pray.

Dear lord,

I always thought
you demanded perfection

to deserve your love.

I didn't understand...

That you don't need nothing
from us

but to love each other...

Amen.

-...and to help each other.
-That's right.

Your gift wasn't my voice...

Your gift

was my purpose...

-It still is!
-Mm-hmm.

...a purpose
that I couldn't find alone,

so I thank you, father,

for Mildred falls,

for all them years,
being the other side of me.

And I thank you, god,

for the music.

Mm!

It's like you let me
come up out the water again.

Hallelujah!

Amen!

Amen.

I found my purpose

and it's singing god's words

like he's right here
next to me.

And Mildred helped me,

'cause she known all along

that her purpose
was to bang them keys

like they ain't never
been heard.

Yes!

And you all have purpose, too.

Yes!

God's gift
is for everybody.

There ain't no shortcuts.

That's right.

? I'm gonna live ?

? the life I sing about ?

? in my song ?

? I'm gonna stand for right ?

? always showin' the wrong ?

? mm ?

? if I'm in a crowd ?

? if I'm alone ?

? on the street ?

? or in my home ?

? I'm gonna live ?

? the life I sing about ?

? in my song ?

? well ?

? I'm gonna live ?

? the life I sing about ?

? in my song ?

Amen!

? I'm gonna stand ?

? for right ?

? always showing the wrong ?

? my lord ?

? if I'm in a crowd ?

? if I'm alone ?

? on the street ?

? or in my home ?

? I'm gonna live ?

? the life I sing about
in my song ?

? well ?

? mm ?

? oh, mm ?

? Mm, oh, mm ?

? oh, lord! ?

? Mm, oh, mm ?

? oh, oh, ho ?

? mm ?

? if I'm in a crowd ?

? if I'm all alone ?

? on the street ?

? or in my home ?

? I'm gonna live ?

? the life ?

? I sing ?

? about ?

? in my ?