Original subtitles

[laidback music]

-Curtis Payne. -Pancakes!

Welcome back, baby. Welcome back.

Mm, what you doin'?

Cookin' up a storm, aren't you, baby?

[Curt] Yes, ma'am.

Hey, babe, I got a confession to make.

What is it?

I wasn't sick this morning.

I was playin' hooky from church.

I kinda figured that.

So, I decided I'd just make a little after-service brunch

for my better half.

Thank you, Curtis.

[Curtis] Mm-hm.

Thank you, babe.

Seem a little down.

Usually when you come home from church,

you still shoutin' up a storm.

Well, Curtis,

I, I stayed back today and tried to talk with, uh, Regina.

Mm.

We made eye contact.

-[Curtis] Mm-hm. -And...

Then she just briskly walked away.

Okay, come on, sit down. Tell me all about it.

-Sit down, come on, baby. -Well, Curtis...

Okay.

Baby, church is changin'. Okay?

-[Curtis] Mm-hm. -The whole thing.

They have these additional lights

that they put up now,

and the microphones and the sound system

always havin' issues.

Well, baby, that's to be expected.

They're upgradin' the system.

What happens, and I tell you what,

when they start streamin' the service,

you ain't even gonna have to go to the building.

All you'll have to do is stay right here,

we'll be able to sit right at this table.

Praise God, eat, all at the same time.

-Thank you, baby. -[Curtis] Mm-hm.

And that's just part of it.

-Curtis, listen. -Mm-hm.

I sat in the back of the sanctuary today.

What? And not your usual VIP seating?

That's not what it's called, Curtis, it's not.

Well, I mean, they escort you to it.

They don't let nobody else sit in it.

It's not what it's called, okay?

That what it feel like when I'm there.

I sat back there because

I just didn't wanna be around nobody.

Seein' the deacons. [imitating gruff men]

-They just... -Hm.

[Ella] Talkin' and laughin', and they lookin'.

I see 'em whisperin', lookin' back there at me.

So, I just sat back there where, where I was,

'cause I just didn't wanna be bothered.

So, that's for me to keep my mouth closed.

Yeah, I get that. But tell me this, Ella.

Where does that leave you, baby?

Curtis, I think it's time for me...

To consider that Ella Payne's time at this church

just may be over.

What?

[upbeat music]

[birds tweeting]

[car alarm blaring]

[police sirens wailing]

[ambulance siren wailing]

[helicopter revving]

[firework firing]

[music]

Okay. Rewind it back.

[Ella] Okay.

How did we get to this point, Ella?

After that meeting with Deacon Turner...

-[Curtis] Mm-hm. -I really thought that

I could put all of this behind me.

I did, I really tried, but I cannot.

Now, if Regina does not wanna come forward with the truth,

I certainly cannot make her.

-No, you can't. -Hey, Ma, Pops.

-Hey, son. -Ooh, yes, food.

Mm.

Don't you have a home

with a woman who cooks for you?

I do, but Laura's waffles are nothin' like this.

These are Curtis Payne waffles.

Guaranteed satisfied.

And you're welcome.

Thank you. How was church, Mama?

Oh, your mom is thinkin' about backslidin'

and leavin' that church.

Really?

You've been goin' to that church my whole life.

I'ma miss those reserved seats.

Pops, you don't go enough to have reserved seats.

No, but your mother does, and I'ma miss it.

Baby, it's some drama. Some drama has unfolded.

It kinda has me unsure about my place over there.

Oh, I'm sorry about that, Mama. I know you love your church.

I do love my church.

Well, have you thought about visiting another church?

[Curtis clearing throat]

I have visited other churches before, baby.

Well, maybe this'll be a opportunity

to try somethin' different.

I know a great church you've never visited.

Where, Calvin?

Peanut's church.

Peanut? That heathen go to a church?

Yup, First Tabernacle of Bankhead.

He goes occasionally, like you. I've been a few times.

Here it is.

Hm...

Well, I don't know about this, Calvin, I really don't.

Look, babe.

-That's the church? -[Calvin] Mm-hm.

That's the place I used to get my tires rotated.

Mm-hm, they turned the whole storefront

into a church.

It's a lot of young people that go there,

but they worship just like anywhere else.

Well, it looks interesting, Calvin, it really does,

but I don't know, baby.

I'll think about it.

That means she ain't goin'.

No, it doesn't.

[knocking on door]

Always somebody.

[laidback music]

-Nephew, what's goin' on, man? -What's happenin?

Where's the man of the house? I got an emergency.

You lookin' at the man right here.

What's up?

This comin' from somebody with

a lime green button-up hotel towel.

Look here, I need to find the older,

more responsible version of you, okay?

Look, everyone's gone, alright? I'm the only one here.

What's up?

Don't you work for Counselman Dustman?

Yeah, I do.

Okay, look, you think he has any political connections

down there at the TV station?

Uh, maybe? Why?

Well, the problem is there's this journalist,

this news journalist down there,

and she's makin' this exposé about

spring break in Atlanta in the '90s.

-You heard about it? -Oh,

yeah, I think I did hear about that.

Man, they said those parties were legendary.

All kinda Black celebrities and Black artists,

they was just tearin' the city up and goin' crazy.

Yeah, that's true.

Well, allegedly, I was at one or two of 'em.

Okay, well, which one is it? One or two?

Hell, I was about at eight of 'em.

-Oh. -[Floyd] Yeah, man.

Weren't you too old to be goin' to spring break in the '90s?

Excuse you?

Look here, I went to the picnic startin in the '80s, alright?

And then I, well, I kept goin' after year after year,

only for alumni support.

But then, you know, I kept goin',

because even us young adults,

we actually needed a break from the spring ourselves.

A break from what?

From life!

Have you been outside lately?

It's crazy out there for a pimp.

Alright, you're right about that.

But look, what's the point?

Look.

There was a time where I let my flesh get the best of me.

I was, I was out there, I was smokin' and drinkin',

and all types of debauchery.

And...

Well, let's just say I was just havin' a little too much fun.

So, what...?

What, are you worried that

you're in some of these videos or somethin'?

-I'm confused. -Yes!

That's why I need to know what's on that report.

Alright? Because, look.

Curtis and I finally gotten

to a point where we're friends again

and we're good on business,

and I don't want anything out there

to mess that up for us, bruh.

Okay, well, look.

I'll make some calls and ask around,

and see what I can come up with.

My nephew.

That's what I'm talkin' about, alright?

Well, look here.

Um, you know what? I'm proud of you, bruh.

Appreciate that.

You startin' to sound like a real politician now, boy.

-Thank you. -That's alright.

Hopefully you can take a bribe so you can get a better shirt.

[electric guitar music]

Hey, Mama.

-Hey, baby. -Look who I found.

Glo, Glo, Glo. Glo, Glo, Glo.

Hey, hey, hey.

-Hello. -How are you?

I'm good, Ella. How are you doin'?

I'm fine, just doing a little quiet reading.

Well, I see, I see.

I, I don't mean to interrupt.

Oh, no, no, no. I really could use a break.

Mama, I was tellin' Glo that

you were plannin' on visiting Peanut's church.

Wait a minute, I said I was thinking about it.

Okay, well, are you open to visiting any others?

I am open to it. I don't mind visiting.

What do you have in mind?

Bladow!

Ella, I would be honored if you came and visited my church.

The New International Ministries of the Atlanta Metropolitan.

I've heard about this church.

Yes, yes, yes, that's it.

We're a nondenominational church.

-[Ella] Mm-hm. -We have a really nice mixture

of young and seasoned saints.

-Mm-hm. -[Glo] Oh, and we have

three services that start promptly at 8 A.M., 10:30 A.M.,

-and 12 P.M., that's right. -Mm-hm.

Now, do they start promptly, or is that CP time?

Oh, no, sir.

Our bishop is adamant about punctuality.

Now, this really, really looks nice,

and the people on here look so happy.

-Yeah, we are happy. -What is that?

This is another brochure, baby, for a church.

-Another church? -Curtis...

Oh, I know that dude. He look familiar.

That's that guy, Bill, from that infomercial.

The one with the do-hickey with the slice-and-dice thing.

Those are actors.

Well, yes, and no.

I mean, not to brag or anything,

but we do have working professionals

in our drama ministry.

Oh...

[phone ringing]

Uh-oh.

Excuse me, sorry, pardon me.

Hello?

Yes.

'Scuse me.

It's the church.

-Oh... -[Ella] Mm-hm?

Hey, do y'all have the little mime, Mime Ministry?

Is that what they call it?

Where they do the...

I like them.

They don't be spittin' all them scriptures.

Uh, why don't you come to my church with Ella,

and see for yourself?

You, you too, Calvin.

I mean, you'll have a spirit-filled time.

I'm open to it.

You have VIP seating?

We are all VIP in God's house, Curtis.

Just say no.

Mm, mm, mm, mm.

Alright, God.

Well, baby, what the church say?

Oh, Curtis, this was Deacon Turner.

Well, what'd he say?

He said after careful consideration,

it has been decided that I am no longer in charge of

the help center.

[music]

Ella, I, I'm so sorry.

It's okay, it's okay.

I mean, why would he say that?

Regina.

Regina cosigned that my allegations

about her abuse were false.

They asked me to resign.

Mm.

After all the money I put in that collection plate.

Curtis, now...

Come on, baby, you know, I mean, you put it in there,

but same thing.

Maybe, I don't know,

maybe you should take your grievance

up to the pastor.

No, no, no, the pastor's fine. He's fair, and he is honest.

Look, these people are just

takin' Regina's word for it, that's it.

And I cannot fault them for that.

It's Regina.

Okay, you know what?

Well, my invitation still stands.

I, I would love to have you, Ella.

-Yeah, Mama, you should go. -[Ella] Calvin...

This, it could be good for you.

In fact, I'll, I'll go with you.

You will?

Yeah, this could be a good thing.

And how so, Calvin?

Mama, you once told me that people can outgrow

places and things spiritually.

Maybe you spiritually outgrew your own church.

When did my baby become so insightful?

Mama, growth is a thing.

And when you go to Glo's church,

and then swing by Peanut's after.

Thank you, baby.

[Curtis] Okay, hold on, hold on, hold on.

So, that mean we go to two services in one day?

I mean, that's a bit much.

I love the idea. Thank you, baby.

Well, you would.

Curtis, we goin'. So, get to likin' it.

Now, you know when I said

I could get copies of the raw footage,

I wasn't gonna keep it that way.

Now, I could've transferred the data,

but obviously, we don't have a VCR anymore.

Oh, well, no need to worry about that.

I got ol' glory right here to work it out.

What? How old is this thing?

Hey, don't knock it.

It does the same thing that your camera on your phone does.

Except about ten pounds heavier.

Alright, here we go.

-Alright. -Oh, wow.

This video quality is trash.

Hey, that might be a good thing.

Ooh, you might be too young to watch this next part.

You done had a whole baby and everything.

-Excuse me. -Hm?

What are y'all watchin' in my living room?

The local news is doin' an exposé on, uh,

spring break in the '90s.

-Mm-hm. -And is Floyd worried that

if this footage gets released, he might get canceled.

Yes, and it also may damage the sauce brand.

You know, people are gettin' canceled online every day.

Wait, why are you worried about bein' canceled, Floyd?

-Hm? -Unless you were doing something

that was a bit distasteful.

Hm? Uh-oh.

-I plead the fifth. -Uh-huh.

Wait a minute, I've heard about this.

-Hm? -A classmate of mine

was talkin' about how his mama,

auntie, and grandmother were all down there one year.

How is that even possible?

Oh, it's possible if you have conversion van.

I'm sorry, excuse, excuse me. 'Scuse me.

CJ, I know that's not you.

[All] What?

[Janine] That look like him. That's CJ.

That's Daddy.

Damn, bruh!

You haven't aged at all!

You look exactly the same!

Oh, that's him.

-Yeah, yeah. -I know.

Mm-hm.

I forgot that I was, even went down there.

You know, that's where the old Falcon stadium used to be.

-You forgot? -[Jazmine] I guess he did.

How do you forget that?

Well, I went down there, you know,

maybe a year, a couple of years, and, uh, yeah.

I went to, I had some fun, uh, couple concerts.

[Floyd] Hm.

But, you know, it was no big deal.

No big deal?

Oh, so, what, what years did you go down there, CJ,

if you don't mind me asking?

Uh, '90, '91, '2...

-[Floyd] Mm. -Yeah.

Mama, from the looks of it,

it, you don't look like you know anything about this.

-Me know about this? -[Jazmine] Mm-hm.

-No. -[CJ] Not your mama.

She didn't know nothin'.

She didn't, she wasn't dealin' with none of that right there.

-Really, no, all of that? -No.

That you was dealin' with?

So, look, Malik, this is the only footage

that they pullin' from?

Yeah, that's what the producer said.

Whew, thank you, Jesus. I'm straight, then.

I ain't on this one.

Why is that?

Well, I was on my best behavior during those years.

Hm, CJ?

Oh. Well, Daddy...

Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, I hope you were on your best behavior.

Oh, I was, I was. Yeah.

[CJ laughing nervously]

It was a, a party atmosphere,

but it was, it was, it was still festive.

Yeah. It was off the chain.

Yes, it was, indeed. I mean, it was epic.

I mean, the hotels were full and everything.

It was, it was epic, it was all over the city.

African American kids came from all over the country

just to kick back and let their hair down.

No, but it, it was historic.

Matter of fact, that's where twerking was created.

You remember?

Now, Mom, are you sure you wasn't there?

There somethin' you need to tell me?

Do you see me on any of this footage?

Will I see you on any footage?

You will not see me on any... Look, you know what?

Mm...

I'm gonna give your father a pass.

He was young.

You deserve to have a little bit of a party, right?

Apparently it just got to be too much for the city to handle.

And, you know, by that time,

your mother wasn't lettin' me go anywhere,

'cause, you know...

Malik was here.

-Mm. -Okay.

Awkward.

Anyway, I think that my, uh, my job here is done.

And, uh, I'ma go ahead and, uh, leave on up outta here.

And thank you, Malik. I appreciate that.

Yeah. No problem.

-Mm-hm. -What about your old,

ancient camera here?

Oh, you can go ahead and keep usin' that.

Now you got a functional VCR.

Watch the footage together as a family.

[laidback music]

I'll drive next time, Curtis. I'll just drive next time.

-We gonna make it happen. -Thank you all.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thank you all for going with me to church today.

No problem, Mama.

Well, I'm glad we back home, 'cause I'm all praised out.

Ma, did you enjoy yourself?

I did. I did, all day.

It was refreshing to see others worship.

Hearing, seeing a different worship service,

and hearing a different pastor preach,

I enjoyed it.

That's a nice way to put it, baby.

I'ma tell you what.

That doggone Bankhead Tabernacle,

that was...

How do I say it?

It's the First Tabernacle of Bankhead,

and yeah, they were a little hood.

That's the word. Thank you.

That's just how they get down, Pops.

The praise and worship was intense,

and I love the creativity.

You did?

I did.

'Cause I don't even know what they was sayin'.

I'm not, I was tryin' to...

And then-- wasn't that a Michael Jackson song

was they rappin' over?

Yeah, they do that from time to time.

Even the preacher got in a few bars.

Curtis, it's called rapping gospel.

-[Calvin] There it is. -That's what the young people

are doin' these days.

Some of it, I can get with.

But some it, sometimes, mm-mm. Not so much.

Glo's church was interesting.

[chuckling] Yeah, I was tryin' to participate,

but I didn't know none of them songs.

Curtis, baby, you were supposed to read the words of the song

on the big jumbo screen.

Ella, I'm supposed to read and sing at the same time?

Who does that?

Everyone was so warm and friendly.

I enjoyed having the screens. They enhance the message.

Now, that's true. I like that.

[Ella] Yes.

'Cause I didn't have to flip through the Bible,

tryin' to find them scriptures.

Just read it right there. I can read that.

Alright, well, look. I gotta go pick up the boys

and check in with Laura.

Thank you.

-Have fun, Mom. -[Ella] Thank you.

Thank you for everything,

and please, tell Peanut

we thoroughly enjoyed worship today.

Will do.

And we will never come again.

Yes, we will.

Well, how you feelin', baby?

I'm blessed, Curtis.

Mm.

I really am. Today, I needed it.

Seeing how all of these people worship God

refreshed my sense of purpose.

Mm.

The Lord knows my heart. He knows the truth.

I may not have found a church home today,

but I got a spiritual reset.

And I'ma do what I know: pray.

Mm-hm.

[Ella] It's prayer time. [chuckling]

And we know all things work together

for the good of them who love the Lord.

I like that one.

[Ella] God can do everything.

-Hey! -Amen, baby.

[Ella] God can do anything!

-Amen. -[Ella] You don't know

what God gon' do!

[calm music]

Man, I can't believe you and Floyd tryin' to set me up.

Are you kidding me, man?

How was I supposed to know you in there?

Are you still watchin' that thing?

Man, I can't lie, man, it's interesting.

People stuck all in traffic and still partying?

Listen, man.

It was women, you was drivin', everybody was in traffic.

It was women in they underwear all on the side,

-it was crazy, man! -What?

Listen, man, I'm tellin' you.

Uncle Curtis got stuck in traffic

tryin' to take Calvin to a baseball game.

Wait a minute...

-Is that...? -That looks like...

-Mom! -Janine!

What the hell! Janine!

Oh, you cursin' me out, you got a lot of explaining to do.

Why would you do this, Mommy?

[groovy music]

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