Exhibiting Forgiveness (2024)

[bunniefuu]

[soft music plays]

[Tarrell] James Baldwin said,

"If the relationship

of father to son

could really be reduced

to biology,

the whole earth would blaze

with the glory of fathers

and sons."

But sometimes,

biology leaves us

with only smoldering embers.

[woman shouting indistinctly]

[car horn blares in distance]

[Gus grunts] It's hot.

You shouldn't be out here.

You got someplace to cool off?

I know you got family.

La'Ron.

La'Ron.

Yeah.

- [phone ringtone plays]

- Oh, sh**t.

Yes?

I know.

[upbeat music plays]

[breathing heavily]

[sighs]

[plastic bottle thumps]

[men shouting indistinctly

in distance]

[door bells jingle]

- [man] Just give me

the f*cking money!

- [Gus grunts]

[man] Why'd you make me

f*cking do that?

I didn't wanna

f*cking hurt you, man!

- [cash register opens]

- Get the f*ck out!

Get the f*ck out!

- Just wanted

the f*cking money, man!

- [police siren wailing]

No, no, no, no, no,

no, no, no, no, no--

[both grunting]

[police siren continues wailing

in distance]

[breathing heavily]

- [wheezing]

- [baseball bat thuds]

[somber music playing]

[no audible sound]

[inhales deeply, groans softly]

[winces]

- [objects clatter]

- [groaning]

'Rell? 'Rell. 'Rell, baby.

- Baby. Baby, breathe.

- [gasps]

Look at me. Breathe.

- Breathe.

- [gasps]

[relieved sigh]

[Aisha, softly] God.

[both breathing heavily]

Tarrell, you got to do something

about this.

- [softly] It's okay.

- No, it's not okay.

- Something is wrong with you.

- It's fine, it's fine,

it's fine.

I can't do this sh*t anymore.

- It's okay, Aisha. It's okay.

- [door opens]

Daddy, can I get some pancakes?

No, baby,

Daddy doesn't feel good

right now.

- Hey, don't tell him that.

- Mommy will make you

some oatmeal.

Hey, come here, big boy.

I got ya. I got ya. [grunts]

You want some, uh,

some-some blueberries

in the pancake?

- Just pancakes.

- Yeah?

- Mm-hmm.

- All right, come on. Let's go.

[Jermaine] Pancakes, pancakes.

I love pancakes!

- [Aisha] Smells good.

- [Tarrell chuckles lightly]

Call the doctor.

I will.

- Please? [sighs]

- I will. Hey.

[Tarrell] Ahh.

- Yay! Chocolate chips,

chocolate chips.

- Jermaine.

[whispers] Two days

till mission.

- Shh.

- What, Mommy can't know?

What mission?

The extraction mission.

"The extraction mission"?

Parachute in, go save Grandma,

and bring her home to safety.

[Aisha] Oh. That mission.

And why do we accept

this mission, Jermaine?

Because sons take care

of mothers.

[laughing] Do they?

- Where'd he learn that from?

- I don't know.

'Rell, did you let him watch

The Godfather?

No. That ain't even a real line.

[chuckles]

Y'all get on my nerves.

[humming]

[piano playing]

[continues humming]

[humming]

[blues music plays

over turntable]

[blues music continues]

[blues music continues]

[blues music continues]

[music fades]

[knocking on door]

Tarrell, it's Janine.

Hey.

- Hey.

- Hey. What's going on?

What are you doing here?

- We-we don't have

a visit scheduled.

- I'm-- I know, I know.

I'm so-- I--

Oh, my God, I'm so sorry.

Listen, I was excited.

I wanted to see you. [laughs]

Face-to-face.

- [sighs] Yeah.

- Uh, can I come in?

I'm-I'm, actually,

I'm working right now, Janine,

- so it's not a good time.

- It's okay. I won't be long.

I won't be long.

- Did you read the review?

- Uh, yeah, yeah, I read it.

- And?

- And... it's a review.

When the review is positive,

even if it's not quite right,

we have to celebrate.

Come on, critics' pick.

I come bearing gifts.

[clicks tongue] Thank you.

- You're very welcome.

- Thank you very much.

What the f*ck, T?

What?

Holy sh*t.

Hey, hey,

that's not ready, Janine.

It's-it's not ready yet, okay?

- Listen, Janine...

- So this is why

I haven't heard from you.

[chuckles] Oh, my God, T!

Oh, my God.

- Janine, please.

- Wait, wait, wait,

can I see it?

- Can I see it?

- No. Nope. Not yet.

Come on, have a seat.

Have a seat, have a seat,

have a seat.

- Hold on, hold on, hold on.

- Come on. Yeah, come on.

Just give me this. Give me--

Oh, my God, the...

The emotion on his face.

He's so frightened,

so vulnerable.

I'll take three of these,

please. [laughing]

Oh, my God, T.

No, but seri--

This one, this is finished.

This is done.

Not another brushstroke. Wow.

[exhales] I think

you gotta do another show.

- The art world wants you, T.

What can I say?

- Mmm-mmm.

[scoffs] Yeah, "the art world."

Oh, come on, you just got

a f*cking brilliant review

from a critic

who hates everything.

- How is this not your world?

- It's not my world.

- Boo-hoo, Mr. Tortured Artist.

- "Tortured artist"? I just...

Do you know how many artists

would k*ll to be in your shoes?

Do you know? I know. Do you?

- [softly] Yeah.

- Another show.

Let's ride the wave.

- Trust me. It's the right move.

- [Jermaine] Daddy,

Daddy, Daddy.

- Oh!

- Hey.

Jermaine. Hey, kiddo.

- What's up?

- Hey.

- Look.

- What's this?

- That's me.

- Oh.

- Is he represented?

- That is you. [scoffs]

- [Janine chuckles]

- That's me.

- Yeah, that is-- That's good.

- Uh, Mom said,

um, come inside,

wash your hands,

and don't get no paint

in the house.

[chuckles] I'm on the way.

- That's my cue?

- Yes, it is.

I gotta get in there.

Thank you for the...

- Yeah.

- I'm proud of you.

- [piano plays off-key]

- [babbles]

- [playful growling]

- [Jermaine] Ahh!

- [Aisha] Hey, be careful.

- [Tarrell laughs]

- All right, all right.

- [Jermaine giggling]

- [panting] Hey, can I get

some help here?

- [Aisha] What do you mean?

- No, you're on duty.

- [Jermaine grunting]

Really? Come here.

Okay, okay, okay.

All right. All right, all right.

That's enough. That's enough.

Hey, come on.

- [Jermaine straining]

- [Tarrell exhales]

Come on, hey.

Okay, calm down, calm down,

calm down, calm down. Shh, shh.

Calm down.

Look at me. Look at me.

Breathe with me.

[inhales]

Uh-uh. Come here.

There you go.

One more.

Yeah, one more time.

[Tarrell]

"Shadows on the wall..."

"Shadows on the wall..."

"...noises down the hall."

"...noises down the hall."

"Life doesn't frighten me

at all."

"Life doesn't frighten me

at all."

"Mean, old Mother Goose,

lions on the loose."

[playful growl]

"They don't frighten me at all.

Dragons breathing flame

on my counterpane.

That doesn't frighten me at all.

I go boo, make them shoo.

I make fun the way they run.

Life doesn't frighten me at all.

Tough guys in a fight

all alone at night.

Life doesn't frighten me

at all."

- [grunting]

- [Tarrell chuckles softly]

"Don't show me

the frogs and snakes

and listen for my scream.

If I'm afraid at all,

it's only in my dreams."

- Let me-let me see

what you're working on.

- [Jermaine] No!

[Aisha] No, don't show him.

Let me-- Let Mommy see.

Ohh.

- I look good, huh?

- Okay.

- He looks good.

- Yeah, you look good.

- Yeah, he looks good. [laughs]

- Yeah, I know I look good.

I know I look good.

- [Tarrell chuckles]

- [phone ringtone plays]

- Oh, it's Mama Joyce.

- Now, look.

Okay.

- That don't look like me.

Come on.

- [Jermaine laughs]

- Isn't this late for her?

- That don't look like me

at all.

- You said I look good.

- I got it.

- This is you, this is you.

- Hello?

I'll put him to bed.

Hey, Ma.

- [Aisha] Baby that's a...

- [Joyce over phone]

Lord, Lord, Lord.

Hey, Mom?

[Joyce sighs]

Something wrong?

I don't know

nobody there, Tarrell.

My church is here. I...

But we-we...

we talked about this, Ma.

What-what happened?

Baby, this is my home.

[Tarrell] It's just temporary,

Mom.

- [Joyce sighs]

- All right? I'll get you a...

get you a real nice place

on the south side,

and no more mortgage payments.

You know you don't have

to do that, 'Rell.

Well, I want to.

Now, now,

you know I don't need

nothing fancy, now.

[over phone speaker] You know

I don't need nothing fancy.

And you don't owe me nothing.

I owe you

the air in my lungs, Mama.

- I love you.

- Yeah.

Love you too.

Hey.

Finish packing, please.

- Mm-hmm.

- [chuckles softly]

[Aisha] How's Mama Joyce doing,

anyway?

Oh, she's, uh...

she's okay.

Just wanna get her

out of that house.

- But she's good, right?

- Mm-hmm.

Okay.

Janine stopped by.

She wants me to do another show.

What?

- You just had a show.

- Yeah, I know, I know.

But, you know...

[sighs] My mom

doesn't wanna be here

any longer than she has to.

- Mm-hmm.

- So, I...

I need to.

[sighs]

Fine.

Fine. Do the show.

But I will be in the studio

on Monday.

Yeah. It is your turn,

I promise you.

I promise.

Okay?

[guitar plays]

[vocalizing]

- Sound good.

- Uh-uh. Thank you, love.

You got the chorus?

Mm, I have...

Well, I don't have

all the words, but I have...

- All right.

- I have a little bit.

- Let me hear what you got.

- Okay.

What did our hands do?

High as they hold

High as they raised you

[Tarrell] Mmm.

My love untold

Can you...

- This is the chorus.

- Hmm.

Can you teach

Teach

[Tarrell] Hmm.

Me

Can

Can you feed

Feed

Feed me?

[chuckles softly]

Sounds like clouds.

Yeah. Trees with no leaves.

What about, uh...

what about a little more yellow?

[vocalizing]

What'd you think?

You see my song?

- I see you.

- [chuckles softly]

Okay, I'm done.

[both chuckling]

[police siren wailing

in distance]

[breathing heavily]

[ominous music plays]

[footsteps]

[Michael]

I don't know who you are

standing in front of my house,

but I need to warn you,

Uncle Sam taught me

how to sh**t.

So if you don't start explaining

why the f*ck you standing

in front of my house,

my Black face

gonna be the last thing you see.

Nuh-uh.

Don't play me.

Ronnie. Ronnie.

- Ronnie. What happened to you?

[grunts]

- [La'Ron whimpers]

Come on, let's get in the house.

- [La'Ron winces]

- [somber music plays]

[somber music continues]

[Michael sniffles]

[water running]

[sobbing]

[music fades]

[door opens]

[Regina] Hey, baby.

They didn't have mint chip,

so I got the only flavor

that felt appropriate,

Chubby Hubby.

All right.

[chuckles softly]

I got two spoons...

[Michael exhales]

- Uh, baby, baby, careful.

- [La'Ron groans]

- His ribs are broken.

- Oh, careful, his--

I don't give a sh*t

about his ribs.

He's hurt, baby.

He's hurt?

Where's my money

and the rest of the sh*t

you stole, La'Ron?

Hm?

Where are my rings, La'Ron?

[Michael] Gina, he...

How many times

are we gonna do this?

Why do you keep forgiving him?

He's my brother.

'Cause he's your brother?

I'm your wife.

Get him out of this house.

- [sighs]

- [door opens, closes]

You know she has every right

to be pissed at you.

Hey, George. It's me, Mike.

Hey, I need a real solid, man.

Ronnie's back.

Hey, man, I owe you.

[exhales]

[mellow music playing]

[Chaplain George] We don't have

any beds left at the shelter,

but you can stay

in the basement.

It's not much,

but it's better than an alley.

Anybody who lives with me

abides my rules.

I lock my door every night

at 8:00.

If you're not here,

you no longer have

a place to stay.

I go to chapel every morning

at 6:00.

You come with me,

or you no longer have

a place to stay.

The church has

recovery meetings every day.

You have to go twice a week,

or... you no longer have

a place to stay.

You agree to follow my rules?

I agree.

[music fades]

[insects chirping]

[chuckles softly]

[breathes deeply]

[paint brush tapping]

[sighs]

[soft instrumental music plays]

[soft instrumental music

continues]

[soft instrumental music

continues]

[switch clicks]

- [Tarrell] Ready, man?

- [Jermaine] Let's go,

let's go, let's go!

[Aisha] Let's go,

let's go, let's go!

[soft instrumental music

continues]

[indistinct chatter]

[Aisha] It's Grandma's house.

Yay! We made it!

[Jermaine cheers]

[Aisha] Mama Joyce!

- Oh, my God!

- Oh, my God!

- Come here, girl! Oh, yes!

- [both shrieking and laughing]

- Oh, my God!

- How are you?

- Hey!

- Let me see.

- Oh, you wanna see?

- Yes, ma'am.

Grandma, Grandma,

Grandma, Grandma, Grandma!

- Oh, no!

- Uh-oh.

- Oh, oh,

look what you brought to me.

- That's trouble.

- That's trouble.

- Look at what you brought

to me!

[indistinct chatter]

[Joyce] You better come--

Oh, where is he? Where is he?

[gasps] There he is!

There he is!

- Come here! You can't fool me.

- [Jermaine] You can't see me.

[Joyce] Yes, I can.

I can see

all of my beautiful baby.

- Hello. Hi.

- Hi.

- Hey, Mama.

- [Joyce] Did you miss me?

- [Jermaine] Yeah.

- [Joyce] Did you miss me?

Where are the boxes?

Nothing's packed.

Mama, did you...

did you pack anything?

Did you pack anything at all?

Nothing, Mama?

It ain't gonna take that long.

- All right. Okay.

- Tarrell.

Have you lost yourself?

- Hey, Mama.

- You come here.

I thought you said

you was gonna pack. I just...

It ain't gonna take that long.

I got it.

All right, all right.

I'm gonna get started.

- It's good to see you.

- It's good to see you.

All right.

You lost yourself. Come here!

[Joyce] Ooh, hand me that.

Is that Fred?

- Is it? Oh, give me that.

- [phone ringing]

- [Tarrell] Uh, Mama, I'm trying

to put this stuff away.

- [chuckles]

- Let's, uh, keep moving, huh?

- [phone continues ringing]

I was looking cute

in that picture. [chuckles]

- You see how cute

I was looking? Hello?

- Yeah, yeah.

- [Tarrell sighs]

- [indistinct chatter]

No, I didn't forget.

Yeah, I-I-I--

I gotta reschedule, okay?

[Tarrell] Who is she talking to?

All right, I'll call you back.

Thank you.

All right, bye-bye.

[Aisha] All of this in two days?

The studio is on Monday.

[Tarrell]

If you do the other thing,

then maybe we can get this done

and-and still stay

on schedule...

Let me see that picture.

Let me see that.

- I was about to...

- Let me see.

Let me see it. [groans]

[Aisha] I'll call Uncle Mike

and Aunt Regina.

- They can come help us.

- Yeah.

- [Tarrell sighs]

I'll be right back.

- Hm.

Oh, I left my phone in the car.

Can you grab it for me, love?

I'll get it.

- Baby girl.

- What?

- You finish my song yet?

- Oh, my God.

Okay, it's almost done.

- It's not there yet,

but I'm gonna show--

- You gonna show it to me?

- Right now, Ma?

- Yes! Come on, come on.

- Ma! Oh. Oh, Lord.

- Show it to me.

Come on, show me.

Mm! You gonna get us in trouble.

[La'Ron] Tarrell.

Your mama asked me to come by.

[piano plays]

And now I'm so grateful

She made all things

Possible

- [door slams close]

- [Aisha] Whoa.

'Rell.

'Rell?

[Joyce] What's the matter, son?

Baby, what's wrong?

What's wrong? Look, Tarrell,

look at-look at me.

- Who is this?

- [Tarrell exhales sharply]

It's La'Ron.

Come here, Jermaine.

Let's go. Let's go. Come on.

[Aisha] What-- Ugh. Tarrell.

I'm sorry, Mama Joyce.

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

You're not gonna let him

meet his grandfather?

- Now you wanna be

somebody's grand--

- Tarrell, let's go. Hey.

- You somebody's granddaddy now?

- [Aisha] Tarrell, let's go.

I ain't seen you for 15 years,

but now you gonna be

somebody's granddaddy?

- You somebody's daddy now?

- [Aisha] All right,

I don't want him to hear this.

- I'm taking him to the hotel.

- [Joyce] Tarrell, Tarrell.

He's clean, son.

Look at him. He's clean.

- Mama, stop. Stop.

- He's clean.

- Mama.

- He's clean.

He's going to church now.

- I don't care

where he's going, Mama.

- He's going to church now.

- I ain't got nothing

to say to you!

- He's going to church.

Just talk to him.

Now, where-where you going?

- He came here trying--

- Hey, you can go.

La'Ron, where you going?

- Tarrell.

- How could you do that?

Tarrell, come on.

Just talk to him.

He's trying. Tarrell.

Tarrell.

[Tarrell sighs] You know what?

Listen.

Listen, I need you

to speak to him.

- I need you to talk to him.

- No. No.

No. And I can't believe

you'd even ask me

to speak to him.

Look, I know how--

I know how hard this is for you.

It ought to be hard

for you, Mama.

- Trust me. Please.

He has changed.

- [scoffs]

He ain't changed.

And his change

ain't got nothing to do with me,

and it ain't got nothing

to do with you.

- Son. Son.

- Okay? Nothing.

- Look. Look, look,

look, look, look.

- Nothing to do.

Do it for me.

- Do it for me.

- Look, I love you.

- No, I got to go. I got to go.

- It's-- Tarrell!

- [door opens]

- [groans]

- [door closes]

- [exhales]

[sighs]

[bell tolling]

[exhales]

[children screaming]

[Quentin] Hey, yo, 'Rell.

'Rell!

What up, bro?

[Quentin laughs]

- [Quentin] What's up?

- [Tarrell] What's up, baby bro?

[Quentin]

Even when I was a baby,

I was a grown-a*s man.

[Tarrell] Oh, get out of here.

[chuckles]

[boy yelling]

Hey, bro.

You know your daddy

back in town, right?

Mama tried to organize

some kind of surprise

family reunion earlier. [tuts]

sh*t. I saw that n*gga

the other day.

He tried to take me to church.

Like, what I look like

up in somebody's church, man?

n*gga think

he Martin Luther Vandross.

- [Tarrell tuts]

- Man, Mom always had

horrible taste in men. sh*t.

- Least in my case, you know,

my dad, he was handsome.

- [Tarrell chuckles]

He ain't leave me sh*t

but these irresistible

good looks.

[chuckling]

Man, you something else.

Man, bullshit.

Hey, you gonna talk to him?

You know, Mom ain't gonna

leave you alone

till you talk to him.

You-you know how your mama be.

I ain't got sh*t to say to him.

Hey, f*ck La'Ron.

f*ck that n*gga.

This ain't about him.

It's about Mama.

Hey, get your a*s down here.

Man, what you doing?

You been away from me

that long?

You know the routine.

Get your a*s back in here, bro.

Here we go. Here we go.

[Quentin exclaims, cheers]

- What was that?

- Hey, that's four! Let's go!

- [gibbers] Ah!

- [water sloshing]

- Four.

- All right, all right.

You tired of me

beating your a*s,

or you wanna keep it going?

- I got time. I don't know

if you got time, like...

- One more round.

I got time. One more round.

- One more? All right.

- One more time, man.

- [grunts] Ugh!

- [water sloshing]

Damn!

[Quentin] Oh! [laughing]

Ahh! Let's go, baby!

- That was pretty good.

- Oh, baby! That's, like...

- I'll give you that.

I'll give you that.

- ...seven, eight?

- That was pretty good.

- All right.

[Quentin] You wanna race?

Come on. [chuckles]

- [Tarrell] Keep running.

- Ahh!

Whoo!

[soft instrumental music

playing]

[engine starts]

[Quentin] Yeah, G-body.

[music fades]

[indistinct arguing in distance]

[Joyce] Yeah, yeah, yeah

You're the landlord

And the keeper

Of our love

[gate opens]

The boy won't even talk

to me, Joy.

Ain't nobody said

it was gonna be easy.

I know, but...

I tried to talk to him,

but the boy just won't

even give me a chance.

Wait a minute.

Is this the part

where you start talking about,

"It's just too hard.

I might as well quit"?

Again?

Let me ask you something.

How many times

did I take you back, La'Ron?

- A lot.

- [chuckles]

And how many times

did you tell me, you promise me,

things were gonna be different?

How many times?

- A lot.

- Yeah.

Yeah.

And every time,

you came back more broken

than you were before.

But I bandage you,

and I take care of you

like the Bible say

I'm supposed to.

Look at you.

You're the hardest-working man

I know.

Except when it comes

to relationships.

Relationships are hard.

They're hard.

You never understood that.

Do what you promised

you were gonna do.

I know it's hard.

Yeah, it's hard. Yes, it's hard.

You done messed over that child

for most of his life.

Yes, it's hard.

It should be hard.

But you need to make peace

with your son.

You're not gonna break

your promise this time.

[Aisha] No foundation

Building with bricks

That we were--

Built with bricks

That we were never given

I am your safe place, yeah

Filling the spaces

Filling the spaces

We were never filled in

Mm.

Filling...

And you are my treasure

Who can say, who can say

It's not a miracle?

Built, built with bricks

That we were never given

I am your safe place, yeah

[hums]

I'm sorry about earlier.

Are we gonna talk about

what happened with your father?

[Tarrell sighs]

I just thought

the first time you'd meet him,

he would be in his casket.

[sighs]

I know you would rather

be painting right now.

[Tarrell chuckles softly]

But all of this sh*t

is just gonna follow us home

if you don't deal with it here.

Some things can't be worked out

on canvas.

[washing machine whirring]

[washing machine

continues whirring]

[switch clicks]

[Tarrell exhales]

[no audible sound]

- [objects clatter]

- [Tarrell exclaims]

[grunts, panting]

- [Jermaine] Mommy!

- Baby, look-look at Mommy.

- Look at Mommy. Look at Mommy.

- [grunting]

[sobbing, panting]

[heavy breathing]

[Tarrell] I'm sorry.

Jermaine, I'm sorry.

Daddy's sorry. Hey.

Jermaine. [breathing shakily]

Hey, come here.

I'm sorry.

[Tarrell sighs]

[breathing heavily]

[kicks wall] Ah...

[mellow music playing]

[bell rings]

[mellow music continues]

[wheels rolling]

[object clatters]

[La'Ron] Over here.

What's all that?

[Tarrell breathes deeply]

Consider this a, uh, confession.

La'Ron, will you swear

to tell the whole truth?

There-there--

There's some things I wanna talk

to you about, Tarrell.

Hey, let me explain

something to you, man.

I really don't wanna

be doing this anyway,

but my mama asked me to,

so here I am.

Now, if you don't wanna do it,

I'd be more than happy to leave.

I'm not the same man

you remember, Tarrell.

[scoffs] I don't even know

what that's supposed to mean.

"All have sinned and fall short

of the glory of God."

Yeah. We doing this?

Uh, should I start with my name,

age, or something?

Why don't we, uh...

we just get to the point?

When did you first start using?

[gulps]

[exhales] Uh...

You remember your Uncle Willie?

You're stalling.

Oh, no,

I'm-I'm trying to tell you.

Uh, you remember

when we did the drywall

in his bedroom closet

- at his house?

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, I remember.

Well, Uncle Willie's daughter

Jamillah lit that closet

on fire.

Yeah, she was smoking crack,

trying to hide it

from her mama and daddy.

Fell asleep, burned a hole

right down to the studs.

Ain't nobody have no money

for no rehab back then,

so Jamillah ended up

back in that closet.

[sneers] But this time,

she set the whole house on fire.

I was helping Jamillah move in

with her boyfriend.

[chuckles]

And he was a crackhead too.

You know, that trifling n*gga

didn't help me move one box.

The question, La'Ron.

The question.

Okay.

I...

I just finished

bringing the last box in,

and I was looking for Jamillah,

and I-and I found her.

In the bathroom,

sitting on the edge of the tub,

about to hit again.

I snatched that pipe

out her hand.

I grabbed her up by her arms.

"Jamillah,

what's wrong with you, girl?

You know better than this.

You just burned down

your daddy house,

and you doing this mess again?"

"You don't understand,"

Jamillah said.

[light chuckle]

"You never hit this before,

La'Ron. You don't understand."

I looked in her eyes, and...

I don't know.

- I don't know.

- You don't know what?

What you mean, you don't know?

I wanted to try it.

I took a hit,

put my head between my legs,

lifted up

and blew out that smoke,

and all hell broke loose.

I never felt

nothing like that before.

One hit, and I was on the ride.

All I could think about

was my next score.

At first, it was--

it-it was just on the weekends,

but every time I got

a little extra money, I'd hit.

Before I knew it,

I was smoking every day.

That-that's why

I worked so hard.

You know, I kept working,

so I was able to hide it

from most people.

I knew.

I knew.

[mouths] Yeah.

Hm.

Give me a second.

[exhales]

[groans softly]

This guy broke my rib.

Did you go to the doctor?

Did I see a doctor?

I had health insurance

once in my life.

It's when your mama told me

she was pregnant.

I remember the day

I told my father.

Yeah, we was working

on the back of the truck,

me and my daddy,

I'll never forget it,

shoveling burning barrels.

I looked over at him, I said,

"Daddy, you remember Joyce?

The quiet girl in the choir."

Now, Daddy hated it

when I tried to talk and work.

He said, "Boy, spit it out

and get back to work."

"Uh, she pregnant."

I never lifted my head.

I just kept on shoveling.

Daddy stopped,

looked at me and said,

"Well, who baby is it?"

I ain't say nothing.

I just kept on shoveling.

Just kept on shoveling.

"Who baby is it, La'Ron?"

I-I stuttered and I stammered

a bit, and I finally said,

"It's mine."

And I just went on back

to shoveling.

Went on back to shoveling.

What did he say?

He ain't say nothing.

He took that shovel

and he hit me

upside the head so hard,

it knocked me out cold.

We was over on James Street.

Daddy just left me there,

laying on the ground

in somebody's backyard.

I woke up with the neighbors

standing over me.

They thought I was dead.

I-I just walked home.

When I finally got home

that night,

Daddy said

I got to do two things,

marry Joyce and get a job

with health insurance

so I can take care of my baby.

You forgive your father?

Did you, uh...

did you ever even like him?

Your grandfather

was a complicated man, Tarrell.

[light chuckle]

Daddy would come home

mad about something

and try to take it out on Mama.

Your grandmother

was a living, breathing saint.

Oh, he-he was a minister,

but she was a saint.

Man, when you were finally born,

I brought you home

to introduce you

to your grandfather.

He wouldn't even pick you up.

I tried to put you in his arms.

He walked right by.

He went over to Mama and said,

"Now, now, now, that's your son.

That's your lustful

heathen sinner."

Mama looked him dead in the eye

and said,

"Jesus is strong enough

to save."

Whoo-wee!

Daddy looked at me and said,

"You won't bring that child

into the house of the Lord.

That baby was conceived in sin.

And until you and Joyce

confess your sins

in front of the congregation,

you won't set one foot

inside of my church."

Oh, I never seen Mama so angry.

She jumped in his face and said,

"You don't speak for God!"

[exhales] That set Daddy off.

Now, your grandfather

kept a p*stol.

Folks used to call him

"the g*n-toting preacher."

He whipped that thing out

so fast, I ain't even see

where it came from.

He aimed that p*stol

right at Mama's head.

She didn't flinch.

I dropped you on the couch,

and I-and I ran

and I jumped between them.

[chuckles lightly]

Mama tried to push me away.

Looking over my shoulder,

she said, "I trust God."

Daddy put that g*n

to my head and said,

"Boy, stay out

of grown folks' business!"

[sneers]

Right when Daddy said that,

you fell headfirst

off the couch.

And, boy, you started wailing.

But Daddy put that p*stol down

and said, "Somebody shut

that pickaninny up!

Somebody shut

that pickaninny up!"

"Shut that pickaninny up."

It was hard for him.

Hard for who?

Daddy.

I mean, you know,

Daddy was a good man.

He was a good man? You...

you just told me that he...

you just told me that he tried

to k*ll you and Grandma.

Well, Daddy wasn't

gonna k*ll her or me.

You know how many times

Daddy pulled a g*n on us?

Um...

he had flaws.

[Tarrell scoffs] Wait...

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

No, no.

La'Ron, you judge a man

by his actions, by how he lives,

and by how he takes care

of his family.

All right, now, he-he pulled

a g*n on you and on Grandma,

and now you're saying

he's a good man?

[stammering] Uh, he had flaws.

I mean, he definitely had flaws.

Flaws?

I mean, but everybody got flaws.

- I mean, who ain't got flaws?

- Flaws, man?

And you got flaws, Tarrell.

Ain't you got flaws?

Yeah, but we ain't talking

about flaws, man.

A flaw is an accident,

a mistake.

He f*cking pulled a g*n on you.

You don't get to go out here

a-abusing your family

and call yourself a good man.

[grunts]

[thudding, shattering]

Mm-hmm. There it is.

There it is.

"I'm not the same man you used

to know before, Tarrell."

That's what you said, right?

Ain't that what you said?

No, n*gga, this what I remember.

Man, this is exactly

what the f*ck I remember.

Why the f*ck my mama

let you back in her life

in the first place?

- [door opens, slams close]

- sh*t.

[somber music plays]

[somber music continues]

[no audible sound]

[La'Ron over video camera]

At first, it was--

it-it was just on the weekends,

but every time I got

a little extra money, I'd hit.

Before I knew it,

I was smoking every day.

That-that's why

I worked so hard.

You know, I kept working,

so I was able to hide it

from most people.

[Tarrell] I knew.

I knew.

[somber music continues]

[sighs]

[music fades]

[footsteps]

- [knock on door]

- [door opens]

[La'Ron] Let's get it.

[engine starts, revs]

[La'Ron] Roll it.

Come on, roll it.

[young Tarrell grunts]

[objects clattering]

Come on, let's get it.

Now, come on, bend down.

- Come on. You've got it.

Bend down.

- Agh.

[La'Ron] Let's get it.

[thuds]

Little man, jump over here.

Back the truck up.

I'll guide you.

[young Tarrell] Okay.

[La'Ron] Come on.

Come on, now.

Come on. Whoa!

Come on, let's go.

Come on. [grunts]

- Come on, get up here, man.

- [young Tarrell grunts]

[La'Ron] All right, come on.

Oh, come on, Tarrell!

You know how to--

I showed you to do it

better than that.

Come on, take this shovel.

Get on this side.

Come on, now.

We ain't got all day.

[straining]

[La'Ron grunts]

- [flesh squelches]

- Ahh! Dad!

[whimpers] Dad!

[whimpering in pain]

- [young Tarrell screaming

in pain]

- Ah! Be quiet.

[young Tarrell crying in pain]

[La'Ron] It's barely bleeding.

Come on.

I ain't your mama.

I ain't gonna baby you, boy.

- [young Tarrell sobbing]

- You're a little Black boy.

Ain't nobody

gonna ever feel sorry for you.

You need to get that sh*t

through your head right now.

[young Tarrell

continues sobbing]

Now, dry off.

We gotta go!

Tarrell, you got to understand,

the world don't give a sh*t

about us.

- [whimpers]

- Wake up, boy.

The only thing

that separates you

from these other little n*gg*s

to these white folks

is how hard you work.

You got to be able

to outwork the next man.

You're both tired,

you're both in pain,

but who's more hungry, huh?

No, we don't get no days off.

You think I like shoveling sh*t?

- [lawn mower whirring loudly]

- [young Tarrell straining]

[grunts]

Ah!

Hey!

Hey! What-- what you doing, boy?

We got to finish this job!

[lawn mower turns off]

- Come on, let's go, boy!

- My foot.

I don't wanna hear

about your foot!

Let's go!

- I can't! I can't!

- Get, boy.

- What do you mean, you can't?

- [sniffles]

Boy, if you don't get this thing

up this hill, man,

your foot gonna feel like

a vacation next to your a*s.

Now, let's go. Let's go!

- [grunts]

- [lawn mower turns on]

Push it, boy! Go!

- What is wrong with you, huh?

- My foot!

[somber music playing]

[breathing heavily]

- Boy, get up

off this woman's lawn!

- [gasps]

Let's go! Get in the truck, boy.

[engine starts, revs]

Dad?

Dad?

Can we-can we just go home?

We should just go home.

Mama's gonna be so excited

when she finds out

- how much money we made today.

- Boy, you ain't gonna tell

your mama a damn thing

about this money.

This is my money.

You hear me?

[La'Ron] Kenny.

Dad, you promised.

Stay out

of grown folks' business, boy.

What's up, La'Ron?

[indistinct whispering]

[car door opens, slams close]

[La'Ron] You worked hard today,

Tarrell.

You can do anything

you set your mind to, boy.

You learned that today.

Tarrell.

Tarrell.

[car engine starts]

[soft piano music playing]

You're looking

just like your daddy right now.

What'd you say?

Don't say that to me.

You all right?

He told me you came by.

[scoffs]

[Tarrell, softly] Mm-hmm.

Let's take Jermaine to the park.

We ain't got time

for the park. Quentin's coming

- with the truck at 4:00--

- Why are you in such a rush

to get me out of here?

[Joyce sighs]

I have good memories here.

I know you don't,

but I got good memories here.

[light chuckle]

[train horn blaring]

[indistinct yelling]

So, you went by.

Did you talk to him?

You remember

Douglas Street, Mama?

Of course.

We lived there for years.

But do you remember?

Why are you asking me that?

Do you remember

that broken mirror?

That night didn't happen.

It was a bad dream. I decided.

What about all the other nights?

Were they dreams too?

That sh*t happened, Mama.

- Watch your mouth.

- All right.

He was amazing...

at first.

But the same thing

that got a hold of this park

got a hold of him.

He gave me you, Tarrell.

He was my first love.

He was my first love.

And he gave me you.

Oh, I hate

you remember that house.

I still love him.

What?

Why?

[scoffs]

Why, Mama?

La'Ron has been through

a lot, Tarrell.

You-you've been through a lot.

You've been through a lot, Mama.

Why you still making excuses

for him?

Look...

the Bible says

that if you don't forgive others

of their past sins,

then you can't be forgiven.

That's the Bible, son.

- I don't care what--

- Matthew 6:15.

I don't care what the Bible say.

- Mama, I wanna know

what you say.

- No, honey. Now, look, son.

Now, now, I raised you

better than that.

I raised you

better than that, now.

- Until you--

- Come on.

Until you made him leave,

Mama, our life was fear.

I shook the fear,

and now you want me to sit here

and play some loving

father-son fantasy with you?

That boy over there...

Ours is the only

father-son story

I'm interested in, okay?

If you don't forgive others

of their sins,

if you don't forgive,

baby, if you don't forgive,

you won't be forgiven.

No, Mama.

[laughs] You and this--

Oh, you and this f*cking Bible.

[laughs]

Tarrell, now,

wait a minute, now.

No, you wanna talk

about the Bible,

- let's talk about the Bible.

- Now, you can-- Li-listen.

- Listen, we can disagree--

- Let's talk about the Bible.

We can disagree,

but you not gonna blaspheme

- like-like that.

- I got one.

- Not in front of me.

- I got one for you.

- Abraham and Isaac.

- Not in front of me.

- Abraham and Isaac.

- You not gonna blaspheme

in front--

- You not gonna blaspheme.

- Abraham and Isaac.

God told Abraham

to k*ll his only son.

You remember that?

Sacrifices got to be made,

right?

So, baby boy had to go.

You remember, right?

So, Abraham takes Isaac

up to the mountaintop.

Isaac say,

"Daddy, where's the offering?

I know we gotta make a sacrifice

to your angry-a*s God.

- Where is the sacrifice?

- Tarrell!

Where is the sacrifice?"

Abraham said, "Don't worry, son.

God will provide."

Abraham walks up to the top

of that mountain, takes Isaac,

throws him out on that altar,

raises the knife up

over his head,

and just when the knife starts

to break the skin,

God's angel swoops in

out of nowhere,

grabs his hand and says, "Abe,

I didn't know

you was gonna do that.

I was just f*cking with you."

[mouths] Oh, my God.

[softly] No. My God.

Look at me.

Look at me, Mama.

Why did you leave me with him?

Look at me.

You knew what he was doing.

Why?

Jermaine, come on.

- Come on.

- [Jermaine] Do we

have to leave now?

- [Joyce sobbing]

- [voice breaks] Let's go.

[breathing heavily]

[indistinct yelling]

[heartbeat thumping]

[somber piano music plays]

[somber piano music continues]

Don't.

[man] What do you want?

I used to live in this house.

You want it back?

I hate this g*dd*mn house.

[door closes]

[car door closes]

[gasps, whispers] You left Cool.

You left Cool, babe.

[Jermaine] Cool, Cool.

Thank you, Mom.

Hello.

I'm never staying here again.

I don't care how close it is

to your mama house.

[Jermaine]

Cool, Cool, Cool, Cool!

I don't wanna be here no more.

[Jermaine imitates

monkey gibbering]

What happened?

She still loves him.

I mean... [sighs]

Is it-is it just in my mind,

or are bad memories

somehow more saturated

than good ones?

I mean, how am I supposed

to paint a sunny day

if I don't remember

ever even seeing one?

- Hmm.

- She still loves him.

[Tarrell sighs]

[Tarrell chuckles]

[phone vibrates]

- Love.

- Hm?

It's your brother.

Hey. Hey, man, what happened?

- Where she at?

- I've been here 45 minutes,

and they won't let me see her.

- She's on machines right now

to-to keep her alive.

- Machines?

Yeah. And that n*gga been

over there talking to himself

and praying.

[Tarrell] Wait a minute, man.

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

She was fine when I left.

Hey, she was fine when I left.

Now, we had an argument

at the park,

but she was fine. She--

I left,

but she was just sitting there.

She-she passed out.

She stopped breathing

at the basketball court,

- so they had to come over

and bring her here.

- Stopped breathing?

- She in the ICU right now.

- Hey, man,

where-where the doctor?

- I don't-I don't know

where the doctor is.

- Where's the doctor?

- They not letting me

go see her. She--

- Doctor, where my mom?

Uh, we've been stabilizing her

- in the intensive care unit.

- Can I see her? Can I see her?

No, no. I'm sorry,

her condition is very serious.

Your mother has been suffering

from dangerously high

blood pressure for some time,

and her heart is very weak.

She was fine when I left.

She was fine when I left.

We released her

from our care last weekend,

against our advice.

She insisted

she be allowed to go home.

Uh, we won't be allowing

visitors until we're able...

[voice fades]

Excuse me.

Tarrell, we just need to pray.

[breathing shakily]

- [La'Ron] Our Father...

- [Quentin] Come on, bro.

[La'Ron] ...who art in heaven...

[Quentin] You know praying

ain't gonna do sh*t.

[La'Ron]

...hallowed be thy name...

[Quentin] 'Rell.

[La'Ron] ...thy kingdom come...

[Quentin] Come on, bro,

let's go.

[La'Ron] ...thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

I need you

to pray with me, Tarrell.

Give us this day our daily bread

and forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom

and the power

and the glory, forever.

[inhales deeply]

[indistinct announcement

over PA]

Tarrell, if you have faith,

God can do miracles.

- Tarrell.

- Hey.

- Tarrell.

- Hey!

Have you asked yourself

once, one time,

what's best for us?

For him? For your grandson?

[scoffs] Just...

You don't get to just pick up

where you left off, La'Ron.

[birds chirping]

[Aisha moans softly]

You're awake. I'm sorry.

Yeah, I didn't sleep.

I'm gonna head back

to the hospital.

All right. [clears throat]

- I'm gonna get dressed.

I'll take you.

- No. No, no, no.

Hey, hey. It's all right.

Okay? Um, we don't both need

to go.

- You sure?

- Yeah, yeah.

- Walking-walking will be good.

- Okay.

If anything changes,

I'll-I'll let you know.

- Okay.

- All right.

I'll let the hotel know

we're gonna stay here

for a while.

No. No, Aisha, it's your turn.

Now, when Mama wakes up

and find out that

you hadn't finished that song,

- you know she gonna whup

your behind, right?

- [chuckles lightly]

Plus, I, uh, I called

Regina and Uncle Mike.

They said they can look after

Jermaine for a few days, so...

[mouths] Yeah.

[clicks tongue] Yeah.

Mama gonna be good.

All right.

[door closes]

[sighs]

[La'Ron] Tarrell.

I figured you'd probably

wanna go see your mama

first thing.

I can drive.

Just let me drive you, Tarrell.

You wanna get

some breakfast first?

Breakfast?

No.

Just wanna get to the hospital.

You remember you used to make

breakfast before our dump runs?

[light chuckle]

Man, we used to work, boy.

Couldn't stop us.

Ain't no father and son

ever work like we worked.

My boy used to work like a man.

Boy, you used to be

up on that truck faster than me.

All we ever did was work.

Don't know nothing else, man.

I done told you about my daddy.

That man didn't teach me nothing

but work.

I had to put steel in you, boy.

You remember how hard it was

around here.

I had to be hard on you.

Can't nobody say

that you're weak or soft.

Can't nobody say

that you don't know how to work.

I taught you that.

[compartment opens]

[object clattering]

Open it.

Now, that's my favorite.

It's called The Preacher's Wife.

That's Mama, right?

That's my mama.

That's my prayer closet.

I never stopped praying for you.

I hear you.

In my head.

But your voice...

it ain't just forcing me to work

or screaming at me

when I'm tired.

[sighs] When Jermaine...

when Jermaine messes up,

I think of something

that you might say.

It scares me.

[scoffs] Man, you put steel

in me all right.

But sometimes Jermaine...

I think he just needs to cry.

[elevator dings, door opens]

[elevator door closes]

[woman]

Yeah, seems like he's stable.

He survived.

It was such a scare.

[machine beeping]

You knew.

That's why

you didn't wanna pack.

You knew this was coming.

I just wanted to bring you home.

I just-- I was trying to...

[sighs] What am I gonna tell

Jermaine? [sniffles]

I'm sorry, Mama.

Mama.

Mama?

I'm sorry.

[somber music plays]

[young Tarrell breathes deeply]

[young Tarrell whimpering]

[wincing, whimpering]

[sobbing]

Tarrell.

- Tarrell, what's wrong?

- [sobbing]

- My God, baby,

where are your shoes?

- I don't...

What happened, Tarrell?

What happened?

[crying] I stepped on a nail.

[Joyce exhales sharply]

- Where's your father?

- I don't know.

Come on, baby.

Uh, let me take you

to the hospital.

- We gonna go--

It's gonna be all right.

- [car door closes]

- It's okay, baby.

It's gonna be okay.

- [engine starts]

[somber music continues]

[music fades]

[Joyce] La'Ron.

What happened to my son?

La'Ron!

- What happened to my son?

- Oh, calm down. f*ck!

[La'Ron groans]

Stop all the yelling. Geez.

sh*t.

[lighter ignites]

He stepped on a nail

with all kinds

of... filth on it,

and you let him walk home

by himself.

[stammers] You gotta stop

spoiling that boy.

Do you hear

what I'm saying to you?

Do you hear me?

He's a boy.

You gotta stop working him

like he's a man.

You doing him

just like your daddy did you,

and look at you.

Look at you.

You disgust me.

I can't believe

you're doing this sh*t again.

I want you out of this house.

Yeah.

I want you gone.

I want you gone. I want you out!

[muffled] Me and my son,

me and my baby,

we not gonna live like this.

And you not making him

into a man.

You're breaking him.

And he's gonna hate you for it.

He is going to hate you for it.

[La'Ron] Well, let him

just hate me, then.

[Joyce] I want you

out of this house.

- This is my house!

- I want you gone.

- This is

my m*therf*cking house!

- I want you out of this house!

I ain't going nowhere!

- Did you hear me?

This my m*therf*cking house!

- I want you out of my house!

I'm not going nowhere! [screams]

[sobbing softly]

[dark music playing]

[thudding]

- [clattering]

- [Joyce screams]

[no audible sound]

[indistinct screaming]

[La'Ron screaming]

[La'Ron, muffled]

Why you make me do this?

Mom? Mom? Mom?

What did you do?

La'Ron, what did you do?

Mom? Mom? [sniffles]

Mom?

[crying] La'Ron,

what did you do?

Mom? Mom, can you--

can you wake up?

Mom? Mom?

[whimpers]

Mom. Help me!

Help me get her up!

Help me get her up!

[breathing heavily]

[suspenseful piano music plays]

[grunts]

[continues breathing heavily]

[objects clatter]

[music fades]

[dramatic instrumental music

plays]

[dramatic instrumental music

continues]

["Bricks" plays]

What we do is

What we do

Brick by brick

That's how we move

No foundation

Building with bricks

That we were never given

I am your safe place

Safe place

Filling the places

We were never filled in

And you are my treasure

Who can say

It's not a miracle?

What we do is what we do

What we do

Is what we do, oh

Painting a picture

We never envisioned

We are what

We've never seen before

Forgiving when we have

Never known forgiveness

[vocalizing]

Light came from the void

Learning to hear

When no one ever listened

Who can say

We're not a miracle?

Learning to heal

When no one ever healed

Healed us

She produced a miracle

[vocalizing]

Hands with pain

And grace unfold

Empty, but she filled you

Giving you life

That she was never given

And now, I'm so grateful

Grateful, grateful

She made all things

Possible

A firm foundation

Believing when her world gave

Nothing to believe

In

To believe in

What we do here

What we do

And brick by brick

That's how we move

No foundation

Built with bricks

That we were never given

[sighs]

[song ends]

[insects chirping]

[footsteps]

[Tarrell exhales]

[chill music plays]

[indistinct chattering]

- [Tarrell] Hi. How are you?

- Hi. Just wanna say,

big fan of your work.

- It's absolutely stunning.

- Thank you.

[woman] Oh, my God.

Can I get a selfie?

Uh, yeah. Yeah, sure.

- [man 1] Awesome.

- All right. Thank you.

- [Tarrell chuckles lightly]

All right, thank you.

- Yes. Love it.

- Um, Mrs., uh...

- Yeah. Barbara.

- Barbara. Barbara.

- Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yes.

It's good to see you. Hi.

- Yes, hi. I'm another Barbara.

- This is Barbara too, yes.

Yes, you know,

I've known him for a long time.

- Almost 20 years.

- Oh, yes. Oh, yes.

- [Janine] Tarrell,

this is James Kirlin.

- [Tarrell] Hi.

He's been wanting to meet you

for a really, really long time.

- Pleasure to meet you.

Nice to meet you, James.

- Nice to meet you.

- He owns two of your works.

- Oh, wow.

I remember his paintings

at the Studio Museum.

- Yeah. Yes, Studio--

- Hey. Hi.

- Can I steal you

for just a minute?

- Right, yeah. Sorry. So sorry.

- I have collages

of your work and paintings.

- [Tarrell laughs] Oh.

- So good to see you. Thank you.

- Nice to see you again.

- Can't wait to get back to it.

[chuckles]

- Thank you.

- Okay. Thank you.

- [Tarrell chuckles]

Can you hang out

a little-a little while longer?

Uh, um, just a little bit,

but not-not much longer.

I-I wanna-- I wanna get back.

Aisha-- I wanna get back.

- Aisha-Aisha went home, right?

- Yeah. Yeah.

All right, give me like--

give me another 20 minutes.

- Okay, ten minutes sounds good.

- Uh...

You know, I have been saving

something for you.

I have

ten other people interested,

but this one, right over there,

- what do you think?

- I love it.

[man 2 chuckles] I know.

Excuse me. Excuse me!

Sir, don't touch the artwork.

Oh, my God,

you're Tarrell's father.

Oh, my God, I am so sorry.

Forgive me. [laughs]

Oh, wow.

I didn't mean

to speak to you like that.

I-I'm sorry, ma'am.

It just got a hold of me.

I know exactly what you mean.

It is...

Ha. I'm Janine.

I represent Tarrell.

Wow, that son of yours

is so talented.

I bet he gets that from you.

[Arthur] Tarrell.

Tarrell.

Tarrell.

I own several of your paintings.

My favorite piece,

I hang over my bed.

I mean, my kids have grown up

seeing your work every day.

Um, when my daughter

went off to Dartmouth,

she insisted that her mother

and I let her take

a smaller piece,

- hang it in her dorm room.

- [chuckles lightly]

Oh, can I take a picture of you

to send to Jenny?

- ...which I think

is really interesting.

- [Arthur] Hm?

- Oh, she's gonna love this.

- It's a beautiful piece.

The light in there...

[Arthur] No?

- Oh, come on, she's gonna--

- Don't-don't-don't touch me.

- She's gonna love this.

- Don't touch-- don't touch me.

Hey.

- [Janine] Tarrell?

- I just bought the painting

you're standing in front of.

- I don't think a picture

is too much to ask for.

- Tarrell?

- I said don't f*cking touch me.

- Tarrell, this is

Arthur Emanuel.

You don't know me.

- Arthur and Teresa Emanuel.

- Yes, thank you.

- I don't-I don't know you.

- All right? Just 'cause

you bought a f*cking painting

- does not mean

you know me, okay?

- I'm a big supporter of you.

- Tarrell, calm down.

- Okay? I'm your biggest fan.

- All right?

- I'm a big supporter of you.

Did she tell you

about this painting?

You know who this is?

- It's your mom, right?

- Huh? It's my dead mother.

- Okay.

- You wanna hang her picture

over your-- over your bed too?

- Is that what you wanna do?

I got a better idea.

- I'm sorry.

- I'm very sorry.

- Why don't you take

the painting of my dead mother

and-and give it

to your daughter,

uh, Katie or Jenny,

- or whatever the f*ck

her name is...

- Control yourself.

- ...as a graduation present.

- Come on, son.

[Janine] Arthur.

[crowd continues chattering]

[exhales deeply]

- [glass clinks]

- [drink pouring]

[door opens]

- [door closes]

- [footsteps]

[La'Ron] You okay?

Why are you here?

Why are you here?

I haven't seen you

since the funeral.

- I thought--

- Why are you here, La'Ron?

You painted me, Tarrell.

This painting was about

me being freed from the darkness

that I've done.

Hm. That's good.

Oh, that's good.

God was speaking

through that painting.

[Tarrell chuckles]

I'm glad for you.

- 'Cause everything

just gets erased, huh?

- [drink pouring]

- That's God's grace, Tarrell.

- [Tarrell sighs]

Grace?

You know, everything I saw

plays in my head again and again

and again and again,

and you talking about grace.

[scoffs]

You think that painting

is about you getting set free?

- You think that

that painting is about you?

- [glass thuds]

That painting is about me

trying to keep the past

from sneaking up behind me

and destroying my everything.

I put it on canvas

so that I could hold that sh*t

by the throat.

What you want me to say?

I raised you

the best way I knew how.

No, n*gga, my mama raised me.

I did you

the way my daddy did me.

- Oh, this--

- But it worked on you.

I mean, look at everything

you've got, Tarrell.

Your art, your family.

What I did wrong

taught you to do right.

- [scoffs]

- You need to thank God

for that.

Thank God?

So, you-you saying...

[chuckles]

...that me watching you

abuse yourself

made me a better father?

You beating my a*s

made me a better father?

Me watching you

put your hands on my mama

made me a better father?

And now... [breathes shakily]

...n*gga, now, you want me

to thank God for that?

I was on crack, Tarrell.

- What'd you expect?

- And I was a boy

watching his father on crack!

That's not me no more.

- Okay.

- That's not me no more.

It's not good to live

with all that inside of you.

You need to forgive

so God can take that away.

You need to pray.

- [glass thuds]

- No more prayers, La'Ron.

No more prayers.

Those prayers

didn't save my mama.

[sniffles]

You know she still loved you?

[sobs softly]

After all that sh*t

you put her through...

she still loved you.

That's what we was arguing about

in the park, you know.

I couldn't understand it.

But I think I get it now.

It wasn't for you.

[sobbing softly]

Man, I need to move on.

[sighs, sniffles]

La'Ron, I forgive you.

[sobbing]

For what you did to me.

But I will never forget

what you did to my mama.

We-we still got the future.

No, man.

No future, La'Ron.

[Tarrell breathes deeply]

You wanted my forgiveness,

and I gave you that.

The, uh, the future...

[clears throat]

...the future belongs to, uh,

to Aisha and to Jermaine.

You took the past.

And, man, I forgive you.

I understand.

Life didn't give you

a lot of choices.

But the future...

[sighs]

...that's mine.

[door opens]

[door closes]

[whispers] Mama...

It's in a Byzantine style.

You know,

like the religious icons.

I mean, he-he really put

a lot of, uh...

Tarrell, what are you doing?

Tarrell, what are you doing?

[chuckles]

You can't do that.

What are you doing?

Tarrell.

For your prayer closet.

Don't stop praying for me.

[mellow music plays]

[mellow music continues]

[mellow music continues]

[music fades]

[chuckles lightly]

[objects clatter]

[hopeful music plays]

[hopeful music continues]

[hopeful music continues]

You okay, Dad?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm all right.

I love you.

I love you.

Come on.

[door closes]

[music fades]

["Bricks" by Andra Day plays]

["Bricks" continues playing]

[song ends]

[mellow music plays]

[mellow music continues]

[music ends]