Prayer Never Fails (2016)

[bunniefuu]

[gavel knocking]

- Let me go. She needs me.

Let me go.

[cries]

- Well look who it is.

A man smart enough to end up in
cuffs.

- How do you keep it all
together?

Hm.

Everything falling apart in your
life and

still you believe.

[light dramatic music]

[motorcycle turns off]

["All I Got" by Jon Blaq]

[kids talking in distance]

- Nice sh*t.

Composure, you gotta keep that
composure.

Come on, Rob, what are you gonna
do?

What are you gonna do?

Come on guys.

You have to know when to
take it hard to the hole,

or when to pull up and sh**t.

A player that doesn't know
that is not gonna play

this game long.

When you leave the court
at that final buzzer,

you better be able to
look me in the eye and say

that you give it all.

All you had, is left on the
floor.

Give us strength to fight,

to the last man to the
last play to the last bell

we fight.

- [All] We fight.

- [Coach] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Coach] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Coach] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Coach] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Coach] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Coach] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Coach] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Coach] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Coach] Amen.
- [All] Amen.

[cheers and clapping]

[students chattering]

[change jingling]

[beep]

[change jingling]

[sighs deeply]

- I'll catch up with you.
- [Girl] Bye.

- Hey coach.

- What's up man?

What's going on?

What, you want me to walk you to
class?

What's on your mind?

- It's my dad.

He's a punk.

Sometimes,

sometimes I just want
to punch him, you know?

He's just...

He's so sick.

- Sick how, man.

[dramatic music]

- Kurt.

[door slides]

Sit down.

I'm just thinking to myself,
when was the last time

that we had a father son chat?

- I can't recall, sir.

- Neither can I.

So, how's school?

- It's good I guess.

- Girlfriend?

- No.

- No?

Boyfriend?

- What? No.

Any other questions, sir.

- Kurt, relax.

I'm just making sure that I know
my son.

You know they say that
teenagers change, so I'm just

determining the level of your
adjustment.

- What do you even know about
us?

- You can stop with the
histrionics.

- Do you know your wife
calls her friends cry--

- That's enough.

- [Voiceover] Stop it Jim.

- He did that to you?

- I didn't say that. I just--

- Well what did you say?

You better say something, what?

- Never mind. Just...

I tripped whatever, you know.

He was yelling, I got scared.

- Um.

Listen, listen man.

Relationships with our parents
can be very

complicated, okay?

They can be very very
complicated.

We want to protect them
a lot of the time because

they protected us right?

But there comes a time when
a parent can do something

that's gonna cause you to,

to not see them for over 20
years.

That's, you know, tragedy.

It hurts, a lot, but it does
happen.

All I'm saying is that you know,
there

can be a time when

you shouldn't protect them.

- Coach, he's a judge,
what am I supposed to do,

call the cops?

- I would suggest that you
pray to know what to do.

- I don't know how to pray.

Can you help me get the
conversation started or
something?

[clears throat]

[distant praying]

- Mr. Paul, this is Judge
Rogers, Kurt's father.

- Pleasure to meet you, sir.

What happened, Kurt, you been--

- Judge Rogers was in my office
today

before I finished lunch.

- You pervert.

If I find out you laid a hand on
my son.

- Dude, are you serious right
now?

- You do understand that praying
is against school policy?

- I know the policy.

- You people use religious
coercion and propaganda to

brainwash kids like my boy.

I presided over three cases
where so called Preachers

were praying.

- Dad, you're tripping.

- Shut up!

Don't use that kind of language
with me.

I never should have
brought you to this school.

God does not exist.

And no so called coach is
gonna change that fact.

- Well maybe he doesn't exist,

because if he did exist,

he wouldn't have made you such a
jerk.

- [Principal] Aiden, stop!

Stop!

Clean out your office, get out
of here.

[glass clattering]

Get out of here, Aiden,

get out of here.

- What are you talking about?

What are you doing?
- [Principal] You're fired!

You're fired.
- [Aiden] I'm fired?

For what?
- [Principal] Go!

Get out of my school.

- I didn't do anything, Mr.
Patterson.

- You did. Go.

- Mr. Patterson, those
are my boys that I coach.

- Those were your boys.

- Mr.--

- [Principal] It's done.

I'm sorry, go.

- Mr...

- Go, go home.

It's time, go home.

Go home.

[dramatic music]

["Miracles" by Mz. Nonz]

[light chattering]

- Alright, listen up.

I've got some bad news.

Coach Paul's been terminated

and he's not gonna coach
tonight [disgruntled shouting]

nor any further.

[lockers slam and shouting]

I'll have my starting five at
tip off.

Everybody be ready.

[lockers slamming]

- [Voiceover] Are you serious?

[bell chimes]

[machine beeps]

- [Voiceover] Hey lawyer,
who doesn't answer the phone.

Calling to let you know
that we're not doing

business with you anymore.

Your line's closed,

and you need to get out of
this thing before you end

up getting hurt.

- Everybody's sweating b*ll*ts.

Weaves going back and oh...
[laughs]

One girl's had separated,

it looked like two different
people.

[laughter]

I'm telling you, I would've
been so embarrassed.

- [Man] Oh my God.

- Miss Lilly, on a church
Sunday,

fell out with a heat stroke.

Roll it went up over her head.
[laughter]

It was so embarrassing.

Oh, Lord, I mean,

it is so hot and we can't
get a drop from the sky.

- It hasn't been this bad for
years.

- It really hasn't.

I mean, I can't remember when
we had a drought like this.

It was...

Oh...

- [Man] What?

- You know when it was?

That summer I found out I had a
twin.

And I would sit under that
big old live oak tree.

I said, "God you just saving
your tears until I find

my baby brother and then
you going rain down those

cool tears of joy. [laughs]

Baby brother, sh**t.

Dog gone it.

- Well you are five minutes
older than me.

- Well how do you know?

I'm gonna check the records.

You better stop talking
that older sister stuff,

thank you, Bill.

- We found out we liked
the same flavor ice cream.

- I know, it's crazy.

Both hate okra.

- Oh you know it's true.

Can't stand it.

[laughter]

- Hm mm mm.

Hmm.

So how's the practice going?

- It's good, doing very good.

- And my case?

- Good.

You know, I filed all the
papers.

I just keep waiting and
waiting for the trial date.

- Well it's filed and that's
good, that's progress.

That's really good.

Yeah.

So how you doing for money?

- I'm good.

Well I could use a little
loan if you've got it.

Just until the next settlement
comes in.

- Michael,

you know I don't put icing on
cornbread.

No, I cannot.

You know I invested all my
savings

on the case for son and all
those experts you said I needed.

I don't know if you know
but all of that came

out of my house.

- And you will get it back.

- [Woman] When?
- [Man] Off the top.

- When? It's been two years
Michael.

- Laurel, some of these things
take time.

- Well I don't have time.

Because now the bank is
making rumblings about

taking my house.

- How much does the bank say
they want to save your house?

- $10,400, can you find that?

- I'm not gonna let anybody
take that house from you.

Okay?

Nobody.

- Promise?

- I promise.

- In Jesus name.

I believe in you.

[mumbles]

I don't want this ice cream to
melt.

["Miracles" by Mz. Nonz]

- You know they can't
keep a good man down.

Tonight.

Princeton, Memphis, Oregon,
FSU, those will be easy.

Thanks for that, hope
you still got the touch.

- Excuse me?

You that lawyer, with
all the ads everywhere?

- That would be me.

Michael Brown.

- Do you like throwing money
away?

- Excuse me?

- All those games you
picked, they're all wrong.

Princeton is, Charmin soft.

Oregon is fast, they can't sh**t
the ball.

Memphis just got a new
coach, what are you doing?

Florida State, they need to
stick to playing football.

- [Waitress] Aiden Paul.

- Yeah.

Thank you.

- Hey, thanks.

In case you need a good lawyer.

- [Waitress] Water, coffee, or
juice?

- Water and

I'll have the light menu.

- [Waitress] Can you cover this?

[motorcycle shuts off]

[sighs]

- Thank you.

- Any time brother.

- Thanks for taking care
of the boys today, Ray.

- We missed you.

We got outscored by 20 in the
second half.

[sighs]

- This thing's got me
thrown, I mean, really.

I got no idea how he
could've found out about that

on the same day, I mean
it doesn't make any sense.

- I know.

[high pitched buzz]

- You did?

- Yeah.

Look man,

I feel bad.

I was hoping,

this might help you get on your
feet.

Just read it.

The lady's a good lady,

and it's a private school
and all, but I mean,

it's a gig.

- [Voiceover] Then they started
to concentrate, but they

didn't have to concentrate under
pressure.

This is a big deal right here
for this...

- [Voiceover] Kansas just
used its last time out.

- Oh.

- [Voiceover] He backed off
as well. Wow. [slams pen down]

- [Voiceover] He's got one
more, Kansas at the very least

will have a sh*t to tie with


[sighs]

- [Voiceover] Kansas has made
only two three on the night.

They must make one here
to extend the game.

Thomson driving, almost lost the
handle.

Chambers for the tie,
[cheering and yelling]

Unbelievable.

Dosier at mid court, for
the championship no, we're

going into overtime in San
Antonio.

Jim the free throws did it.

It put Memphis in this [mumbles]
position.

[pen slams on table]

[sighs]

- In Heaven.

Beyond my understanding.

My faith is in you.

[dramatic music]

[knock on door]

[knock on door]

- What's up, Coach?

- What's up, man?

- Come on, man. Stop acting
like you ain't happy to see

us or something.

I know you miss getting down
with us, huh?

I know you miss that.

What's up, Coach?

- [All] Coach!

- [Voiceover] What's up, Coach?

- What's up?

- Hey Coach.

- What's up, man?

Look guys, the important thing
is is that

you stay together,

right, because you're a team.

That's what a team does,
a team stays together,

no matter what. So,

no excuses.

- Look, this Coach Clemmins.

I have no idea what he's doing,

and I don't think he does.

- Hey coach, for real.

They did you wrong.

They did you real wrong.

I don't know if we can

do this without you on the
sidelines, man.

- Yeah you can, man.

Yeah you can.

Well, you know man,

there's no place I'd rather be,

you know that.

You believe that when I say that
right?

But,

it's out of my control.

- Coach, you can sue them.

- No, man, everybody
wants to file a lawsuit.

That's not me. I'm not filing a
lawsuit.

- So you're just gonna
sit back and accept it?

Just gonna sit back and do
nothing?

- No I'm actually looking for a
job, man.

- How's that job,

get you back on the
sidelines with us coach?

- I guess it doesn't Ron.

- You told us to never give up.

Go for our goals, our dreams,
everything.

And now look at you.

What are you gonna do?

- All that,

all that talk about us

being part of a team,

all that talk about us
being like your sons,

just talk right?

Just tough, talk.

- Seeing as life is
really complicated okay?

You don't know that because
you're


is.

Tried everything I could.

- I think it's pretty simple,
coach.

You always taught us,

to fight.

You always taught us to play
hard.

And now that it's time for
you to fight and play hard,

you just punk out.

- Punk out?

[dramatic music]

[sighs]

I love all you guys, but
you gotta go alright?

I'm...

I'm not your coach anymore,
okay?

- [Voiceover] You kicking us out
now?

- Come on.

- I knew you were nothing

but a fake,

white boy pretender.

- Man, get out of my house.

[slams door]

My house. [punches wall]

My house.

[dramatic music]

["I Ain't Got No Quit" by
D-Woodz]

- Hey.

You're the swami.

You were right about
those games, you know?

- Yeah, you were right too,

I think I might need a lawyer.

- Let's talk.

- I saw your sign out there,

on the road,

and in the diner,

and then I found your card here.

Three times, do you know
the significance of that?

- I can't say that I do.

- Oh, it's the Holy
Trinity, Jesus d*ed and then

rose on the third day,

there's 27 books of the Bible
which is three to the third

power--

- 66 books in the Bible.

- Right.

- [Both] 27 in the New
Testament.

- Alright, well 66 is still
a multiple of three and

Jesus prayed three times in
the Garden of Gethsemane.

before his arrest.
- Okay.

- [Aiden] After that--
- [Michael] Okay, okay

I get it. Three's a sign.

- Right.

- Look.

I don't even know if I
believe there is a God.

But I sure know you can't
pray with kids in schools.

- You ever try that?

- Praying?

Who hasn't?

- What'd you ask for?

- For what?

- For what?

- That I wouldn't have
a wife that cheated.

- And?

- I'm divorced.

- Because she cheated?

- No.

- You did.

- I don't think I can help you.

- Counselor, what do
you want most in life?

- Make money, be happy.

- Well, all I want to do,

is help kids.

I want to help boys become men.

To coach them and help them,
it's the only thing I know

how to do.

That's what I'm good at, that's
my calling

is to do that and

that's why I'm here right
now, is because a kid came

to me for help and

and I gave it to him,

the best way I know how, the
only way I knew how to help him

and they took everything
away from me for that.

So I'm here now asking

for your help,

and yeah, you would be putting
your neck out on the line,

but that's what I did for
somebody who needed help

and that's why I'm here so...

Come on, let's make some
history.

- I need a retainer.

Up front in case you
have a crisis of faith.

I'll do the rest on contingency.

- How much do you need?

- $10,500.

- Mr. Brown, I'm unemployed,
I don't have access to

that kind of money.

- I can't do it for free, swami.

- Would you take $5000, Mr.
Brown?

["I Ain't Got No Quit" by
D-Woods]

- [Woman] Michael?

- What are you doing here?

How did you know where I was?

- Do you realize what you are
doing?

I just want to pay my score.

They're gonna make me
tell them everything.

Everything I know.

You should check your office.

- Why?

- They left a message.

[keys jingle]

[door slams]

[dramatic music]

- [Voiceover] You know
you give a person a chance

and they just take advantage
of you, today you just

can't be nice, didn't want
to listen to the pretty face

that you got involved,

after you knew your line was
closed.

I want my money.

And whatever happens
to the people you love,

that's all you.

[bells jingle]

- We should go, get out of here.

- Go?

Go where?

- Anywhere, just not here.

A vacation, hm?

I mean you spend all your
time around these old things

nobody wants.

- Oh, so I guess I'm nobody,
huh?

- Well I didn't mean nobody.

I just meant we should
be, more spontaneous.

Leave.

- I have to work.

- You own the shop.

- And I need $10,400 remember?

- I remember.

But a few days won't hurt.

I mean the case is gonna
be settled real soon.

- It will?

- It will.

- Michael look at me.

In my eyes and tell me you
think this case is gonna

be settled soon.

- It will.

- We're the same.

Exactly same DNA.

- It will.

- Michael...

[light orchestral music]

- This is a...

- I've known about it for a
while.

I just wanted to see how
long it was gonna take

for you to tell me about it.

- Why didn't you--

- Why?

Because with people you love,

you tend to be more forgiving.

But I just kept hoping that
you would do something,

do something to make it right.

- Laurel...

- And you want me to leave,

my life.

You look around here and

you see old stuff, but I see
treasures.

The people who made all this
stuff,

they've long since passed,
but what they put their

hands to

is treasure.

That's their legacy and I
used to have one of my own.

That d*ed in that car
accident, so right now

I just want to make their legacy
live on

right here.

So no, I don't need a vacation.

I am where I need to be.

- I'll pay you back.

Every cent.

- I have to work.

- Laurel, I'll pay you back.

I promise.

I promise.

- Oh God.

- That's my sister, my heart.

I did this to her, I got to fix
it.

I'm gonna fix it.

Watch me.

- I pledge allegiance

to the flag of the
United States of America,

and to the republic for which it
stands

one nation indivisible with
liberty and justice for all.

Have a nice day.

- Under God.

- Do I know you?

- Under God.

One nation under God.

Approved by Congress in 1954,

is there a specific reason
you excluded that phrase?

Oh, you've been served,

by Michael Brown, attorney at
law.

Mr. Paul will see you in court.

- And the plaintiff should
be allowed a hearing

for immediate reinstatement.

My client's season will
be nearly over in 60 days,

your Honor.

- My client needs more time for
discovery.

We need more time.

Six months is what we're
thinking.

- Six...

Your Honor, this hearing
should take place this week.

- That's not feasible and
besides that's absurd.

- That is not absurd--

- I have heard from both
of you upwards of an hour,

you want to forever try the
case to make the plaintiff

suffer, and you

want to catch them with their
pants down so they can't

prepare properly.

Both positions strategically
valid, both positions

logically flawed.

Gentlemen, you have 30
days to complete discovery.

Trial begins in another 30 days,

I'm sorry if you're client
has to miss his basketball

season but my docket does not
revolve around basketball.

And I'm sorry if you're
client has to work to

prepare for trial but sometimes
counselor,

that's the way it goes.

Thank you, gentlemen.

- Thank you your Honor.

- [Michael] Thank you your
Honor.

- You're welcome.

- I had hoped you'd be a
little more sympathetic

to my client's case your Honor.

- I am a man of both
fact and faith Mr. Brown,

and I would suggest you
find a strong dose of both

before this trial begins.

- I'm Joseph T. Herrington,
trial lawyer,

Judge Rogers asked that I,

that we intervene and
bring our two hundred years

of collective experience to
bare.

Now who is this lawyer who is

shaking a stick in the beehive.

Smart, filed a

claim for retaliation.

Doesn't depend on the success
of the underlying claim.

Nevertheless.

Michael Brown, Yale Law in 1985,

three disciplinary complaints,
suspended for six months,

last chance reinstatement.

Misses deadlines.

Last five years filed 65 cases,


three lost at trial,

two dismissed due to
lack of prosecution and

one little victory for
a rear end car accident,

verdict, uh,

$2,500

[laughter]

We will not simply scorch the
earth,

they'll be no settlement,
they'll be no compromise,

they'll be no way out.

Still,

you go get me a

settlement conference with Mr.

Michael Brown.

[rattles door handle]

[truck engine turns off]

- Aiden Paul?

Aiden?

- The first amendment does
not give coaches the right

to impose their religion
on their students either.

Coaches are government
employees,

when they are coaching, they
are bound by the establishment

clause of the first amendment.

This means that they
cannot encourage, organize,

or participate in prayer.

When they get home, they can
pray,

but whenever they coach,
they coach and not preach.

- You know, you've managed
to divide the community

in a way I haven't seen I a
while.

Your resume is impressive but I
must say,

and I'm not one to b*at around
the bush,

there is no one in the
state who will hire you.

- [Voiceover] Aiden Paul?

- Good afternoon.

- How may I help you?

- This is my first time here,
so I don't really know what

to do but I have to apply
for unemployment benefits.

- Fill out these forms
and wait over there. Next.

- Ma'am, I'm sorry I'm not
trying to violate any thing,

but I've just been waiting
in line for three hours.

- [Woman] Denied.

- You lost Michael.

Don't let this escalate.

It won't be good for either of
us.

- I'll have the money.

Long before it's due.

Guaranteed.

[door shuts]

- Hi.

- Hey.

I've been looking for you for
over a week.

Trial's around the corner,

I'm meeting with the defense
in less than 24 hours.

- I've been busy.

- Your phones off.

- I'm staying at a
friend's house right now.

And I don't need that extra
bill.

- Well good news and bad, which
first?

- Um,

I don't know why don't we
let the good news drown out

the bad news?

- Alright bad.

The firm of Herrington Smith
and Hail took over the case.

We drew the partner Joseph
Herrington, he's tough.

Hasn't lost a trial in 20 years.

- So we can't win?

- Oh yeah, yeah we can b*at him.

But we may not have to.

That's the good news.

They called, wanted to talk
settlement.

- Well that's...

That's a good thing, right?

- Good? That's very good.

- See I pushed for this
trial to come up fast,

that put pressure on them,

they don't want to put
their resources in this and

know that it's bad PR so,

they want me to come by
tomorrow.

- Like a get my job back,
like very soon, good thing?

- I told them if getting your
job back wasn't on the table

we wouldn't talk.

They said let's talk.

It'll all be over tomorrow.

- Sorry, after conferring
with my client we decline to

make an offer.

- You never had any plans to
settle.

That's considered deception,
deceit, old fashioned lying.

- I did no such thing,
there's always a possibility,

albeit a lower than slight
chance, but

anything's possible.

- Well.

If that's the way you want to
play it.

- You're really not gonna
dismiss this suit are you?

- I don't quit.

- After you learn a few
things about your client,

I'm sure that withdrawing
might be a smart move.

- Patience prevents me
from folding prematurely.

- I got to give you a little
credit.

Realizing that if you argue
the merits that the actual

constitutionality, the
prayer, you lose so instead,

you plead retaliation.

That may get you an A in
my common law class but

in the end, these are
little consequence here.

- That's presumptuous.

- Provatic maybe.

Reality is

if you argue prayer,

you lose.

- I'll take that under
consideration.

- You realize this trial
starts in two weeks?

Per your request?

- That's fine counselor.

I wouldn't mind hastening the
headline,

Joseph Herrington loses.

Now that headline,

I'd toiler for.

- T.

Joseph T. Herrington.

Not Joseph Herrington the
plumber,

Joseph Herrington sanitary
worker,

Joseph T Herrington, litigator,

that's something you seem to
forget.

There will be no settlement.

- Very well.

Joseph Herrington. T.

- With your client and his
lawyer, I would expect this

to be the shortest
deliberation in history.

We're done.

- $5,000.

One hand.

[light piano and violins play]

[police siren in distance]

[knocking on window]

I wasn't sure if I should run or
slug you.

- You said that you wanted
to talk so I hope you got

some good news for me.

- You should've made an
appointment.

My life doesn't revolve around
this case.

- I never seen another soul
anywhere near this office.

Hopefully we'll just be
back to normal living,

you know as soon as we get the
settlement.

Thank God for that.

- You lost your job,
your house, your team,

your record,

still you thank God.

You lost your job for praying.

If prayer was so powerful,
wouldn't you still be working?

- What am I supposed to do?

Just be faithful when I am

rolling in the riches,

balling,

on top.

- They're not settling.

- They're not settling?

- They're not settling.

- That's funny because I
thought that you told me

they called you

and said that they wanted to
settle.

- They called,

but they snuck me.

- Snuck you?

Oh I see so they outsmarted
you is what you're saying.

- Say it any way you want.

But that's not the worst part.

- That's not the worst part?

What's the worst part?

- No matter what happens,
just keep praying right?

- Why don't you go ahead
and tell me the worst part?

- Look,

you see that stack of motions
they filed.

That's 50 grand in fees
sitting on that desk.

- Where's your stack of motions?

- You didn't pay me 50 grand.

- Well what is five grand stack
look like?

That's really it?

That's really it?

- And there's more.

- More?

Oh there's more?

- More.

- There's even more. Wow.

- You should've told me.

- This is supposed to be sealed.

Why are you handing me this?

This is [knocking on desk]
sealed.

This is sealed record.

- If that gets in.

You can't win.

- What do you mean if it gets
in?

It's not supposed to be in,
it's not supposed to be here,

you're not supposed, no one
is ever supposed to be able to

look at this.

Because it's supposed to be
sealed.

We're dropping this lawsuit
right now, do you understand?

- [Michael] Drop it?

- Yeah. I can't go to trial

with a lawyer--
- They have it!

- Who can't keep something
that was sealed as

a minor record.
- Their money unsealed it.

- There's no way this
should be here right now,

do you understand?

There's no way.

- So you just want to drop it?

- Yeah, that's right.

- All my time.

The kids are important.

Et cetera and so forth.

You know I don't get you, swami.

I don't get you.

One minute you're all about
prayer and the next minute

you're ready to quit.

- Ready to quit?

- I'm not quitting anything,
I'm getting out of su1c1de

right now, that's what I'm
doing.

I lost my job, I lost my
bike, I lost my house,

I lost my living, I lost
everything.

And all I keep... I'm waiting
for answers,

all I keep getting is you,
sitting here telling me

it gets worse.

Oh they outsmarted me. Oh.

You're sealed record from
when you were 10 years old

is now public because they
have money and we don't.

- That's right.

I tell you this so you
know what we're up against.

I tell you this so that
you can understand,

they're playing for keeps.

You get it?

You get it?

And all you got is me.

Hm, me.

The only person crazy
enough or desperate enough

to take your case.

The only person who's willing
to stick their neck out

for you.

The only person who...

You can't quit.

We can't quit.

I didn't tell you this to quit.

I told you this to fight!

Now you asked me something the
other day.

You asked me did I want to make
history,

well I'm telling you now.

Let's make history.

- What are we gonna do
about this, Mr. Brown?

[dramatic dark music]

[keys typing]

- [Judge] Mr. Brown?

- Ladies and gentlemen,

our legal system trust the
community to enforce the law.

Today, you are that community,

your job is important.

And relatively simple.

You have to decide if
Aiden Paul violated a rule,

and whether any violation
deserved termination.

Now,

they will tell you that
Mr. Paul was terminated for

praying with a player,

and that that prayer constituted
a violation of policy,

and for that,

termination was proper.

And then you'll hear the truth.

The truth is,

that Mr. Paul threatened
to report the school's

principal's violations to the
Board,

and later, that same day, he was
fired.

Those are the facts ladies and
gentlemen.

At the end,

[soft violins play]

actually,

the reason we're here

is prayer.

And where you believe

it's greatest value lies.

Thank you.

- Oh.

The truth.

The truth.

You know, when someone tells
you,

they declare that they rely
on the truth all too often,

in actuality, the truth,

it evades them.

Because they're so blinded by
their

passionate stand of their
position.

Now I have no doubt that Mr.
Brown believes his client's

position carries the shield of
the truth.

But reality is far from that
barometer.

You see in 1962, our Supreme
Court held

that teacher led prayer
is unconstitutional.

I'm gonna say it again,
listen very carefully.

The Supreme Court held
that teacher led prayer

is unconstitutional.

Opening up prayer in school
is akin to opening up

Pandora's box, why, because we
don't want

our children indoctrinated
with whatever religion,

whatever religion, just
happens to be popular

at the moment.

So we say no.

You want to discuss those
things, you want to ask
questions

you do it inside your own home.

The separation of church and
state

is an enforceable,

constitutional

principle.

Mr. Paul very simply,
violated that principle,

and the school,

they terminated him for doing
such.

That termination, you know
what that termination does?

It protects our children
from the undue influence of

people who happen to be popular.

People that our children
look up to like Mr. Paul

who will do anything to win.

Influence.

People who influence our
children.

Ladies and gentlemen of
the jury, with that verdict

I want you to inform the
plaintiff,

I want you to inform Mr.
Paul that we as a community

we respect and we uphold the
law.

No matter how many athletic
events

you may coach to victory.

We respect,

and we uphold the law.

Thank you.

[thunder]

- Your Honor,

plaintiff calls Kurt Rogers to
the stand.

[distant talking]

- It has been brought to
the court's attention that

Mr. Kurt Rodgers was never
properly served a subpoena

to testify in court today.

- Judge I was informed by the
witness that he would testify

today,

but I would move to admit
his deposition testimony.

- Your Honor we object to the
admission of this deposition,

we were not informed of
the deposition because

Mr. Brown deprived the
defense the opportunity to

cross examine the witness,
the deposition is inadmissible

hearsay under rule 801.

- Mr. Brown?

- I anticipated the witness
would be here to testify

your Honor.

- Not good enough.

If the defense did not have
the opportunity to cross

examine the witness, the
testimony,

it's not admissible.

- Your Honor, these
witnesses are inappropriate.

The facts of this case
turn on whether Mr. Paul's

termination was a
violation of school policy.

- Your Honor, is counsel
gonna allow us to put on our

case or continue these
jack in the box objections?

- Is opposing counsel gonna
adhere to one single rule?

- I agree with Mr. Herrington,
this case is not about

Mr. Paul's character, it
is only about whether he

was terminated for violating a
rule,

or for pretexual reason.

[gavel bangs]

Next witness.

- [Michael] Mr. Patterson,
you claimed that Coach Paul

was terminated for praying with
a student?

- [Mr. Patterson] That's
correct, yes.

- Isn't it true that on the
same day he was terminated,

he informed you that he was
going to report you to the

Board for the misallocation
of funds assigned to the team?

- Not in that way, no.

- In what way then Mr.
Patterson?

- I recall he

mentioned some kind of a
complaint, but

I don't recall him threatening
me to

threatening to report
me to my superiors, no.

- But if he was to do so
on the same day that he was

terminated,

it would look pretty
bad for you wouldn't it?

- Yeah, if you say so.

- Well did you?

- Did I what?

- Did you miss allocate funds?

- Absolutely not, sir, and I'm
insulted.

- Oh I'm so sorry to insult you,
sir.

Do you need a moment to gather
yourself?

- Objection your Honor.

Argumentative.

- Sustained. That
statement will be stricken.

- Mr. Patterson praying with a
student

is not a terminable offense is
it?

- Yes it is.

- According to your policies,

conviction of a felony,
forgery, falsifying records,

stealing, fighting, immoral
or indecent conduct,

these are listed as terminable
offenses,

and funny thing is, there's
no mention of prayer.

- It's not specifically
stated, I'll give you that,

it's assumed under indecent
conduct.

- I'm sorry.

Are you saying that your
school district categorizes

prayer as indecent conduct?

- Yes, but not in the way
you may think however.

- Well pray tell how do you do
so?

- Indecent defined as not being
the norm,

not fitting, not indecent as
obscene.

- The definition that you're
relying upon,

this definition is
written in your policies?

- [Mr. Patterson] No I don't
think--

- No it is not.

You would agree, Mr. Patterson,
that being transgender

is not the norm?

- Honor, objection.

- A little grace your Honor.

- Very little.

- Yes I would agree.

- And there is a transgender
teacher working at your

school, and a parent
complained because this teacher

discussed it with a student.

- I believe that's true, yes.

- And according to your
definition,

not being the norm is indecent,
right?

- According to that logic, I
guess.

- And that teacher still
teaches, yes?

- Mr. Brown, precisely what is
your point?

- My point is that you chose
to terminate Coach Paul

for praying with a student
but you chose not to

terminate a transgender
teacher who discussed

their sexual identity with
students.

Mr. Patterson.

Tolerance and understanding is a
river,

that flows both up stream and
down.

Does it not?

[thunder]

- Guard said it's about
that time, he's locking up.

- My mentor was never allowed
to enter the room down there.

He and everyone that looked
like him were forced to

sit up here.

Argue from the balcony.

Separate.

- Shackled by stupidity, huh?

- Shackled by stupidity.

- So I'm up tomorrow?

- It comes down to you.

- They can't bring up the
things about the past?

- No I don't think so, but

don't open the door.

[sighs]

I thought you said at the
beginning of this thing that

if we argue prayer's okay at any
time,

then we're gonna lose?



- We might.

But what are we really fighting
for?

Just a job.

- History, right?

- History remembers those who

win in a spectacular fashion.

Or lose in the same way.

Either way, you and I will be
remembered.

- [Voiceover] Coach?

Hey old man.

- We know you gotta take the
stand.

- And we know you've kind of
always had our backs and...

- [Voiceover] We wanted to have
your back.

- Just don't let them shake you
coach.

You know they say a solid
d wins championships.

- Hey man, I appreciate it,
guys.

What we in a huddle now?

What we gonna do? Do we fight?
We fight.

- [All] We fight.

- [Aiden] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Aiden] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Aiden] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Aiden] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Aiden] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Aiden] We fight.
- [All] We fight.

- [Aiden] Amen.
- [All] Amen.

[clapping]

- [Aiden] You guys, thank you
for coming.

- What? They followed me.

What can I say?

[upbeat, powerful music]

You were terminated, for
praying with one of the students

and that that violated the
rules.

Did you or did you not
pray with Kurt Rodgers?

- I did.

- And why?

- I did it because I
recognized pain in his eyes.

I knew it.

And

so then I made a choice
to help one of my players.

That was all.

- You do understand that
not everyone believes

prayer helps?

- I'm not concerned with
what everyone believes,

or what everyone thinks.

I just know that I'm the
only person who's walked

a mile in my own shoes,

and I know

the hopelessness of a
life without any faith,

know what that can be like.

Everything I do, and everything
I did

was to

help my players, and help
them become better men.

- [Mr. Brown] Your witness.

- You understood that prayer
in school is against the rules?

- No I didn't.

The constitution guarantees
my right to free speech.

Period.

- Strain lay interpretation
be that as it may,

is it your claim that

prayer helps,

helps.

That prayer has helped you.

- Yeah.

- Helped you as a child?

- Uh huh.

- Prayer's helped you as far
back as you can remember?

- I've been praying all my life
and

it has always helped me
through troubles yes.

- In 1991, when you were 10 did
you--

- [Mr. Brown] Objection, your
Honor.

This is case is not about
Mr. Paul's character,

as a child or an adult.

The facts of this case
turn on whether Mr. Paul's

termination was a violation
of school policy and

I quote Mr. Herrington.

- He has you there Mr.
Herrington--

- Counselor's just a tad
late with that objection,

Mr. Paul is the one who opened
up the door to his past,

on a principle that prayer
has always helped him.

In 1991,

were you arrested for m*rder?

Don't look at your counsel,
he can't answer that for you,

you're up there all on your own.

In 1991, were you arrested for
m*rder?

- I was.

- And did pray help you then?

- It did.

- Did prayer help you when you

pushed a man through a glass
window?

- Yeah.

- Did prayer help you when
you punched the man and you

broke his nose?

Did prayer help you when
you sh*t and k*lled the man?

Your very own father?

- Thank you Lord that you
will redeem my soul in peace

from the battle that is against
me.

- I'm sorry I can't,

I'm standing right here, I can't
hear it,

could you speak up?

- Thank you Lord that you
will redeem my soul in peace,

from the battle that is against
me.

- Your Honor, please instruct
the witness

to answer the questions before?

- Please, sir, answer
the counsel's questions.

- His questions, yeah I did.

It did help me then.

- That's the same help,
that you were giving Kurt

regarding his father.

No further questions.

- Counsel?

- The plaintiff calls Nona Paul.

- What are you doing?

- She called, said it's her last
chance.

- You should've told me about
this.

I don't like this at all.

- [Mr. Brown] Just trust me.

[light, soft piano plays]

- It's time.

It's my turn.

- Did Aiden sh**t his father?

- No. No he didn't.

- Did he say he did?

- [ Mr. Herrington] Objection.

- [Judge] Overruled.

- Yes, yes he did.

- Ms. Paul, in your own words,

tell us what happened that
night.

- I was a drug addict.

I had two strikes.

His father,

was a horrible,

violent man.

He and his friends would
do terrible things to me.

Things a child should never have
to see.

Aiden was always my protector.

Until that night.

That night, his father went
after,

Aiden,

and I decided in a split
second, I would do,

what I knew I had to do.

- What did you mean by coming
after Aiden?

No need to answer that.

- Your mother has cancer.

Small cell carcinoma, it's a
very invasive type of cancer.

I'm sorry.

- Come together they asked of
him,

saying Lord we'll doubt
this time restore again

in the kingdom to Israel.

And he said unto them,

it's not for you to know
the times or the seasons

which the Father hath
put in his own power,

but you shall receive power.

- [Mrs. Paul] Can you forgive
me?

- I was just a little kid.

And you left me in the system.

I grew up in foster homes.

You never even came to visit me.

- I was a coward.

Simple as that.

Facing you everyday, I,

it was facing my failure.

My fear.

You are everything I
wish I could have been.

[crying]

I don't deserve your
forgiveness,

I don't deserve your love.

- Yeah you do, I want you to
have it.

You do deserve it, you already
have it.

You're forgiven okay?

I forgive you.

I don't even care, I just want

I just want you to be here.

I just want you to be here.

- [Voiceover] Well Mr.
Brown, we find ourselves in

a precarious position.

Here's the promise, don't have
my money by the end of the

day, that email becomes a
reality.

[phone rings]

[sighs]

- [Judge] Counsel?

Are you ready for closing
arguments?

- He's pointing to you.

- Mr. Brown is the plaintiff
ready?

- Your Honor,

I need a recess for a day.

- Objection.

- This jury has been patient
and I will not make them

wait another day.

- Your Honor, I have to
attend to a personal matter,

of extreme urgency and I have to
do it,

right now.

- Your Honor if he had a
matter of such grave importance

he should've addressed it before
today.

- Mr. Brown, I find this last
minute request to be both

unprofessional and discourteous,

Mr. Herrington, are you
ready for closing arguments?

- Prepared your Honor.

- It is time for your
closing Mr. Brown, now.

- With all due respect your
Honor, to you and to the jury.

I will not be doing my
closing argument today.

There are some things
even more important than

our convenience,

or even the rule of law.

Today I'm faced with one of
those things.

Please forgive me.

I'll be ready tomorrow.

- Mr. Brown.

Mr. Brown! If you step into that
gallery,

I'll order you arrest and held
in contempt

of court, this is my courtroom.

And you will be held
accountable.

In my court, in my book,

do you understand?

[gavel bangs]

[gavel bangs]

- Let me go.

She needs me.

Let me go.

No.

- There he is.

Man too smart to end up in
cuffs.

- How do you keep it all
together?

Hm?

Everything falling apart in your
life and

still you believe.

- Don't think I don't get tired.

Don't think I don't ask for
answers.

I do, but I keep the faith.

- I'm a gambler.

I gamble.

You don't know what it feels
like to grow up a gambler.

You feel empty,

unwanted.

The only place I've...

The only place I actually
felt like someone,

was sitting at a table.

- Well Michael, you know
there's one family that I know

that I'm always a part of no
matter what.

- No matter what.

- No matter what.

- I stand here, my hands and
feet shackled like a sl*ve.

My freedom is restricted.

Freedom.

Freedom is why we're here today.

The defendant has shackled
my client's freedom to share

his faith with someone who

simply asked for help.

And when my client
responded yes I'll help you,

and decided to break his
shackles,

they fired him.

They say that

prayer in schools is
constitutional prohibited.

I say it's constitutionally
protected.

Freedom of speech protects
our right to speak freely,

and a plain text reading of
the amendment says no law,

no law shall be made to impede
free exercise of religion.

So they say separation
of church and state,

I say there would be no
state without the church.

But ladies and gentlemen,

I'm helpless,

I've taken him as far as
my abilities have allowed.

And now it's up to you.

I'm helpless bound in these
shackles.

I can't break them, I can't
unlock them.

I can't do anything on my own.

[orchestral music]

- Has the jury reached a
verdict?

- We have your Honor.

We find

for the plaintiff, Aiden Paul.

- [Judge] And for damages?

- We award the plaintiff
$700,000 reinstatement

with full pay and for the
defendant to pay attorney

fees in the amount of $250,000.

[cheers and clapping]

And the jury collectively

wants to say that as a
community,

we wish more teachers

would take the time to
pray with the students

in our schools.

- Defense moves for a
directive verdict your Honor.

- Denied.

- Request to the state of
the order pending appealed.

- Denied.

Coach Paul,

you are ordered reinstated
as of immediately.

Congratulations, counselor.

But my order of contempt still
stands,

you still have to show more
respect for the institution

of the law,

now you may conclude your
celebration in custody.

Bailiff.

[uplifting, positive music]

- Five minutes older than me.

- Stop it.

I am the baby and I always will
be.

[cell door opens]

- Never understood, I always
wondered how a man could

survive in quarters fit for a
rat, huh?

Well, the reason for my visit.

- You read my mind.

- Thomas Hill.

- Who?

- He sat unseen for nearly


who still haunts me to this very
day.

Third year, law school I was
an intern in the district

attorney's office and
I tried my first case.

I was arrogant and

he b*at me down.

The walk of shame when I got
back to the office, whoa.

I promise I'd never allow
myself to get b*at again.

When things got difficult,

those two words, they motivated
me,

Thomas Hill.

Now replaced by Michael Brown,

the only man to have ever beaten
me,

replaced by the only other
man to have ever b*at me

who's name will drive me to my
twilight

to never feel this way again.

- Was that a long winded
congratulations?

- That's what it sounded like to
me, yeah.

- Seeing that a jury's
ordered my client to pay

nearly one million dollars
combined with the fact that

we do not wish to upset the
Supreme Court's precedent's

in the unlikely event that
you should win an appeal.

I have been authorized to
make you a one time offer.

- $300,000.

- $200,000 Mr Paul, $100,000 to
counsel.

- This check is dated four days
ago.

- I had the authority to
issue it anytime I felt that

you actually had a
chance to make your case.

Which didn't arise until your

moving

closing.

I don't want to stand
around here all day so,

what's it gonna be?

- My job?

- Court's order stands.

I did ask the judge for one
little favor.

- You can go ahead and
roll your things up,

I'll be back to get you in 10
minutes.

[sighs]

- Still don't think there's
anything greater going

on in here Michael?

- [Michael] What are you doing?

- What does it look like I'm
doing, man.

- Here and now?

- Don't you understand,

don't you see?

[loud orchestral music]

["Greater" by Jon Blaq]