[dramatic orchestral music playing]
[roaring]
[dramatic electronic music playing]
[bright orchestral music playing]
[pastor] I have preached
many a funeral.
- As pastor, that is part of my job.
- [congregation responds]
[pastor] And I can tell you
that there have been moments
when I'm standing here
that I have no conviction,
because the person who died
died in Christ.
[congregation] Amen!
[pastor] And that person was a good soul
who God would welcome
with open arms.
[congregation responds in agreement]
[scattered applause]
As I think about 39-year-old...
Cody Bertran, and his brothers,
the Holy Spirit speaks to me
and says, "Luke chapter 16,
verses 27 and 28."
"So the rich man said,
'Father Abraham,
I beg of you to send Lazarus
to my father's house,
for I have five brothers,
in order that he may solemnly warn them
and witness to them
so that they, too, will not come
to this place of torment.'"
Amen. Amen. Amen.
[scattered applause]
Now, what this scripture is saying
is that a rich man died
and he found himself in hell.
[congregation murmurs]
Not because he was rich,
but because of his deeds.
Now how many of you know
that rich or poor,
God will judge your deeds?
[shouting, scattered applause]
Amen.
He begged the prophet,
pleaded that he would send word
to his brothers
so that they would try to do right
so that they would not wind up
where he was.
- [congregation murmuring]
- In hell!
- [shouting]
- Yes.
Daddy...
[pastor] I think about Cody,
who died at the hands of violence,
and I think about his brothers yet alive.
I believe, if he were able,
he would want you to have a chance
to get your life right with God.
A chance for you not to go the way
of your older brother.
- I didn't know he was...
- You sayin' my boy's in hell?
You better shut your mouth up,
judgin' my boys.
[congregation murmuring in shock]
Church, I ask you what kind of
representative of God would I be
if I didn't stand on this holy place
and tell the truth.
[scattered applause]
Amen.
Brothers and sisters, I do not want
to miss the chance
to talk to the Bertran family.
I need y'all to pray.
This is a small town.
There's been lots of crime
and lots of bullying
and havoc that you boys have wreaked.
You went to elementary school,
dropped out in the fifth grade.
Dallas was the only one
who graduated high school.
Was the only one who tried
not to go the way of crime.
And that is because...
I dare you to say it's because
of your daughter.
This girl has done nothing for my boy
but judge him and make his life miserable.
- That's not true.
- Linda, you've made this town miserable
because you didn't raise your boys right.
- Stealing, raping, maim!
- [man] You better watch your mouth.
Breaking into old folks' home!
This boy's in this casket
shortly after getting out of prison
because he tried to rob
an elderly member of this church
and she shot him dead.
[congregation shouting]
The Bible says if you live by the sword,
you die by the sword.
[scattered applause]
I'm not taking this!
- Ms. Linda.
- Shut up!
You said that your daddy was gonna say
something good about my boy...
but I knew I shouldn't have believe you.
[pastor] You oughta show her some respect.
It's because of her that we are paying
to bury your son.
Yes.
And that's supposed
to mean something to us?
You think I care?
Huh?
Y'all have always looked down on us.
Always!
- [murmuring]
- [woman] In the name of Jesus!
Do you think the Bertrans
need yo' money?
We don't need nothin' from you.
You hear me?
Let me get the hell outta here
'fore I say what's on my mind.
- [tense music playing]
- [congregation murmuring]
- It ain't right.
- Boys!
- Yeah, Mama?
- Get Cody.
- [congregation exclaiming]
- Mama.
- [woman] What?
- Get him!
[exclamations continue]
- Come on, boy.
- Yep.
Dallas!
Deacons, deacons, let 'em go.
Back up. Just let 'em go. Let 'em go.
- Ms. Linda.
- You did this!
Get... Hey! Hey! Hell no! Hell no!
Now, you watch your mouth in this church.
We were trying to help you.
Mama, please.
Please.
Mama, don't do that.
[congregation exclaiming]
Mama, don't do that.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
We're not doin' that.
No, we're not doin' that.
Dallas.
[tense music continues]
Oh my Lord. Oh my Lord, have mercy.
- No, no.
- Don't you dare.
You think I need these hand-me-down
clothes that your mama gave me? Huh?
I don't.
We the Bertrans, baby,
don't you forget it,
and we don't need nothin' from you.
Y'all, get the boy.
- Get him.
- [congregation exclaiming]
Get him!
No!
Not the casket.
- [man] What?!
- Take him out.
[overlapping shouts of shock]
[sharply] Take him out!
All they gon' say is that they paid
for the casket!
Take him outta there!
- How you gonna say we gon' get him...
- Take him outta there!
Come on, get him!
Oh my God.
[overlapping alarmed chatter]
- [women shrieking]
- [shouting]
That's all right. That's all right.
They can have the body.
God has already passed judgment
on the soul.
Shut up!
[music intensifies slowly]
- [engine starts]
- Come on, go!
[music fades]
[solemn gospel piano melody playing]
[hushed conversation]
Oh, we've been looking for you.
Yeah. I just... I needed a minute.
Yeah, I can see.
- Well... wasn't as bad as your wedding.
- Rona, really?
I'm sorry.
You know I'm a straight sh**ter.
It's his brother's funeral.
[splutters] I know that.
Does his family know that?
Baby, please.
We grew up here. This town is different.
You don't know all the ins and outs.
Just 'cause I'm not from the South doesn't
mean I don't know right from wrong.
And she's my friend.
Yes, and as my friend you're supposed
to be here to support me, right?
Of course, but supporting you
doesn't mean lying to you.
- Girl, timing. Timing.
- Okay.
Okay. I'm sorry.
Why don't you and Rona take the car,
go back to the city?
I'll go check on Dallas.
Oh, no. I can't leave him like this.
I've known him and his family
longer than you.
- I know how they can get.
- She said she's got it. Let's go.
What kind of friend would I be
if I didn't check on him?
- Okay, guys. Look, look.
- Jim.
I don't want you guys to fight.
I've got it. Just go on.
Okay. All right. We'll see you.
All right? We love you.
I love y'all too. [sighs]
- Let me know when you get home.
- I will. Drive safe.
- Bye.
- You be good.
I will.
[pastor] What we gon' do?
You know that woman
ain't nothin' but the devil.
She had those boys take
the body out of the casket
and march it on outta here.
- What was that supposed to mean?
- Y'all talking about me?
[chuckles] We're always talking about you.
Well, I mean, more praying than talking.
Little girl, I-I-I'm so sorry. I-I tried.
I-I wish I coulda done better.
But that boy just did
some terrible things
and-and that family...
Clarence, it's been a lot on her today.
Yeah.
You wanna come by the house
and have dinner?
Uh, I can't. I need to go get Dallas
and we need to get back to Atlanta.
Ava, baby... where is the line?
- Where is it?
- [sighs]
What does that boy have to do
for you to walk away?
When you ran track,
when you got close to that finish line,
you attacked it.
- Where is your finish line?
- Daddy, this is not track.
You and Mama have taught me
since I was little to be a good wife.
To stand by my husband.
To stay in the marriage.
That is what you preached.
That is what I saw you live,
no matter what.
Ava...
me and your daddy,
we ain't never been you and Dallas.
Well... Mama, that's why you gotta let me
do what's best for me and Dallas.
Well, that's what we've been trying to do.
It's your life.
Well, I gotta go. So...
[mother] Okay.
- We love you.
- Love you too.
[solemn music playing]
Call you guys when I get home.
Bye.
[solemn music continues]
It's all right.
[Clarence] I had to say something.
- This... this is all my fault.
- Oh...
sweetheart.
I don't want you to feel guilty
or responsible,
because we raised her
the best that we could.
And she knows better.
And you and I both know
that what we put down on her
will make its way to the surface
at the right time.
I sure hope so.
- [crickets chirring]
- [vehicle approaching]
[solemn music playing]
[engine shuts off]
[car door closes]
I'm sorry.
It ain't your fault.
The hell if it ain't.
I told you we shoulda buried him
right here with all the other Bertrans.
Hm?
You done pissed my mama off.
We don't like that.
Where's Dallas?
Back there in the old truck.
[solemn guitar melody playing]
You and your brother
worked on this truck forever.
Right even up to prom.
I remember...
you and your big brother
jumping out to fix it and...
and you got oil all over your tux.
[laughs] You were so mad.
And Elena and I,
we were laughing so much
until you put oil on my dress.
You were so mean.
What are you doing?
Hm?
I don't wanna hear that sh*t right now.
Baby, I know this is hard.
Look, you got no idea
what I went through. Okay?
[somber music playing]
That's the last time that I let you
embarrass me in front of my family, Ava.
Now, you set us up.
I heard the people laughing
when we walked out.
No. No, they weren't laughing
when you walked out.
You tryin' to tell me what I heard?
I was just trying to make sure
he had a proper funeral.
And we gave his a*s a proper burial
right out there, Ava.
That's what we did. You see?
That's your damn problem.
You always tryin' to change me, woman.
That's what you're trying to do,
instead of liking me the way that I am...
and how I do things!
I'm not trying to change you.
Then what you call it? Save me?
You tryin' to help me?
I call it love.
Because I love you, Dallas.
Get yo' damn hands off me!
Save that sh*t, Ava!
'Cause you don't love me.
- Okay?
- [whispers] Yes, I do.
You don't!
Because you wouldn't be trying
to make me somebody else.
And now get out the damn truck!
- Just go!
- We rode together.
I don't give a f*ck, okay?
Now you better get yo' a*s
out this truck right now...
- Dallas.
- ...or I will drag your a*s up outta here.
You know it.
You know I'll do it.
[music darkens, turns sinister]
You done did enough.
[music fades]
[insects chirring]
What you still doin' here?
- I was... I was waiting for Dallas.
- He gone.
- Do you know where he went?
- I ain't tellin' you sh*t.
Get off my f*ck' land.
- [chatter]
- [vehicle approaching]
[gravel crunching]
["My Uncle" by Gram Parsons
and The Fallen Angels playing]
Yeah, a letter came today
from the draft board
With shaking hands,
I read the questionnaire
It asked me lots of things
about my mama and papa
[sighs]
Now that ain't what
I'd call exactly fair
Lord, I'm headed for
the nearest foreign border...
- Hey.
- Hey, Ava.
- Good to see you.
- You too, Jack.
They back there causin' hell.
Only reason I ain't call the law yet's
'cause of you.
- We run this town!
- Thank you.
sh*t, I told yo' a*s
not to marry that b*tch.
When are y'all gonna get me
another beer, man?
Well, looky here, boys.
The preacher's daughter.
Hey, princess.
- You feel good about shaming my family?
- I think that we should be gettin' home.
You always takin' him away from us.
You don't need that damn job.
Morris? Come on, you know he has to work.
Go wait in the car.
I'll send him out there.
I guess I'll catch
the first bus out today
Lord, I'm headed for
the nearest foreign border
["My Uncle" continues, muted]
[man] Ava?
- Hey.
- Hey, Benji.
- Uh...
- Um, hi.
- How you doing? Good to see you.
- Good. Good.
You shouldn't be at a place
like this so late.
Oh, you're here for the funeral.
- Yeah, I heard about it.
- Yeah, I was.
[Bertrans chattering angrily]
- It's just, uh...
- You see this sh*t?
["Every Time We Say Goodbye"
by Celeigh Chapman playing]
Hey.
- Dallas.
- What we doin', huh?
You out here talkin' to him?
He know damn well he learned his lesson.
No, I don't think he did.
Looks like he want us to put his a*s
back in the hospital again.
Dallas, I think we should just go home.
- You shut up.
- Morris?
- Morris, please.
- No.
I think this one
wants his a*s kicked again.
I'm not having this bullshit tonight,
Bertran boys.
Go on home now.
- You better listen to him.
- Go on!
Benji, I don't know if you plan on having
a drink, but we closing.
Don't you look at her.
Don't you do it.
- Baby, come on. Let's go.
- Get your a*s on.
Get in the car.
["Every Time We Say Goodbye"
continues faintly]
- Watch out.
- No, no, no. Dallas.
Dallas. Dallas, you're not driving.
Dallas, no.
- Give me the keys. All right?
- Dallas.
- Give me the keys.
- Dallas. Dallas!
- Please don't drive. Morris!
- I'm gettin' in!
You already lost one brother.
Come on, please.
- She's driving.
- [Ava] Dallas!
Wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait. Wait.
What did I say, huh?
f*ck you. You hear me?
- What you say to me?
- f*ck you.
You heard what I said.
You step up, you get...
[Ava] Hey! No! No!
- [grunting]
- Morris!
- [grunting]
- Hey, stop!
- Stop!
- [Dallas] All right!
You better bow down.
You better bow down, n*gga.
You know I'm the older brother now.
She drivin'.
All right?
Go on, Ava. Get in.
Go on!
Get your a*s in the car.
[engine starts]
[Ava] Thank you.
[solemn music playing]
Dallas?
Hey...
Dallas? Let me get you into bed, baby.
[whimpers softly]
- [sighs]
- [sighs]
[scoffs] She told me to do it.
To do what?
k*ll my daddy.
[dramatic music playing]
- She told me to do it.
- Who k*lled your daddy?
Why... are you with me?
[sniffles] I ain't sh*t.
- [weeping]
- No.
- And I ain't gon' ever be sh*t.
- No, no. No, no, no.
I ain't no good.
You are. You are. You are.
You're good at heart, baby.
- I'll never be good.
- No.
- No. I've seen it.
- I ain't sh*t.
I've felt it.
Baby, you are good at heart.
- So much pain. I...
- Come here. Come here. Come here.
- Baby, we can get help.
- No. [weeps] No.
Don't need no help.
- Don't need help.
- Okay.
- Don't need help.
- Okay. Okay.
[music fades]
[sighs] sh*t.
[sizzling]
[Ava] Hi.
I made you breakfast.
I gotta go to work.
Could we... talk about last night?
Talk about what? Hm?
You said some things
I-I-I wanna talk about.
Look, I don't know
what you talkin' about, Ava.
I was drunk.
- I'ma get outta here.
- Dallas.
[door closes]
- [Rona sighs] Have a good day.
- [Jim] Mm-hm.
- Hey.
- Hey, you.
- Hey.
- Thank you.
Give me love. All right, baby.
[Rona sighs]
I'm surprised you came this morning.
Thought my carpool was cancelled.
[Ava] Why would you think that?
[Rona] I was very insensitive yesterday.
Ah. And what's new?
That ain't right.
- Ava, you know I love you.
- Uh-huh.
You my best friend for 17 years.
If you don't know me by now...
I know. I know. That's my best friend
and I'ma stick wit' her.
Okay.
But just like you know me,
I know you.
Ava, you are too good
to deal with Dallas's bullshit.
We gonna talk about this
the whole way to work?
It's just, every time it's something.
I don't know why you deal with it.
- So the whole way?
- Okay. Okay, fine. Fine.
- I won't say anything else.
- [softly] Three, two, one...
Oh, but the way they took that man's body
out the casket.
What the hell?
That whole family is just jacked up.
They really, really did a number
on Dallas.
Do you think, by you putting up with it,
you're helping him?
No... Rona, you don't know
everything he's been through.
What... Well, does that make it all right?
It's just every time something happens,
he gives me more of what they did to him
and it's... [sighs] Girl, it's crazy.
And what does that mean?
By putting up with it, it...
- [sighs]
- [sighs]
It's just like that damn cat, Ava.
What?
You remember.
That nasty-a*s cat.
It was raining, you brought it home,
and it kept scratching the sh*t outta you.
I was so glad when you got rid
of that thing.
But that's what you do.
You rescue cats, you rescue n*gg*s.
- Ah.
- You just... You cook for him,
you clean, you work all day.
You do literally everything for him and...
[sighs] I don't like it.
Look, I need to get my mind right
before I go into this bank,
so can we please...
can we just...
put something on?
- Yeah, you're right. You're right.
- Okay.
I won't say anything else.
Ooh! Ha! If Jim
ever tried anything like that,
I would break his damn neck
in 18 places so fast.
- Mm-hm.
- [sighs]
But that's you. You're the nice,
sweet girl from the South,
and I'm the chick from up north.
I can't do it. I'm playing some music.
Come on. Ooh, that's my jam!
[grunts playfully]
- ["Wait" by Kenyon Dixon playing]
- Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
See how it feels, put it in drive
Know what you want when you decide
["Wait" fades]
I'm sick of this sh*t.
- Hey.
- [door closes]
Hi.
[swallows, sighs]
They tell you about dinner?
Yeah. Yeah.
- You ready?
- Uh, well, I just walked in the door.
I need to shower and change.
I been working all day.
You ain't doin' sh*t but sittin'
around in the bank all day.
You need to hurry up.
Dallas, it's 5:30.
The reservation isn't 'til 7:00,
so it's fine.
I'll be right down.
Just give me 45 minutes.
I'll be quick.
[mellow R&B music playing faintly]
[ticking]
[Ava sighs] Okay.
Make sure I've got that.
Okay, I got done earlier.
Really?
Really?
[light jazz music playing in restaurant]
Thank you.
- So what's the plan here tonight, Jim?
- Just smile and nod.
[joyful chatter from women]
- What's up, chief?
- What's up?
- [Rona] Hey.
- Ain't talkin' to you. Bourbon, straight.
[Jim] Right to it, huh? Okay.
Uh... where's Ava?
I don't know.
She was taking too long, so I left.
Hurry up with that bourbon.
You gon' make this a hard night for me.
Please let me know when you pull up. Wait.
Wait. I see you. I see you. Okay.
[sighs]
[Ava] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
That son of a b*tch left you?
- It's okay. It's okay.
- Ava.
f*ck him.
I'm not upset so you shouldn't be upset.
Let's just go inside, please.
Okay.
- All right.
- [sighs]
Yeah, that's it.
- Keep it coming!
- [Jim] Take it easy, Dallas.
- Gotcha.
- Thank you.
- How you doin'?
- Thank you.
Well, thank you for inviting us to dinner.
We actually used to come here
all the time, right?
You don't hear her talkin' to you?
You better get your wife, man.
Ain't nobody gotta get me. Jim, baby.
Okay, you guys, hey. Let's just order.
I just wanna have a nice night.
[sighs] Okay.
Can't remember the last time
we had a nice night.
It's always, "Dallas, don't do this.
Dallas, don't do that. Dallas..."
Dallas.
"...you need help."
Jim, Black women ain't sh*t, man.
When the last time these women
supported us, hm?
- [Ava] Dallas.
- I'm 'bout to flip this f*ck' table.
- [Jim] Babe, please.
- [Rona] I don't know how you do it, Ava.
I see she tells
your ghetto a*s everything, huh?
Like she tells her mama and daddy.
- Dallas.
- You know what? I can't do this.
Jim, I can't do it, man. Nope.
I made some decisions in my life.
I want a divorce.
We don't have no kids
so this should be easy.
- What?
- Okay. You can keep the house
because your parents gave us
the down payment,
and I don't wanna hear
their motherfuckin' mouths, okay?
I'm not payin' any alimony.
You got a good job
at the motherfuckin' bank.
I got a lawyer to look over the papers.
Get somebody down there,
look at it, and sign the damn papers, Ava!
What the f*ck y'all lookin' at?
My drink.
- This m*therf*cker.
- Babe, stop.
- Dallas.
- [Dallas] Hm?
You're wrong. Look at me.
I'm telling you, you're wrong.
n*gga, you judgin' me?
Huh? Hm?
[Ava] Dallas.
Do something.
You know...
I used to hear about women saying...
that they gave that man
the best years of their life.
And here I am, and I'm pushing 40
and... I get it.
Because he had my best years.
- No, baby. I... I beg to differ.
- [sighs]
You got a lot better years ahead of you,
especially without his sorry a*s.
I just meant that I was young
and in my twenties
and was beautiful and sexy.
Girl, you are still beautiful. And sexy.
sh*t.
He said when I turned 40
in a couple years,
he wasn't gonna want me.
He said that he doesn't know any man
that wants 40-year-old... P-word.
[engine racing]
Uh, Rona, you driving kinda fast.
This the absolute lowest.
I know you don't believe that, right?
I don't... I'm not in my twenties anymore
and he...
is gonna leave me.
It was supposed to be us forever.
And now...
No.
[somber music playing]
I am so sorry, Ava.
It's gonna be okay.
It's gonna be okay.
[somber music continues]
[door closes]
[sighs]
I'ma tell Jim I'm staying.
I'm not leaving you on a Friday.
No. No, it's okay. I just...
[sighs] Yeah, I just need a minute
to just take all this in.
Go home.
No. No, no, no.
- I'm staying.
- No.
Go on. It's okay.
- Are you sure?
- Yes, please.
Ava...
Please.
Okay.
Hold on.
I've been debating whether or not
to give this to you.
Had it in my purse for a while
and I wanted to give it to you
after the funeral, but...
Jim said no.
[somber music playing]
I wrote down every shitty thing
he's done to you since we met.
[sighs] I don't need to read that.
I lived it.
Sometimes seeing it on paper
can make a world of difference.
I'ma just leave it here.
Ava, I love you.
- I love you too.
- I'm sorry.
And I'ma drive in the morning, okay?
- I'll pick you up. Okay.
- Okay.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[poignant, dramatic music playing]
- [knocking on door]
- [door opens]
Good morning.
Your daddy told me he heard you
come in last night.
[inhales deeply]
Hey. Was it that bad?
- [sobs]
- Oh, baby, it's all right.
It's all right.
Listen, you are home now,
and you are safe.
Come on. You're all right, butterfly.
- [sobs]
- You're all right.
[Clarence] Yeah, no. She's here.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
I-I will tell her.
Okay. Thanks, Ro.
Hey, baby. Have a seat.
Yep.
[Clarence] That was Rona.
I told her that you were here.
She said that, um...
that you have vacation time.
- That you should probably take a week off.
- Mm-hm.
I told her you'd call her back
after you woke up.
Yeah, I'll call her later.
Well, I-I fixed you something to eat.
Um...
I know you didn't drive a hour and a half
in the middle of the night
for your father's food.
I've got some cakes to make
for the bake sale.
You wanna help?
I tried everything.
I cooked.
I cleaned. I went to church.
I tried to get him to go to therapy.
And now...
he wants...
a divorce.
Mama, he is so mean to me.
Well...
I say we go and pray about this.
Wait. Wait.
Hold on a second.
I mean, your mama's right.
We should pray.
But that's not all we should do.
No. You can't just pray about everything
and not do anything.
Prayer is only the first step.
Yeah, but I don't know what to do.
You did the right thing. You came home.
We're gonna figure this out.
Yeah.
You go on and eat, baby.
- Come on.
- [sighs]
Let's eat.
["look up" by Joy Oladokun playing]
Sometimes your life feels like
A broken rollercoaster
A thousand useless moving parts
Sometimes you spend your nights
Too scared of getting closer
Hidin' out in the backseat of your car
- [Ava] It's all right. We'll get through.
- You tell yourself it's raining
The clouds are in your head
- [Ava] We'll work it out, okay?
- You tell yourself it's better
To jump before you fall again
Before you lose it all again
Look up
'Cause somebody loves you
You know trouble's
always gonna be there
Don't let it bring you to your knees
Look up
- [music fades]
- [mother weeping]
[sobbing]
Baby, what did I do wrong?
What did I do?
It's not your fault. It's not your fault.
I'm sorry.
You don't have nothing to apologize for.
I thought I could love him through it.
I thought I could help him.
The way that I've seen you do
for so many other people.
I was out there trying
to help everybody at the church
when I shoulda been there more for you.
No. Mama, you didn't do anything wrong.
Sorry, baby. I am so sorry.
Because this makes me feel like I did,
and I am sorry.
Why didn't you tell us?
Because I was embarrassed.
You always talk about
how people give up on marriage
so easy when it's hard,
and, you know, it's supposed to be
for better or worse, and...
I just didn't wanna give up.
I didn't wanna disappoint you.
And so I just kept trying.
I want you to look at me.
- [sobbing]
- Because this...
is beyond trying.
Lord have mercy!
You went through all this.
I mean, this man beatin' on you
and spittin' on you.
Oh, baby, it breaks my heart.
I'm sorry.
Can't let your daddy know about this.
Because he will k*ll him.
I know.
[sighs]
[somber music playing]
I know that I didn't tell you all the time
how proud I was of you.
Because I thought that I was helping you
not be arrogant and prideful.
But, baby, I didn't mean for you
to stay in this.
I never wanted you to endure this.
I love you. I love you so much,
and I don't want this for you.
And I am proud of you every day.
Every day!
Every damn day, baby.
- Oh, my girl.
- [weeping]
- Oh, baby, what did I do?
- [door opens]
What's going on in here?
We're havin' our period.
Gene.
You still havin' a period?
Clarence.
[gentle music playing]
I'm going to feed the horses.
[Gene snorts] That always gets rid of him.
[both women laugh]
[Ava sighs]
[Gene] Oh, baby.
Pick up, pick up,
pick up, pick up, pick up.
[cell phone ringing]
Girl, I have been calling you.
I was telling Jim we're about to
come out and check on you.
I know you did not tell my mom
about the letter.
No. I swear I didn't. Did she find it?
Yes, and she read it.
Oh, Ava.
[sighs] It's okay.
We ended up having a conversation
I actually needed to have.
How you feeling?
I don't know.
I'm comin'. I'm 'bout to fill the car up.
No, it's okay. It's okay.
And thank you for covering me at work.
I'll see you in a few days.
It's just an hour and a half away.
I'm coming.
It's okay. It's okay.
All right.
I gotta go. My dad is coming.
Oh God, did he read it?
[Ava sighs] Girl, he would be in jail.
Ooh, thank God.
- [knocking on door]
- Gotta go. Call you later.
- Hey.
- Yeah?
I gotta run to the feed store.
Why don't you come?
Oh, know what, Daddy?
I was, um, gonna...
Hey, come on. Come on.
You used to love
hangin' out with your pops.
I do love hanging out with my pops.
Uh, let me get my shoes.
[laughs softly]
And my purse.
Oh, I guess I'ma wear my hat too.
- Yes, indeed.
- [Ava chuckles]
You know, um, fair's going up, right?
You used to have such a good time.
We should go.
No, it'll just remind me of Dallas.
I don't... don't wanna be reminded of him.
Well, good.
You know I'm proud of you, right?
What did Mama tell you?
You know your mama was very strict.
She was, um, reserved.
- Yeah.
- She was slow to anger.
Uh-huh.
And let's just say she was watchful.
- [chuckles]
- You think?
But, you know, your mama
is very, very proud of you.
She just coulda been better at saying it.
I guess we both could have.
I love y'all so much.
[gentle acoustic music playing]
We love you too, baby.
It's gonna be okay.
Yes, it is.
It's gonna be okay.
God's got this.
[music fades]
- [country music plays in store]
- [chatter]
[customer] All right. Thank you so much.
Oh.
Hey. Benji!
Hey! Whatchu doin' here?
How you doing?
Did you know he was gonna be here?
I gotta go get the feed.
Um...
So, how are you? [laughs nervously]
Your daddy told me to come
to the store at this time.
Snitch!
What? Sorry. You know I can't lie.
- That's all he told me.
- Right.
Said you're in town for a few days
and I should say hi.
So... hi.
Hi. [laughs]
Oh, sh**t, where's the wolf?
[guffawing]
Daddy!
He's not here.
[Benji] Okay, good.
'Bout to grab one of these power tools
to protect myself.
Well, you won't need it.
We are getting a divorce.
Oh. I'm sorry to hear that.
[scoffs] Didn't you just say
you can't lie?
No, you're not.
You're right. I'm not. [chuckles]
Honestly, I never liked the way
he treated you.
Always thought you were too good for him.
But I do know what divorce is like,
so I know it's hard.
Well, if you need any advice,
I went through it.
- Maybe I can help.
- It was good to see you.
Daddy, I'ma be out at the truck.
Good to see you too.
Boy, you ain't got
no better game than that?
- God will give you joy...
- [congregation] Yes!
...when you learn to let go.
[congregation exclaiming]
Sometimes we hold onto the things
that God himself wants us to let go of.
Let go to go to the next level.
- [congregation] Yes!
- Let go to climb higher.
- [congregation] Yes!
- Sometimes things happen out of the blue.
You gotta know
that there's a lesson in it.
Rise up, and learn that lesson well
so that you don't have to cross
that path again.
- [shouting]
- Hallelujah.
- [shouting continues]
- Hallelujah.
- Amen!
- Amen!
- Amen! Yes.
- Joy, joy, joy, joy
Joy, joy, joy, joy
- Joy, joy, joy, joy
- Oh
- Got
- Joy
- Wonderful
- Joy
- Great joy
- Joy
- Powerful
- Joy
- Oh, I'm talkin' 'bout
- Joy
In the morning, I've got joy
- Joy
- In the new day
- I got joy
- Joy
- Late in the midnight hour
- Joy
I got joy
- When them blessings come through
- When them blessings come through
- When them blessings come through
- Yeah
- Joy
- This joy that I have
World didn't give it
In my walk
- In my talk
- Joy
- In my home or my job
- Joy
- Enormous joy
- Joy
- Wonderful joy
- Joy
- Indescribable joy
- Joy
- Unspeakable joy
- Joy
- You need it, you can have it
- Joy
- Love, peace
- Joy
- Joy, joy
- When them blessings come through
- God gave you joy
- Joy
- Joy
- Thank God for joy
- Joy
- Thank you, God, for your joy
[Gene] Put it right there.
[Ava sighs]
Why do you have an attitude?
Does everyone in town
know I'm getting a divorce?
Why did Daddy preach that?
Now, you know your daddy works
on his sermon a week in advance.
I mean, he didn't know
you were coming here.
And to tell us that.
That's how God works.
He will get a message to you.
Mama, why are y'all doing this?
I'm not doing anything.
Now, the boy goes to this church.
- [Ava sighs]
- Hi.
- Beautiful service, right?
- It sure was.
Uh, Ms. Gene, could you
do me a favor?
If I paid you 20 bucks,
will you go over and buy
some of my daughter's cakes?
She doesn't stand a chance with all
these great bakers here, like yourself.
Hers are a little dry.
Well, baby, now I don't like
giving false hope to children.
But I have learned that they do need
to know that you're proud of them.
And it ain't too late
to start doing better.
[Benji] Probably not helping
by not telling the truth, huh?
[chuckles]
- How much are my parents talking to you?
- What? What do you mean? I...
Yeah, I'm not in the mood for this.
- Excuse me.
- Wha...
[Gene] Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Thank you so much.
They look so good.
Ava, look. Bought one for you too.
- Mama.
- Will you go on and eat it?
I don't wanna die alone.
[laughing]
Sweet thing.
[coughing]
[Benji laughs]
Sorry about that.
Probably shoulda warned you.
Yeah. I guess an A+ for this one.
Here.
Thank you.
Listen, I, um, know it might be
too soon for you to wanna talk about it,
but... I do know what it's like.
The anger, betrayal. All of it.
One minute you're strong,
and the next,
you're looking at the bottom
of a empty whiskey bottle
while listening to Chris Stapleton's
"Either Way."
Never heard it.
I'll have to play it for you.
I could even bring the whiskey.
Yeah, I don't think so.
I'm not interested right now.
Yeah. Felt the same way after my divorce.
A relationship was the last thing
I ever wanted to think about.
But I realized that every woman isn't her.
That there's still
some good ones out there.
Good ones like you, Ava.
Know what? I have to go.
But, uh, you should definitely
get these cakes
before she kills one of those old people.
Thank you.
[gentle music playing]
[Gene] You know, Benji divorced that girl.
Mama, Daddy, why do y'all keep doing this?
You think being with that man
while another one's stomping on my heart
is gonna make things better?
It won't.
So just stop pushing him on me.
Stop. Just stop it.
Well, that was yo' daddy's idea.
Well, ain't that nothin'.
You just gon' put me up
and just hang me out to dry like that?
Well, I told you women
are different from men.
We can't just jump to another man.
Well, this generation definitely can't.
It's still wrong.
You need to heal
and-and-and get your heart right.
I just need more time.
Okay?
Just... can't wait to be over this.
All right.
Having said that,
I wanna show you something.
Eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve!
Come on!
- Y'all hurry up!
- [laughs]
[fast-forward whining]
[male judge] That is correct.
[applause on video]
[fast-forward whining]
Congratulations.
[chatter on video]
[fast-forward whining]
[shouting, cheering on video]
[man on video] You got it!
[VCR clicking]
Why did you want me to see this?
Baby, we gave you something.
We gave you joy,
and love, and a foundation.
When you met him,
you put it all down.
Everybody knew that
I didn't want you with him.
But you was hell-bent on proving me
and your mama wrong.
Okay. You won. You proved it.
You married him,
and you made it all these years.
You've got nothing else to prove.
Don't say you weren't that girl
in the video.
That girl was a competitor.
And that's still in you.
Don't you forget.
Now, look at this.
[somber music playing]
[fast-forward whining]
...why you are marrying this girl.
She triflin'!
She gon' do but make your life miserable!
Uh-uh!
- You ain't never gonna be no Bertran!
- [Dallas] Mama, why'd you do that?
[fast-forward whining]
[chatter on video]
[VCR clicking]
I looked through all these tapes.
I couldn't find one moment
where you smiled and laughed
like before you met him.
I know that you're not telling me
all the stuff that this boy did.
But I want you to remember this.
I never talked to you like that.
I set a standard by a way
a woman should be treated.
I didn't just say it to you.
I showed you every day of your life
by how I treated your mama.
[music softens slightly]
To this day,
I hold her hand,
I open doors.
I tell her how much I love her,
and how beautiful she is, daily.
- I kiss her and I make l...
- Clarence.
- [Ava laughs]
- Your daddy.
[laughing]
I love her.
That's what love is.
I showed you that, Ava.
I showed you how to be loved.
That's why I don't understand
a child of mine
who had those examples set,
would ever let a man
talk to you like that.
We know you love him.
And that's all the more reason
not to let him talk to you like sh*t.
I believe he enjoys seeing you in pain.
His whole triflin' family is like that.
They love misery.
Don't you be his company.
[music fades]
[birds chittering]
Yes. Yes!
Yes.
[sighs]
Let me get you to sign here.
[cell phone buzzing]
Hey!
Hey. I was... I was just gonna call you.
Wanted to see if you wanted
another week off.
No, I'm actually gonna be home
this weekend.
Good. Good.
'Cause I might have to work
downstairs and cover these tellers.
Girl, they're driving me crazy.
They throwin' fits
'cause they gotta actually work.
That's fine. I don't mind.
I'll take care of my private clients
and I'll be down to help you.
- Why you sound out of breath?
- [laughs] I was just running.
Really?
Oh, I love that.
We used to... we used to do that
all the time
before, um, you know,
you and Dallas started having issues.
- Let's do it when you get back.
- I mean, I don't know if you want to.
But... [sighs] I feel like
I got my old self back in one week.
You sound different.
I feel different.
Well, I'm loving all of this, okay?
My parents are so damn awesome.
You know I have an amazing
support system, including you.
Oh, girl, of course.
All right, well,
I am gonna call you later.
Yes, 'cause we need to go out.
We need to celebrate, get you a man.
Girl, I am not even thinking about that.
- I'll call you later.
- Love you. All right.
Bye. Love you.
[crowd chatter]
[playful shrieking]
[chatter]
- Thanks a lot.
- All right.
- Okay. Thank you, sir.
- Thank you.
- Come on.
- [Ava chuckling] Daddy.
[gentle calliope music playing]
Hey, my arm is not
as good as it used to be,
but I'll tell you what,
I'ma try my best
for my two favorite girls.
Ava, you wanna give it a try?
No, you guys go ahead.
I'm actually gonna take a walk around.
Okay.
- All right.
- Let me see what you got.
[playful screaming]
[melancholy music playing]
Good job! Oh yeah, no, good for you, baby.
- [chatter]
- [sheep bleating]
[Benji] Get some... Okay, okay.
[Benji chuckles]
Yeah, you gotta...
Yeah, get a handful.
[sheep bleating]
- There you go.
- Hey.
Hey.
I was just about to see my daughter off.
Her mom's got her this week.
See, there's a bright side
to your divorce: no kids.
They make everything even harder.
These your animals from the farm?
Yeah. Still love animals, don't you?
Yeah. Yeah.
Do you have to stay here,
or could you take a walk?
Let's take a walk.
Okay. Let's take a walk.
Come on. Let's go find Mommy, all right?
[chuckles]
["Either Way" by Chris Stapleton playing]
We pass in the hall
On our way to separate rooms
The only time we ever talk
Is when the monthly bills are due
We go to work, we go to church
We fake the perfect life
I'm past the point of give a damn
And all my tears are cried
We can just go on like this
Say the word, we'll call it quits
Baby, you can go...
You got, uh, that bottle of whiskey?
- Yep.
- [laughs]
[inhales deeply]
Huh.
Mm. Mm.
[laughs]
Somethin' tells me
you don't do this too often.
Yeah, I have not had whiskey since...
Since you were with me that night.
[snorts]
Yeah.
Oh my God, I was so sick the next day.
Fared better than I did.
I'm so sorry.
It's not your fault.
Can't believe him and his brothers
put me in the hospital.
[sighs] Yeah, we were 17 and...
Dallas and I had just broken up, so...
It's just so crazy.
You shoulda put them in jail.
Eh, then I'd still
be having problems with 'em.
You know how this small town is.
But once I got bigger, started wrestling,
they left me alone.
If I was gonna stay,
had to be ready to set 'em straight.
Although they did try my a*s
at that bar.
Baby, you can go...
Why didn't you leave here?
Love the country.
I know you do too.
How you like Atlanta?
It's nice.
You know, I love being
in the hustle of it, but...
then an hour and a half away
there's this place.
A place that's... mostly untouched.
This is home.
This is where I feel safe.
You are safe...
anywhere that I'm with you.
["Either Way" continues]
You ever wonder what woulda happened
if they hadn't pulled you
outta the car that night?
I won't love you either way
Thought about it a million times.
Maybe neither one of us would be
going through a divorce now.
Maybe we would be together.
It's been so long since I've...
- Mm.
- You might wanna take it easy on that.
No, I wanna be drunk.
I wanna be outta my body.
Mm-hm. Divorce can make you feel
all those things.
[sighs] I have never been
with anybody but Dallas.
I want you to make love to me.
And it's been hard but hearts
can only do that for so long
We can just go on...
As much as I want to...
I don't want to.
Way to make me feel unattractive.
Ava, look at me.
I mean, really look at me.
Everything about you
is turning me on right now,
in every way.
But if we cross this line, it's gonna be
about you gettin' even with him.
That's not fair to me.
I want your mind on nobody but me.
["Either Way" continues]
- [Ava yawns]
- ["Either Way" fades]
You're gonna need this.
[Ava groans]
[laughs] Thank you.
Mm.
Come on. I gotta get you back home
before the sun come up.
Don't want your daddy
thinkin' bad about me.
They won't.
They love you.
[Benji] Okay, good.
Let's keep it that way.
So how 'bout, uh, I give you my number?
You can call me if you wanna talk.
I'm sorry, Benji, but no.
Thank you for being with me last night
and making sure I didn't do anything
I would regret.
But there's no room for anyone
in my life right now but me.
Well, that's fair.
Come on. Let's put this fire out
so we can go.
- [knocking on door]
- Come in.
Aw, now you don't need to do that.
I got it.
Well, for old time's sake.
Oh, okay.
- [both women laugh]
- You, um, got in a little late last night.
Daddy, I am 37 years old.
So what? You still my one and only.
Are you sure you ready to go back?
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm ready.
Yeah.
I think you are too.
[sighs] Okay.
Yeah, I can see...
the finish line.
That's my little girl.
Thank you, Daddy.
I love you guys so much.
And we love you.
Come on. We'll walk you to the car.
[sighs]
That bed look crazy.
[Gene laughs] It's fine.
- [chatter]
- [car horn honking]
- Good morning.
- Ava!
- Hi!
- Hi, hi!
Damn, you look good.
[laughs] Thank you.
- I bought you a new track watch.
- Aw.
- Thank you.
- Ready to get back to it?
Yeah. Yeah, let's do it.
But I... I love this.
How are you?
I'm good, you know? Nothin' like
spending time with my mama and daddy.
sh*t, I need to go visit them
if I'ma come back lookin' this happy.
Girl, it is dangerous to read a list
of all the things a man has done to you.
Hm.
That's how I got over my ex.
Yeah. When I tell you
that thing was sittin' on me.
[sighs] I don't know who I was.
Well, you're back now, baby.
Yeah.
All right, I better get upstairs.
- Okay. I'll see you. Bye.
- I'll see you later?
[cell phone vibrating]
[Bertran brother] Hey, you see that?
See what?
Check your phone.
[ominous music playing]
[notification dings]
- What the f...
- Yeah, Mama saw it too.
We all saw it. Told you
she been cheatin' all this time.
- That's some bullshit.
- Say the word, and we'll go kick his a*s.
You gettin' a divorce, right?
You gettin' it?
Yeah.
Yeah, I'ma call y'all back.
- All right. Appreciate your help.
- Of course!
Right? So the next one,
you can just erase it.
We can take you upstairs
and get things started.
Excuse me just a second.
- What do you want?
- Move outta my way.
Right? So this one,
you can erase if you don't need it.
Look, I done sent you seven text messages
about the time Jim need to be
at that office to sign them papers.
He had a notary in his office.
Now look here. I'm not playing
this bullshit with you, Ava.
You better be there tomorrow at 11:00.
All right? Have your lawyer there.
I damn sure mean it.
You need to leave this bank right now.
Do you wanna lose your job, b*tch?
n*gga, I don't give a f*ck
about this job!
You need to get the f*ck out.
Leave. Bounce. Go!
Now.
You better be there, Ava.
I'm not f*ck' wit' you.
Boy, bye!
- I'm so sorry. I'll be back. It's okay.
- [Dallas] I oughta slap your nose off.
Yeah.
That son of a b*tch.
Ava, I wouldn't sign sh*t.
I would get me a good lawyer
and take him for everything he got.
I know a divorce lawyer.
Want me to call her?
Rona... Let me ask you a question.
What does he got?
- Exactly.
- Yeah.
I don't wanna argue with him, okay?
When this divorce is over,
I wanna be in the black.
Not in the red in any way,
not even emotionally.
So it's okay.
- Okay.
- It's all right.
You musta got that sh*t
from your mama and daddy.
[laughs] 'Cause I... I would take that man
for everything.
Woo. Okay, sorry, sir.
I am back. Hi.
[solemn music playing]
- Girl...
- Ah.
Hello.
- Hi.
- Hey.
Okay, so where do I sign?
You don't see me sittin' here?
Well, usually when a lady walks in,
you stand to greet her
like these gentlemen did.
They must have been raised well.
So you clearly don't respect me.
So I am just giving you
what you've been giving me.
Oh, you playin' big girl now, huh?
That's what we doin' now. Okay.
Got Benji waiting outside for you, huh?
Where his a*s at?
You're the lawyer, right?
Where do I sign?
Do you have a lawyer?
No, but I've read it
and I understand it.
So where do I sign?
Well, I would recommend
you have counsel here before signing.
Okay, well, before all these witnesses,
I am saying I don't need counsel.
I've read it and I am ready to sign
and get this over with.
So I'll ask you again, where do I sign?
Okay.
[lawyer] Here.
And here. Mm-hm.
And here.
You gentlemen have a nice day.
- Rona?
- [inaudible]
Thank you. Have a good day.
You see? You see, Jim? She wit' him.
She did all this sh*t just to be with him.
- You asked for the divorce.
- Yeah, but she's trying to embarrass me.
- Just relax.
- No.
f*ck relax, man.
f*ck this.
[Rona] Come on in, girl.
[Ava] I knew I should've driven.
I wanna go home.
No! Come inside.
We can watch Jeopardy!
- Rona!
- Girl, just come inside.
I'm only coming in for ten minutes
'cause I's tired.
Ee! Wait, but first...
take this gummy.
It'll help you sleep.
- Girl.
- Chew it. It's just five milligrams.
What are you up to?
Hm!
You'll see.
[crickets chirring]
- Girl, what are you up to?
- Hello! Nothing.
Oh my gosh.
- Wait, what is this?
- Rona called us,
and I got the women from our book club,
from the bank, and from spin class.
And we are going to celebrate you.
- That's right.
- [Rona] Um, sir with the cake?
Can you come here? And men!
- Men, come join us.
- Men?
Welcome to your "f*ck you, n*gga,
and bye!" divorce party!
[laughs] Um, can we get her a drink?
Can we play some music?
Play that Candi Staton.
Come on!
Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on.
Hey, girl.
["Young Hearts" by Candi Staton playing]
Bartender?
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Oh my gosh. This is so embarrassing.
- I got his number from your mama.
So what can I get for you?
- A better friend?
- Oh, no.
I think she's great.
So do you wanna dance?
I'm kind of a country music guy.
Okay. Okay. Well, you gotta have
some diversity.
So...
Come on.
That he can
Uh-huh
Say I'm gonna leave
a hundred times a day
It's easier said than done
When you just can't break away
When you just can't break away
Young hearts run free
Never be hung up
Hung up like my man and me
My man and me
Baby, what did you give your girl?
Don't worry about that. She okay.
Young hearts
To yourself be true
Don't be no fool when love
really don't love you
Oh.
Don't love you
[music continues, muted]
Hey, man.
What're you doing out here?
You all right?
You're drunk.
You don't need to be driving.
It's Ava, man. She wanted
to divorce me, man. You saw her.
She was happy at that divorce,
you know that.
Dallas, that ain't true. She wanted you.
But you made it hard. You and your family.
n*gga, pick a side. You my friend.
Not hers.
No, she didn't want me.
Guess that doesn't matter now, huh?
Wait, what's that music?
You havin' a party and didn't invite me?
They're in there doin' a girl thing.
Wait, that's exactly what I need.
I need a woman.
I'm trying to get some p*ssy.
Dallas, you're drunk.
Let me drive you home.
Look, I'm comin' in.
Wait, is Ava in there?
- I'm comin' in, Jim.
- You're not. Let me drive you home.
- She got to your a*s too, huh?
- Come on, man.
It's me.
Okay.
[engine starts]
[tires squealing]
It's okay. Shh, come on.
[Ava] Oh, that was so much fun.
Yeah, come in.
Well, here you are.
Okay. Okay.
You were the one who planned this.
That's why she had me ride with her
so you could take me home.
Right? Tell the truth.
- Tell the truth.
- You caught me.
But I can leave. I don't want you thinking
this is a trick. That ain't me.
Uck. I was so vulnerable
back home in the back of your truck,
and you saw that.
You know, you saw me.
And I thank you for that.
You could've taken advantage
of the situation, but...
you didn't.
You are a good man.
["Make Me Say It Again, Girl"
by The Isley Brothers playing]
What? I'm serious. You are.
Well, all right.
Long drive, I better get going.
Wait. Look, I'm not...
I promise, I'm not making a pass at you...
but if you're tired,
you can stay
because I do have a guest room.
[sighs] No.
Understood.
Do you really?
It was by the grace of God
I didn't sleep with you in the truck.
That ain't gon' work tonight.
A guest room ain't gonna work.
I wanna sleep with you.
In your room. In your bed.
Oh.
Um... [laughs]
Well, that is... fine.
But... if we are gonna do this
then you have to know
that it will only be for sex.
Because, I mean, I...
I am turning 40 soon.
Um... and...
Yeah, so, if you can handle,
you know, it just being that...
[sultry vocalizations in song]
Yes, you are
[Ava moans]
You're all
- You're all I need
- You're all I need
- [panting]
- You're all I need
You're all I need
I need
Oh, I love you, I love you
Boy
Oh
You're all I
[sultry vocalizations]
All I need
All I need
Oh, sweet baby
Mm, I
Mm
["Make Me Say It Again, Girl" fades]
- [utensil clattering]
- [slurping]
[tense, grim music playing]
What are you doing here?
I ain't been here but 20 minutes. Um...
- Ain't you glad to see me?
- No. How did you get in?
I changed all the locks.
Can't no lock stop me
from gettin' in my damn house.
No, no, no, no, no. You left this house.
It's mine. And you need to leave.
[tense music continues]
[Dallas] Look here. Look here, Ava.
I know you.
Look, I know you well.
All right?
So let's stop all this sh*t.
I'm thinkin' about
givin' you another shot.
Mm-hm.
You're thinking about giving me
another shot?
Look, I'm willing to forgive all that sh*t
with you and Benji
'cause I know
y'all was at the fair, right?
And I done told my brother
and my mama
that you my wife.
Okay? And they gon'
have to get over this sh*t.
So I'ma go outside,
get my things in the car.
I'm comin' home.
Yeah.
[music darkens]
I need to apologize.
Yeah, you do.
- You got some makin' up to do.
- [Ava] I know.
I gave up so much of myself
to be with you...
that you haven't met the real me.
That 17-year-old me
that was so in love with you,
that twenties version
that just kept trying and trying...
met the thirties in me.
It was very clear that this woman
has zero f*ck to give.
You wanna give me another chance?
That's that sh*t that your mama did.
Makin' you believe you're the gift.
But I'll be damned if I ever beg a n*gga
to stay with me.
- Is that right?
- Mm-hm.
Who told you to talk like this, huh?
Don't even sound like you.
Well, since you woke up the b*tch in me.
Now get the f*ck outta my house.
Let me tell you something.
- Ain't goin' no-damn-where.
- Yes you are.
- Fittin' to go upstairs, take a shower.
- No you're not.
Ava, you don't know
who you're f*ck' with.
Mm-hm.
'Bout to go upstairs in my house
and take a shower.
- [Ava] Benji!
- What the f*ck?
n*gga, get yo' a*s up.
[grunting]
- [thudding punches]
- [grunting]
Get your a*s down. You think you can...
- Get off of him!
- b*tch, if you don't sit yo' a*s down!
Come here. Come here.
Grab me like that. Come on.
- [grunting]
- [thudding]
- Hey, are you okay?
- Yeah, yeah.
I'm okay. Watch out!
- [roars] You mother...
- [groaning]
[tense, dramatic music playing]
Get up. Get up.
[grunting]
[music drops off, softens]
[grunting]
Oh no, I got this.
[grunting] f*cking time...
stay out of my house!
[Benji] Hold on.
You don't wanna listen
'cause Dallas never wants to listen!
I told your a*s to get the f*ck out.
Oh, you wanna take a shower? Huh?
You wanna take a shower?
How was yo' shower, n*gga?
Did you get wet, m*therf*cker? Huh?
You wanna eat cereal?
Go and eat your cereal
outside the motherfuckin' house!
Get out! I'm tired of this sh*t!
Get out!
[shrieking] Get the f*ck out of my house!
I'm so tired of this sh*t.
I'm tired of it!
Dallas, get the f*ck out.
Tired of this sh*t. Get the f*ck out!
Can you help me with him?
Get out!
[grunting]
[solemn music playing]
[grunting]
Hey. Hey!
Wake up.
Don't you come back here again.
[glass crunching]
Thank you.
[sighs]
[door closes]
Hey. Are you okay?
I'm so sorry. I couldn't get him to leave.
Well, he's gone now.
But damn.
- I gotta get to work.
- Ava, this is bad. We gotta...
Look, the door locks behind you.
[solemn, dramatic music playing]
[music fades]
[whispers] sh*t.
[Rona sighs]
[ominous music playing]
sh*t.
[cell phone ringing]
- Hey, baby.
- [Rona] Hey.
Jim, Dallas's a*s
is sittin' outside the bank right now.
You need to come get him.
He's bloody and bruised up.
Come on, Dallas.
Okay. I'm not far. I'm on the way.
He got into it with, uh, Ava and Benji.
What?
Why does he ca...
Jim, come get him.
All right, all right, I am.
I am. I'm on the way.
[sighs] All right.
Hey.
Ava, Dallas was at your house?
Yes. Girl, I came downstairs
and he was there.
Oh, hell no. No.
No. He walked his a*s inside your house
and now he's sittin' outside the bank?
You need a restraining order.
N-No, Rona. Look, I am not afraid of him.
He was fightin' Benji this morning.
Yes, you need one.
He needs to calm down.
Plus, Benji whupped his a*s
so he's not gonna be
messing with him anymore.
Mm-mm. I don't like this.
Look... I know Dallas is mad now,
but he will calm down and he will move on.
Are you sure? You know how he gets
when his brothers are in his ears.
I know, I know, I know, but it'll be fine.
- [Rona sighs]
- Trust me.
I'm not worried about him.
It's okay.
[dramatic music playing]
[Benji] Hey.
[Clarence] Yeah.
Sheriff, Mr. Clarence, what's going on?
I was driving by and saw
your animals were dying.
[sheriff] I'm sorry, Benji.
Looks like poison of some kind.
You have any idea who did this?
It was Dallas.
He saw me with Ava this morning.
- He was in her house.
- In her house?
Whoa, hey, it's all right, though.
I took care of him.
Got any cameras? Any proof it was him?
Why does he need proof?
Everybody know how that man is!
- I'm going to Atlanta.
- Mr. Clarence, it's all right!
Mr. Clarence!
[car door opens, closes]
[engine starts]
[dramatic music continues]
Hey, man. Whatchu doin' out here?
What's up, man? What's going on?
She played me, man.
She played me.
She was f*ck' him the whole time
and we were married.
That's not true. You know that.
You know Ava and she wasn't doing that.
Oh, okay.
Okay.
You backstabbin' m*therf*cker.
So you knew, man.
You knew she was doing it
and you didn't tell me.
She tells Rona everything.
A'ight, you tell me the truth, man.
'Cause why was she f*ck' him
and the ink ain't dry on her divorce?
She wasn't seein' him.
She wasn't seein' him.
That's the truth. It's coming from me.
You hear me? Don't do this, Dallas.
It's not healthy for you to do, man.
Now go on and let it go.
- Let it go.
- [exhales] Okay.
Dallas, come on, man.
Where you going?
- Where you going?
- f*ck you, okay?
That's where I'm going.
- [phone ringing nearby]
- [chatter]
[cell phone vibrating]
Hey.
- Are you okay?
- Yeah, I'm good. Just calling to check in.
Yeah, I'm fine.
I'm so sorry.
Ah, you got nothin' to be sorry for.
If he thinks that's gonna stop me
from trying to get with you,
then he is out of his damn mind.
I already missed my chance once.
I'm not doing that again.
Okay.
But Benji, I hope you're hearing me
when I'm saying that
I'm wanting and needing some self-care.
Yeah, I hear you.
Take all the time you need.
But I ain't givin' up on us.
I waited 17 years to get my shot.
You got no idea how I really feel
about you, do you?
I mean, I kind of have an idea.
Well, you can triple that idea.
I just hope I was worth the wait.
No, um...
You were the best I ever had.
Yeah, that's awesome to hear.
You ain't got much to compare it to.
Okay, but I do know
that it was incredible.
- It's like you were there just for me.
- I am.
[call waiting beeps]
Oh. Know what? Let me call you right back.
That's my dad.
Wait, there's something I gotta tell you.
He is on his way to see you.
Why?
[sighs] I don't want you to panic,
but Dallas k*lled some of my animals.
Wait, what?
- Are you serious?
- Yeah.
Don't got any proof,
but I know it was him.
I wasn't gonna tell you
'cause I don't want you upset.
- It's all right, okay?
- I'm so sorry, Benji.
Listen, I'm gonna get this all cleaned up.
But it'd be great
if I could see you tonight?
You can see me, but I don't want it to be
because you feel you have to protect me,
'cause I'm fine.
Yes, I wanna see you.
- I'll drive over when I'm done here, okay?
- [Ava sighs] Okay.
Bye.
[sighs]
I've known him all these years.
I ain't never seen him like this.
It's crazy.
- Hey.
- Hey.
You talking about Dallas?
Is he still out there?
No.
- What is it?
- [sighs]
Benji just got home
and some of his animals are dead.
- He thinks Dallas did it.
- Who else?
- Yeah.
- Ava...
we are getting a restraining order,
and I mean it.
He is f*cking insane.
k*lling animals and sh*t?
Let me try to talk to him one more time.
No, Jim. f*ck him.
I'm not saying don't get the order.
I'm saying let me talk him down.
I'm not gonna let him hurt y'all,
all right?
All right.
[cell phone ringing]
- Hey.
- [Clarence] Hey, baby.
Can you believe Dallas
went to Ava's house?
I'm on my way to see her right now.
Thank God Benji was there.
- Okay, I'm on my way.
- No, no. No, no. She's okay.
She's okay.
- I'm gonna call you on my way back.
- Okay.
All right, now listen, be careful.
I love you.
- I'll call her right now.
- All right. I love you too.
Okay? I'll be home before dark.
- Bye.
- Oh, okay. All right.
[phone beeps]
[ominous music playing]
I see you still come to the market
every Tuesday like clockwork.
[laughs] How you doin'?
Oh, you ain't gonna answer me?
No. Actually, I'm not.
Oh, I see. Actin' like a b*tch
like your daughter, huh?
Boy, you watch your mouth.
I'm a woman of God.
That's what they all say.
Until you end up in the barn at the fair,
f*ck' Benji.
You knew she was playin' me, b*tch!
You knew! Didn't you?
Boy, you are high and drunk.
I can smell the weed and alcohol,
and you're half crazy!
- Now move!
- Now, hey, lis...
Hey, you told her to leave me, didn't you?
Okay. All right.
So I see you ain't gon' move.
Huh? You think you gon' play me
for a motherfuckin' fool?
Get yo' a*s back here.
If you don't let me go...
You think I'ma let you make
a f*ck' fool outta me? Huh?
You think I'ma let him and her
embarrass me like that?
You devil! You fool! You fool!
You run and tell your husband
that sh*t, b*tch!
I got somethin' for his a*s!
And what the f*ck you lookin' at?
[tense music playing]
[music fades]
[Rona] Oh, that's your daddy.
[Ava] Yes.
- Hey, Daddy.
- [Clarence] Hey.
So I changed all the locks in the house,
and I put up these cameras.
- All right.
- Come on. Let's go inside.
[Ava sighs] Okay.
- Thank you, Daddy.
- You get that restraining order?
Yes.
Some good that's gon' do.
They say he gotta do something
for them to arrest him.
Like killin' animals ain't enough.
Ooh! Ooh! We got hollow-points?
[laughs] sh*t.
Sorry, sir.
- This. This is what I'm talkin' about.
- Daddy, I don't need all...
That .22 I gave you can't bust a grape.
We gotta put these all over the house.
Gotta be ready for anything.
- But is this really necessary?
- Yes.
Look, I gotta get home before dark.
Your mama'll be waiting on me.
All right. No "buts."
- You hear me, little girl?
- Yeah. Yeah.
Yo' daddy is my kind of preacher.
Marine.
- [laughter]
- [Jim] All right.
- Please don't embarrass me.
- But it's true.
In my defense, I thought, you know,
that she was...
- Uh-uh.
- What?
- [Rona] But it's true!
- [door slides open]
[mellow pop music playing]
Oh, what the f*ck?
You just gon' walk in here?
I'm just gonna walk in here.
I come to lean on my best friend...
and you with the motherfuckin' enemy.
Come on, Dallas. Let's go.
No, we ain't goin' nowhere.
- How you doin', Benjamin?
- She has an order against you.
You goin' to jail
'cause I'm calling the police.
No sh*t. I was served at my job.
Suspended pending an investigation.
What am I supposed to do for money?
I have someone in my home
violating a restraining order.
- You ain't sh*t.
- Let's go.
No. You know what?
You need help, Dallas.
You gonna start this bullshit
again now, right?
I'm gonna tell you this just one time.
You better leave me alone.
I'm not bothering you.
- I'm here to see my best friend.
- Don't make me put you outta here.
- Hm?
- How you gonna betray me like this, huh?
You got this son of a b*tch in yo' house.
Huh? In the seat that I sit in?
- Police are on the way.
- Shut up, b*tch.
Watch your mouth when you talk to my wife.
Look here, man. Your wife, right?
[scoffs] You all faithful and all honest
and all in love, right?
Did you tell her 'bout Kelly?
[dark, dramatic music playing]
- I will f*ck you up.
- You tell her 'bout Kelly?
That y'all f*ck' around?
Tell her that sh*t?
- Dallas, I will f*ck you up.
- Yeah. I know about that, Dallas.
Damn.
- They been f*ck' around for years.
- Don't start that lying sh*t.
- Anything else, Dallas?
- So she knows and she cool with that?
With her ghetto a*s?
I'm about two seconds off yo' a*s.
Look here.
I'm sorry, y'all.
To interrupt y'all little fun.
Y'all can get back to y'all little
funky-a*s barbecue.
Leave.
Watch out, man.
Step aside.
This n*gga got you all bold
and sh*t now, huh?
Let me get the f*ck outta here
before I sh**t this m*therf*cker.
- Uh-uh, stay. Stay.
- Who you gonna sh**t?
Stay so the police can arrest yo' a*s.
[music softens]
[music fades]
Hey, you okay?
I'm fine.
Yeah, I've... I've never seen him
like that before.
But you know what?
- My daddy says that he is misery.
- Yeah.
So let's not be his company.
Okay? We were having
such a beautiful night, you guys.
- I don't wanna let him ruin it.
- Yeah. Not up to it anymore.
[Ava] Rona...
Benji, why don't you take her home?
No, I'm gonna stay.
No. No, no, no, no. Go. Have a good night.
Yeah?
I love you.
- I'm sorry.
- It's okay.
I love you too.
We'll see y'all later.
[Ava whispers] I'm sorry.
[Ava sighs]
Jim.
You wanna tell me Dallas was lying?
It happened one time.
And I told you.
He's lying about it going on for months.
Told you as soon as I did it.
You know that.
Baby, I felt like sh*t. You know I did.
But he's lying.
- That doesn't make me feel good.
- I know. And I'm sorry.
That was years ago, baby.
We worked it out.
We talked about it. We're good now, right?
[Rona sighs]
[Jim sighs]
Tell me we're good.
I can't say that.
[crickets chirping]
- [door closes]
- How is she?
She's fine.
Okay, good.
I got your supper. It's warming up.
[dramatic music playing]
Clarence?
What's going on?
You gonna act like nothing
is wrong, Gene? Huh?
Judy, the cashier, told me what happened.
The whole town knows!
That m*therf*cker put his hands on you!
Clarence, listen, don't go over there,
okay? Because I'm fine!
- Stay here and lock the door.
- No, Clarence!
Clarence! Clarence!
- Gene, get back in the house!
- Clarence, I'm not gon' let you do this!
- Clarence!
- I'll be damned! Get back in that house!
[tearfully] Lord Jesus! Clarence, please!
Oh, God!
[music intensifies]
- Hey, Mama.
- [Gene wails indistinctly]
Wait, wait, wait. Wait, wait.
Mama. Mama. Slow down.
[Gene continues indistinctly]
Mama, slow down. I can't understand you.
Dallas! Dallas!
He grabbed me at the grocery store,
and I didn't tell your daddy,
but somebody at the store tell him,
and now he done got all his g*ns!
And they're gonna k*ll him!
They're gonna k*ll him!
Okay. We'll be there
in an hour and 15 minutes.
We're coming right now.
[Gene] Please hurry! Hurry! Hurry!
[music continues]
What the hell you doin'
knockin' on my door?
Where in the hell is your boy?
Hm. I got lots of 'em.
Who the hell you think you are?
Don't play with me, woman.
If you think I'm gonna let that boy
put his hands on my wife,
I will blow his brains out.
Don't you threaten my child, preacher.
[Clarence] Where is he?
- Get your Black a*s from around here.
- Where is he?
- [ominous music playing]
- [spits]
[Dallas] Whatchu want? Hm?
Boy...
- I will...
- You will what?
You better be glad I didn't slap
that b*tch when I had the chance.
- [g*nsh*t echoes]
- [c*ck]
Boy, I will meet your soul in hell
if you ever get close to my wife again
or get near my daughter.
[laughs] You think I'm scared
of a g*n, man?
You gonna sh**t me, old n*gga?
Then sh**t me!
I don't think you got it in you.
Listen, I'ma turn my back
at the count of three.
'Cause you ain't gonna do sh*t.
One.
[laughs] Two.
That's what I thought, n*gga. Three.
- [g*nsh*t]
- [Linda] Oh, Jesus!
[music intensifies]
Get him! Get him!
- Come on, preacher!
- [grunting]
[Linda] Beat his a*s!
All right, stop. Stop! Stop! Stop!
Get in the house.
Leave the m*therf*cker! Go!
[grunting cough]
Who gonna raise their eyes up
in hell now, preacher?
[dramatic music playing]
That's what your a*s get.
[tense music playing]
[Ava] My daddy's truck!
Daddy!
Daddy!
Mr. Clarence!
Daddy. Daddy.
- Daddy. Daddy.
- Call 911.
- He's got a pulse. Ava, 911!
- Yeah.
Mr. Clarence.
Hi. I need an ambulance
on Highway 32, station mark seven.
- Mr. Clarence? Hey, hey, hey.
- Station mark seven!
I mean, that boy,
he come grabbin' on me, and...
It's okay. It's okay.
- How's he doing?
- Not good.
That Dallas.
He did this.
Gene, they said he didn't do it.
Hey, come on, sheriff.
That son of a b*tch
has been doing this type of stuff
since he was a kid.
You gonna tell us you can't do nothin'?
We need proof.
I mean, I need Clarence
to tell me what happened, or something.
Now, I'm sorry.
What's the doctor sayin'?
It ain't good.
And Ava, she's just so...
Where'd she go?
[tires squealing]
sh*t.
[phone line rings, clicks]
Ava, what are you doing?
Where'd you go?
Call me back when you see this.
Listen, I was choking the sh*t
outta her, man.
[laughs] You see the home run I hit
off that old man?
[laughter]
He felt that grown...
[notification dings]
[cell phone vibrating]
[hip hop music playing faintly]
Yeah, that's what his old a*s get.
Did you hurt my father?
- I don't know what you talkin' about.
- I don't believe you.
I believe you was with him
the whole time, huh?
I was.
And he's so much better than you.
The sex is so much better
than you could ever imagine.
And you're the worst.
I tried to make you a man,
but you ain't sh*t.
I'ma show you.
I'ma show you I ain't sh*t.
Oh, no, you won't.
I'm on my way home right now
to make love to Benji.
He makes love to me
the way you never could.
- He makes me so f*cking...
- [phone beeps]
[dramatic music playing]
[banging on door]
sh*t!
[cell phone vibrating]
- [phone beeps]
- Hello?
Hey, sorry, but I need you swing by Ava's
and check on her.
Tryin' to see if she's okay.
- Dallas beat up her father.
- What?
She took my truck and left the hospital.
I'm in her mom's car.
I can't find her.
I'm 'bout to be on the way.
Rona, please don't go alone, all right?
I just need to know if she's there.
I'm already mad as sh*t.
I wish a n*gga would.
Don't go alone! Never mind. I'll call Jim.
- That n*gga's on the couch. I'll tell him.
- Call me as soon as you know.
I... Yeah.
Come on. sh*t. We gotta go. Get up.
- Go where?
- [Rona] Ava! Get up.
[insects and frogs chirring]
[phone line ringing]
[cell phone vibrating]
[beeps]
- Hello?
- [Benji] Ava?
Hi.
Hey, hey. Wh-Where are you? I'm in your
mom's car looking all over for you.
I'm sorry that I stole your truck.
I just needed some air.
Hey, that's okay. Don't worry about it.
Just tell me where you at, and I'll come.
- No. No need.
- [Benji] Ava.
I'm driving to Dallas's parents' house.
No, no, no. Don't do that. I'm not there.
- [Benji] Then where are you?
- [glass shattering]
What was that?
Ava, are you at your house?
- I'm gonna call you back.
- I'm on my way.
[ominous music playing]
[sighs] sh*t.
[engine starts]
[footsteps approach]
[Ava swallows, sighs]
Thought that n*gga was upstairs.
[dark, ominous music playing]
Did you hurt my daddy?
You lied to me.
You lied to me, Ava.
Look around.
I did.
Did you grab my mama?
[music darkens, turns sinister]
Let me tell you something
about a good woman.
We are faithful to a fault.
I mean, most of us. But I was.
[whispers] Yeah.
And you know, Benji?
He respected that I was married.
He never called, never reached out.
You still lyin'. Hm.
I never... I never disrespected you.
I didn't.
[sighs] You're not supposed to.
- You know why?
- Hm?
'Cause you're f*ck' married, that's why.
But you know what? Like most women...
I knew that if you ever f*cked up...
I would give him a chance.
[scoffs] Y'all b*tches ain't sh*t.
- Hm.
- Y'all ain't sh*t.
This some bullshit.
[sinister music continues]
I spent all this time...
feelin' bad for you.
But you don't want help.
Nah, you don't want help.
So I don't feel bad for you anymore.
Me, on the other hand...
me and Benji...
Yeah, that's workin' out good for me.
Yeah. Lots of great sex.
[sighs] So good.
It was never like that with us.
Yeah, I don't think I enjoyed it much,
actually.
- You know?
- Stupid b*tch!
[music intensifies]
Come here. Disrespect me like that.
Get up, b*tch!
Dallas, you hit like a b*tch.
Get yo' a*s up. Get up, b*tch!
- Is that it? Is that it?
- Yeah.
Almost broke my f*ck' hand
on yo' f*ck' mouth.
Is that all you got? Come on.
- You gonna keep talkin' sh*t?
- I'm gonna keep talking sh*t.
Huh? Look. Yeah, okay. Keep it...
[grunts]
Yeah, that hurt?
Yeah, look at you now.
Yeah, you're f*ck' crazy.
I was trying to be like my father,
but he was beatin' my mama's a*s
all the time.
So this is what happened to you!
Look at you. And I had to k*ll his a*s.
I can put up with a lot,
but my finish line
is you f*cking with my family.
- b*tch, I oughta smack the f*ck out you.
- You can't stop me. You can't.
Thank you... 'cause you gave me
just the bruises I need.
[dramatic music playing]
[Dallas] What you gon' do? Huh?
Come here. I'll break
your motherfuckin' neck. I done told you.
My ex-husband just broke into my house.
- b*tch, get...
- He beat me up. He's beat me up.
Please send help.
Whatchu gon' do? Huh?
- I done told your motherfuck...
- [cabinet door creaks]
Oh, okay. That's what we're doin', huh?
Don't do it.
[Dallas laughs]
- Okay.
- [g*n c*ck]
Oh, sh*t.
Don't do it.
Huh? You gonna sh**t me, b*tch?
sh**t me.
[music builds dramatically]
sh**t me.
[body thuds]
[dramatic music playing]
I told you not to do it.
[g*n clatters on table]
[music turns solemn]
[indistinct chatter]
Officer, check your records.
She had a restraining order against him.
- He'd been stalking her.
- Thank you. We'll look into it.
Hey. Are you okay?
Are you okay?
- Hm? Okay. Come here.
- Yes.
[siren wailing]
- [gentle music playing]
- [indistinct PA announcement]
Gene, this is ridiculous.
I don't need no damn...
Hush. You're taking it.
- Daddy, I can tell you're feeling better.
- You can't break this old man.
Can't break his daughter either.
What are they doing here?
Youngest boy got shot last night.
Well, damn, they must be cursed.
Raised by the devil!
[Gene] Come on. Let's just keep going.
[Linda] You think this is over?
You k*lled my boy.
- You think this is over?
- For your sake, it better be.
Be careful pushing good people too far.
It's over.
Let it be over.
[dramatic music playing]
Ava, come on. Let's go.
- [sighs]
- [music fades]
["I Will Survive" by Ledisi playing]
Today, I had to walk away
Today, I couldn't hide the shame
Today, I finally found the reason
to close the door
This isn't life, it's so much more
I always knew this dream would be
I knew one day I'd soon be free
No longer fighting for a love
that didn't give
No more hiding scars to live
'Cause I will survive
I will survive
I'll risk it all to win another chance
to do it right
I will survive
Today, I finally feel alive
[gentle vocalizations]
Today, my eyes are open wide
[gentle vocalizations]
Yesterday took me down
with many wounds
Today, I spend my life with you
'Cause I will survive
I will survive
I'll risk it all to win another chance
to do it right
I will survive
Yes
Might have been some days
no sunshine
But I knew today would come
There would be no fear in the way
Love's all around you
Yeah
I lift my hands, I'm grateful
I found the strength to live
I'm fighting for my life to be free
Yeah
I will survive
- Yes, I will survive
- I will survive
Oh, I
I'll risk it all to win another chance
to do it right
I will survive
Yes
I will survive
I... I will survive
Oh, I
I'll risk it all to win another chance
to do it right
Yes, I will survive
I will survive
[music fades]
[solemn music playing]
[music fades]
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Tyler Perry's Divorce in the Black (2024)
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