02x13 - Silence and Loneliness

[bunniefuu]

GRACE: Previously on Greenleaf...

- I had a really nice time tonight.
- Yeah, me, too.

CHARITY: He pecked me on the cheek.

I don't know if there's
something wrong with me

or if I just attract a certain type.

- I don't think he's gay.
- I don't know what he is.

Lionel, you just gonna
swoop in here and save me,

prove to me that I should've
run off with you

when I had a chance?

My wife Kerissa and I have taken up

the Lord's challenge to found
the Real Church of Memphis,

a ministry dedicated to serving
the homeless and hopeless.

I used to be married.

We were on our way to a matinee
one Sunday afternoon,

and we got T-boned in an intersection.

I asked a pastor after the funeral

if he could help me understand.

He said it's best we don't question God.

So I haven't been back to church since.

JACOB: We cover the debt.
You give us Triumph II.

That way the money gets replaced
and you don't go to jail.

Just give me two weeks. I've owed you
before, and I've come up with it.

So Basie lost the church's money,
not his own.

- That's right.
- And you two paid it back?

Yes. We got the land and the house,

- but we should've gotten Triumph.
- Can you prove it?

[woman panting, gasping]

MAC: She can't hear you.

I didn't say anything.

Good girl.

[gasps]

[sighs]

SOPHIA: Say hi to Winnie for me.
Love you.

Bye.

- How's your dad?
- Good.

Any verdict on cotillion?

He can't come.

Honey, I'm sorry.

Yeah, but... he's busy.

- Mm-hmm.
- I get it.

So, what's up with you and Darius?

[chuckles] What do you mean?

It seemed like he was
finally coming around,

but now he's gone.

Yeah, we're taking a break.

Well, you know the key to making
a relationship work, right, Mom?

- What's that?
- Having one.

Well, enjoy your
Day of Beauty with Grandma.

[sighs] That's today.

Yes.

Bass Reeves, huh?

That's Basie's alias.

Apparently he was some lawman
from the Old West.

I've heard of him.

What that boy lacks in morals,

he more than makes up for
in imagination.

May I see it?

Yeah.

It's clear he stole from the church.

I'll thr*aten him with jail
unless he resigns.

What?

And the accountant
saw huge sums of money

coming and going like cruise
ships and said nothing?

She was scared.

We assured her
she wouldn't be implicated,

by the way, if the
police do get involved.

A fella in Gatlinburg just got
months in federal prison

for embezzling a lot less than this.

Oof.

JAMES: I'm sure
Basie's going to see reason.

This is an unholy mess.

I'll tell you what he says.

Okay.

Just be sure that he puts
Jacob in charge of Triumph.

It's not enough just to have him resign.

The bishop knows, dear.

- It's just...
- No "it's just."

You didn't do this only to help Bishop.

We understand that perfectly.

We want to see Jacob succeed, too, dear.

I'll do what I can, but ultimately,

it'll be up to Basie.

Well, thank you.

- Either way.
- JAMES: No, thank you.

I can't tell you how much lighter I
feel with these weapons in hand,

to see the end of the road
after so much hard travel.

- I can imagine.
- [chuckles]

- First Lady.
- First Lady-to-be.

Be the Good Lord willing.

Yes.

Of course, Triumph
will become Calvary II

when the dust settles
on all this mayhem.

One step at a time, dear.

One step at a time.

♪ Amen ♪

[vocalizing]

♪ Amen ♪

[vocalizing]

♪ Well ♪

[vocalizing]

♪ Amen, amen ♪

[vocalizing]

[music playing on radio]

So... did you get your tux yet?

Nah, I still gotta do that.

Come on, you gotta get moving.

Roberto went to, like, six
different places to find one.

Mm-hmm.

They're running out.

You should put that on right.

Just looking out for you.

I'll send you a text of where
Roberto found his, okay?

Yeah, all right. That's cool.

- How was the flight?
- It was good.

Although I did do my fair bit of praying

over Hurricane Mills.

[both laugh]

Someday maybe I'll be able
to convince you

to move to Nashville,
and this'll all become easier.

Maybe.

If things clear up.

What's not clear?

Whatever. So?

Here is the latest instrumental
to noodle around with

before she gets here.

- Is Jekalyn in town yet?
- No, her plane lands around noon.

I wanted to give you a chance to get
settled in and work on that bridge.

She's still not happy with it?

No, but you'll figure it out.

I'll go get this mess
cleared up at the hotel.

Hey.

I know you're used to working
with artists that make demands,

but you don't have to put me in a hotel

if you have a guest room.

No, it's better this way.
It gives you your privacy.

All good.

Okay, just trying to help.

Help with that bridge.
It's all the help we need, baby.

I'll get right on it.

I called the La Bella Mobile Nail Spa.

The manicurists are on the way
to the nursing home now,

and here are the gift bags
for the ladies.

With the Le Labo soap inside?

Yes, I called the hotel

you and the bishop
stayed at in Nags Head.

They not only told me what kind it was,

they sent me a whole case.

- [gasps] Blessed!
- Mm-hmm.

What can I say?

The Lord lays out
the the path, and I process.

Oh, that's a good tweet.

Mm-hmm. #Blessed.

Oh, and you have a message

from Bishop Geoffries on the voicemail.

Oh.

I-I'll call him back later. Thank you.

Hi, Mama, Karine.

- [tsks] Oh.
- What?

Another bad night?

You must not have gotten
a wink of sleep.

- Do you want to cancel?
- [sighs]

Excuse me.

No. Why?

Well, just, you know,

because this is not strictly
an outreach program.

I can do it alone.

Mama, I'm here. Let's do it.

Come on, let's do this. I got it.

- All right. Oh.
- I got it. Come on.

BASIE: I understand, Elder Johnson.

Well, if that number hits, you call me.

All right, I'll be praying for you, too.

- [door opens]
- All right.

Two visits in one month.

If I didn't know any better, I'd
say you've taken a shine to me.

I know what you've been doing
with the church's money.

I have proof you stole large sums.

Okay, Satan, I'm confused.

Bass Reeves?

You know there's
strong biblical injunction

against gossip, Bishop.

It's not gossip.

I've got the accountant's
reports to prove it.

How'd you get your hands on those?

- I didn't come here to discuss that.
- Jacob.

- I came here to help you out.
- Help me out.

- That's right.
- Oh, man, there's not a single problem

I got that you didn't cause.

- Basie...
- Get out of my church.

Skanks, here's the deal.

If you don't publicly resign

and hand the pulpit over to Jacob,

I'll go to the police
and you'll go to jail.

Oh, is blackmail not a sin anymore.

- What's your answer?
- I already gave you my answer.

Get your peacocking self out here!

Don't sweep in here
like some phantom of the opera

making threats!

Go on, specter! Git!

[scoffs]

[door opens, closes]

CHARITY: ♪ Always by my side ♪

♪ Through the wrong, through the right ♪

♪ Lord, oh, so good to know ♪

- ♪ Oh, it's good to know ♪
- ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ You are here, Lord ♪

♪ Oh, so good to know. ♪

It's a beautiful song.

Thank you. I like it, too.

Now, I still have a few tweaks.

I think we need to slow
it down a little bit.

And the bridge
could still use some work.

Whatever you think, I'm sure it's
gonna be the key to the whole thing.

So, you don't like this one?

Well, I'm just hearing
something different

for the chorus under the melody, okay?

Less sad.

I was going for a melancholy feel.

I know, and you succeeded.

Whatever you want.
The goal is to make it yours.

Let's try it major.

Yeah, whatever everybody wants.

Okay.

Look, it's not a big fix, okay?

First, let's make it major.

Then right here,
there's just too many words.

I just want to use
this first line right here.

And then on this part,

I'm thinking something like...

- ♪ Oh, so good to know. ♪ You know?
- Yes. Yes.

You hear what I'm saying?
Something like that.

And then we'll just break it down.

- JABARI: Okay. Okay, cool.
- Yeah.

JABARI: That's brilliant.
You are the best, girl.

[chatter]

Oh!

This red looks great on you.

Yes, I have always loved
fire-engine red.

My mama used to say

that only fast girls
wore fire-engine red polish.

You a fast girl, Miss Esther?

I wasn't slow.

- [both laugh]
- WOMAN: Miss Esther?

Here's that banana pudding
you requested.

Oh, thank you, darling.

- Oh, this is a special day.
- It is.

I can have them bring
you some if you want.

Oh, no, ma'am. No, thank you.

You... you see that girl over there?

- Yeah.
- She has been a godsend.

- She's very nice.
- Yes.

She's so much better than
the last girl who was here.

Oh, she was just awful.

How so?

Well, she was rude, and she...

she was rough.

Mm.

I told the management,

and... and they... they got rid of her.

You can't just let somebody
treat you that way

and not say something.

You know, Miss Esther,
you did the right thing.

BASIE: I think I'm failing
to make you understand

the sheer beauty in the piece, Eileen.

What you need to do is call Tasha,

talk to her, see it in person.

Yes, ma'am, it is a genuine
Mickalene Casteel,

signed and dated, worth every penny.

[door opens]

Excuse me, I'll... I'll call you back.

Victor. My brother.

I was just about to call you.

I'm sorry.

I'm just so scared.

[sobbing] I'm so scared, baby.
I don't know what to do.

- Come here. Come here.
- Baby, I'm...

Please listen to Bishop.

Turn yourself in, baby. Do it for me.

I know.

I told you to quit playing.

You did.

I'm sorry.

Why didn't you listen?

Why?

I couldn't hear it.

I'm glad we got it right.

Yeah, you know,
sometimes it just takes time.

Forest for the trees.

See you at dinner?

If I'm invited.

Invited? You are the guest of honor.

Well, then, I guess I'll be there.

Amen.

Well, all righty, then.

All right.

What's the matter with you?

She wrecked my song.

She's the customer.

You and I, we're the manufacturers.

If the customer wants two handles
on a fork, you give it to them.

Well, I liked it the way it was.

Look, she left happy.

My guess is this time tomorrow,

if you work out those
last few notes she gave you,

you're gonna have a song on her record.

Isn't that the point?

Jabari, what are we doing?

Making music.

No. Us.

What about us?

Do you like me or what?

- What?
- Do you like me?

Of course I like you. All right?

I don't work with people I don't like.

Like me like me.

You kiss her, I kiss you.

I mean, is that what
everybody does around here?

I just kissed her on the cheek.

- You know what I mean.
- Charity.

Just tell me the truth.

I told you the truth. I like you.

Now, can we get this song sold,
then discuss whatever else?

Please.

You're the boss.

Praise God, I actually am.

We'll talk.

But now, miss, if you'll excuse me,

we'll throw some drums under this
mix before we see her tonight.

These loops ain't cutting it.

[sighs]

- Oh, thank you for driving.
- My pleasure, Mama.

That was a nice time.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, I'm glad I went.

Don't quote me, but I hope I go fast

and before your father.

Mama, what a thing to say.

Well, I only mean... I mean,
the thought of lingering

for lonely years in a place
even as nice as that,

making new friends?

Let's just say it's not
a blessing that I...

make particular time for.

Mama, I'm so glad we did this.

You're right, it was a nice time.

[music playing on radio]

- Hey.
- What?

I got you a present.

What kind of present?

In the glove box. Check it out.

Tickets to Floodgate?

Yeah.

I'll be playing a set there now.

Had my agent hook it up.

That's, uh...

that's the same weekend as my cotillion.

- You know that.
- Yeah, I know.

But you can do this instead.

I don't want to.

I want to go to the cotillion.

Okay, but if I'm not going,
Zora, who you gonna go with?

I don't know.

Somebody.

- [tires screech]
- [Zora screams]

- ZORA: What the hell is wrong with you?!
- [horn honks]

How many times I gotta tell you
to put that thing on right?

- Are you trying to k*ll me?
- You did it to yourself.

Isaiah, take me home now.

No.

Yes. Take me home.

Look, I'll take you
to the cotillion, okay?

Okay?!

Take me home.

Whatever.

[exhales]

He called our bluff. What can I say?

Well, so now what do we do?

Go to the police.

Well, but where does that leave Jacob?

Kerissa, that was the plan.

I know that was the plan, Bishop,

but there's no guarantee
that the elders a Triumph

will hire Jacob
if it all comes out like this.

The plan was to do it quietly

and then have Jacob just step in.

Did you even tell Jacob about this?

- No.
- Oh...

I wanted to make sure that
there was a real offer first.

- Really?
- [knock on door]

- Are you expecting someone?
- No.

But the Jehovah's Witnesses have
been in the neighborhood lately.

[knock on door]

Tasha?

- [crying] They b*at up my Basie.
- What do you mean? Who?

The people that he owes money to.

They... they messed up
his beautiful face.

So, Basie owes more money than
we thought. Are you all right?

- I need your help.
- I'll get you some Kleenex.

- Just...
- Sit down.

They b*at him up bad.

- Look at yourself, son.
- Don't call me son.

Why'd you have to go to him
of all people?

Why would you put your wife
in this position?

Look at your life.
How much are you in for?

- That's none of your business.
- I'm trying to help you here, son.

I said don't call me son.
I don't want your money anyway.

You're not gonna get me off your
conscience that easy, old man.

Well, then I advise you to turn
yourself in to the police.

- You're out of options.
- [coughing, laughing]

You can laugh all you want to, Pastor,

but the police are the only
ones who can protect you now.

I'm not going to jail.

Let me disabuse you
of that little illusion

I think is hampering
your reasoning here.

You're going to jail either way.

Now, if you give
the church over to Jacob,

you can do it in your own
way in your own time.

You'll still have your dignity
and the satisfaction

of knowing that you're leaving
the church in good hands.

Basie, baby...

just do what he says.

Listen to him, please.

Do it for us. Do it for me.

Okay.

- Okay. Okay.
- Okay. Okay.

Okay.

I'll resign Sunday.

Let me talk to the elder board.

And I'll hand my brother Jacob the keys.

Good.

Thank you.

[door opens]

♪

[sighs]

Why'd you tell my parents about this

when I expressly asked you not do? Why?!

[door opens]

Hello there.

"Well, hi, Mom, hi, Dad.
How was your day?"

It was great.
Thank you for asking, Zora.

Gotta pee!

I don't have time for that.

Babe, I know that you're mad
that I did it,

but... you're gonna thank me one day.

[phone ringing]

- Hey, Basie.
- Brother Greenleaf.

Look, I don't want Triumph, Basie.

- Brother...
- I heard all about it.

You do what you wanna do,
but I'm not doing it.

This ain't even about you.

It ain't even about me anymore.

Well, then what's it about?

It's about the people of God.

I failed my flock,

I put my own church in danger.

MAC: Don't even think about telling now.

What good will that do?

[exhales]

MAC: They'd never forgive you.

Who would?

No, I'm afraid you're gonna
have to take that little secret

to the grave.

We got all these new programs
starting up right now...

basketball, Streetwise,

this Open and Inclusive Coalition

of which we are currently
the only members of.

Who else is gonna grow that

into what God wants it be if we don't?

Nobody.

I feel you, man, but I don't know.

Look, I know you don't want
it in this particular way.

But the time's long past
for getting things pure.

I'm not so sure it is.

I finally feel for the first
time in my life, man,

that I'm... that I'm standing
on something real.

- The Real Church of Memphis?
- Yeah.

And I called it that because
that's what it is to me.

I found a way to be real,
and it's working.

I don't want to fall back
into selling myself something

- in the mirror every morning.
- Then don't. Don't.

Make Triumph Church real. Make it yours.

Repeat the process, take that feeling

you're talking about, take it...

You're gonna do something
with Triumph Church

I never dreamed of.

I know it.

Why does this have to be me?

'Cause you're my brother.

You're the only brother I got.

Jacob, all the reasons
why you say you shouldn't do it

are all the reasons why you should.

No one should want
to run a big church like this.

You should do it because you have to,

because the Good Lord
told you you should.

Come on, what do you say?

I'm not giving you anything.

You've been laying your life
on the line for a friend.

And you got all this in writing?

Well...

given the shadowy nature
of the arrangements,

I'm not sure what kind of notary
we'd get to sign off on this.

I just want to know this will end it.

I want it done, James.

And I'm not hampered like you
by any sense of guilt

when it comes to this clown.

I want this over with.

This will accomplish that.

After church on Sunday,
I'll turn him in.

Fine.

And as for this sense of guilt
you say I'm hampered by,

this will end that, too.

Don't be so sure.

[scoffs]

- [door opens]
- [sighs]

[door closes]

[sighs]

[line rings]

- DARIUS: Hey.
- Hey.

Long time no see.

Yeah, I'm sorry.

What's up?

Nothing.

- Both of us.
- [both chuckle]

You want to come over?

Yeah.

So, he's going to, uh...

get up there on Sunday
and say his piece.

Is he going to cop to the whole thing?

We didn't talk about that,

but he's going to hand over the reins

and have the elders
pray over me, the whole deal.

- Changing of the guard.
- Hmm.

Thank you for doing this, Jacob.

I know it's a sacrifice
and I know it's scary,

but you can do it.

I want one thing from you, though.

Anything.

- Pray with me.
- For what?

So we don't screw this up.

Pray that we stay obedient and faithful.

I mean, I'm letting go
of a lot do this, and...

I want to know that God's with us and...

that I've got you.

I need... I need to know that.

Yes.

Wherever you want.

Heavenly Father, we come to You

with bowed heads and open hearts.

[laughs] I mean, all the things
she was telling us about,

being nominated for a Grammy at ?

Yeah, she's impressive. No doubt.

Yeah, you don't have to tell me.
I'm a total fan.

I can't believe I'm doing this,
but listen to this idea.

- Hang on a second.
- It's for the bridge.

Just wait.

[closes piano]

You asked me today if I like you.

- Let's just forget that.
- No, no, let's not.

You have a baby.

And you're not into that.

Exactly the opposite.

I just don't want to be...

you know, cavalier with someone
who has so much going on.

If I've been hard to read, that's why.

I'm just... being careful.

Thanks for telling me.

I like you.

[chuckles] I like you, too.

No.

I really like you.

I just...

kinda felt like I needed
to explain myself, you know?

I have trouble letting people in.

And you trusted me enough
to tell me your story,

so I felt like...

I should probably tell you mine.

Okay.

Okay. [clears throat]

[sighs]

A few years before Mac abused Faith,

he tried it with me.

You don't have to say anything.

Okay.

He told me about
this old Civil w*r earthwork

on the property where the soldiers

used to go to hide out during the w*r.

And he made it sound so cool.

[chuckles softly]
So I went with him to see it.

And I fought him off
before he got too far, but...

And I ran away.

I'm sorry. That... that's awful.

No, what's awful is that I never told.

No one knows but you.

Grace, look...

from what you've told me,

they didn't believe you
when you told them about Faith.

They might not have
believed you then either.

That's not the point.

The point is that I didn't say anything.

I spent this whole year
asking women to come forward

and say what Mac did to them.

And it worked. You did it.

Yeah...

I never came clean
about what happened to me.

And now that Mac is dead,

it's hitting me harder than ever

the role that I had
to play in all of this.

If I had just said it to Faith,

she might still be alive,
and I hate that.

I hate it, and I can't
go back and fix it.

I can just move forward.

And I don't know how to do that.

I think you do know.

I think you just did.

[humming]

- Hey!
- Hey.

Are you ready for the Little Saints?

Yeah.

What are you preaching on this morning?

"Daniel in the Lion's Den."

Oh, that poor boy. [chuckles]

Grandma said you're not preaching.

No. Reverend Dalton's covering.

I'm going to see your uncle installed.

I do wish your mother could be there.

Oh. I wish I could be there.

Well, you have the best excuse of
all... the caring of young souls.

By the way, I heard that you might need

a father to escort you to the cotillion?

Yeah.

Well, I know it's not the
same as your own father

- walking you in, but...
- No, it's okay.

It's better. Thank you.

It'd be my honor.

- [chuckles]
- Thank you, Grandpa.

Come on, let's grab
something before we go.

- [music playing]
- [choir vocalizing]

[vocalizing]

♪ Ain't nobody stopping my shine ♪

♪ They try to break me,
try to take me out ♪

♪ But I got Jesus on my side ♪

♪ Felt so bad, I thought I could die ♪

♪ But ain't no power
stronger than the one ♪

♪ Who came and laid down His life ♪

♪ And I got mountains to climb ♪

♪ To climb ♪

♪ The enemy can't stop me ♪

♪ 'Cause there's a calling on my line ♪

♪ So when I'm crying,
don't last too long ♪

♪ 'Cause He gonna step in
and make it all right ♪

♪ Won't He do it? He said He would ♪

♪ Fight your battles for you ♪

♪ They gonna wonder
who you sleep at night ♪

♪ Won't He do it? Oh, yes, He will ♪

♪ Yes, He will ♪

♪ Anybody tell you something different ♪

♪ You know that's a lie ♪

♪ You gonna look back and be so amazed ♪

♪ So amazed, yeah ♪

♪ Always, won't He do it? ♪

♪ He said He would ♪

♪ So I trust Him at all times ♪

♪ Won't He do it? He said He would ♪

♪ So I trust Him at all times ♪

♪ All times, all times ♪

♪ So I trust Him at all times. ♪

[applause]

[birds chirping]

[wind whistling]

- [applause]
- And that's the whole truth of that.

Amen! Amen!

All right, settle down.

Se-se-settle down. We, uh...

we've got something else
to talk about, now.

Triumph, I, uh...

boy, this ain't gonna be easy.

I, uh... I stand before you

as Peter stood before Jesus
after having denied knowing him.

I won't go into detail. The Lord knows.

All I'll say is I have sinned
against God.

[crowd murmurs]

I've sinned against you.

And as a result, I must take my leave.

[crowd murmuring]

Now hold on. Now hold on, hold on.

I can't tell you how much this
hurts me to hurt you like this.

It's one thing to disappoint yourself.

Disappointing God, well,
that's called being human,

but, uh...

to disappoint the people of God,

that's the worst.

I don't know if I'm ever
gonna get over this.

And maybe just with your prayers.

Good news.

The good news is...

God is not leaving
his pulpit unattended.

No, you see, He... He led me
to a young brother,

a former associate pastor of this church

and my dear friend.

Jacob Greenleaf.

Crowd: Amen.

He's a good man. An honest man.

- And he loves God.
- Crowd: Amen.

You see, when he left this
church to start his own church,

he found his congregants on
the streets, in the streets.

The boy is radical.

And he's sincere.

And that's why I'm handing
this ministry over to him.

He's the leader you all deserve.

as Moses handed over
the people of Israel

to Joshua,

I hand over the people of God
to you, Pastor Jacob.

[applause]

Oh, show him more love
than that, Triumph!

[crying]

[knock on door, door opens]

Come on in.

Where's Basie?

Oh, no.

[sighs] He's run off?

Oh, no.

- I'm not surprised.
- Well, I am.

How can a man run off and leave
a woman as loyal as this

in the lurch?

Unless she knows where he's headed.

No, I don't.

I tried my best to get him to stay.

He just couldn't face the notion
of sitting in jail, could he?

No.

He hates to be confined.

Oh, my dear.

Why didn't he take you with him?

I wouldn't go.

- Sister Skanks?
- Yes?

- They're ready.
- Thank you.

They planned a little
send-off thing for him, so...

JAMES: Mm-hmm.

I'll just do my best to try to explain.

Poor dear. What do we do now?

Lord knows.

That boy's got a hard road

no matter what direction he goes.

So, this would be Jacob's office?

Well, guess I could
spruce it up a little bit,

get some classics in here.

- [phone ringing]
- A Persian rug, you know?

It's... it's Lionel.

- Hello?
- James.

I'm sorry to bother you.

No bother. Is everything all right?

Actually, no.

There's something we need
to talk about... in person.

That sounds ominous. See you soon, then.

Lionel says he has something to tell me.