March 11.

Dear diary,

my husband of 18 years...

this week is being honored

by the city of Atlanta...

as the Jacob Frienstein

Attorney of the Year.

I am so proud of him.

He has worked so hard.

I wanna swing

Swing till daylight

with you

I wanna dance

Dance the whole night through

Where the beat-beat-beat

is jumping

And the crowd is feeling fine

Where the dance-dance-dances

are popping

Theirs are flowing like wine

I wanna swing

Swing till daylight with you

I wanna dance...

To look at us...

you would think

that we've got it all together.

But looks can be deceiving.

Some days are good

and I think he loves me.

Then other days...

I think he doesn't care.

Dancing till daylight

Just us two

Kicking up my heels...

I never thought

I'd see this day.

I was just saying

to my wife this morning...

that if I died and came back...

that I would want

to come back as me.

No, truly it is an honor...

to receive the Jacob Frienstein

Attorney of the Year Award.

It's especially

an honor because...

He is so into appearances.

What looks one way

on the outside...

can be a totally different

matter on the inside.

There is no way...

no way...

that I could have done

any of this...

without my wonderful wife

of 18 years. Charles said

I don't know this stranger

I sit next to.

All I know is that with

every dime and every case...

he has changed.

How about l...

run us a hot bath? I asked

I left something at the office.

I have to go. he said.

Who is she? I asked

When you get a job

and pay one of these bills...

then you can ask me questions.  he retorted

I am still your wife.  I said

That's cute.  he teased

Charles...

I don't want to fight.

This is your night.

Let's just enjoy it.

Tell me what I need to do,

and I will do it. I said.

You really want to know

what you ought to do? he asked.

Get the hell out of my car. he said

What a way

to start our anniversary.

Tell me...why do I love

that man so much?

Maybe if I could stop

thinking about...

how good things used to be...

I might be able to find

the strength to leave.

Hi, Sarah. How are you?  I asked smiling.

Hi, Mrs. McCarter. she said.

Hey, Mrs. McCarter. said Kalvin

Kalvin, how are you? I asked

How is Joanne? I asked

-She's doing great. he said.

-That's great. I said.

-You doing all right? he asked.

-I'm wonderful. Thank you. I said.

Listen, is he in? I asked.

Because I brought him, uh...

lunch. I said.

Actually, I'm headed that way--

"No, no. Please. Said Kalvin.

Thank you, though. Thank you. I said.

Helen. Charles said

What, um... I asked.

Um...hi. Said Brenda

I'm Brenda Marcos. she said

How do you do? I asked.

Um...we got to go.  she said.

You ready, little fella? she asked

It was nice to meet you.  she said walking away.

Is that her? I asked

Don't play games with me.

Tell me, Charles. I say warning him.

Is that her? I repeated

Thank you. he said.

I'll see you at home. he said walking away smirking.

Excuse me. I said.

Excuse me! I repeated.

What? said Orlando

-What are you doing? I asked.

-Working. he said.

Where are you going

with my things?

Lady, look...I'm just filling in

for my cousin because he's sick.

Somebody named Charles McCarter

or something like that...

rented this truck,

told me to load it up and wait.

So that's what I'm doing. he said

No. Wait. Wait. I said stopping him.

Christina? I called

Christina. I called again.

Christina, there--

there is a man out there

putting my things in a truck.

What is going on? I asked.

Mr. McCarter asked me to pack

all your things this morning.

And all these clothes

are from the boutique.

I wish I had a man to do

something like this for me. she said.

Happy anniversary. I said smiling.

-I have something to tell you. he said seriously.

-Your gift first. I said giving him the gift i had brought him.

Aren't you going to open it? I asked.

Charles, I have to admit...

I thought you forgot,

but I saw all the clothes...

in the closet

and...ta-da! Ha ha!

It's not exactly my taste,

but I love it.  I said.

Helen-- he said becoming louder.

This one, it doesn't really

fit quite right, though.

I think I'm going to have

to get some alterations--I said.

Helen. he repeated this time with a more serious tone.

You see how I keep

interrupting you? I asked

Charles, I only want

to hear the good tonight.

OK? I said.

I need to tell you something. he said.

What is she doing here? I asked.

I asked her to come. he said.

Charles, what is going on? I asked.

Is she wearing the dress

that I just picked out? Brenda asked. 

What?! I asked

There's no easy way

to say this... Charles said.

but our marriage

has run its course.

It's over. Charles said.

What? What are you

trying to say? I asked.

I'm saying...

it's over. He said.

Charles! I screamed.

Helen,

don't act so surprised.

I mean, I haven't

touched you in a year.

I haven't...well...

I haven't been happy for years.

18 years, and you think

you can just come in here...

and end it like this?

Charles, what am I supposed

to do without you?

You're a bright girl.

You'll figure it out.

Charles...please.

-Oh, my God.

-Don't do this.

Please tell me you're not one of

those weak begging sisters.

Brenda, let me handle this.

You are not leaving.

No...I'm not leaving.

But you are.

There's a truck outside.

It's full of gas,

and I hired some guy...

to take you

anywhere you want to go.

I can't keep treating her

like this. And my children...

not seeing their daddy

every night.

I'm staying here and there-- he said.

Children? I asked

Two boys. They need me.

Charles.

It's me.

How can you say this to me?

How can you do this to me?

Good-bye, Helen. Now,

be a lady and leave quietly.

-No.

-No?

You would've never had

any of this without me.

Now, you better

get up out of here...

-before I lose my temper.

-No!

No, I am not leaving!

-You what?

-No!

You're leaving, all right.

You're leaving. Go on.

Any way you want to do it.

Get up! Get up!

Aah! No! Charles! No!

Come on.

Huh? Come on.

What you doin'?

Get out of here! Get out!

Charles! Charles!

Charles!

Oh, what the hell

have they got me into?

Hey, look...

we've been driving

around for hours now.

I do have another job that

I have to be at in a few hours.

So there's got to be

someplace I can take you.

Take me where?

He has alienated me

from my entire family.

He made me put my mother

in a home bec--

Because she didn't fit

into his "American dream."

I don't have anyplace to go.

Lady, I'm really sorry

to hear about that...

but it's the middle

of the night--

-Just stop the truck!

-I'm trying to help you out.

-Just stop the truck!

-I'm not stopping the truck.

All you men are just alike!

You just think about yourselves!

You don't think about

anybody else but yourself!

Just stop the truck,

and I will drive myself...

where I have to!

Pull the truck over!

Hey! Don't grab the wheel!

Hey. Don't touch the wheel.

I'm stopping. I'm stopping.

-Then get out!

-We're in the middle of nowhere.

I don't care!

Get out of the car!

I'll drive myself!

You know what? Now I see

why you're going through...

what you're going through.

Oh, you go to hell!

Have a nice life.

Yeah, you're welcome!

Don't shoot! It's Helen...

your granddaughter!

Don't shoot!

What the hell? Girl!

I always open the door

this time of night shooting...

'cause there ain't nothing

but a crackhead...

or the police knocking

on your door this time of night.

What you doing here this late?

I was in the neighborhood and--

You were in the neighborhood?

I thought I'd come by

and say hi.

You live in a mansion

on the other side of town.

What the hell you doing

in the ghetto?

You ain't on that stuff, is you?

Is you over here trying

to buy some stuff?

I missed you.

Come by in the daylight here.

Don't come by--

Madea, please.

Come on in here.

Who that is at the door?

Shut up, Joe. I got this.

...I'm gonna have

to put my foot down.

Kunta Kinte put his foot down,

and it got chopped off.

Now shut the hell up

and go back to sleep.

I know I had some

cigarettes in this--

Harpo.

Harpo, who this woman?

Joe, go in that room

and take your medicine.

You know you crazy as hell

when you don't take it.

I say hell...no.

What the hell?

Look what you

done made me do!

Oh, hell!

Get the hell up.

You didn't come by yesterday.

You got to eat something

out there on them streets.

You got to be careful,

you hear?

Look at you. Lord help me.

You ain't got

no regular clothes, do you?

What?

Helen...hey.

Debrah?

Yeah, girl.

You gonna hug me?

Yeah.

So, how are you doing?

You look good. You look good.

Marrying that rich lawyer.

When we were kids, we both said

we'd get a rich man, right?

We both got lawyers.

Deb, what--

what's going on?

Don't. Don't do that.

Don't judge me.

Thank you. I got to go.

You take care of yourself

out there.

Lord.

You hungry?

I can't eat anything.

You need to eat something.

What happened to her?

Life.

Brian and the kids must

really be going through it.

They're doing all right.

But I want to talk about you.

I called Charles this morning...

and he told me,

before he hung up...

that you and him

is getting a divorce.

But what I can't seem

to figure out is why you here.

He put me out of the house.

-Who house?

-Our house.

Exactly. How the hell

a man gonna put a woman...

out of her own house?

He might've put me out...

but he was gonna

put me out of half.

I'm gonna go in

the other half of the house.

He wasn't puttin' me

out of all of it.

The house is in his name, Madea.

Lord have mercy.

That's how women get messed up.

Too busy out shopping when you

need to be checking the deed.

Whoo! That makes me mad, girl.

I don't have any rights

to the money.

No right?

I signed a prenup.

What the hell

you sign a prenup--

I ought to punch you

in the face.

Who the hell told you

to sign a renup?

He didn't have nothin'

when you married him!

Charles always knew

he'd be successful.

And he said to me...

"l want to know that

you're here for love."

And I didn't have a job.

So it's his money.

Is it? What was you doing

while he was working, honey?

Taking care of the house,

cooking and cleaning.

Exactly.

That sounds like a job to me.

Cooking and cleaning--

how long you do that?

18 years.

All right. OK.

18 years...

let's see how much he owes you.

18 years...

you've been cooking...

cleaning...

having sex with him

when he wanted.

-Was it good?

-No.

Major deduction.

And I didn't tell you

that he hit me.

Girl, that man

owes you 64 billion...

283 million, 974 trillion...

5 thousand...

and 20 dollars and 82 cents.

Now, you need to get your money.

-That'll never happen.

-You want to bet?

I can happen

one of two ways, honey.

You can get it from his

checking account voluntarily...

or his insurance policy.

Involuntary manslaughter.

Which one it's gonna be?

-Madea.

-Mm-mm.

I ain't gonna have this.

Come on.

-What? Where are we going?

-To your house.

Oh, no. The guard

will never let us in.

I said come on!

Mayday! Mayday!

Lord have mercy.

Get your stuff.

What the hell

is wrong with you?

These your clothes?

They're hers.

Oh, they're hers?

Who is, uh...

"Dol...say & Gab-anna?"

Who that is?

Dolce and Gabbana.

They're designers.

Oh. She a label ho.

$700 for a damn rag?

Just a rag.

Madea, no, no, no.

Don't do that.

This man left you...

for some old floozy.

Madea, what's wrong?

A wire hanger!

Rip it.

Rip it?

-Rip it.

-No, no.

Rip it!

-Rip it? Rip it!

-Rip it!

Rip it!

Rip it!

What the hell are you doing?

Rip it like this!

Get mad at it!

It'll make you feel better!

Rip it!

Rip it! Rip it!

Rip something!

-Rip it!

-Rip it!

Rip it real good. Rip it.

Wait a minute.

What's this gonna solve?

Nothing. It's just gonna

make you feel better.

-Rip it! Ha ha ha!

-Rip it!

This is for every black woman...

who ever had a problem

with a black man!

Goodness.

Calm down, girl.

I'm tired as hell.

OK.

I'm gonna go down

to the office.

I forgot some things.

OK...you go down

in the office...

because you forgot something.

Find me some oxygen.

And bring me some oxygen!

What are you doing in here?

Charles.

Are you stealing from me?

No. No, I just--

How did you get in here?

I changed the locks.

What the--who are you?

Who are you?

I'm the owner of this house.

Wrong answer.

My granddaughter Helen...

is the owner of this house.

You're the ho. You ain't

got no power or no deed.

Did you do this?

This is Vera Wang!

Who that is? She do nails?

I need to get my nails did.

That's it!

I'm calling the police!

I'm not scared of no popo.

Call the popo, ho.

Call the popo, ho!

Charles, please...

I don't have any money, and--

I tried to be nice to you,

didn't l?

Didn't l?

I'll just go.

You'll just go?

I'll just take it,

and I'll just go.

Oh, you'll just

take it and go, huh?

You're gonna take

my money and go?!

If I call the police, they're

gonna be here in ten minutes.

OK. Then that leaves me nine

to beat the hell out of you.

You think?

I know tae kwon do.

And I know whoop your ass.

Come on. Bring it on.

You don't know me.

I'm from the projects.

Come on.

What the hell is your problem?

Come on. Shut up. Shut up!

Oh, hell no. Watch out.

Yeah, you keep running!

What?

Now you asking me questions?!

You begging now?

Oh, please do it.

Please hit her.

Please!

I want to see you do it.

What the hell's wrong with you?

Here, now, you bastard.

Put your hands on her.

Oh, my God! Don't hurt him!

Oh, I'm not gonna hurt him.

I'm gonna kill him.

Putting his hand

on my granddaughter.

I'm calling the police.

You call the police, so they can

see how you done hit her.

No, just get out.

Charles, I have been nothing but

a good woman and wife to you.

I don't deserve this.

You will reap what you sow.

Keep your money.

You crazy as hell.

Just leave it.

I might leave some of it.

It was this that made you

the evil bastard that you are.

Get out.

Here, now, the way I see it...

half of everything in this house

belongs to her...

and I ain't leaving here

till she get it.

-She'll never see it.

-What did he say?

Come on, Madea. Let's go.

That's right. Go.

Give me 5 minutes with her

in the bathroom, please.

Madea, let's go.

OK. Oh, yeah. I'm leaving.

It's just a matter of time...

before he does

the same thing to you.

Never. I could never be you.

I'm a woman who knows

how to get and keep her man!

What's that?

Madea...

Half of everything

in here belongs to her.

Which half do you want?

Do you want this half...

or do you want this half?

Madea.

Your Honor,

case number 456790--

the People versus Mabel Simmons

and Helen McCarter.

Criminal trespassing,

reckless endangerment...

criminal possession

of a handgun...

assault with a deadly weapon...

What are you

walking so fast for?

Suspended license,

expired registration...

reckless driving,

and a broken taillight.

Girl, I know that ain't

who I think it is.

I know you didn't say

Mabel Simmons. Madea?

How are you doing,

Judge Mablean?

It's good to see you.

Your hair is pretty, girl.

Look at you.

You're looking good.

How you been?

You're still at it?

This ain't even my fault.

What had happened was--

Save it.

Who's here for the defense?

Brian Simmons here on behalf...

of Mrs. McCarter and

Mrs. Simmons, your Honor.

-Brian?

-How you doing, Judge Ephriam?

I'm getting tired

of seeing your aunt.

I'm tired of seeing you.

It won't happen again.

Yeah, I bet.

Bail is set at $5,000

for Miss McCarter...

property or cash.

But as for you, Madea...

I'm placing you

under house arrest.

You ain't putting me

on no house arrest, honey.

I ain't fi'n

to to deal with that.

It's either that or prison.

What's your choice?

I'll take the house arrest.

Bailiff, call the next case.

The city of Atlanta

versus Bobby Brown.

What is this,

repeat-offender day?

Bobby! Bobby, I love you!

Sit down, Miss Houston.

-OK, you like hot sauce?

-Put that lid down!

What the hell?

How the hell you do that?

You don't know

what we're playing?

Hey, Daddy.

I see you got Thelma and Louise

out of jail.

Yeah, I did. Hey, stop running.

Stop running.

Say hi to your aunt Helen.

-Hi.

-Hi.

That's your son. Tiffany.

-My God. How old is she now?

-She'll be twelve tomorrow.

Hey, baby. How you doing?

-Can l?

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So...

I saw Debrah.

I didn't know she was so bad.

Yeah. She took it pretty hard

when you left.

Charles wanted us

to move away from anything...

that reminded him of the past,

and why I let him do that...

Debrah and I were thick

as thieves growing up, huh?

Yeah, you were.

I'll tell you what.

Y'all about to be set.

What you got? Oh, hell.

Y'all don't know nothing

about playing no cards.

I'm gonna take mine and git.

I could have spent my money

in a better place.

Did you hear me, John?

We gonna play, or we gonna talk?

Joe, let me get some.

That's some good stuff.

You want some, John?

I guess not.

Joe, let me get some.

Last time we gave you

some of this stuff, Mildred...

we had to call the popo on you.

We had to call the ambulance

and everything.

You went crazy as hell.

You ain't supposed to smoke this

when you're on lithium.

I'm all right.

All right. Don't wet up my butt,

get the lipstick all over it.

You act crazy if you want to.

Whose play is it?

Play something.

Play something.

Brian, can you handle

my divorce?

You don't even have to ask.

I always thought that

if I did all I could...

God would bless my marriage.

It takes a lot more

than you doing all you can.

And who's to say that

this is not your blessing?

You know, sometimes

we hold onto the things...

that God himself

is trying to tear away.

It's not that easy.

You know women. We love hard.

-And men don't?

-Not like a woman.

I don't know

if I agree with that.

We don't love as easy...

but when we love,

we love just as hard.

You don't see men

getting themselves...

in situations like mine.

The mother of my kids

is a junkie...

and I love her.

That's a tough situation.

Yeah. I look at Tiff--

she is so much like her.

She wants to sing.

I can't let her do that.

She's not Debrah.

Tell that to my heart.

Orlando. O-dawg,

what's going on, man?

Big Brian, what's up, man?

Y'all got it smelling

real right around here.

That's my deal, man.

That's my deal.

Hey, I want to introduce

you to somebody.

This is my cousin Helen.

Helen, this is Orlando.

Did I miss something?

You two know each other?

This is the sweet young lady...

that threw me out

of a moving truck.

This is the crazy woman--

That's her.

This town is too small.

I think you owe me an apology.

I don't owe you anything.

I was just trying

to help you out the other night.

Oh, yeah, right.

You're no good Samaritan.

He paid it. It's not like

you're some savior or something.

I'm gonna go...

check--do something.

Just another bitter

black woman, huh?

Excuse me?

I called you bitter, because

now every man you meet...

is gonna have to pay

for what he did.

You don't know

anything about me.

I know I watched a man

drag you out of a house...

and treat you like dirt.

Now there's another story

you can tell my cousin.

And I'm not bitter.

I'm mad as hell!

Turn that off up there.

Turn it off.

Shut up up there, all that

music.

How you doing, Henry Lee?

It's good to see y'all.

See, I'm on house arrest.

What is that?

You don't even

want to know, baby.

You don't even want to know.

Get somewhere and sit down

over there, little boy...

before I knock the hell

out of you. Where's your mama?

There you go.

-Mildred, you all right?

-Mm-hmm.

Mildred, don't you start

acting crazy.

Give me, give me. Here.

I'm gonna put this out.

You acting like you crazy.

I'll save that for later.

Your play, Mildred.

Play something.

Help! Somebody help me!

I'm out.

What happened to my eyes?

Everything is dark!

Open your eyes, and you might

be able to see something, fool.

Crawling all over me!

The rabbits!

The rabbits

are crawling all over me!

You ain't supposed to be

smoking that stuff, Mildred.

Rabbits!

Brian, please take her home

to her house.

I don't know why the hell

you come over here...

to my yard with that.

Get on, rabbit. Go, rabbit.

Go. Go, rabbit. Go.

OK, the rabbit's gone. OK?

All right. No more rabbits.

Hey, Mildred,

you forgot your rabbit.

Don't come back over here

no more, Mildred!

Don't come back over here!

I don't see no rabbit.

That was good stuff we had.

Is that a rab--

that's a rabbit!

Here. Use this.

What's this,

your way of apologizing?

Because if it is,

I'm not accepting it.

I'm sorry, mister.

Hey, hey.

My name's Orlando.

Orlando.

Willie, put some music on.

Something we can dance to.

You got it.

Let's turn this party up.

Y'all, come on. Dance.

Come on. Everybody come on.

Come on, Helen.

You and that young man.

Come on, young man. Come on.

March 19.

Dear diary...

I look out at my family

having fun and laughing...

and everything in me

is screaming for help.

How do I get to that place?

How?

Go, Joe! Go, Joe!

Go, Joe! Go, Joe!

Go, Joe! Go, Joe!

Hello?

Chuck, this is Jamison.

Man, I need to talk to you.

You know what time it is?

I don't really care

what time it is.

I got a situation.

We need to talk now.

It went bad.

What are you talking about?

-I shot him.

-Who?

Some cop undercover

who was trying to sting me.

What does that

got to do with me?

Charles,

I need a lawyer and a judge.

Now, there is $300,000

in that bag.

That ought to

buy me both, right?

Look, I'm a legitimate

defense attorney...

and I would advise you

not to try and bribe a judge.

Look, man, I'm hot!

I don't have time for

all this legal stuff, man.

OK, look, you know I don't deal

with your kind anymore.

My kind? Brother,

before you started...

defending all

these rich white boys...

it was my kind

that got you down.

-I'm going home.

-Home?

Oh, how quickly we forget.

I ran so much coke

for you back in the day...

I paid for that house.

Now look here. I need you,

like you needed me...

back in the day

to get all you got.

No. What you need

is a lawyer...

and not to ever

call my house again.

You are my lawyer.

You know where to find me.

Lord Jesus. All of this

calamity in the world.

But I tell--

The paper's sad.

It's really sad.

You nasty as hell.

I don't know what

I'm gonna do with you.

Here.

What?

You need a job.

Oh, Madea, I don't--

I don't know

how to do anything.

I got a job for you...

as soon as I get

some more Vaseline.

Joe, that is your--

that's your family.

That's your dead husband's

side of the family.

She ain't no kin to me.

I could introduce you to Harvey.

Maybe he'll help you out.

She ain't selling no dope, Joe.

If I had a bottle

of battery acid...

I would give you

a chemical peel...

just scrub all of that ugly

off of your face.

I know you're my brother...

and the only reason I'm

letting you stay in my house...

is to get your check.

But I can still

get your check...

if you come up missing.

Keep trying me.

But you're gonna end up

in the Chattahoochee river.

What you looking at?!

You ain't moving in here.

Next thing you know,

she'll be getting mail here.

Joe, leave that baby alone.

If their name

comes on the envelope...

that means they move

right the hell in.

Get out.

Get--get out.

Baby, take that newspaper...

and go on in the kitchen

and look for you a job.

And an apartment.

Look for an apartment

while you're in there.

You always messing

with somebody.

What the hell's wrong with you?

You're just grouchy as hell.

You been grouchy.

That's why Mommy and Daddy

didn't like you.

She ain't moving in here.

Ain't enough room in this house

for all of us here.

This ain't "Roots." These rooms

are barely big enough...

for you to turn around in.

Man, but you know,

you're just huge.

You big as a Buick.

You just fat as hell.

I watched you walk

down the hall the other day.

I thought somebody had put

a refrigerator on your butt.

You're huge. You're big.

And that's something

you'll never...

in your life hear a woman say.

Yes!

Thank you, Mrs. McCarter.

She's in her room.

Hi, Mama.

Hi.

I brought you some things.

Hey, baby. How you doing?

Oh. I'm doing OK.

Yeah.

They talked to me

about the bill here yesterday.

They call you?

Yes.

I'm gonna get that paid.

You know Charles

don't care nothing about me.

What makes you think

he's gonna pay it?

I talked to Madea.

I know what's going on.

I think I'm...

losing my mind, Mama.

He hurt me so bad.

He was my everything.

God is your everything.

Don't you know

he's a jealous god?

He don't want no man before him.

I don't even know

where to begin...

to pick up the pieces

of my life.

Lord have mercy.

I was 39 years old

when you were born.

I never ever dreamed

I'd have children.

And then here you come...

sweet bundle of joy.

But what did I do?

I think I shielded you

way too much.

Now you got to get out there...

try to stand

on your own two feet.

Oh, no, Mama.

I can't do that.

I'm not strong like you.

Sure you are.

You got the strength

God gave us women to survive.

You just ain't

tapped into it yet.

Come here.

Come on.

Come on now.

Oh...

just let it go.

Nothing wrong with

shedding a few tears.

It cleanses the soul.

You know, you need

to stop thinking...

about what you think

you lost...

and look forward

to what there is to gain.

It's a new life, baby.

It's right in front of you.

All you got to do

is reach out and grab it.

How do I do that, Mama? How?

By waking up every morning...

and thanking God that you did.

And then ask him to help you.

Just ask the savior to help you.

April 18.

Dear diary,

every day I wake up...

I take my mother's advice.

Most days, I don't want

to get out of bed...

but I do.

Some people say,

"One day at a time."

Seems too long for me.

Most days, all I can do

is moment to moment.

The good thing

about being this low...

is that there's

nowhere to go but up.

Hi. Can I get your order?

Hi.

OK, I'm gonna kill Brian.

Did he tell you I work here?

Hey, easy. Easy.

A man's got to eat, right?

What can I get for you?

How about a coffee

and a number four?

We don't have number fours

in this restaurant.

OK. How about just a coffee?

Coffee.

OK.

I like the new haircut...

a lot.

Thank you.

Oh, no matter what

You may be going through

Take it to the master

He'll see you right on through

I know Jesus, whoo!

Take it to him

You can leave it there

He will work it out

No matter what

You may be going through...

April 25.

Dear diary,

today was a bad day.

I got up and came to church

because I was so angry.

When I think

about all the blood...

and sweat and tears

I put into my marriage...

it makes me want to hate him.

Let me tell you something, boss.

I paid you a lot of money,

and that judge, he ain't down.

The judge had no choice...

but to allow the videotape

into evidence.

I told you

to make this go away.

Say it wasn't me,

I wasn't there.

How the hell do you

use self-defense?

You're on videotape.

And it will be

very hard to explain...

you not being there

at the time of the murder.

Self-defense is our only option.

Then put me on the stand.

I'll say it wasn't me.

Then all your priors

come into play.

Look, Mr. Jackson,

you have to let me work here.

Look, man, you can get me off,

make this go away.

Look, I said

I would do all I can.

Well, that better be

a hell of a lot, brother.

Or I will do all I can.

Wait a minute.

Are you threatening--

Ain't nobody talking to you.

I done paid you a lot of money.

You know how it is

on the streets, Chuck.

Brother don't do what he say.

However you and your homeys

settle your disputes...

this has to play out in court.

-If I go down, man--

-If you go down?

Kalvin, walk away.

Walk away.

Don't let this suit fool you.

I don't take too kindly

to threats, Mr. Jackson.

And I don't make

idle threats, Mr. McCarter.

I better get off.

May 12.

Dear diary...

I'm beginning to find my way.

It's been close to

three months...

and every day

gets a little easier.

Even though we're still

battling Charles in court...

I don't even give it

that much energy anymore.

I don't understand this,

but it's strange...

how little can be so much

when you're happy.

I find myself

smiling and laughing...

more than I ever have.

I find myself...

Wait a minute. That's it.

I'm finding myself.

It's nights like this

I wish I had a car...

or kept that U-Haul truck

a few more days.

Hey. Brian asked me

to pick you up tonight.

He did?

No, thanks.

All right, but you know...

the next bus doesn't come

for at least an hour.

I'll be fine.

Why are you being

so mean, woman?

Why are you being

so nice, man?

You know, there are still

a few of us nice guys around.

All right. Suit yourself.

Come on, now.

This makes no sense.

You'll take me straight home?

I'll take you wherever

you want to go.

Just get in the truck.

Come on.

You all right?

Yeah.

This is some weather, huh?

Hey, you know what?

I'm kind of hungry.

You want to stop

and have some dinner?

I have food at home.

I was thinking you might like...

a nice little salmon dinner

at one of my favorite spots.

Where is that? McDonald's?

Actually, it's a little

jazz bar called Chandra's.

I love that place.

There you go. All right. So?

Are we going?

-I can't afford Chandra's.

-No, no, no, no. I got it.

You got it?

Yeah, I got it.

And what do you do?

Because I don't hang

with drug dealers.

I work twelve hours a day

at McWorth steel, all right?

I got the bill.

Yeah. Well, this is not a date.

Yes, ma'am.

What are you looking at?

A beautiful black woman.

Is that all you see

when you look at me?

No. No, not at all.

I also see a woman

who's been hurt...

a lot...

and she's taught herself

how to be tough...

real tough.

But, you know, the key

is to be tough, not hard.

And how would you know

what the key is?

Let's just say

I had to learn it, too.

Is that what you tell

all your women?

I don't have women.

I had a bad breakup last year.

And I guess

you could say I've...

I've been happily single

ever since.

Well, I guess...

we've both had

bad breakups, then.

Hello. Welcome to Chandra's.

I'm Chandra Currelley.

This one is

for the new couples...

here for the very first time

tonight.

How do I start?

Where do I begin?

I've been hurt so much

I just need a friend

Could it be you?

Will you break

through these walls?

Are you willing

To help them fall?

I want to love again...

So, what did you do?

What?

Well, men always do something.

Did her looks change?

Did you grow tired of her?

No.

She decided she wanted

a pro ball player.

He had a lot more money

than I had.

I'm sorry.

It's not a big deal.

...with you

You don't know that

These...

Dance with me.

No. I'm in my uniform.

So what? Who cares?

Look at me. Come on.

No, no, no.

Is driving me crazy

Oh, my mind,

my mind says no

But my body says yes

You're...

Dear diary...

this man is fine.

How does he know

I like to be held like this?

Am I holding you too tight?

Lord knows, I wanted to say,

"Yes. Back the hell up."

But he felt so good.

It's OK.

Dear Jesus,

please let this man let me go...

before I lose my mind.

And he smells so good.

What's the catch?

Please let him

say something stupid...

like all men do at this time.

You know,

this feels like a fairy tale.

No, he didn't!

That was the right thing.

What do you mean?

Just me holding you like this.

I used to believe

in fairy tales, but...

I don't anymore.

And I'll, I'll do the rest

Your every smile,

your gentle touch

I've...

never been this close

to any man...

other than my husband--

my ex-husband.

Charles--that's his name.

He was supposed

to be my fairy tale.

He was my first...

and my only.

Here it is.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

You know,

I'd like to see you again...

if that's all right.

Orlando, I'm just getting

out of a relationship and--

You know, it's so easy to say no

sometimes out of fear.

So how about just taking

the hard road...

and saying yes?

Just this one time.

I mean, what's so wrong

about being friends?

Nothing, I guess.

Yeah. Nothing.

So, I'll see you tomorrow?

So, you're asking me out again?

This wasn't a date, remember?

-OK, I'll see you tomorrow.

-There you go.

I'll see you tomorrow.

-You got it?

-I'm trapped.

It's old-school. I got it.

-I'll see you tomorrow.

-OK.

-Good night.

-Good night.

When you're finished,

you need to leave.

Leave?

I don't have nowhere to go.

What do you want me to do?

Open the house up to you?

Give you the keys?

You put me and these

kids through enough.

You need to go.

You still have that picture.

What happened to us?

You.

I don't want to do this

anymore, Brian.

Help me, please.

No. Every time

I try to help you...

you disappoint me.

This time,

you got to help yourself.

But I can't.

God knows how many times

we've been through this.

You say that every time,

and I wake up...

the next morning,

my wallet is gone.

No, but I'm serious

this time, Brian.

Come on, please.

I can make you feel good.

Don't you want to feel good?

It's time to go.

I really am trying.

Damn thing working

on my nerves.

You know, I was watching

the Animal Planet channel...

and they say that

when a coyote is trapped...

it will eat its own foots off

to get out of the trap.

You want some hot sauce?

In your case,

it wouldn't be a coyote.

It would be a elephant!

A big old giraffe!

A big old giraffe!

Say one more thing, Joe.

Say one more thing.

I don't hear you. You're quiet.

Can I buy a vowel?

It's open!

Come on, Tiffany.

Hey. Got to drop the kids off

because I got to go to court.

My cigarettes.

How you doing? You all right?

Hey there, little boy.

What's going on?

How you doing?

Good to see you, B.J.

What's wrong with you?

She wants to sing

in that church choir.

You can join in at twelve.

Go on in there and watch TV.

Let me talk to your daddy.

Madea, I don't want to hear it.

She's not singing in that choir.

Roll your eyes at me,

get slapped.

Brian, just because singing

led Debrah to drugs...

don't mean the same thing is

gonna happen to your daughter.

And why you put Debrah out of

the house the other night?

You need to try to help her.

Hell, no! Don't do that.

That is stupid!

I've done all I can, Madea.

You right. You right.

Let me tell you something...

what I learned.

You can't turn no whore

into no housewife.

I'm telling him.

I tried it with your mama.

Whoo, that was terrible.

Come on. Let's go out there.

Madea, I can't keep putting

these kids through this, OK?

Brian, you is using them

children like a crutch.

You understand

what I'm telling you?

Any fool could see you love

that woman with all your might.

You need to help her.

And at the same time,

it might help you.

Don't do it! Don't do it!

Don't do it, I say!

Don't do it!

Listen, you take your daughter

on down there...

and let her sing

in that church choir.

That is constructive,

what she's doing.

She need to do

something constructive.

Love is stronger

than any addiction, baby.

Hell, it is one.

You got time to eat?

August 30.

Dear diary...

some random thoughts for you.

Orlando and I have been out

every night since Chandra's.

That was almost four months.

I keep waiting

for him to change...

to be this evil person...

but it hasn't happened.

I didn't know a man

could be so thoughtful.

It's like second nature.

What?

I'm just sitting here

trying to think of a way...

to say this to you.

I'm in love with you.

How do you know that?

I don't know

how to explain it to you.

Try.

Helen, if I'm away from you

for more than an hour...

I can't stop thinking about you.

I carry you in my spirit.

I pray for you more

than I pray for myself.

I got it so bad for you,

I'd go to the grocery store...

and I'd buy your feminine

products. I swear I would.

See? And that. That.

That smile.

Helen, when you smile

like that...

my world...

it's all right.

I am in love with you.

Dear diary,

when did I get here?

Somewhere,

out of all the pain...

came a man who is strong...

beautiful, sensitive...

and Christian.

Last night was so amazing.

Even though we both wanted

to make love...

he chose to give me

something better.

He gave me intimacy.

I haven't felt this way in...

well...never.

You know, what's strange

is that I thank Charles...

because if he hadn't been

such a terrible man to me...

I wouldn't know

what a good one feels like.

He can have it all.

Your Honor, may I have a moment

to confer with my client?

It's fine.

It's fine.

Your Honor, let him

have it all...everything.

Are you sure?

Yes...

as long as he agrees

to pay my attorney's fees...

and my mother's stay

in a nursing home...

he can have it.

So ordered. Mr. McCarter

will retain ownership...

of all said properties solely,

and no alimony is ordered.

Mr. McCarter will pay all

Mrs. McCarter's attorney fees.

Divorce will be granted...

upon the signature of

both parties after thirty days.

Adjourned.

Do you have any idea

what you just did?

Yes.

Smart choice.

Later, Charles.

Smart choice.

Will the defendant please rise?

Mr. Foreman, has the jury

reached a unanimous verdict?

We have, your Honor.

What say you?

We, the jury,

find the defendant...

Jamison Milton Jackson,

guilty.

Quiet. Quiet.

Quiet.

I'd like to thank the members

of the jury for their duties.

Take him away.

Sentencing will be

in three weeks.

This court is adjourned.

Good looking out.

Somebody get an ambulance!

Hurry! We need

an ambulance, please!

Will someone get some help?

Do you love me?

Hey.

Hey. Hey.

Helen, my heart says

that you do.

Your actions say that you do.

But you've never said it.

The last man that I said--

No, no, no, no.

Please...

don't make me pay

for his mistakes.

If you love me, just say it...

and you trust me

with that information...

because I promise you

I won't abuse it.

But I need to hear it.

Yes...

I love you.

Now what?

That's it. That's it.

You just trust it.

OK?

Any time you want

to give in to that fear...

you let our love outweigh it.

Right?

-Yeah?

-OK.

Good morning.

Orlando, what's going--

I know you don't believe

in fairy tales.

But if you did...

I'd want to be your knight

in shining armor.

You've been through so much.

I don't want

to see you hurt anymore.

Now, I may not be able to give

you all that you're used to.

But I do know I can love you

past your pain.

I don't want you

to worry about anything.

You just wake up

in the morning.

That's all you have to do,

and I'll take it from there.

There's one condition.

You have to be my wife.

Say something.

What? What's wrong?

-Oh, my God.

-What?

What's wrong?

-What?

-I have to go.

Go? Go where?

I'm sorry.

-Where are you going?

-I have to go.

We removed two

of the four bullets...

but there's one that's

very close to the spine.

There's a great possibility...

he could be

permanently paralyzed.

Are you his wife?

I am soon to be.

He won't be able to walk?

It's touch-and-go

at this point.

We're trying

to stabilize him...

so we can perform

this last surgery...

but this bullet

is in a very difficult place.

I need to know,

if things go badly...

should we resuscitate?

What do you mean,

"If things go bad"?

I have to be honest with you.

It doesn't look good in there.

Should we resuscitate?

No.

-Wait a minute.

-Excuse me?

I'm sorry. These decisions

are usually left to the spouse.

No, no, no.

Legally, she is still his wife.

Then you have to make the call.

You do everything

you can for him.

You are so vindictive!

What quality of life is that man

gonna have if he can't walk?

Did you not hear her

say "possibility"?

Why are you here?

Helen, calm down.

Why are you here?!

Let me go.

OK.

I'm fine.

September 1.

Dear diary, tell me,

why am I here?

I know it's the Christian

thing to do...

but my flesh wants to beat

the hell out of him.

I want to hate him...

but as I look at him...

all I feel is sympathy.

Charles?

Hi.

Hi.

He came through pretty well.

He can't speak,

but he can hear you.

What about the paralysis?

Mr. McCarter,

it's Dr. Shiloh.

If you can feel this,

I want you to blink your eyes.

Don't get discouraged.

It's not as bad as we thought.

He is breathing on his own.

He's suffered a lot of scarring

and swelling...

around the nerves

of the spine...

but as the swelling goes down...

it's possible that he will

be able to regain some feeling.

Don't give up.

September 19.

Dear diary...

as I sit here thinking about...

picking up the pieces

of what used to be my life...

I realized something.

Every room in this house

holds a painful memory for me.

Even though he's suffering...

something somewhere in me

wants him to suffer more.

A few months and a divorce...

can take you through

just as many emotions...

as 18 years in a marriage.

And I'm starting to feel

all of them at once.

But the one that is clear

is rage.

Signed, a mad black woman.

I don't see it.

-You don't see it?

-No.

You ain't good for nothing.

Find my bank statement and get

the accountant on the phone.

Then call Kalvin

and tell him...

to get over here,

and you could leave.

This is not gonna beat me.

What you starin' at?

All of this,

and you're still the same.

I'm Charles McCarter.

I'm gonna die Charles McCarter.

Look, I don't even know

why you're here.

I ain't giving you a dime.

Call Brenda and get my kids.

Where are my kids?

Look, just get the hell out.

I ask you to do

one little thing...

and you can't even do that

after 18 years?

Get out!

Let me explain something to you.

Old Helen is gone...

and you will not

talk to me like that.

Now, I came here

to help you...

but now...

I'm gonna get even.

-Helen, you--

-Shut up!

You want Brenda and your kids?

Do you see what you left me for?

This is what you left me for!

She didn't give a damn

about you, Charles.

She told them to let you die.

I was your wife. I loved you.

I never would have hurt you!

Why did you do this to me?

To us?

Answer me!

And you know what's funny?

I gave you life...

even though

you took it from me.

Your kids...

your boys...

I wanted children, Charles!

And had you not been

with those whores...

we would have them.

Got me all stressed out--

my hair falling out,

my weight up and down...

can't keep anything down,

two miscarriages!

You took life from me...

and you never even said,

"I'm sorry."

I'm gonna let you sit here

for a few days...

and think about what I've said.

You stink.

Helen, what you doing?

Hey! Stop it! Stop it!

Hey, stop!

"Bathe him, feed him...

"clothe him," they say.

What about me?

What about me?

Oh, stop making those bubbles.

You kicked me

out of our house!

You tried to keep me

from our money!

No.

I was there...

when all we had was each other.

Helen.

Are you hungry?

Maybe you should

go into the kitchen...

and get yourself

something to eat then.

Christina.

Christina?

Christina's gone.

Your little tramp didn't leave

any money to pay her...

so she left,

just like your little slut.

She packed all her things--

and some of yours--

and left.

Come to think of it...

she cleaned out

your bank account...

all of it.

You tried to keep it from me,

and she took it all.

Lord have mercy.

Charles,

you are like so many men.

You'd rather leave with trash...

than make it work

with a good woman.

You're a coward.

-Here you go.

-Thank you.

Hi.

I thought you were

gonna stand me up.

No.

Can I get a cranberry juice,

please?

Helen, I haven't heard

from you in three weeks.

What's going on?

I have a lot of things

going on right now, Orlando...

and I don't think

I can complicate it.

Complicate it?

I'm a complication?

Thank you.

My husband's back home.

We're back together.

Helen, don't you do this.

That man did everything

in his power...

to try and break you,

but you made it.

You found strength

and passion for life...

you never had before.

Why would you turn back?

Why?

You can't answer me, can you?

Well, I know the answer,

because I was just like you.

Every time things

were going good...

I would always find a way

to mess it up.

I would sabotage,

just like you're doing.

But, Helen,

I learned that I do deserve...

to have good things

and a good life.

And I deserve you.

Helen, look at me.

Look at me.

You're a good woman,

and you deserve me.

You want out of that life.

I know you do.

The only reason

you're going back to it...

is because you are still afraid.

I'm right here.

Helen, I love you.

But I need you to trust me.

I'm sorry, Orlando.

Don't. Don't. Don't.

What? What? Don't what?

Don't what? What? What?

What do you want from me?

What? Am I supposed to say,

"Let's be friends"?

-ls that what you want?

-Yes.

You don't get it, do you?

See, when you

really love someone...

you can't just be their friend.

I don't want to lose you.

And I don't want

just half of you.

What's that on the dog's leg?

It's a flea and tick thing.

A flea and...

Mm-hmm. Come on.

That don't look like

no flea and tick thing to me.

That looks very strange.

What is it?

Madea, we're here!

Madea. Madea.

What's that on the dog's leg?

Lord, Myrtle Jean, look at you.

You're looking good, girl!

I just come from church.

Go ahead on, honey.

You look good.

When you coming to church?

I'll be there as soon as

you get a smokers section.

I'm gonna be right there.

Yeah, you look good,

Myrtle Jean.

You look real good.

How are you doing, Joe?

I'm good. Come here, baby.

Come here.

Come here.

Come here.

I got Viagra.

Come here, baby.

I got Mace.

You're just as mean as a snake,

Myrtle Jean.

You're mean as a snake.

Listen, next Sunday I'm cooking

a big old dinner...

and I want all of y'all

to come by here.

Helen,

have you called Orlando?

That boy been calling here...

and coming by here

like he's crazy.

Who's Orlando?

Her boyfriend.

My friend.

And yes, I did talk to him.

Baby, don't you

open that door...

before you've closed

the other one. You hear me?

Myrtle Jean, can I get you

to open the door for me?

Knock, knock. Open wide.

Shut up, you old fool.

That all sounds real good...

sitting there telling your mom

he ain't nothing but a friend.

But I don't know

if I believe that, honey.

There's something

going on between y'all...

the way you've been

walking around here...

just smiling and grinning

all the time.

Mm-mm. I'm too busy

taking care of Charles.

I don't have time for Orlando.

You're better than me...

because I would be beating

the hell out of Charles, honey.

Yeah, like that man

in "Misery."

That woman took that board...

and she put it

on his ankle bone...

and she broke

both his foots off.

They went just like this.

Both his foots went like this.

Broke both of them. That's

exactly what I'll be doing--

breaking something.

I'll tell you,

I learned a long time ago...

that God could take care of

folks far better than you can.

God takes too long sometimes.

I need them

to get got right then.

That's why I don't worry

about folks.

They can't make me happy,

and they can't make me sad.

What did the pastor say?

You know I don't know.

I'd be trying to read

that Bible...

or go to church or something

and sit there...

and I looked down at that

New Testimony and saw Jesus--

you know,

the one with the words in red.

I look down and saw

all that red the other night.

I said, "l can't sit here

and read all of this."

Jesus was talking too much

for me to read all of that.

Ain't that the truth?

It seems like every time...

you open up the Bible,

you gets--

any time anybody

opens a Bible, I just fall--

I'm just playing.

You looking just like Beyonce.

Sexy thing.

Peace. Be still.

That's what he said.

Peace. Be still.

You know what? Peace is

always still around me...

'cause I keeps me

what they call a piece of steel.

As long as you've got

a piece of steel...

you're gonna have peace.

Load your steel.

Thank you, Jesus.

You're not reading

the right part.

Look here. That all sounds

real good and everything...

talking about

the "peace, be still"...

and the Bible

and all that stuff.

But you got to be careful...

'cause I remember

this man did me wrong...

honey, I didn't even know

how mad I was...

till I got to his funeral.

He had died.

-Why were you so mad at him?

-Because he hit me.

Yes, he did. He hit me.

And he is eight feet under.

Six feet under. That's where

they bury folks--six feet.

That's what

I'm trying to tell you.

I thought I was over

what the man had done to me...

till I saw him

laying in that casket.

The man was dead,

and I got mad all over again.

I beat him down two more feet.

I was mad as hell.

Listen, you think

you're over something...

you think you're ready

to get on with your life.

This is how you really find out

if you're over something or not.

If you get an opportunity

to get even...

with somebody who did you wrong

and you don't take it...

then you're over it,

but if you don't...

and you beat the hell

out of them...

you ain't over it yet.

Baby, tell me something.

How are y'all doing?

I'll tell you how she's doing.

She's beating

the hell out of him.

How did you know?

Child, you've been around me.

I know something

done rubbed off on you.

You haven't hurt him, have you?

Just his feelings.

You know, I know this man

put a hurting on you, baby...

but you got to forgive him.

No matter what he done,

you got to forgive him--

not for him, but for you.

Forgive him for me?

When somebody hurts you...

they take power over you.

You don't forgive them,

they keeps the power.

Forgive him, baby.

And after you forgive him,

forgive yourself.

Forgive me.

-For what?

-This.

Oh, lord have mercy. You know,

you just don't have no couth.

That's what's wrong with you.

John, $35,000 is not enough...

for me to take to my client.

I'm on the phone, sweetheart.

No. No way. You talk

to your client and--

Stop! Stop the car!

Stop! That's Mom!

I'll call you back, John.

I'll call you back.

Can I go talk to her, Dad?

Please?

Dad! Can I go talk to her?

Go on.

Hey, Mama.

Tiffany. Hey, girl.

Mom...Dad let me sing

in the church choir.

That's good, baby.

And I wish you would come.

You know I ain't got

nothing to wear.

Well, the service

starts at 10:00...

if you want to come.

Tiffany.

-Bye, Mama.

-Bye.

I can feel on my right side.

Are you going somewhere?

Actually, I was waiting on you.

What do you want?

I don't have anyone.

Everybody who I thought

was my friend...

has turned their back on me,

and it hurts.

But not nearly as much

as what I've done to you.

You are a good woman, Helen...

and a good person.

So...don't be like me.

You always used to tell me...

"God has the power...

"to show you who's God."

I get it.

Even though

I almost destroyed it...

I know you still have a heart.

For everything...

everything...

that I have ever

done wrong to you...

I'm sorry.

I...

am so...

sorry.

See, what I love about God...

is that when he asks

a question...

he already knows the answer.

He asked Ezekiel,

"Can these bones live?"

He asked the lame man,

"Will thy be made whole?"

Somebody's been made whole

up in here today.

Come on and give him

some praise.

He asked Abraham...

"ls there anything

too hard for God?"

God is asking you

that question right now.

Is there anything

too hard for God?

Is there anything

too hard for him?

What will you

believe God for today?

God can deliver you

out of any addiction...

situation, or anything

that you dislike.

Come on, somebody.

What will you believe God for?

Come on, choir.

The doors of the church

are open.

Come on.

Come on and bless his name.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Father, can you hear me?

We need your love today

I know that you are listening

You hear them every day

Father, please hear us

And we will be OK

Father, we need you

To live and lead us today

Father, can you hear me?

I'm calling on your name

Yes.

Not Buddha nor Muhammad

But it's Jesus, we cry out loud

Father, just forgive us

Hear us when we say

We'll give you, give you,

give you everything

Our lives and souls today

God, you know we need it

I've never seen so much pain

We have the faith for now

Your victory we will gain

Father, you know we need it

Hallelujah.

There's no more heart of stone

We're ready for your power

Now the sin is gone

Oh, father, can you hear me now?

Father

Can you hear me now?

Father

Can you hear me now?

Father

We will sing, sing a song

Sing a song

Just say you will, Jesus

Just say you will

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Say yeah

Come on, raise your hands

and say yeah

Come on now

Many people are in need of love

See them coming to you, Lord

Just as I am, I'm in need

of the blood of the lamb

Oh, my soul, I say yeah

Yeah

Yeah

Help me, Lord

I know I can't do this

by myself

I surrender, Lord

Yeah

Do you believe?

Somebody, please

Somebody ought to

send up a song, yeah

Lift up your hands and say

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah

Lift up your hands,

all ye kings

The king will promise

he'll come in

Somebody tell me who is

the king of glory

The lord God, strong and mighty

Do you know Jesus?

Throw up your hands

and say yeah

Oh, yeah

Somebody say yeah

Say yes

Yes

Father God, we thank you...

for this delicious meal

that we are about to partake in.

We ask that

you would bless us...

in the decisions that

we've made for you today.

Keep us strong as a unit,

Father.

We give you glory and honor

in the name of--

Amen, amen, amen.

-Amen.

-Amen. Amen.

Y'all ain't had greens

like this before, baby.

I put my foot in it.

Give me some cornbread.

Go ahead and eat something,

Myrtle Jean.

You know I'm hungry.

Charles?

You know I love you, right?

Yeah.

And you know

I'll always be your friend.

Do you forgive me?

I already have.

Not just for what I did to you.

I'm in love.

Where are you going?

I'm going to find my man.

Go get him, girl,

wherever he's at.

Yeah, aunt Helen.

Bye, y'all.

Lord have mercy.

I knowed it. I knowed it.

Come on, Ike Turner.

Go on out there and get her.

Orlando! Orlando!

Ma'am! Whoa, ma'am!

You can't go in there!

That's not safe! Whoa!

Orlando!

Orlando!

You have to stop.

Orlando! Orlando!

Ma'am, you've got to stop.

Orlando, where are you?

Sorry. You've got--

This is too dangerous.

It's not safe.

I've got to ask you to leave.

Boss, she's all right.

She's with me.

What are you doing here, Helen?

I gave it all up.

What?

I just want you.

I just want you.

Ask me again.

Ask me again. I love you.

Now, how do you

know that, Helen?

I carry you in my spirit.

I pray for you...

more than I pray for myself.

And if you're away

for more than an hour...

I can't stop thinking about you.

And your smile.

When you smile,

my world is all right.

Ask me again. I love you.

Ask me again.

Will you marry me?

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Oh, Helen.

This woman right here

wants to marry me, y'all!

She wants to marry me!