BOYZ II MEN SINGING:
You taught me everything

And everything you've given me

I always keep it inside

You're the driving force
in my life

Yeah-eah-eah-eah

There isn't anything
or anyone that I could be

And it just wouldn't feel right

If I didn't have you by my side

Ooh, you were there for me

To love and care for me

When skies were gray

Whenever I was down

You were always there

To comfort me

No one else can be

What you have been to me

You will always be

You will always be
the girl in my life

For all times

Mama

Mama, you know I love you

You know I love you

Mama

Mama,
you're the queen of my heart

You are

Your love is like tears
from the stars

Your love is like
tears from the stars

Mama, I just want you to know

Lovin' you
is like food to my soul

Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh,
yeah, yeah

You are the food to my soul

AHMAD: My grandma always said...

"Family pullin' together in
times of need makes you strong."

This here's the story about
my family, about our family...

about the things
that pulled us together...

and things
that tried to pull us apart.

AHMAD: Let's see.
Where should I begin?

EMCEE: Give it up for the last
Joseph sister to get married--

Bird and Lem.

AHMAD: Aunt Bird's wedding
is as good a place as any.

Everyone who was anyone
was there.

EMCEE: Just the party people
to the dance floor.

If you got more than $5.00,
let me see you shake it!

We got food! We got music!

We got a party happening here!

There you go, Big Mama!

AHMAD:
That's my mom and dad dancing.

They got two and a half kids--
me, my sister Kelly...

and whoever that is in the oven.

That's Aunt Teri
and Uncle Miles--

like Miles Davis.

They're both lawyers
and got big-time dough.

I'm talkin' dollar bills, y'all.

The bride is Big Mama's
youngest, Aunt Robin.

We call her Bird
'cause she used to be skinny.

The groom is my new uncle, Lem.

Folks are always doggin' him
'cause he's done time in jail.

MOTHER JOE: Go on, baby.
Go pin it on her.

AHMAD: That's Big Mama there.
Big Mama Joe.

People always said she never
made one enemy in her life...

'cause if she did...

she'd feed 'em her green beans,
sweet potato pie...

and Southern fried chicken...

and they'd be down with her
after that.

That's my baby.

AHMAD: Reverend Williams--

ain't even kin, but he's always
got something to say or eat.

REVEREND WlLLlAMS:
Mama Joe, how you doin'?

You lookin' so good.

Them daughters
are looking good, too.

Especially that Lady Bird.

I was teasin' her. I said,
"Would you marry the Reverend?"

She said, "lf I marry,
I need sex every night."

I said,
"Put me down for Tuesday."

EMCEE: Got to change it up.

Something new.

Something new
from the underground.

BlRD: You just take my man.
I'll see how you do.

AHMAD: Oh, and this is Simuel.

For Bird, he was one of
the skeletons in the closet...

Big Mama said we all had.

LEM: All right.

MAXlNE: Look who's here.

TERl: What's he doing?

MAXlNE: I don't know.

BlRD: Get out of my way.

SlMUEL: Heh heh.
Congratulations.

MAXlNE:
Would you look at this fool?

AHMAD:
Lem wasn't doing any better...

in the "skeletons in the closet"
category.

MAXlNE: I'm going to get her.
Come on, Teri.

AHMAD: That was him with his ex,
bumpin' and grindin'.

-Honey?
-Hmm?

Who's Big Mama's
favorite grandbaby?

I am.

What would my sweet pea do
for Big Mama?

Anything.

Then go tell Aunt Bird
to get her butt in here...

with her new husband now.

AHMAD: Being Big Mama's favorite
wasn't easy...

especially when it came
to keeping the peace.

But I always did
what she asked...

even if it meant
charging into a bathroom...

full of fine,
half-dressed women.

MAXlNE: Ahmad, what you want?

-Yo, Bird.
-What?

Big Mama said
get your black ass out here.

Big Mama ain't told nobody
to get nowhere.

Stay out of grown folks'
business.

-Can't believe what I saw.
-Me either.

BlRD: Who invited Simuel?

MAXlNE: I didn't.

TERl: Doesn't matter. Why were
you letting him feel you up?

MAXlNE: Now your man's dancing
with some Miss Hootchie Mama...

like there weren't no wedding
10 minutes ago.

-Whose man?
-Your man, girl.

BlRD: Oh, hell, no.

Nobody's disrespecting me
on my wedding day.

MAXlNE: That's what I mean.

BlRD: Excuse me!

Did you see that dress
Miss Thing had on?

-Did you see her behind?
-All up her butt.

That's what she get--

draggin' somebody in
who ain't got nothin'...

and puttin' him off on family.

Family? Puttin' him off on me.
I paid for this wedding.

Teri, why do you always say
how you pay for everything?

'Cause I do.

Who is that
hootchie-cootchie mama...

with her fat ass
all over my husband?

MAXlNE: I told you.

This is my wedding day!
I'm supposed to be happy!

Shoot. We happy.

It's supposed to be
the happiest day of your life.

-Everybody's happy.
-We're happy.

But we'd be more happy
if we beat that ho' down.

EMCEE: Yeah! Come on.

MAXlNE: Let's go get her ass.

EMCEE: She's workin' it on him !
Do it! Do it!

MAXlNE: Excuse me. Excuse me.
Excuse me.

MAXlNE: Excuse me.

EMCEE: Whoo!
Shake it! Shake it! Shake it!

Go on, Big Mama.

AHMAD: You see, right there--
that was just like Big Mama.

Always knowin'
how to set things right.

I used to think we had
a special connection...

like we shared an inside joke
no one else was in on.

Then I found out she had the
same connection with all of us.

She was the rock
of the Joseph family...

the one that held us
all together.

Reverend, that sure was
a good sermon today.

AHMAD:
One reason we were so tight...

is 'cause we always had
Sunday dinners at Big Mama's.

That were a tradition
started down in Mississippi...

when old folks met
at church to talk smack...

and chow down
on some good old soul food.

Big Mama kept the tradition...

when she and Granddaddy
moved to Chicago.

Holidays, of course,
were bigger.

More folks, more eats,
more souls...

more soul food.

People would be rolling in
from all over.

Like Uncle Remus, always hittin'
folks up 'cause he was broke.

Before Granddaddy died,
he owned a barber shop...

corner store, and a Laundromat.

Not bad for a black man
in those days.

Rumor has it Mama Joe's got
a big stash of loot hidden away.

Mama says that's a myth.

We used to always have
eating contests...

which the Reverend
would always win.

He'd split after he busted slops
with my mom and aunties.

I can still see my dad...

lookin' like he wanted to break
Reverend Williams' neck.

Last but not least,
there's Big Mama's brother...

old Uncle Pete...

who ain't left his room
in 10 years now.

-Go.
-Go.

AHMAD: Just sits up there,
watching TV.

It's kind of a "lights on,
nobody's home" thing.

-Let's go!
-Let's get out of here!

AHMAD: Those were the good days,
back before things took a turn.

KELLY: Mama, Mama!

Uncle Pete's messing with us!

KENNY: I'm tryin' to do
my thing. Can I do my thing?

Hit me!

LEM: Take that.

AHMAD AND MlLES SlNGlNG:
I got sunshine

On a cloudy day

Ooh. No, baby. That's too much.

Just put about four pinches in.

How you know how much to put in
without using a measuring cup?

And why we got to eat
ham hocks anyway?

AHMAD AND MlLES SlNGlNG:
Well

I guess you

MOTHER JOE: Ham hocks,
pig feet, chitlins...

We learn how to make things
taste good by trying things out.

Soul food cookin' is about
cooking from the heart.

MAXlNE: That's right.

Pssst...

LEM: What's up, mama?

TERl: Newlyweds.

If she spent more time
with her shop instead of Lem...

maybe she'd pay me
back that loan.

You aren't hurtin' 'cause you
gave Bird money for that shop.

I loaned her money, Max.

As far as you're concerned,
I'm an ATM...

Automatically Teri's Money.

MOTHER JOE: You two hush up.
You do this every Sunday.

Mama, she started it.

MOTHER JOE: Maxine,
you finish those biscuits.

Teri, stop runnin' down
your family.

Focus on your own man.

You're already on husband
number two.

LEM: Oh, shit, baby.

-Shh. Shh.
-Ohh...

LEM: Mmph!

-OK.
-Mmph.

BlRD: OK. Baby, wait.

LEM: So good. Oh, shit.

Shh...shh...

[Muffled moaning]

That fried chicken smell good.

Can't wait to get some of that.

Don't ever put anything
like this on the stove.

You could burn the house down.

Yes, ma'am.

Remember when Bird
almost did that?

-Big Mama, your arm !
-Mama!

Give me some butter, baby.

TERl: You need ice.

MAXlNE: You ain't been
takin' your insulin?

I bet you ain't been
to a doctor, either.

I don't need no doctor.

There's nothing salve,
turpentine...

and my herbs won't cure.

MAXlNE: Except your diabetes.

AHMAD: I didn't know
what diabetes was back then...

but I was sure
about to find out.

REVEREND WlLLlAMS: As we bow
our heads on this special day...

we ask a special prayer
for this table...

a special prayer
for Mother Joe...

who has provided for the rovin'
eye of the Reverend...

beautiful breasts...

and delicious legs under--
I mean, on the table.

Lord, all I'm askin' is,
bless this bread...

bless this meal...

and bless my stomach,
'cause l's gonna eat.

GROUP: Amen!

Take your time, son.

There you go.

Don't take too much.
Just what you need.

Remember, son--

this is for the needy,
not the greedy.

Ha ha ha.

-Chicken?
-Thank you.

REVEREND WlLLlAMS: I can't wait
till Sunday finally comes.

Oh, thank you.

I dreamt of fishes last night.

Ohh...uh-oh...

REVEREND WlLLlAMS: Somebody's
been deep-sea fishin'.

BlRD: Don't look over here.

MlLES: Don't point over here.

TERl: Why? You never know.

LEM: What's she talking about,
fishes?

BlRD: It means either somebody's
coming or somebody's pregnant.

MAXlNE: Or gonna get pregnant.

What you looking at me for?

She doesn't mean me 'cause
this is the last fish dream.

Don't sweep the dust
straight out the door.

If you do, you sweep out
the good fortune.

Whatever that means.

MAXlNE: Didn't Daddy say that?

Daddy was the most
superstitious man I ever met.

LEM: I got one.

If you step on a crack,
you break your mama's back.

Did you try my fish cakes?

I made them this year,
and I'm very proud.

My plate's full.

My plate's full, too.

Y'all ain't right.

Y'all ain't right,
but that's all right.

My boo likes 'em.
That's all that matters.

You ain't got to worry
about cooking...

'cause you can do hair.

Miss Teri can't cook nothing.

Right, Ma? That's why you
always had me cookin', huh?

I wasn't in the kitchen 'cause
Mama and Daddy had me study.

That's why
I'm a successful lawyer.

AHMAD: Moms and Aunt Teri
don't get along.

Never have, maybe never will.

Big Mama said she should have
named them Vinegar and Oil...

'cause they don't mix.

It started in the early
eighties, before I was born.

The rule was if one of
the Joseph girls had a date...

a sister had to come along,
like a chaperone.

When Teri and my pops
were going out...

Big Mama had Moms tag along,
in case Pops tried anything.

MAXlNE: Hey, all right.

Check it out, y'all.
Unh! Mm-hmm.

He-e-e-ey.

That's how you got to work it,
how you got to skate.

That's how you gotta do it. Ow!

KENNY: You all right?

AHMAD: I can't say for sure
Mom started it...

but Dad couldn't resist...

whatever it was
she was throwing down.

Look at 'em.
See what I'm saying?

ROLLERSKATER: Look out, y'all!

TERl: Aah!

ROLLERSKATER: I told you !

[Groaning]

MAXlNE: Kenny...

AHMAD: Mom stole Dad
from under Aunt Teri's nose...

and the two haven't
gotten along since.

MAXlNE: Get out!

Get outta the car now!

Get outta the car right now!

Oh, shit!

Get off her, Teri! Come on, now.

Hey, Teri! Come on, now!

MOTHER JOE: Just cut out
all that hoo-shaw jawing.

Y'all do this every Sunday.

I've been cooking longer
than you've been alive.

Cornbread.

Cornbread is my specialty.

KENNY: Um, Lem...why'd you
get thrown in the joint?

MlLES: Kenny, don't--

KENNY: What?

I ain't gonna lie to y'all.

I made a stupid mistake.

Came here from New York
to help my cousin out and...

I guess I got caught.

-Doing?
-Kenny, dang.

LEM: It's all right.

I got caught sellin' somethin'.

He paid his debt to society.

It's no different
from Daddy and his gambling.

In life,
we all make bad choices.

My husband was gamblin',
and he was bad at it.

Fact, we almost lost this house.

But I worked...
on my hands and knees...

cleanin' up after white folks,
takin' in laundry.

You do what you have to do
to stay strong...

to save the family...

even if you stumble tryin'.

I'm gonna tell you something.

One finger pointing the blame
don't make no impact.

But you ball up all them fingers
into a fist...

and you can strike
a mighty blow.

This family got to be that fist.

Oh, my Lord...

Faith.

MOTHER JOE: Come here, baby.

AHMAD: Cousin Faith--
Lord have mercy.

The niece Big Mama took in
after her sister died.

In case you missed the news,
Faith is trouble, big-time trouble.

What's she doing here?

AHMAD: Last we heard, she was
strippin' in a Californian club.

Then some guy supposedly
discovered her...

and got her dancing
in rap videos.

I ain't never seen her
in none of them.

Teri, you can take her.

She ain't staying with me,
Kenny, and the kids.

MOTHER JOE:
Ahmad, kiss your cousin.

AHMAD: Here she comes.

FAlTH:
My God, you've grown so much.

Hi. Ohh.

MOTHER JOE:
Rev, this is my sister's baby.

Mama Joe, Mama Joe.

-Oh!
-Aah, ahh!

This is a pleasure.

Ha ha ha ha ha.
Oh, welcome home.

MAXlNE: It's time.

The baby!

What's the doctor's number?

[Commotion]

What's the name of the doctor?

I don't know.

I'll get this right now.

OK. All right. I got it.

Just get the door.

Yeah. OK.

Let's go. All right. Let's go.

AHMAD: The birth of my baby
sister, Faith arriving--

Who could have guessed things
wouldn't keep getting better?

DOCTOR:
This is where the problem is.

BlRD:
Mama, it's gonna be all right.

Put your sweater on.

MOTHER JOE:
I'm not getting my leg cut off.

TERl: Mama, you have to.

There's no blood
circulating to that leg.

You're diabetic.

MAXlNE: You haven't been
watching what you eat.

MOTHER JOE: Nobody's
cutting off my leg...

and that's that.

HAROME: Last thing you need
is a G-string.

JADA:
I should give him some, right?

HAROME: Give it to him.
Sock it to him.

JADA: Give it to him good.

BlRD: What y'all talking about?

JADA: The nasty, darling.

[Laughter]

BlRD: Come on, we got clients.

Y'all better slow down.

AHMAD:
I finished dumping the garbage.

Thank you.
Help me sweep up this hair...

then call your mama to see
when she's picking you up.

SlMUEL: What's up, shorty?

Nice.

Very nice.

I see Teri finally gave you
the money to open your shop.

Teri didn't give me anything.
It was an investment.

If you had come to me,
I would have given it to you.

At what cost?

How much you willing
to sacrifice?

Nothin'.

Mm-mm.
Girl, you are gettin' thick.

BlRD: That'll do it.

They'll help you up front.
See you next week.

SlMUEL: Mm-mmm.

Let me tell you something, OK?

I am married now.

Whatever we had going on before
is over with.

And besides,
my husband's name...

is written all over
my kitty cat.

Ahem.

A wedding gift.

I know you like
the finer things in life...

and I know your man can't afford
to buy you shit like that...

him just gettin' outta jail.

When you need me...call me. Hmm?

Later, shorty.

Oh, my God.

Whoo.

KENNY: Ha ha ha.

Bring my shorty up right.

Hey, hey.

MAXlNE: Hey, baby.

KENNY:
You're gonna love this.

-What you done brought?
-An Apple Performa.

A computer?

It's for the baby.

-For the baby?
-Uh-huh.

It's got everything.

It's got a color monitor...
CD-ROM...lnternet...

fax...E-mail...

It's got everything.

You don't think she's too young
for a computer?

Nah.

What?

You just look beautiful.

You're silly.

KENNY: Hold it one second.
One second.

See what your daddy got you?

See what your daddy got?

Yeah, girl.

[Slow music playing]

What you doin', Kenny?

You are so silly.

What you doing?

Hey...come here, now.

Mmm, with your fine self.

MAXlNE: My other baby, huh?

KENNY: Mm-hmm.

Smellin' all good...

MAXlNE: Uh-uh.
You gonna get in trouble.

What you talkin' 'bout?

The doctor said
we gotta wait six weeks.

-It's been six weeks.
-No, it ain't.

You know that you're wrong.

[Light knocking on door]

Did you hear that?

-It's the door.
-lt wasn't no door.

-Yes.
-[Knocking]

Someone's at the door.
Go see.

See who's there.

[Knocking]

LEM: Hey. What's up, man?

KENNY: What's up, man?

I was just...l mean,
I don't even know why I'm here.

If you're busy,
I'll come back later.

No, no. Come on in, man.

MAXlNE: Who's there, Kenny?

It's Lem.

After you, brother.

-How you doin', Lem?
-Hey.

I need to talk to you
for a minute.

It's kind of personal.

[Giggles]

That's how we got this one.
You better quit.

KENNY: Mmm.

So, uh, what's up, Lem?

I was, um...

I was fired from my job today.

I lied on my application.

They ask if you ever
been convicted, and...

I checked no.

You and Miles, man...

y'all got yourselves together
on the job.

I was just hopin'
if--if you knew anybody...

or...of any job openings.

Man, I'll do anything.

Yo, man, we'll find you
something, all right?

Cool, man. Thanks, man.

Now I just gotta find a way
to explain this to Bird.

She's high-maintenance.

She walks around the house
in Chanel sandals...

and shit like that.

I don't want her to think
I'm livin' off her.

No, you don't want
to tell her, man.

-Why not?
-'Cause you ain't got a job.

-You don't wanna tell a woman--
-A black woman.

...especially a black woman,
that you ain't got a j-o-b.

It's all right for them
to lie around, but let a man--

-A brother.
-Especially a brother.

You could be fixin'
the kitchen seats...

LEM: Or waterin' plants.

KENNY: Washin' the dishes.

LEM: Takin' the garbage out.

Let me give you
a little somethin'.

No matter what you do
around the house...

they still will consider you..

LEM: A trifling nigger.

BOTH: Don't tell her.

AHMAD: That was good.

MlLES: Ha ha! Got you
with your own trick, right?

-Hey.
-Hey.

AHMAD: Hey, Aunt Teri.

TERl: Hey, sweetie.
You staying with us?

AHMAD: Yeah.

MlLES: Yeah. Kenny and Max
need a little time.

Kelly's with Bird.

I got your favorite tonight.

I spent many hours slaving.

I'm looking forward to it.

Aunt Teri?

Is Big Mama gonna get her leg
cut off?

You're worried, aren't you?

Yeah.

I don't know.

Looks like that case
is kicking your butt.

Yeah. I don't know how long
the jury's gonna be out.

And the firm is really
pushing me to be partner.

That's what you want, right...
to make partner?

Any attorney worth their salt
wants to make partner.

[Door buzzer]

AHMAD:
I bet that's Cousin Faith.

I got it.

There's some money missing
from our savings.

Last week, there was--

I took 5,000 out.

I used it as down payment
for studio time.

The fellas and l
are gonna record a CD.

A CD?

Yeah.

I thought you playing
with this band was just a hobby.

Why would you say
something like that?

Because you're an attorney.

You work for a great firm
with a great reputation.

We could make twice
the amount of money...

if you spent more time
on your job...

and quit this music crap.

If I wanna take $5,000
of my money out of the bank...

I'll do it.

Only 31,132 are yours.

Tomorrow,
we're getting separate accounts.

OK...uh...

just for the book's sake...

next time you take money out,
inform me, all right?

Fine.

FAlTH: Hi!

MlLES: Faith, how you doing?

FAlTH: Teri...Hey.

Just wanna say thanks again
for letting me crash here.

Your place is really fantastic.

Where do I put my stuff?

AHMAD: Hard as it was...

Big Mama was finally
convinced to have surgery.

You know your daddy always said
you was the strongest.

The family gonna need
your strength now.

Where's that baby?

Ahmad.

Oh, sweet pea,
I'm gonna be just fine.

Just need you to be strong.

That's why I'm doing this--
for you.

We gonna be strong together, OK?

OK?

AHMAD: After they wheeled
Big Mama down the hall...

we kind of sat around
on our hands...

saying nothing.

I'm gonna use the rest room, OK?

Stay with Daddy.

DOCTOR:
I'm sorry. There was a problem.

[Doctor speaking]

MAXlNE: Ahmad...

Ahmad, baby, I don't think
you should be in here.

Wait. Come on, baby.
Where's Kenny?

KENNY: Ahmad. Come on. Ahmad.

AHMAD: The doctor said Big Mama
had a stroke during surgery...

and fell into a coma.

We all knew things
would never be the same...

and all any of us
could feel was bad.

We'll call you.

There's a sign on your door
that says you'll train.

I got experience on the presses,
and I'm a quick learner.

I can do the work.

Like I said, we'll call you.

[Horn honks]

Yo!

I'll check you later.

BOY: All right. See you, man.

LEM: What's up?
I'll take you home.

Why you all G'd up today, Lem?

If I tell you something...

you gotta promise me
you won't tell your mama...

or your nosy-ass aunties.

Cool.

I was fired from my job
last week.

I been trying to find
another one...

except things
ain't going so good.

Don't sweat it.
You'll find a gig soon.

You got a lot of confidence
for a little shorty.

I get it from Big Mama,
they say.

Big Mama, heh.

Throw these
in the glove box for me.

You know I spent time in prison.

I wouldn't have been
locked up...

if I'd have been smart,
like you seem to be.

Big Mama's always saying
you gotta love yourself.

Maybe you should try that.

My man.

It's getting late.

I still have to shop
for dinner tomorrow.

KENNY: OK.

Max, surely, you don't expect
to have Sunday dinner tomorrow.

Why not?

Jesus, Max, Mama is in a coma.

KENNY: Maybe--

No. I'm not gonna let her ruin
a 40-year family tradition.

-Tradition?
-Yes, tradition.

Don't tell me about tradition.

I am the oldest,
most responsible one here.

I graduated from law school.

You dropped out
when you were 19.

This is about your jealousy,
Max.

Will you guys stop?

Let's just take a vote.

KENNY:
Good idea. Let's take a vote.

MAXlNE:
All right, cool. Let's vote.

Hands in the air...

for those who don't wanna have
Sunday dinner tomorrow.

MAXlNE: Hands in the air
for all those...

who want chitlins,
black-eyed peas...

greens, some fried chicken...

macaroni and cheese,
and egg pie.

TERl: I won't let you disrespect
my mama like she's already dead.

-Your mama?
-Mm-hmm.

You get on my fuckin' nerves
with--

TERl: Lower your voice.

MAXlNE: So you graduated!
That don't make you better!

Keep it down.

BlRD: Stop it.

DOCTOR: I'm sorry.
All of you have to leave.

Mrs. Joseph needs quiet.

MAXlNE: I'm outta here.
Come on, Kenny!

KENNY: I'm sorry.

MAXlNE: Whatever.
I'm outta here.

Let's go. We outta here.

KENNY:
Max, that wasn't necessary.

MAXlNE: I'm tired of her.
She always says something.

Where's my coat?

KENNY: Maybe we should
think about this.

AHMAD: Grandma's illness was
taking its toll on the family.

Nobody knew where to throw
the blame, except at each other.

Aunt Teri and Moms especially.

Because of them, hardly no one
was speaking anymore.

Poor Aunt Bird.

She tried her best to pull off
Sunday's dinner by herself.

Because of Teri and Mom's fight,
no one showed up.

For the first time in 40 years,
our Sunday tradition was broken.

BlRD: Let's just eat.

Here you go.

[Television playing]

[Knocking]

Uncle Pete?

Dinner.

Ohh.

I know you think
I been avoiding you.

But every time
I come to visit...

people are doing stuff to you
or arguing around you.

Anyway...

I know you're wondering
how everyone is doing.

Not good.

We didn't have
a Sunday dinner yesterday.

Aunt Bird said nobody showed up.

After church, Mom didn't
feel like cooking at home...

so Daddy brought home
some Mickey D's.

We were all
on the toilet all night.

We need you, Big Mama.

I was thinking that, too.

Maybe when you
get out of here...

I could help you
turn the ground over.

As you called it,
put some fertilizer down.

Yeah, I'll help you.

Come dance with me.

-What?
-Come dance with me.

-Miles...
-Come on.

-Dance?
-Dance.

I don't wanna dance.

Miles...

Mama is not doing well at all.

I know. Dance with me.
Get your mind off it.

Um, I also...

can't go
to see you perform tonight.

That's what you said last week
and the week before.

I'd really like you to come--

I'm swamped with work.

OK.

Well, just so you know...

I'm thinking about pursuing
my music full time.

Miles...

it's a mistake.

It's what I wanna do.

You find a job yet?

Nope.

But I have an audition.

I'm not into
the straight job thing.

"Straight job thing"?

I didn't plan on staying here.

I thought I was gonna
be at Mama Joe's.

If you want me to leave,
I'll leave.

Why'd you come back here?

What are you gonna do this time?

Run up Mama's credit? Hmm?

Or, um, make her

co-sign on a car...

and then you leave her
with the note.

Or better yet, why don't you
get arrested again...

and let Mama put up the house
to post your bail?

I've changed.

You've changed?

Don't you start any shit
this time.

You hear me?

[Singing]
Oh, ahhh

Girl, I care about you

I'm there for you

So why don't you care for me

Like I care about you?

Oh, girl, I care about you

I'm there for you

So why don't you care for me

Like I care about you?

I spend, like,
all of my days, baby

Tryin' to sus out just
how things got this way

I thought that we were in love

But I swear right now,
I don't know what you want

I make sure that l
give you quality time

But lately I feel
you're not home by design

But still I'm gonna try

To give you the love of my life

In hopes that you

That you will
open up your eyes, baby

Girl, I care about you

I'm there for you

So why don't you care for me

Like I care about you?

Sometimes

Sometimes I'm not

I'm not sure that

I'm all you got

That I'm all you got

Sometimes

Sometimes I'm not sure
you love me or not, baby

There's one thing
that I'm certain of

Girl, I care for you

And the one thing that
I want is that you

Care for me, too

Girl, I care about you

I'm there for you

So why don't you care for me

Like I care about you?

Baby, baby, baby

Baby, baby, baby, baby

Oh, yeah

Yeah, oh, yeah

Ohh, ooh

I care for you, baby

That was the bomb.

I'm serious, cousin.
You was jammin'.

Man, I didn't know
you could play like that.

You're good.

Thanks,
but it's not just about me.

We're a group.

Besides,
the way those guys sing...

they make my stuff come alive.

But you're the mastermind.

You put this together.
This is your shit.

The group's called "Milestone,"
not "Them."

Heh heh.

We were thinking about
that name.

You really wanna pursue
your music full time, huh?

I heard you and Teri talking.

Your man's looking over here.

He's looking a little jealous.

Ha ha! Family comes first.

Besides, I gotta get
my career together...

before I can think about a man.

I got goals, OK?

-OK.
-OK.

Ha ha ha!

OK. Promise not to laugh.

Jesus. See? Right there.

I promise. I promise.

FAlTH: OK. Fine.

I wanna dance.

No. I mean really dance.

You know, do Broadway musicals,
choreograph the Oscars.

I've spent the last few years...

trying to figure out
what makes me happy.

I learned that the only thing
that keeps me sane is dancing.

I'm gonna put all my energy
into it, so help me, Jesus.

Praise the Lord.

FAlTH: And plus...

it just...

it just feels so damn good.

You know what I mean?

It's like that with you
and your music, right?

-You want another drink?
-Mm-hmm.

-Mm-hmm?
-Mm-hmm.

Sly, send another one
over here, all right?

SLY: All right.

[Romantic song begins]

Ooh...listen.

Oh, that's my jam.

Come and dance with me.

I'm on my break.

Come on.

What the hell.

HAROME: It ain't about
being stupid, honey.

BlRD: She really thought
her hair was something.

It was tova--
towed back and over. Hello.

You cooked all this food
and none of your people showed?

You know I wasn't having it.

You wanted to bash somebody.

We'll help you eat it.

Now I know why nobody showed up.
Miss Thing can't cook.

You can't cook, darling.
What is this?

[Thud]

What was that?

Shh.

HAROME:
Why you gotta push me, honey?

-Aah!
-Aah!

Wait! Wait!

Stop! Stop! Stop!

HAROME: What you hit me for?

-Stop!
-What?

What the hell y'all doing?

HAROME: Hoo.

HAROME: Ohh...

BlRD: Get in the bathroom.

HAROME: Oh, my God.
Did you see that thing?

What are you doing home
in the afternoon?

I got fired from my job.

Fired? You can't work a 9-to-5?
You got in trouble again?

No. I got fired 'cause
I lied on my application...

about being convicted.

You felt like you
couldn't tell me that?

I wanted to...

but Kenny thought it'd be best
if you didn't know.

You gonna listen to Kenny?

-What about us?
-It's not about us!

It's about this bullshit system.

They lock you up and expect you
to better your life.

But when you're out,
there ain't nothing...

'cause the crackers
that got everything...

don't give a second chance.

That white man shit is old.

I'm sick of niggers
using that shit as an excuse.

I'm the one who's been
on six interviews.

Six! They won't hire me.

What you know
about being a black man?

You're right. I don't know shit
about being a black man!

I'm sorry.

The shop
is doing well right now.

I'll pay for our bills.

A lot of people
come through there.

I'll see if anybody can
hook you up with a job.

Bird...l don't need your help.

I can find my own damn job.

OK.

Stop looking at my dick!

[lndistinct arguing]

DREAD MAN: We had a deal!
We had a contract!

Pay in full! All right? Full!

Pay in full! Money up front!

FAlTH: Not right before I go in!

This is so wrong! Hey, Miles.

MlLES: You all right?

I'm having the most important
audition in my life...

and this fool is trying
to screw me over.

It's about principles.

Business is business.

You know something?

I'm gonna fuck you up,
Dread Man!

Miles, you can help me.

They got a piano
up in the audition room.

MlLES: Faith, I don't--

FAlTH: Play anything.
I'll dance to it.

Come on, cuz, please?

This is really important to me.

I'll owe you.

the crackers
that got everything...

don't give a second chance.

That white man shit is old.

I'm sick of niggers
using that shit as an excuse.

I'm the one who's been
on six interviews.

Six! They won't hire me.

What you know
about being a black man?

You're right. I don't know shit
about being a black man!

I'm sorry.

The shop
is doing well right now.

I'll pay for our bills.

A lot of people
come through there.

I'll see if anybody can
hook you up with a job.

Bird...l don't need your help.

I can find my own damn job.

OK.

Stop looking at my dick!

[lndistinct arguing]

DREAD MAN: We had a deal!
We had a contract!

Pay in full! All right? Full!

Pay in full! Money up front!

FAlTH: Not right before I go in!

This is so wrong! Hey, Miles.

MlLES: You all right?

I'm having the most important
audition in my life...

and this fool is trying
to screw me over.

It's about principles.

Business is business.

You know something?

I'm gonna fuck you up,
Dread Man!

Miles, you can help me.

They got a piano
up in the audition room.

MlLES: Faith, I don't--

FAlTH: Play anything.
I'll dance to it.

Come on, cuz, please?

Thi