Act of Faith Page #2

---

This ain't it.

I'm giving you your

two weeks notice.

- Mmhm.

Mmhm, just like that.

I knew the minute Ms. Lilly died

you was gonna stone

plumb lose your mind.

I wouldn't be surprised

if ain't up there

at that Magic City

tipping all our money

to them stripper girls, which

is why we can't get no raise,

because you out

there making it rain.

Look, I been here

longer than anybody else

and you know I deserve a raise.

But instead you just

gonna toss me out

like some old dirty rag.

- Shartruce, it's for your

own good, it's out of love.

- Oh, old man, if I had all my

rent and money for the month,

I'd clean walk out of

here on you right now.

Oh.

- Huh?

- The customers don't like

the changes you've made

to the hotcake special.

Now tell on that.

(snapping)

- Father, forgive her, for she

know not what she's saying.

(laughing)

- Girl, can you believe

he actually fired me?

- No, he didn't?

Who the hell's gonna take over

my shifts when I need to study?

- Thanks for having so much

concern about your friend.

- Girl, I'm sorry.

It's just that I really

do need to study,

the MCATS is coming up.

So for real, what'd he say?

- I don't know, something

about tilling the earth

and I have no ambition.

- Well, girl, you've

been here since

the B2K posters

was up on the wall.

- I don't know what I'm-a do.

I know nothing else

but this place.

I'm the one picked out these

pictures, I picked out these.

- I know.

This is like home.

- Home.

(slow, sad music)

It was a cold and rainy

day when I left home.

My stepfather had

beaten me once again.

And my momma just laid on

the couch and watched, again.

I'd had enough.

So I just left.

I had no money.

Just stayed on the street

for two whole nights.

The things I saw.

The things I did.

(sobbing)

Till the time I came

in here I was starving.

I told, I told them I

would work for free,

just for something to eat.

And Ms. Lilly, she gave me

a job right on the spot.

She took me in and

loved me like a mother.

Only mother I've ever

known and now she's gone

and he just gonna push me

out like I ain't nothing.

I know I talk about this

place really bad, but...

I don't have no one else,

I don't have nothing else,

I don't have no family.

You all are the

only family I got.

I don't know how to do nothing.

I ain't nobody, I

ain't got nobody.

- Shh, shh, you never

told me that story before.

- That ain't no kinda

story to be telling nobody.

- OK, OK, OK, OK,

it's gonna be OK.

It's gonna be OK, OK?

- You know, I just want to say

that I really

appreciate all you do.

But sometimes, you just

gotta take a chance

and enter that burning

building 'cause, woo.

OK, I'm gonna shut up and

go home and feed my cat.

I'm too old to be saying

these kinda things.

- Good seeing you Ms. Beatrice.

- Wow.

Now, if I knew they were hiring

beauty queens around here,

I would have came in

a whole lot sooner.

(laughing)

- You cannot possibly

think that was a good line.

- Hey, well it was worth a shot.

- Yes, definitely a miss.

- Oh, man, you're killing

my good work here, girl.

Well, I mean, but.

Alright, well tell me you

believe in second chances.

Can I start over?

- You don't get a second chance

to make a first impression.

And I'm taken.

But very flattered,

so thank you.

- Hey.

- Can I get you something else?

- Well, I mean, I'm a

little low on water.

- Water?

- Yeah, some water.

- OK, coming right up.

- Right.

Man.

(soft music)

- Well hello my love.

- Good evening, Jackie.

- So I decided--

- Baby, I'm beat, I'm gonna

turn in for the night, alright?

- OK, well, well sleep well.

(soft guitar music)

- Girl, you didn't

see the reunion?

That doggone Nene Leaks

is out of her mind.

Talking about oh

honey, she could read.

I mean read, read.

You gotta see it,

it's hysterical.

(laughing)

Yes.

Wait a minute.

Um, let me call you right back.

A hotel key.

OK, maybe he had a

business meeting.

Something, I don't...

Why would you have a hotel key?

- And this for you.

Did you just roll

your eyes at me?

Woman you come up

in here every day.

You know the food ain't no good.

I don't cook it, I just

bring it out to you.

Rolling your eyes at me.

I get paid minimum wage and

it ain't for stank attitudes.

- Tru, be professional.

- Enjoy your slop.

- Good morning, Mr. Mills,

you are you feeling today?

- Oh, not bad, if I must say.

You know, when you get past a

certain age, everything hurts.

- Well, maybe I'll make

you some of my homemade

blackberry and yam syrup,

it's my grandma's recipe,

known to loosen the joints.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

- Bring it on, sweet pea, I'll

try anything at this point.

- Good, I'll get you some to go.

The hotcake special

and coffee, as usual?

- Do I have to say a word?

- No sir, coming right up.

I put mine in, the couple.

(laughing)

- Long night out

at the club, huh?

Somebody get it in huh?

- Next time take me with

you to the club, girl.

Ms. Beatrice love to

drop it like it's hot.

(laughing)

- Young lady, why

are you wearing

those sunglasses in my diner?

This ain't the beach.

The bible says, "The

word is a lamp unto

"my feet and a

light unto my path."

- [Shartruce] Jackie!

- Is that man

beating on you, huh?

- No sir, I fell

down the stairs.

I just had a little

too much wine.

- Yeah, and just happened

to land on his fist, huh?

- Now, I done told you to

stay out of my business.

- Choke it, girl, you

need to lower your check.

- Or what?

- Or what, I'll

give you another one

to match the one

you already got.

I'm from Decatur baby, what?

- Shartruce!

- I don't care

where you're from!

- You don't care where I'm from?

- No.

- Shartruce!

Chill.

You see she's hurt,

look at her face.

- Sorry, I'm just saying.

It's gotta be a

hood switch up in me

that when you get disrespectful,

I just go gorilla

like (yelling).

(mischievous music)

- In 50 years of marriage,

I never once raised my hand

to my beautiful

Lilly, I never once.

Not once raised my hand to her.

Now, she done went upside

my head plenty times

with all types of foreign

objects and projectiles,

but it was all done in love.

See, the bible says that love

is patient and

kind, not violent.

- Well, I know some impatient,

unkind folk around the block

that'll set his mind right real

quick, fast and in a hurry.

Ain't nothing but a hoody

hoo away baby, what?

- OK, you know what.

Can everybody just please

stay out of my business?

(upbeat music)

(upbeat electronic music)

- I mean, who do

you think you are,

just walking up in my

kitchen like that, man?

- I am Mr. Leroy

Gregory Marshall III,

Fulton County health inspector.

- Oh.

- And just who are you?

- You must be looking

for Mr. Brady.

I heard he was hiding

behind the stove.

Order's up!

- Just trying to fix

this raggedy stove.

Six burners, two

of them working.

How can I help you, Mister,

would you like a

piece of apple pie?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes