Act of Faith Page #4

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- I guess I am.

- Come on.

- Mr. Brady told me.

- No, no, no, no, no.

The minute you start to leave,

he gonna ask you to come

right back, you know that.

Don't even play.

- He said I had no ambitions.

Mann Mann, you think I

don't have no ambitions?

- Well, I think he's being a

little bit more over ambitious

if he think that this place is

gonna this diner without you.

- Yeah, I guess that's

the problem huh?

When I first got here it was

cause Miss Lilly took me in

and I had nowhere else to go.

Then I just started

to feel obligated.

Like they, they

really did need me.

Now I just feel guilty and lost.

And mad.

And angry.

- Well, Miss Lilly was

a wonderful person.

She was like a mother to me.

And lord knows that, you know,

in my entire existence

living on this earth,

I never taste a better

piece of pecan pie.

- Why you talking

about some damn pie

and I'm sitting here trying

to tell you I got problems.

Serious problem, I

don't have no talent.

I don't have no writing skills.

I can't spell for nothing.

I can't file, I don't even know

how to work this computer thing,

I can't dance, I couldn't even

be a stripper if I wanted to.

- Oh, you could be a stripper

now, you got the body.

- Yeah, got the big

boobies huh, you like that?

Why don't you get outta

my face with that mess?

- Well, you're right.

Because I did see you dance

and you have no rhythm.

You've kinda got a little

Miley Cyrus going on.

- I'm being serious

here, Mann Mann.

- I'm being serious too.

Your twerking ain't working.

(laughing)

- I hate you.

- I mean, my only real

love in life is cooking.

That's it.

Before my daddy died, I

remember, I was a little boy.

He used to take

me in the kitchen,

teach me how to mix ingredients,

put a little this and

that, stir this up,

little dash of that in there.

Taught me how to cook with love.

Never forget that.

(slow piano music)

Never felt closer

to anyone else.

That was our time

in the kitchen.

- Do you think I give a damn

about you and your daddy?

You sitting here going

round and round memory lane

and I got issues here.

- I mean, maybe

that's your issue.

I mean, what's in your

heart, what do you love?

- Whatever.

(soft piano music)

- Yeah, whatever.

I'm gonna get this

bacon started, alright?

Put that down.

- Good morning Mr. Weathers,

usual, hotcake special?

- Yeah beautiful.

But you know what

I was thinking?

Since Mr. Brady ain't here yet,

I was wondering if

it might be possible

that you could slip one extra

hotcake on that

plate this morning?

- You're so cute.

Well yes, if Mr.

Brady isn't here.

And it could be possible

if the tip is right.

- You never know unless you try.

- You know what, you're

absolutely right Mr. Weathers.

You never do know

unless you try, huh?

One hotcake special coming up

sir, with an extra hotcake.

- Thank you beautiful.

- Yes, yes I understand.

The line of credit is maxed out.

But Charlie, can you make an

exception just this one time?

Charlie, I've been at

this bank over 30 years.

Man, I don't wanna hear

nothing about no credit crunch.

You over here all the time

crunching on free food.

Hook an old man up.

The board?

I ain't got time to

hear about no board.

Lord, move on behalf

of the saints cause

the devil is working.

- The real sin is trying

to pass this place off

as a legitimate establishment.

- What's, what's all this?

- Those are the

forms that I need

in order to start the

process of shutting you down.

That should ruin your appetite.

- [Mr. Brady] You can't do this.

I'll call my lawyer.

- Yeah, and in maybe six

months, you may get some relief.

But maybe not.

But by that time, Mr.

Brady, you'll be finished.

Ain't nobody gonna eat

here after they know

that you've been shut down

for health violations.

The internet is very

powerful nowadays

and my pen is the law my friend.

- Mr. Marshall, let me

fix you a cup of coffee.

Let's talk this over.

This diner is a fixture in

this community, a landmark.

We've been here over 25 years.

- Save that sentimental

garbage for someone who cares.

Where's the money?

- I don't have it yet.

- No, well that's too bad.

That's too bad.

- Mr. Marshall, I built this

place with my bare hands.

- All good things come

to an end, Mr. Brady

and I use the term

good thing very loosely

in reference to this place.

- Just give me a

couple more days.

- I give you three days.

But 10% is gonna

be your interest.

- You can't do this.

No weapon formed against

me shall prosper.

- Three days sir,

I'll be here Friday.

- Get out.

(slow orchestral music)

(soft piano music)

Ms. Brady, how's your steak?

- Just like I like it.

- Always was your favorite.

- You know I would

come down from heaven

for a plate of your world

famous steak and eggs.

- Lilly, I miss you so much.

- Why do you miss me, Brady?

- We just didn't

have enough time.

- Child please, I

haven't gone anywhere.

There's so much you

don't understand.

So much I have to share with

you when the time comes.

- Lilly, I'm tired.

Bone tired.

- Rejoicing in hope.

Be patient in tribulation.

Be constant in prayer.

- Romans 12:
12?

- OK, OK.

Act like you know that word.

(soft piano music)

Delicious.

- Um, Mr. Brady, now, I'm sorry,

but I overheard everything

that crook just said

and he ain't getting

away with this.

- There's nothing I can

do, my hands are tied.

- Uh uh, uh uh,

now I know we don't

always get along on everything

but I have never seen you

compromise your integrity.

And I've never seen you

back down from a fight.

Now, we gonna handle this.

- Shartruce, I'm tired.

He gonna shut us down if I

don't give him 10,000 dollars.

Maybe it's for the best, shucks,

I'm too old for all

this stress anyway.

- Stress?

This is your dream.

This is Miss Lilly's dream.

- It's over, I'm sorry.

- Since when did the

great Frank Brady

just start rolling

over for any man?

You disgust me.

- Shartruce, I have cancer.

In my prostate, the biopsy

report came back positive.

(soft music)

I'm dying.

- No, no, no, no.

- Go on back to work.

- What does that mean?

- You have magic in that syrup.

I haven't felt

this good in years.

Would you mind if

I get some more?

- Yes you can Mr. Mills.

You know what, I'll even

pour you out a couple of jars

for free to take home

with you, what you think?

- God bless you.

- Thank you.

I could really

use one right now.

- You got one.

- Oh, I need to talk to you.

- What?

- It's gonna be quick.

- OK, hurry up, I gotta go.

- OK, I was wondering if um,

if I could take over a

couple of your shifts.

I need to make some extra money.

- Shifts?

Girl, I need my shifts.

- No, I know, but if

you ever need to swap,

I'm wondering if I can help out

because I'm having a hard time

making ends meet this month.

- Right.

You do have to take

care of little man.

OK, I'll tell you what,

I'm supposed to do

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