Altar Egos

1

Farid Morocco

(soft instrumental music)

- [John] This was Dad's church,

a place where people knew love,

a place to find peace,

comfort, and forgiveness.

God blessed this church.

For 30 years, Dad

led the people here.

He touched the lives of

all those around him,

none more than me.

I wanted to be that kind of

man, and that kind of pastor.

After Dad passed, his

ministry became my ministry.

His mission, my mission.

But things have

never been the same.

(lively organ music)

Onward Christian soldiers

Marching as to war

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before

Christ our royal master

- Hi Mary!

Leads against the foe

Forward into battle

See his banners go

Onward Christian soldiers

Marching as to war

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before

(tapping)

- Let us pray.

(organ keys pounding)

(playful string music)

- Hi.

- Deacon.

- Not bad, Pastor, not bad.

- Thank you.

- Almost as good as your father.

- Almost.

- Pastor John!

Pastor John, hey!

Over here, hey, John!

John, hey!

Good day?

- Great day, Pastor Pendergrass.

- The Lord blessed us with 527.

Five, two, seven! (laughing)

Almost half a grand of blessing.

I thought your yoke was

supposed to be easy?

(laughs) I'm kidding.

'Cause that's the

Lord, that's the Lord,

it's not Pastor Eye

Candy, okay? (laughing)

It's the Lord, it really is.

What? (laughs)

How about you?

- Not quite that many.

- How many?

- You know, I'm not sure.

- Sorry, I'm sorry,

how many did you say?

- Fi-fi, 50.

About.

- Well, could be better.

You know, should be better.

I just want you to know

that if you need some help,

I'm here, my doors are open.

Has to be open when you

have 527 comin' through,

am I right? (laughing)

I'm kidding though, I

am here for you, okay?

- What time's your meeting?

- Five o'clock.

- (laughing) Okay,

you're gonna do great.

Can we please go home now?

- I thought you'd never ask.

- What's wrong with white?

Those walls have

always been white.

I've grown quite accustomed

to seeing them white.

- I like white.

- There's nothing

wrong with white.

- White is clean, white is pure.

- He washed our sins white.

- White as snow, white as snow.

- [All] Amen.

- Yes amen, amen, but

we're talking about a room

dedicated to the children's

ministry, I think--

- Well, not that many

children attend here.

- And that's all right,

but that's my point.

See, maybe if we did things

a little differently--

- Ah, Pastor?

What color would

your father choose?

- I don't know.

- Well what color do you think?

- Probably white.

- All those in favor of

the room remaining white.

Opposed, by the same sign?

Motion carries, white

the walls shall remain.

- It would make

things a lot easier

if you'd stop changing things.

- I haven't changed anything.

- And let's keep it

that way, shall we?

- No one questions

your heart, John,

it's just your

methods no one likes.

(gentle piano music)

- [Jack] You know, you

should really learn

how to do this yourself.

- Why?

It feels kinda weird

putting makeup on myself.

- (laughs) Try putting

it on your dad.

- Daddy, when are you

going to read to me?

- Aw sweetheart, I'm sorry.

I have to get to the hospital.

A bunch of little

kids are waiting for

their favorite clown.

- But it's Pie Piper.

- Jack here can read it to you.

- What?

No, I have rehearsal tonight.

- All right, tomorrow.

You, me, Mommy, Jack, we'll

read it together as as family.

- What, seriously?

- Yeah, seriously, family's

more important, right?

- I guess.

- Are we done?

- Mm-hmm.

- Great.

Now, where did I

leave that nose?

(laughs) Let me have it.

Yeah, I'll put it on later.

- Might wanna clean it.

(playful instrumental music)

- [Woman In Blue] Someone's

comin' to see you.

Told ya.

- Let's see your muscles, err.

- Err.

- Errr.

Good job.

(elevator dinging)

- Night has come.

In the dusk they grope

their way to find your ear.

- But my words find

no such impediment.

- They find their way at once?

Small wonder, that,

for within my heart

they find their home.

How large my heart and

how small your ear.

My words must mount,

and that takes time.

- In truth, I seem to

speak from distant heights.

- True, far above, that such

a height would mean death

if a hard word from

you fell on my heart.

- Well, I will come down.

- No.

- Then climb.

- No.

- And how will you not?

- To be half hidden,

half revealed.

Do you know what

this means to me?

(school bell ringing)

- Jack, well done,

and Holly, you too.

Keep practicing at home, and

we will see you opening night!

- Did you drive?

- No, I got a ride.

- Still no license?

- I got my permit.

- Well that's not

gonna get you places.

My lady.

- Gentlemen.

You were terrific today, Jack.

- Thanks, you too.

- Thanks.

- Boom!

And the crowd goes wild!

- Dirk, you stink.

Stop.

- You ready to go?

- Ready.

- Good.

Woah, who is that?

- Is that your dad?

- (laughs) What kinda

preacher is he, huh?

Hey, maybe we could

all go with you.

How many can fit in a

clown car anyway, huh?

- Bye, Jack.

- Hey kids.

- See ya, Jack.

- Well, that explains a lot.

- Wow, is that Holly?

- No, no Dad, just stop, okay?

- Are you guys--

- No.

- You know, kinda like--

- No.

- [John] Sure you don't

wanna ask her to dinner?

Your Mom's cooking tonight.

- [Jack] No Dad, she

had a boyfriend, okay?

- Use your blinker.

- I know.

(windshield wiper humming)

- [John] Stop the

windshield wipers.

- Yes.

- Please.

- [Jack] Okay.

- You're embarrassing

me in front of the kids.

Hey.

- Hey.

- Kids are sleeping.

- Nice.

- I have a new vision

for the church.

- Fantastic.

- I'm talking

territory expanding.

- And how are we gonna do that?

- By changing the

Christmas pageant.

- (laughing) Okay.

- No, no, no, I'm serious.

I mean, this year I really

wanna show the community

how much God loves them,

but I wanna do it in

like a huge, ginormous,

mesmerizing spectacle.

You know, big time!

Babe, with your creative genius,

and with my,

with your creative genius,

we could totally sell this.

I mean, it's gonna be awesome.

Think about it,

just, envision it.

Christmas Pageant.

- Okay, okay wait,

I have an idea

(laughs) going beyond this.

What if,

we move?

- Wait, what?

- First Church is looking

to hire a new pastor.

- But, that's on the

other side of town.

- Yes, it is, and I

got you an interview!

- Wait, wait, okay, wha-what?

- Surprise!

- Surprise, weehee, wait wait.

What do you mean, you did this?

Why?

- Because, honey, we're

called here to serve

and if the board won't

let you do it here,

then maybe God has somewhere

else that you can go.

- Sweetheart, I can't

just leave the church.

My calling is here.

- Just,

just go talk to them, okay?

For me, your

creative genius wife.

- All right, I'll tell ya what,

I'll do the interview,

you do the pageant.

- You'll do your best

at the interview.

- Of course.

- Deal.

- Nice.

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