Black Nativity Page #3

Martin Luther King.

So why don't you tell me how

Reverend Cobbs's prized possession

got in your jeans pocket?

He's my grandfather.

He gave it to me.

Reverend Cobbs

is your grandfather.

You're Naima's boy.

Well, you listen to me, son.

I know your father.

And your grandfather.

And my guess is

Reverend Cobbs would rather...

...be buried with

this watch clenched in

his cold, dead fist

than give it to you.

But if by some miracle

he ever did pass it on...

...you guard it with your life,

you understand?

You pass it on to your children.

You don't hock it

like some crackhead.

Get out of here before

I tell him you was here.

Get...

...out.

Whatever you need,

come see your boy!

Your boyfriend left you?

Pawn the stuff he bought you.

Lunch money.

If lifting wallets

is for chumps,

what do you call this?

The big time?

This gig is an opportunity,

you play it right.

What was you doing in there,

buying or selling?

Just looking.

You need something? I got more than

you could ever get in a store.

No, I'm good.

Thank you.

Anything you can

think of, I got it.

I said, I'm straight.

If you change your mind,

I'll be right here.

Yeah, whatever.

It's about time.

Your grandmother's been waiting for you.

Is it ready?

Tastes good to me.

Okay. You put that there

and pour it into the crust.

Mrs. Cobbs?

I don't really know

what to call you.

Oh, well...

...you could try Grandma.

"Grandma" feels weird.

Yes, yes. To me, too.

Maybe we can take our time with it.

Let it grow on us?

Okay.

My mom ran away because

she got pregnant, right?

That's why she and

the Rev don't speak?

Because of me?

No, baby, not because of you.

Your dad was kind of a rascal,

pretending to be a gangster,

pants hanging below his butt.

He had it rough.

When he was with us,

he'd show us his sweet side.

The Reverend thought

the devil had his name.

Your grandfather is very proud,

in case you hadn't noticed.

Being a prominent minister,

he was more than just embarrassed

that his daughter

was with child.

She was only fifteen.

He wanted to kill the boy.

Threatened to tear him apart

with his bare hands.

He kind of put Naima

under house arrest.

He wouldn't let him

anywhere near her.

But she must have loved him...

...because one day,

we woke up and she was gone.

But my dad left

before I was two.

My mom never

mentions him or you.

Mistakes were made

on everyone's part.

What mistakes?

Tell me.

All you need to know is that

your grandfather

loved your mother...

...still does,

with all his heart.

Anything he did,

he did for love.

She was our baby.

The Lord's greatest gift must be

to live a life without regrets.

But we're so human.

I'm not perfect

But He loves me anyway

Wasn't an angel

In my younger days

We all have done things

That's between us and God

There's no better comfort

Than being in His arms

He loves me...

...still

I'm not perfect

But he loves me anyway

This loneliness fills

Every inch of open space

But his grace and mercy

Give me strength when I am weak

And carries me when

I can't stand on my own feet

He loves me...

...still

So glad he loves me...

...still

And when I'm down

He lifts me up

He sees beyond

What I've become

Lord, lift me up

I feel so down

Yet he loves...

...me still

So glad He loves me...

...still

How do you keep having faith...

...when so much

bad has happened?

Proof of God's grace is

all around you, Langston.

You just have to open your eyes.

Cobbs residence.

I want to speak to my son.

Naima?

Put my son on the phone, please.

Or I'll hang up.

Hold on.

It's for you.

Mama?

I tried calling you.

Are you okay?

I'm fine. I miss you.

I miss you, too.

When are you coming?

How are your grandparents?

Mom, when are you coming?

I'll send for you as soon as I can.

Send for me?

We have no place to stay.

Don't leave me here.

I can get us the money.

Not from them.

I won't take it. Mom, listen.

I have a plan.

What kind of plan?

What kind of plan, Langston?

Don't do anything stupid.

We'll stay here

till I work it out.

I can't do that.

You don't understand.

Oh, I understand.

You'd rather leave me here

than forgive them.

Langston...

I'm on my way to church.

I'll see you both there later.

What? Church?

Tonight?

You trippin'.

What did you say?

The Reverend's putting on his

Christmas show... "Black Nativity".

Well, count me out.

I don't do church.

"Choose for yourselves...

this day...

"...which God

you will serve.

"But as for me...

and my house...

"But as for me...

and my house...

"...we will serve

the Lord."

Whatever.

I'm waiting.

Do you have something of mine?

Do you have something

that belongs to me?

Were you going to give it back?

Borrowing it. I see.

I'll see you in church.

Aretha.

Will you make sure he has

something decent to wear?

Of course, of course.

Go, go, go.

I'll see you there!

You'll just have to open one of

your Christmas presents early.

Merry Christmas.

Langston,

I know you have a lot on your mind.

And maybe the last thing you want

to do is hear somebody preaching.

But this is a very important

night for your grandfather.

I know it would mean a lot

to him for you to be there.

I got this, Ma.

$100 Knicks win the championship.

I ain't rollin'.

Merry Christmas.

See you tomorrow.

Yo!

Lunch Money.

Last-minute Christmas shopping?

You're late.

What you said,

about buying more than what's in the store?

All it takes is money.

What if I needed a gun?

Meet me here tonight at ten.

A'ight.

There you are.

Where were you?

I was looking all over for you.

We don't want to be late.

I was just taking a walk.

A walk?

Well, since you feel

like stretching your legs,

let's walk to church.

It's not that far.

Grandma, what happened to my father?

Is he dead or alive?

Somewhere in between, I expect.

The guy at the pawnshop

said he knew him.

Pawnshop? What on earth

were you doing in there?

I was getting

a present for my mom.

I told the guy I was your grandson

and he said he knew my father.

A lot of shady people

hang around pawnshops...

...that one in particular.

You stay away from there.

You can't tell me what to do.

Listen to me.

You're my grandson and I love you.

The Reverend and I would

do anything for you.

And your mother.

All she has to do is ask.

She won't ask.

You know she won't.

It's fine. We'll manage.

This is it.

This is your granddad's church.

Let's get inside.

We're late.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Here, sweetheart, take this.

Just can't stop praisin'

His name

And I just can't stop

praisin' His name

His name His name

His name

Name

Jesus

El Shaddai Immanuel

Prince of peace Yeshua

Adonai Lion of Judah

You sit here so you

can see the show

and I'll come get you after.

And I just can't stop praisin'

His name

His name His name

His name

Name

Redeemer!

Deliverer!

Savior!

Only begotten son!

Jehovah!

The Great I Am!

The King of Kings!

The Son of Man!

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