Black Nativity Page #5

Now you got it or not, man?

I got it.

There's a lot of different

guns for different occasions.

And I'm sure cost is a factor.

You can drop between

a buck fifty up to 5 G's.

Let's stay on the low end.

What do you recommend?

A Davis 380.

It's practical, inexpensive.

Does the trick in

most situations.

It's what I carry.

Relax, Lunch Money.

I ain't shot nobody in a minute.

Can I see it?

Taxi!

I'm going to Harlem.

Convent Avenue.

You ever held a gun before?

You know what'll happen

if you're caught carrying?

I won't get caught.

How many fools

have I heard say that?

You remind me of somebody,

Lunch Money.

Another young punk

thought he was hard.

Who's the punk now?

Open the case.

Open the case!

I got to get the key.

I'm just getting the key.

That one, there.

Pull it out.

What do you think it's worth?

About the time

you'll get behind bars.

Put it on the counter.

I want what's in the register, too.

No.

You trying to die tonight?

Open the damn register!

"What happens to

a dream deferred?

"Does it dry up

like a raisin in the sun?

"Or fester like a sore...

And then run?

"Does it stink like rotten meat?

"Or crust and sugar over...

like a syrupy sweet?

"Maybe it just sags

Like a heavy load.

"Or does it explode?"

I told you to shut up.

It's a famous poem...

...by the great

Langston Hughes.

Your mother loved him.

Don't talk about my ma...

What?

What did you say?

She loved him so much...

...we named

our son after him.

No.

Not you.

You're not my father.

That's why I asked

you to meet me here.

When I first saw you...

...there was something

about you I recognized.

You remind me of myself,

when I was young.

Lost. Vulnerable.

At every fork,

taking the wrong turn.

When we was in that cell...

...officer said your name.

No, I'm nothing like you.

I'm nothing like you!

You criminal!

You blood-sucking scumbag!

Preying on poor people

with a little cash.

And you say that here?

Waving a gun in my face?

About to wreck your

whole life like I did?

You abandoned us.

I did worse than that.

I sold my soul.

And your grandfather gave me

an excuse to do it.

What'd he do?

Tell me what he did.

You know where he's at.

Why don't you ask him?

Let's go.

Freeze! Police!

Drop the gun!

On your knees! Don't shoot!

That's my son!

We were just having a heated conversation!

The gun's empty! Check it!

He's just trying to get me

to go to the church.

He's asking me why I

left him and his mother

when he was a kid!

Don't hurt him!

That's my son.

What were you thinking?

You should be ashamed of yourself!

If anybody else

on my force was here,

this would have

ended very differently.

Officer.

Let him do what

he came here to do.

Stop right here.

Mama?

Oh, my God.

Oh, God.

Are you in trouble?

Where are you taking him?

He had an altercation

with his father.

I'm taking him to the church.

His father?

Tyson?

What have you done to my son?

What did you get him

mixed up in?

He asked me questions.

I'm trying to get them answered.

That's it.

We're going inside the church. Come on.

Langston, I can't go in there.

Yes, you can.

I want you to go home

and practice love.

Practice love on your family.

Practice love on your children.

Love your parents.

Love your neighbors.

And pretty soon,

the hardness in your heart will melt and...

...you will be able to love

even your enemies.

Because love is the most

creative power in the universe.

Naima!

My baby girl.

Reverend,

I got something to ask you.

I got my mother and father

in front of you.

And I want to know

what happened.

I couldn't bear it.

I couldn't bear

to lose you, Naima.

I couldn't bear it.

What'd you do?

I bribed him...

...to leave her.

I paid him

five thousand dollars.

That's all I was worth to you?

All my life,

I've tried to figure out

what I did

not to deserve a father.

And you left me for five G's?

I was trying to take care

of you and your mother.

But I was a boy.

Not a man. Or a father.

I got caught up with some

bad people in the streets.

Had some debts.

Your grandfather

gave me money...

...and in return...

...he made me swear to

stay out of your lives.

And I agreed.

You took my father away from me.

I thought she'd come home.

That was the plan.

The plan was that I would...

...show her

Tyson's true colors.

And then she would come back.

But she found out.

And the true colors

that she saw...

...were mine.

I hope you never know

what it feels like to spend

your whole life regretting...

...one shameful act.

Naima?

Naima. Please.

I want to say,

in front of God...

...Naima, in front of

this whole congregation...

...that I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry for

meddling in your life.

Maybe you were right.

Maybe she was

better off without me.

But I wasn't

better off without you.

I had one shot at happiness.

And I messed it up.

Yeah, you messed it up.

I had your child.

I trusted you.

I trusted all of you.

Langston, we're going.

Where?

We have no place to go.

I don't know.

But wherever I'm going,

I'm taking you with me.

This isn't just about you!

This could be what I've been

waiting for my whole life.

Don't you see?

We're all here.

Right now.

In this house!

You and Dad.

Grandma and Granddad,

family I didn't even know I had.

I didn't even know I had this!

No. No!

I'm not letting you take this

opportunity away from me!

No.

This is my Christmas miracle.

It's time to forgive, Ma.

It's time to be redeemed.

And it's time to come home.

Praise Jesus.

Ten thousand times

I prayed for this miracle.

I love you so much.

I love you, too.

I'm sorry.

God has...

...not promised me...

...sunshine

That's not the way...

...it's going to be

But a...

...little rain...

...mixed with...

... God's sunshine

A little pain

Makes me appreciate...

...the good times

Be...

...grateful

God desires...

...to feel...

...your longings

Every...

...pain that...

...you feel

He feels them...

...just like you

But He can't...

...afford to let you feel...

...only good

Then you can't appreciate...

...the good times

Be...

...grateful

Be grateful

Be grateful

'Cause there's someone else...

...who would love

to be in your shoes

Be grateful

God said in His word

That He would never forsake you

Be grateful

God said in His word

That He would never leave you

Be grateful

Grateful for what you got

Be grateful

Be grateful for what you've got

And everything you're not

Be grateful

Grateful...

...for everything

that you've got

And everything that you're not

So grateful

Got to be grateful

For everything you've got

Grateful

You got to be grateful...

...for what you've got

Be grateful

For it will...

...be all right

Merry Christmas, Lunch Money.

Merry Christmas.

Ma, can we stay?

Please?

As long as your grandparents will have us.

Stay as long as you like.

You can stay forever.

It's your home.

Always.

Always

Always

We all know sometimes

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