Cabin in the Sky

Good evening, Lily. How are you?

Glad to see you.

- Hello, boys. How are you?

- Good evening, Reverend.

- Good evening. Glad to see you.

- How do you do?

- Good evening.

- I see you brought the twins too.

They had to come out.

I hope they stay awake.

- Hello there, Jean.

- How are you?

Come on in, now. Take your hats off, boys.

Take your hats off.

You see, Reverend?

It ain't every Wednesday night a scamp

like Little Joe comes back to the fold.

- Petunia dragged him in yet?

- He's coming of his own free will.

Well, I'll believe that

when I sees him stand up and confess.

Maybe he's let Petunia

down again, Reverend.

You better step over

to the house and make sure.

If he done backslid,

he wouldn't pay no mind to a deacon.

- You better go yourself.

- Perhaps you're right.

Petunia felt so sure of him this time.

- Now, we don't wanna be late, darling.

- Just a minute, Petunia.

Oh, the Lord won't mind if you

ain't wearing a necktie, Little Joe.

- I found the tie.

- Then what you worried about, honey?

Right now

I'm wrestling with the devil.

While I was looking for the necktie

in the bureau drawer...

...I also found two calamity cubes.

And I ain't thrown them away yet.

If I been redeemed, why ain't

I pitched them right into the stove?

The fact you told me you found them

shows you are trying to be good, Little Joe.

- Evening, Petunia.

- Evening, Reverend.

Bring them along

so Reverend Green can burn them up.

- Burn what up, Petunia?

- Oh, Little Joe found some dice...

...and he thinks the devil's

got a toehold on him again.

But don't worry,

we'll be to the meeting tonight.

Hurry up, Little Joe.

Reverend Green's here.

I'll be there in just a minute, honey.

I don't think any man could be very bad

with you to take care of him.

Oh, I reckon he knows I love him.

Yes, he knows I love him

better than anything in this world.

And he also knows now, when he gambles,

he ain't never gonna win.

How did you convince him of that?

I just showed him he can't win

when I ask the Lord to make him lose.

Is that why his luck's

always been so bad?

That's the only reason.

He just naturally got a talent for gambling.

Little Joe would've won every two bits

in this town if I hadn't told the Lord...

...I didn't want us

to make money that way.

You're a wonderful woman, Petunia.

Only last week he bought

an Irish Sweepstake ticket.

Got stuck up there in the mirror,

worshipping it every day.

"Guaranteed by two dream books

and a fortuneteller."

But I've been talking to the Lord about that.

It ain't gonna win either.

What made Little Joe realize

the power of your faith?

I'll tell you, Reverend, it's like this.

I've been praying every day

for Little Joe to get a job.

This morning he got one.

And that's finally convinced him

the Lord's in my corner.

- Good evening, Reverend.

- Evening, Joseph.

I hear you've started to work.

Yes, sir. From now on,

you can address me as "mine host."

- I've gone into the hotel business.

- That's fine.

He means he's got a job

down at that new hotel downtown.

Yes, sir. I'm operative in charge

of elevator number two.

That's gonna be nice for Little Joe.

That hotel's air-conditioned.

You know, honey,

when I get rich in the elevator game...

...maybe I'll air-condition our residence.

This one's already air-conditioned

with half the roof gone.

Well, it's about time

to start the services.

- You'll hurry along, won't you?

- We'll be there.

Reverend, when you call on

the sinners to confess...

...you'd better assign me

the rest of the evening.

Oh, you're not that bad, Joseph.

Now, those who wish to start out

on this pilgrim journey...

...we all will sing and join in singing

the song of invitation.

'Tis the old ship of Zion

Come on, children. Come on, children.

Go ahead, now, Little Joe.

Go on, honey.

- Amen. Praise the Lord.

- Little Joe's joining up, Lily.

That's nice.

Wasn't a minute too soon, neither.

Don't whistle at me

through a church window, gentlemen.

- Can't you see I'm busy getting saved?

- Now, wait a minute.

Wait with that "getting saved" business

until you pays the money you owe.

- And you owes me more.

- You owe me more than that.

And you'll all be paid.

- Good evening, gentlemen.

- Wait a minute.

You can pay us now.

Domino Johnson's back in town.

Domino Johnson?

- You in fast company.

- Yeah, he's over to Jim Henry's caf now.

Loaded with money.

- Give him my congratulations.

- He's raring for action.

- He won't play with any of us.

- And he won't play with me.

I got an appointment with repentance.

Wait a minute. This is your chance.

Your last chance to make yourself

change before you gets repented.

Domino Johnson don't know you.

No, but you do.

And you know how unlucky I am.

- But this time, you'll play with our money.

- And with our dice.

And Georgia Brown

will be over there tonight too.

Look, please let me go.

- Be yourself. You coming along with us.

- I gave up gambling for Petunia's sake.

Didn't you say you wanted Petunia...

...to have those nice things

she didn't have before?

- Yes.

- All right, then, here's your chance.

Your last chance

to make it the easy way.

Why, man, you can clean up big tonight.

Yeah, but they're waiting

for me back in there.

Oh, you can get saved any day.

An opportunity like this only comes once.

Well, maybe I better cut down

on my gambling gradual.

- What can I do, Petunia?

- Come on.

Come on, children.

Come on to the Lord. Peace.

Lily.

- Little Joe ain't there.

- Ain't he?

- Well, he was here when the others got up.

- Maybe he's a little shy.

He must be waiting outside.

Come with me, Lily. I'm scared.

Little Joe?

Little Joe?

- He wouldn't go to...

- Well, you know that Little Joe.

No. He wouldn't do that.

He must have gone home.

Come on, Lily.

But, Petunia...

Little Joe? Little Joe?

Little Joe!

He ain't here.

Lily, something awful's happened

to Little Joe.

Petunia.

I got in a little trouble again, honey.

Little Joe!

I think he'll pull through.

We'll know in the morning.

- But can I go in, doctor?

- Yes, you may, Petunia.

But don't try to talk to him,

because he'll be out of his head.

Lord.

A fool.

Fool.

No, no. No.

Lord...

...please don't take Little Joe from me.

I know how sinful he's been lately,

but I love him.

And please forgive me

for loving him so much.

But Little Joe ain't wicked.

He's just weak.

And if he dies now,

the devil's going to get him sure.

And he don't deserve to be in a mess

like that. Little Joe ain't that bad.

So if you'll just let him

get well again...

...I promise you he'll mend his ways

and give you no more trouble.

Amen.

Those ain't my dice.

He's got a... He's got a gun.

Who's there?

Don't let him in here. I don't know you.

Get him out of here.

Little Joe...

...rise up from that bed

and report for duty.

Report? Report where?

Now, where do you suppose

you'd be reporting?

A shiftless no-account like you is.

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