The Masked Saint Page #8

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and I found it like this.

- We've called the police;

They're busy down at the station

but they'll be

on their way soon.

- Pastor Chris,

do you know who did this?

- This... this is me.

This was my fault.

- What?!

- This isn't your fault, Chris.

- Yeah, it is.

I need to talk with you.

Come here.

- Stay with Miss Edna. What?

What?

What?

- Hear my cry

Rise crucified

- Come on, Carrie,

we're gonna go.

Let's go.

- No, Mommy! I need to help.

- Michelle!

- Not now.

You two OK?

- I told her everything.

- Hear my cry

- What are we gonna do?

- We're gonna find

the little turds that did this,

and we're gonna put the fear

of God into them something good!

- My friends...

I asked you here because...

I needed to tell you

that I brought this upon us...

that I have been so prideful these

past few weeks thinking that...

that I was the one

that led this church,

that... that I was the one that

got us out of our troubles,

that...

that I was invincible.

But there's only one true leader

of this church.

And before the Lord,

we are not invincible,

but accountable.

See, I have a confession

to make.

I've been leading

a double life

and lying to you all.

I wear a mask

and wrestle in the ring.

And my name there is the Saint.

See, I thought

wrestling would solve

our financial woes.

I thought wrestling

made me a better preacher...

that it made me a better man.

But I was wrong.

I forgot.

I'm fighting God's battle...

not my own,

that I'm a servant

of this pulpit...

and not of my fists.

I see pride and

self-righteousness made me

lose my way.

For that, I am truly sorry.

- Well, that's not good enough!

- He lied to us!

- More on point, everyone,

we can't afford

to pay for the repairs.

The church simply

doesn't have the money.

- He should be fired

for what he's done!

- He didn't do this!

Look at the graffiti!

These are gang symbols, and the thug

that did this is still out there.

- You shouldn't even be here,

let alone tell us what to do.

- Please, look, just...

don't let this be the thing

that tears this church apart.

- In case you haven't noticed, Pastor,

our church is already torn apart.

- Let Pastor Chris speak!

Hasn't he taken us all

from where we are

to a better place?

I know he's done that

for me and my family.

- And your husband

is still drunk at home!

- That's enough! I will

step down from this pulpit

before I let someone talk

to one of our members that way.

- Well, maybe it's time

you stepped down then.

- Nobody's stepping down

from anywhere!

Now, from where I see it,

this may be the lowest I've

ever seen West Side Baptist.

It's not lost on me

that it's happened

during my absence.

But I know you don't

kick a man when he's down.

The Christian thing to do is,

you offer him a hand

to help him back up!

- Oh, shut up, Judd!

- Let the man speak!

- Thank you,

Mrs. Beasley!

You know, a very wise man

once said to me,

"You gotta have a little faith."

I'm all about that.

Heck, even my very successful

lighting company,

Lumpkin Lighting,

was once in chapter 11.

Mm-hmm.

But I kept the faith

and I got a second chance.

Just like I'm here today asking

all of you for a second chance.

And if Pastor Chris thinks

he can turn this church around

again, then I have faith in him.

I think he deserves our

forgiveness and a second chance.

- Our church is still standing,

and we have found

our leader.

- What say the congregation?

- It's good with me!

Give him a chance!

- I think, maybe...

maybe Pastor Chris

should lead us in a prayer.

Yeah.

- Looks like you got

your second chance, Pastor.

- Thanks, Judd.

- Now, let's see

how you're gonna pay for it.

- Could everyone please stand?

Dear heavenly Father,

give us the strength

to continue pushing forward

during these hard times and help

us remember why you put us here.

Help us to use all

of our talents for your honor

and your glory, not ours.

In your name, we pray.

- Amen.

- Amen.

- Please be seated. Mindy?

- Guys, let's sing.

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and grief to bear

What a privilege to carry

- Just don't get the message,

do you, Preacher?

- Oh, what peace

we often forfeit

- Hey.

- You came back.

- I went home,

but... Carrie was a mess.

She could not understand

why someone would want

to do this to our church.

- What did you tell her?

- I told her

that Daddy would handle it.

- You believe that?

- I believe

that the man I saw

up on that pulpit

was the man I fell in love with,

the man I cannot

wait to have another child with,

because he is a good father...

and a good man.

- I should have told you when

everything started happening.

I... I'm sorry, Michelle.

- I know.

I know you are.

You've always been

that little boy

who's been afraid of the bully,

but don't be the bully.

- Haha!

- You've always been

a son who is looking

for his father,

but now you have

to look after the church.

You've always been a man

looking for a second chance,

and now you have one.

- Wish I could help you, Chris.

- You can. Just say yes.

- If I remember correctly now,

that Saint had

a scheduled appearance

that he didn't honor.

Therefore, any agreement

I have with the Saint,

I don't honor it either.

- Don't talk to me about honor.

This time, I'm asking

for this one thing.

It's not for me;

It's for the church.

I want a shot at the title

and winning back the belt

from the Reaper fair and square.

- I say who wins and loses.

- This time, you're gonna

let me battle it out.

Fair fight.

There hasn't been a fair fight

in pro wrestling since the 70s.

- You're gonna make history then.

- And what if I just say,

"No, Chris,"

what are you gonna do?

Body-slam me?

- No...

but we are here to audit you.

- I'm Lauren Vanderbraun from

the Internal Revenue Service.

I have several questions

regarding your WFW Corporation.

- Oh, a cage match,

this is gonna be awesome!

- Those are my lights.

- Pardon? - Those lights, Lumpkin

Lighting. A tax write-off.

Right, Mrs. Vanderbraun?

- Jojo... Enjoy that.

Ashley!

- Hi, Carrie.

- Mindy! Oh, Ray!

Oh, it's so good

both of you could make it.

- Ray had something

he wanted to say.

- I just wanted to apologize to

you, the family, and the church.

If it's not too late, I'd like

to come to the next service.

- It's never too late, Ray.

- I really wanted

to apologize to

your husband as well.

- Well, he is getting ready for

the fight of his life right now.

- Lord, I'm not praying

about faith,

because I believe

in your love and fortitude

now more than ever.

What I'm praying for

is your strength.

- I knew that was you

at the hospital.

See, you took my streets,

you took my girl,

you took my customers.

Ever since you opened up

your doors to every crackhead

and call girl in this county,

you took my livelihood!

And I want it all back.

- Those people weren't yours

to begin with.

- So what do you suggest we do,

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