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 café 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.

- Get up. - I can't get up from this bed.

- I'm a very sick man. - Little Joe, you ain't sick no more.

You are dead.

What are you doing here, Lucius?

What's that you called me?

Ain't you my old friend Lucius Ferry?

Lucius Fe...

You are speaking to Lucifer Jr.

Joe, the asbestos chariot is awaiting.

- Come on, grab him and let's get going. - No, no!

- Come on. - I ain't dead. I don't feel dead.

If you ain't...

...who is that laying in that bed?

That's me.

That's right. Then who do you think you are?

I don't know. I ain't never been twins before.

And you still ain't twins.

You's the spirit of that body, Little Joe. And you're the one we've come for.

Petunia. Petunia, don't let them get me.

Petunia can't hear you now. Boy, you is gone.

Here I is, Petunia. Don't look at him. Look at me.

How you expect Petunia to see your spirit?

To her, you just a hunk of thin air.

- Little Joe, your hands is cold. - Course they is. I'm dead.

Oh, Lord, something's wrong down here. I feel it.

- You ain't gonna let him die, are you? - That's right, Petunia, pray.

Pray harder. You's a faithful servant.

If Little Joe dies, I ain't got nothing left to live for.

Don't let up, Petunia. Keep plugging. Keep plugging for me.

I know you hear me. If you save him on earth for me...

...I’m gonna save him for you up in heaven.

That is terrific praying.

Come on, grab this rascal. Let's get him out of here.

- No! - Get that leg. Take him on out of there.

Get the legs, number four. Pull him around. Don't let him switch up on you like that!

What's going on here?

I'm in an awful mess.

Reverend?

Who gave you orders to incinerate this man?

We got our orders direct from the hot seat, from the big boss hisself.

And you better keep out of this.

- You're Lucifer's boy, aren't you? - I am.

Look like old Lucifer been jumping the gun again.

Oh, no, he haven't either. Little Joe here's been 1-A on our list for a long time.

You've had lots of souls that you didn't get.

Yes, I knows that, but Little Joe never did do any repenting until after he was dead.