Kingdom Come

MAN (on radio): Good morning, Lula.

This is the "Weverend" Beverly H. Hooker.

It's gonna be another hot one here in the central valley.

Temperatures up around 99.

Now let's get things started with the Heaven on a Hookup Singers.

Bud, we got a letter from your sister this morning.

Well, I ain't readin' it.

Fine. I'll read it. Well, I ain't listenin'.

That's fine too. You don't even have to listen.

"Dear Brother and Raynelle,

Well, Bud, I was expecting to see you at services Sunday,

but I guess there must have been something good on the TV... again.

I know how you love to watch that wrestling program...

Damn straight.

..."I wonder if they'll have TV in hell. -(Bud scoffs)

Well, I heard about Junior and Charisse's business going belly-up.

When will that son of yours learn?"

She should talk. One boy in the pen, and the other on the way.

"I think both our sons could learn a thing or two from Buster Kincaid's boy, Tiny.

-Thank you very much. "I had him over here Saturday...

and that boy mowed the front yard, the side yard the backyard,

plus them three acres I got out behind the house.

Since his birthday is coming up next week,

I gave him three dollars instead of the usual two.

Well, that's about all the news for now.

I've decided to come over and visit y'all next Sunday after services.

One of you-- and I'm not saying who, Bud--

needs to get right with the Lord.

And I'm just the lady for the job.

We're gonna spend the whole day in prayer, discussing Scripture...

and singing hymns till we wear you down.

-Like it says in II Peter 3:8, -(Bud gasping)

'One day is with the Lord as a thousand years.'

Your loving sister, Marguerite."

Well, Bud, what did you think of that?

Bud.

Hello?

Oh, hell no!

-(dial tone) -You're not gonna get off that easy.

-God! -(ring)

-Good God, Mama! -Did I hear you just take the Lord's name in vain?

-What the hell do you want? -Don't talk filthy!

And what are you doing, still laying in the bed?

It's 7:00 in the morning. How come you're not up looking for a job?

I'm not out looking for a job because it's 7:00 in the morning.

Oh, you wouldn't happen to be suffering from a hangover, would you? Hmm?

Are you laid up there with some harlot, huh? Harlot!

-No! Mama, stop it! -(slapping phone)

Wake up, harlot. What time is it?

Harlot! Harlot! Can you hear me in there?

Oh, Mama, stop that. Wh--What do you want?

I just thought you might wanna know...

your uncle Bud...

he passed this morning.

I'm sorry to hear that, Mama.

How's Aunt Raynelle doing?

Well, how do you think she's doing, huh?

Her husband just dropped dead at the breakfast table,

in the middle of one of my letters.

Mm. Imagine that.

So, we are gonna have to go over there and give them some comfort...

and some Christian counsel.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! What do you mean "we"?

Are you telling me that you're gonna turn your back on your family in this time of tragedy?

Mama, all them folk over there at that house and--and you're telling me somebody can't come get you?

-Come on, call Junior or Ray Bud. -They have too much to do!

And I would just die of shame

if people knew that my own son didn't want to take me over...

to comfort my only brother's grieving widow.

Or maybe you'd like to see me walk the 20 miles to Lula. It's 110 in the shade.

Or maybe you'd like me to drop dead from a heatstroke.

All right, all right, Mama. Ok, already. What time do you wanna leave?

Well, what time do you think I wanna go, next month?

Boy, get your triflin', worthless self over here now!

Bud ain't gonna keep long in this heat.

Now, Reverend, are you sure I can't offer you a ham?

I've got three of them, and it's just before noon.

No, no, no, thank you. That's mighty kind of you.

You know, it must be a blessing,

having your daughter here living with you during this time of "beweavement."

Oh, yes, it is. You've met my daughter, Delightful, haven't you?

Yes, yes, I believe I have.

-She's so precious to me. -I can see why.

REVEREND HOOKER (clears throat): Well, sister,

being that Brother Bud wasn't a "wegular" member of the church,

I was hoping you'd tell me a little something about your late husband...

that, uh, I can include in my "wemarks."

Um, it doesn't have to be anything fancy.

Just in your own words, what kind of man was Brother Bud.

Well... he was mean.

-Mean. -Mean as a snake.

-I see. -And surly.

Surly.

Sister, I didn't know Brother Slocumb well,

but to me, he seemed a quiet man.

A man of inner strength.

A man that knew his own mind, kept his own counsel...

and was at peace with the world.

A wise, noble, gentle man.

Well, that's 'cause you didn't know him till he got old and sick,

but he was mean and he was right surly.

Sister, in my experience,

it's best to remember the happier times.

Well, they were few and far between.

Let me explain something to you, Reverend.

After my two boys were born,

I decided I wanted to go back to church.

And one time we went up to a revival meeting,

and I got saved.

And I was so happy, I came rushing back to tell Bud.

He hit the ceiling.

Cursed me out like I'd never been cursed out by anybody.

I said, "Bud, we're talking about your immortal soul here.

And if you don't take yourself up to that revival meeting,

your soul is gonna be in danger forever."

He wasn't having any part of it.

So, I said, "Well, if that's the way you feel about it,

I'm just gonna cut you off altogether."

I--I beg your pardon?

Not so much as a warm handshake in 20 years.

Well, except for that one time.

Well, I believe I have all the information I'm gonna need.

All right.

I just don't know what I'm gonna say.

Lord knows how I'm gonna get through this.

I mean, all our humiliation knowing that Daddy Bud up and died...

knowing that you never made nothing of yourself, Junior. Never.

Lord knows it's gonna be sad sittin' there thinking how...

Daddy Bud died knowing we had to sell everything...

to move into that god-awful trailer to pay off that big ol' dream of yours.

Maybe you oughta set that to music, Charisse.

I mean, that sure should bring a tear to everybody's eye.

I believe I was just stating the facts, Junior.

I loved him too. He was like my own daddy.

Mom, he kicked me.

And you know something else, Junior?

I was just sitting here thinking to myself, your family never loved me.

Never! They're just lookin' down on us right now...

just having themselves a good ol' laugh-- ha ha ha!

Whoever thought of a machine that cleans parking lots? I mean, really!

All our money just right down the crapper.

Whoosh! Just gone.

-(chattering) -What? Damn it, boy!

Damn shoe! Now, look, walk around with one on your foot now!

-(children laughing) -You know what?

I could have been a professional, you know.

-I had talent. -Talent? (laughs)

Oh, and let me tell you something else, Mr. Funny Man.

I could have been lap-tied to your cousin, Teddy Wayne Slocumb,

and been the wife of the lawyer.

Keep pushing it, Charisse.

But oh, no, I couldn't think about myself.

Uh-uh. I had to listen to my foolish heart... and get married to a fool.

A dreamer that just spent all our money on his dream.

-I'm gonna kill us, Charisse. -Oh, please.

I'm gonna kill us. I'm gonna kill us.

You ain't gonna kill nobody.

I'm gonna kill us! I'm gonna kill us!

-I'm gonna kill us! -(maniacal laughing)

Shut up! Just shut it up!

Shut up! Just shut it up! All right?

My daddy just died. Can you understand that?

My daddy just died, I'm 33 years old,

I'm dead broke, I got no money, no job, no prospects,

three kids, and worst of all, I'm married to you.

Now just shut it up! Just shut up!

Whoo! I swear my hand before God,

you say one more word about parking lots, I will kill you.

And me too. You got that?

Do you got that?

You would have to get a job and buy some bullets first, Junior.

Put that thing away.

Put it away!

How dare you pull that out in front of these kids!

Now you know your daddy was just playing. He really love us.

He love us. You know Daddy just goes through a little something sometimes.

Isn't that right, baby?

Y'all play nice now.

(children laughing, chattering)