Sweet Jesus, Preacherman (1973)

Roger E. Mosley: Cyrus Holmes, Rev. Jason Lee

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Quotes 

• Martelli : Look, Holmes, you're here because I'm havin' problems down at the black community. Somebody's movin' into my territory! They're knockin' off my men and I want it straightened out. Church. There's a little church right down there in the heart of the community. You're gonna go down to that church, Holmes, and you're gonna run it for me.

  Holmes : You *got* to be jivin. You might be able to get me to go down there and make a few hits...

  Martelli : No hits! No killin'! Any more of that shit down there, the Feds move in and nobody gets nothin'!

• Holmes : Why a church?

  Martelli : Come on, man. Don't you see the cover? Man of the cloth. The black messiah. I mean, you walk around down there, you go where you want, you ask questions, you get answers.

• Holmes : I remember sittin' my little ass in that church from three years old to twelve. From day till night. While all the other kids were at the movies. Listenin' to my old man harangue those folks for every buck he could get. You could really tell when he was gonna lay one on 'em, too. Reach down and start hollerin', "Sweet Jesus!" Boy, when I heard that, I know he was gonna lay one helluva sermon on 'em.

• Holmes : Jesus knows somethin' else. That sista out there on the corner, she's somebody's daughter! She's somebody's niece She's somebody's cousin. And that somebody might be right here in this church. Right now!

• Holmes : I want you to understand this mornin', that when Jesus looked down on this righteous black community, that we livin' in, he begin to say and look upon drugs and prostitution. Nah, I got to say it like the Bible says in the Book of Revelations, he said there were *whores* in the streets. Ain't that what he called 'em? And we know in this community, we got all kinda drugs, all kinda prostitution. Pimps walkin' the streets - defyin' our community. Blasphemer - the word. Backslidin'! Blasphemer! That's what we talkin' about.

• Holmes : I see that the Lord hasn't waited to the hereafter to award you for your good deeds. Of course, some of our folks aren't so fortunate. Many of them have troubles of the flesh - as well as the spirit.

  Deacon Greene : That's a fact. I long since said that.

• Holmes : I have some prepared notes here, but, I want to set 'em aside. Cause I heard the term: Sweet Jesus. You know, often times we sit around and talk about how sweet Jesus is to us. We ought to stop and think about how sweet are we to Jesus!

• Holmes : That man out there pushin' that dope, he's somebody's son. He's somebody's nephew. He's somebody's cousin. So, when he's out there, doin' his thing to our community and you call on the name of Jesus to do somethin' about it, remember Jesus, thankful servant is here to serve you. To bring an end to this corruption in the community. There's gonna be some changes in my church. There's gonna be some righteous things happenin' here.

• Holmes : You see that trash, punk? That's right where you belong!

• Foxey : I see a lot, but, I don't say anything.

  Holmes : Good, I know where to ask when I need information.

• Foxey : You one of those that loves 'em and leaves 'em?

  Holmes : Yeah. But, when I leave 'em, I leave 'em plenty.

• Foxey : You workin' for the Man?

  Holmes : No, you must be mistaken me for somebody else.

  Foxey : Well, what's your bag then baby? I never seen you 'round here before.

  Holmes : Oh wow, Mama, take it easy. You wanna run me outta here with all them questions?

• Holmes : For the first time, you're gonna see integration at work: a black man and a white man workin' together and get justice in this community.

• Holmes : Why all this sudden concern for me?

  Eddie Stoner : We on different sides of the streets, but, its the same streets.

• Bar Patron : Hey, wait just a God damn second. I know this guy. He's the big mouth whose been bitchin' about the police down in Watts. Ain't that you, big mouth? You know, my brother's on the force. It's a damn good force too. So, if you don't like it, why don't you go back to the Congo?

  Holmes : Why should I? We got lot better monkeys here. They can do tricks too. Even drink a bottle of Heinekens while they pull their bananas.

• Holmes : The Lord helps those that helps themselves. Oh, our victory shall bear fruits. But, each man must work to gather his own fruit. Prosper, my children. Prosper.

• Holmes : Cut the crap, Sills! I wanna answer, not a bunch of political rhetoric. I wanna straight answer!

• Holmes : Numbers, drugs. All of it's gonna be through me from now on. It's that - eh - new black capitalism you've been hearin' about.

• Holmes : What have you got to worry about, Frank?

  Martelli : Somebody takin' a piece of my pie.

  Holmes : Well, I know. That's what you sent me down here for. To find out who's stickin' their finger in your pie.

• State Senator Sills : You'll administer the redevelopment fund yourself?

  Holmes : You bet your sweet ass I will.

  State Senator Sills : And what about me? With a grant this size, I think a finders fee is in order.

  Holmes : Now, you're beginning to sound like. a man I can deal with.

• Holmes : Cool it. Cool it, Senator. You may be grandstanding, but, you're grandstanding at the only game in town. Now, I want you to go out there and tell my people that there will be a *thorough* - a *thorough* investigation. And if this one gets whitewashed, you've had it.

  State Senator Sills : You don't have to tell me my job, Reverend.

  Holmes : Come on, Senator, we got some fences to mend - some black fences, at that.

• State Senator Sills : Remember that we're only whistlin' Dixie unless I'm reelected. You'll have to bring it off.

  Holmes : Sam, my man, if there's one tune I never whistle, it's Dixie.

• Holmes : Hey, let me worry about the white boys uptown, okay? Hey, and remember that little visit this Sunday mornin' - to refill the Lord's chalice. Remember the Lord will smite all mine enemies upon the cheekbone.

• Police Captain : I don't want any of your people killed and I certainly don't want any of my men killed. Is that understood?

  Holmes : Then don't go around shootin' innocent kids!