BLACK SCREEN

We hear the ambience of a city street in the early morning hours. 

Titles Roll - Big, Bold, and Colorful letters against a black background.

We fade in on a static shot of a Baton Rouge street. It is early morning and the sun has risen only hours ago. In the distance loud bass can be heard thumping and, as the sound grows louder, a limousine approaches and pulls up to the curb.

We cut in closer to reveal WEBBIE, exiting the vehicle, laughing loudly, in suit and tie, jacket over shoulder with a loosened tie, holding a champagne bottle. 

A reverse shot reveals BOOSIE, also dressed in a suit and smoking a cigar, lounging in the limo surrounded by three beautiful women in elegant dresses. 

One of the women leans forward and pulls at Webbie’s coat.

WOMEN 1:

“Get back in, daddy.”

Webbie pushes her hand aside and shakes his head. 

He leans down and looks to Boosie who looks back to him holding a wad of cash up to his ear. After a moment, both burst out in laughter and the women do also.

Webbie hands the empty champagne bottle back to Women 1 and closes the vehicle door. He begins to walk away as the limousine pulls off. 

Brushing off his jacket, slipping it on, and adjusting his tie, we pan with him to reveal the front of a church.

He approaches the church to find a little GIRL sitting on it’s front steps crying.

WEBBIE:

Hey, what’s wrong?

GIRL:

My dad…

Webbie kneels down looking the girl in her eyes. She wipes away tears and looks up to him.

GIRL:

My daddy always give his money to this new Preacher. He say if dad give enough God will give him a million dollars by Christmas. But I know that man just keeps the money for himself. 

WEBBIE:

Really now?

Webbie stands up and fixes his tie.

WEBBIE:

I’ll handle this.

TITLE CARD : BLESSED

The track fades in.

CUT TO

PREACHER, old and dressed in a ridiculous suit, screams through the mic at an OLD WOMAN, who shakes, holding a walker.

PREACHER:

In the name of the LAWD! I proclaim you are healed! Praise the Holy Ghost!

Preacher attempts to rip the walker from the old woman’s hands. She struggles to hold on it and the two yank it back and forth.

After a moment, Preacher’s hand slips and Old Lady takes the rocker and slams it down on his foot. Laughing as she pushes off back to her seat. 

PREACHER:

OWWW ! JESUS-!! I MEAN - HALLELUJAH! SHE FIRED UP!

Preacher turns to the crowd.

PREACHER:

So, uhmm, the holy ghost is in here today! Tithe, tithe, tithe! That car gonna be yours! Believe that!

The beat drops.

Webbie enters the church and begins delivering his verse. Walking down the aisle, addressing the congregation, and the bewildered Preacher.

As the congregation begins to turn and take notice, Webbie starts hyping them up and walks right up to the face of Pastor - chanting his verse in his face.

Two large BODY GUARDS approach but, upon seeing it’s Webbie Trill, they instead dap him up and nod for him continue. 

As the chorus begins we CUT to a title card that reads: Saturday Night

Webbie and Boosie, surrounded by other men in suits and the three women earlier from the limousine, all sit at a large poker table in a darkly lit private gambling room.

They smoke cigars and pass around the cash and chips that are on the table. As the girls pour the men drinks and dance, Webbie chants the chorus into the camera.

As the second verse begins we CUTback to the church where the Preacher is now tied up in front of the congregation.

Webbie, now standing at the pulpit, addresses the congregation with his second verse.

The congregation all rise to their feet and start dancing like a revival is taking place.

Preacher feverishly tries to break through his bonds but is subdued by the two Bouncers who nod their heads along to the beat.

We intercut this action with footage of Baton Rouge and stock video footage of old church revivals. 

As the second verse begins we CUT back to the Private Poker Room where Boosie delivers his verse to the camera. 

We intercut this with Webbie at church who is getting hype with the entire congregation. Baptizing children, kissing babies, and returning tithe money to them.

As the final Chorus plays we watch as Webbie wades into the congregation, running up and down the aisles, as he, and the entire congregation, chant the chorus in jubilation.

This continues as we intercut footage from the Poker Room with Boosie and shots of Webbie around town in Baton Rouge.

As the chorus draws to an end, the Preacher, bewildered and still tied up, is picked up, chair and all, and is carried out of the building by the congregation. 

As the song fades out and the church empties, Webbie is left standing alone at the pulpit.

We cut into a close-up as he fixes his tie and looks up into the camera, giving a final smirk, and walking out of frame.

THE END