The day of judgment has come. Every soul, man, woman, child, will be judged for their sins. I am not the judge nor the jury. I am but one of many angels sent by God to act as an advocate for mankind. You got this, girl. This angel doesn't know who he's dealing with. This is Amara, honey. I was raised at the bottom. Now I'm here. That's right. I'm at the top. And there's nothing he can do or say that will bring me down. Nope. My father shined shoes for a living. My mama had nothing. We ate scraps. And my mama, God rest her soul, did what she could to make sure that stuff tastes like syrup. Nope. I'm not saying a word. when they get here, I'll just be like, nope, the lights are on, but no one's home. I'll keep a straight face. Yeah, that's right. I'll keep a straight face like a poker player or a car salesman waiting to see who slips up first. I mean, come on. I've worked for three American presidents. I've dealt with every kind of a-hole you can think of. I can definitely handle this. Game time, Amara. Well, you don't exactly look like what I've read in books. Depending on what book, I guess. No offense, Angel Man. None taken. Call me David. Okay, David. How are you today, Amara? I am great. Just want all this behind me. You get me? Sure. So, where do we start? Should I start with my childhood and how screwed up it was or my parents? God bless them. Do you miss them both? Hmm. My childhood was raw, to say the least. I do miss the old neighborhood. I wish they would take down those old decrepit buildings. Poof! Be gone. Tear it all down? No. Just the very old ones. You know, the ones that have lived for too long and should make way for the new ones so the city can finally move on, right? Just like, I guess, what you all are doing down here. What would you like to move on from? From the disaster this life was. It looks like ruins from the outside. But just wait until you see the inside. Broken, broken, broken. Sometimes, ruins can be beautiful. Hmm. Just because something is broken on the inside doesn't mean it has to show on the outside. I don't think so. You're forgetting about cancer, sir. things rot from the inside out. First, decay. Then stone. Then dust. Have you ever tried taking the old, worn, and downtrodden pieces of something broken and transforming them into something new? Something that they never were before? Something stronger, maybe? Yes. No, tear it all down, I say. Leave the broken behind was my grandmother's motto. Does anyone you know have any idea where you were really born and raised? Does anyone really know the true Amara? Hell no. It's none of their dang on business. I came from nothing. That's the truth, angel man. Some people are born with silver and gold spoons. I wasn't. Hell, you could burn that whole city to the ground for all I care. It's all cancer. Every last bit of it. But your parents, your family, your neighbors, all live there. I'm only kidding with you. Come on. Oh, no laughing for you, huh? You that dang serious angel man. Just waiting to hear something funny from someone who's actually funny. Well, damn. Okay, Angel Man. Look, I hope for the best for everyone, especially my whole family. Does that include your sister? Wait. I don appreciate you bringing her up You know dang well what happened to her and where she is now don you I need another coffee You want one I take one thank you I didn't take angels for coffee drinkers. I like mine black, please. I like my men that way too. Oh, so you can laugh. Of course I can. I get it. I get it. But you're all business today. Something like that. Can I ask you a question? Of course. Do you like what you do? No. I can't say that I do most days. It's... I feel you. You must butt heads with the big man upstairs a lot, huh? He says one thing, then does another, and you're just left thinking, how am I supposed to take that? Like, what am I supposed to do with this information now? I do question him. Have you ever questioned your boss and what he does? Ha! You really have? I doubt that. Yes, I do. Actually, all the time. Seriously? You stand there before your guard and say, why are you having me do this? No. I do. Well, good for you, angel man. But down here, questioning a man with that kind of authority comes with real consequences. You don't love what you do? It pays. It pays well. That's good coffee. Thank you. You're welcome, love. Question. Shoot. When the president started deporting minorities from all walks of life, everyone except white individuals, including green card holders and even those born here, you stood at the podium and declared that they were all bad, that their parents were illegal. So they, too, were illegal and had no place in this country. Did you ever question him? Did you think twice before saying that? I didn't make the law or change it. Most of them were criminals, from what I heard, anyway. I'm sure you looked into that. I did what I could. I'm sure you went down to the jails and saw what was happening to those people firsthand. No, wait. If you're asking me if I voted for the law, no, I didn't. You didn't. I don't think I did. But regardless, the president was changing laws left and right. The country, the world had to keep up. My job wasn't easy at that point. Do you know how many people were actually criminals that were deported? That's above my pay grade, love. That sounds like the president is in some trouble with God, right? I bet he is. And when you took the podium and said those rioters were there illegally, when the police mowed them down with enough bullets to kill an elephant, You stood there and said the police had a right to do their job. The police were getting spit on, hit with bottles, rocks, and pepper spray. Do they not have children and spouses waiting for them at home? Don't they have the right to make it back to them safely? If the protesters' votes, voices, and screams went unheard, doesn't their frustration become justified? And when they were mowed down one by one, running for their lives, doesn't that at least deserve to be questioned? If you break the law, no matter what law that is, you get what you get. Stop me if I'm wrong. And if God judged you that same way? Doesn't he? No. How is this the same situation? On earth as it is in heaven. Look, I don't know about all that, but I can tell you down here, you don't pepper spray a cop. You get shot. There were kids. Women. Women like yourself were there. If there was... If there was? If they were really there, then yeah, I'd feel bad. But I don't believe the news sources that reported it. I just don't. Am I one of those sources? I saw what I saw from the television, and I didn't see such a thing. If there was, it wasn't what I saw. And you saw the entire event? I didn't say that. Do you understand what I'm doing here? No. Take a look outside. I've seen it. Take a look, Amora. I'm fine. Take a look outside, Amora. Does that look like an everyday regular occurrence to you No Does that look like the world you know No No it doesn I will ask you again Why didn't you see the whole video of the occurrence? I know you don't understand my job, but my job is to take a rainy day and make you feel like it's 100 degrees outside, to take someone exhausted, drained, and hopeless and make them feel energized and uplifted. I know what you do. You don't get it. You don't get it. You just don't. Why do you think that? Uh-uh. Can I get another angel here? Because you're just not getting me. Afraid not. There has to be someone else I can speak to that can understand what I do. You're talking to me. I've never touched a child inappropriately. I'm not a serial killer. I've never actually hurt anyone by what I've done. Right? I think you know the answer to that question. I really do. Hell to the nah. Uh-uh. I'm a caring person. I always, always put others in front of myself. Do you? Do you really believe you stand for life preservation over self-preservation? Come on. Come on. No. No. No! You told the person who took over your old position that when you believe a lie enough, it becomes reality. Right? Has that reality worked for you your whole life? I've never... Fine. I've said that. But that's not what I do. Imagine a person feeding a hungry crowd nothing but sugar, assuring them it will nourish them. Even as they begin to show signs of illness. Soon they are plagued by a sickness as severe as cancer, yet the person keeps insisting that what they're selling will heal them, even though it's slowly poisoning them. How dare you? You think you know me? You think you've walked a day in my shoes, Angel Man? I could have easily been a singer, my friend. But you didn't. Why? When I was just 17 years old, I would sell out a whole restaurant. Strumming my finger with his fingers. People would line up to see me all the way down the block. Your mother gave you that voice, didn't she? She didn't give me much, but yes, she gave me this voice. She used to sing to me every night before bed. Did you talk to her before she died? Did you tell her everything you needed to say? I know where this is going, and I don't like it, Angel Man. It's just a question. That's fine. That's fine. I'm fine. What did you tell your mother? You want to hear me say it? Is that it? I yelled at her. I called her names that she probably didn't deserve. Did you help her? Were you there for her like she was there for you? The answer is a hard no. Why were you so mad at her? So angry that you would say such things to a dying woman? Because I had nothing. Nothing to start off with. And your sister? What about her? You dare bring her up into this. She had a good career in music. She couldn't hit the notes I could. But she took a go of it, didn't she? I'll give her that. She was given the same opportunities you were. She got her voice from her mother just like you did. But she chose a different path, didn't she? She makes a living. Not much, but she does. Just enough to live in a trailer behind an old seedy bar, I guess. Her singing brought people joy. So did mine. She was a kind and giving person. I'm not. She's my sister. Don't tell me who she is. I know her. You don't know crap about her. September 12th, three years ago, your sister finished a perfect set at a local piano bar. She had never sung so beautifully. The place was packed, standing room only. She passed by me once or twice, flashing that big, familiar smile only she could give. There was an odd man watching her more intently than most. At first she seemed shy but soon he gathered the courage to ask her to leave with him I tried to intervene but she was so honest when I approached her She just laughed and said, I'm looking to get into some trouble tonight. And you, my dear, have the eyes of an angel. I was supposed to be there that night. I told her I would be, but when she called me, I told her I had to work. Was that the truth? No. And I think you know that. Do you know what happened to her? And where were you? Do you know what happened to her? Answer me first. Where were you? I don't know. I think I went with my boss. Hey, don't look at me like that. I had to do whatever I could to make it, to get the job I had. And I'm sure my sister went with some man and others because she thought they'd sign her to some big old contract or whatever. she's been missing since. Where is she? I'm sure she met some rich guy who took her on over to Thailand or something, right? That night, that man took everything he could from her, and I had the shitty privilege of holding her as she took her last breath. That can't be. I assure you it is. My poor sister. You were there. You couldn't save her? You couldn't stop him? I could not. Look, I'll never know why she chose that life or why she'd go with someone like that. But I chose better. What can I say? That's not my fault. My mama's stupid choices aren't my fault either. And while I'm at it, when I do my job, excuse me if I'm feeding dog crap and making the people of this country feel like they're eating filet mignon instead. I think we're done here. To not be a poor nobody, I did what I had to do. You have to see that. It appears you left a life of struggle and honesty for a life of lies. That's not fair. But so what? I sold my soul for happiness and a better life. Why is that so wrong? No, no, no. You can't leave me like this, angel man. Come on. Do you even know my name? I do know your name, David. But you're just an angel who took a real person's name and pretends to be human. Pretending to understand what we real humans have to go through. I'm sorry you feel that way. You tried to intervene for my sister, but never me? Yes, I did. Three times, as a matter of fact. No. No, that's not true. First, when you left your mother's house and had nowhere to go. Second, when you took the stage for the first time and were so nervous. And third, when you stopped singing and took the job you have now. I remember you now. No. It can't be. That can't be you. No. No. No, it can't be. It can't be. We'll be right back. Thank you. . .
