Tag Archives: Phil DeMars

Posted on

Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 7: The Seventh Day…

Hello World,

I’m nearly in tears as I write tonight…I shoulda seen it coming…Seven is the number of completion and something was most certainly completed in tonight’s episode…But let me not get ahead of myself…And let’s not wait another second to get into another exhaustive and entertaining Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 7: The Seventh Day…Trust me on this: You will not need to read another recap after reading this one here…

The Seventh Sin…

Thankfully, Darius is not dead! After last week’s episode, I wasn’t so sure. This episode begins with Grace and Darius in the Memphis Police Impound Lot as Grace had to bail Darius out of jail and apparently Darius’ car had been impounded in the process. Yes, Bob and nem had Darius thrown in jail! We are all sinners but Bob and nem are among the worst…But even being jailed isn’t stopping Darius from chasing the story so that the truth will come out. After he is let go, he still plans to interview the source that Yusef gave him.

Grace is working her angle as well. She and Aaron are trying to get an injunction to temporarily stop the demolition by proving that the land that Jacob and Kerissa sold to H&H was done under false pretenses. Grace and Aaron believe the couple didn’t know that the true buyer was H&H as another name was used as the buyer. Those of us who have watched the show know that this angle aine goin’ nowhere. But more on that later. Also, Grace tells Darius that Bob plans to make a big announcement at the demolition. He’s treating this like a “ribbon cutting ceremony,” Grace says.

Bishop isn’t thinking about Calvary at all…at least for the time being. He shows up in his bedroom with a warmer (is that what it’s called?) presumably to serve Lady Mae breakfast in bed. She says, “Have you lost your mind?” He tells her that although it is demolition day at the church, he doesn’t intend to “sit around and mope all day. New Church, New Life.” When Lady Mae opens the warmer, she discovers the very first ring that he gave her. Although Lady Mae had told Bishop she would remarry him on Flag Day, Bishop says, “I thought the right ring might inspire you to push the date up.”

It does make her melt, but you know Lady Mae is all about the terms and conditions. She tells him that before they are remarried, they have to be on “one accord.” She wants to work out a plan with Tara. “I won’t plant a church in the shadow of another scandal,” she says. She proposes selling the property and giving the money to Tara. Bishop says, “I’m not offering Tara anything because it’s like I’m admitting I’ve done something which I didn’t.” And just like that, Bishop is back to square one. “Then this has to wait until Flag Day.” At this stage in her life, Lady Mae is putting her foot down when it comes to Bishop and keeping it there.

Speaking of putting a foot down, Zora is still trying to move to NYC and now that her parents are separated, she’s trying the divide and conquer approach, but it doesn’t work. She never cancelled her flight for that night. “I’m trying to be nice to you, but you need to be patient,” Jacob says to his petulant daughter.

Once Bishop goes downstairs, he sees his oldest grandchild A.J. “Isn’t today the day?” he asks. But Bishop isn’t going to succumb to sadness. “Today is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Amen, Bishop. But Bishop knows that A.J. didn’t show up just to talk about Calvary’s demolition. He tells him that he will meet him in the garage in half an hour.

At Calvary, the plans for the demolition continue to proceed. Phil, Judee & Fernando are there, and Grace and Aaron show up. The half siblings announce that because Jacob and Kerissa were not aware that they were selling their land to H&H, it was real estate fraud. “My brother is willing to testify under oath.” Fernando, with his greasy self, says that Kerissa knew all about it and that she “enjoyed it immensely.” Of course, Grace calls Jacob who says he will call Kerissa. We know that Kerissa knows. SMH. He is crestfallen when he calls her and she admits that she knew. He realizes then that her betrayal was worse than he thought. Now, he is really glad that they are longer together.

Back at the estate, Tara shows up. “Is Bishop willing to part with the land?” she asks. She tells Lady Mae that Rochelle won’t even be satisfied with that. “She wants him brought low” while Lady Mae and Tara want “peace.”

Seven Faces…

Bishop meets A.J. in the garage. “I was just about to get started.” Bishop laughs as he is not convinced. He knows good and well that A.J. is intimidated by this task of putting together a Pontiac GTO from the parts as he was and still is. “Should we pray for strength?” he says. “It’s been over 40 years, and I still haven’t found the strength to open it up.” Remember the car is in parts in a humongous box. For Bishop, praying practically comes natural but A.J. wasn’t raised in church and is not a Christian. But Bishop says he can easily get saved by saying a “simple prayer” and get removed from the “destroy your soul pile.”

A.J. isn’t ready for all of that at the moment, but he does listen when Bishop says, “There is a God. A world like this just doesn’t happen. He sees you and he loves you.” Although Bishop doesn’t force God onto A.J., he says he looks forward to the day when he is saved because the smile on A.J.’s face will be “equal in beauty to 10 Grand Canyons and 100 sunsets.” Wow, that’s beautiful, right?

So the angle that Noah had been working on works out! He finds the caretaker, an elderly white gentlemen with one of those wizard beards. Noah and Grace meet with him at his home somewhere in the country it seems. He tells him that this “Negro” had a close relationship with Loretta Davis. “She let him walk all over her.” Apparently, they used to fuss and fight so much that she would tell him not to come around any more. But he always came back. “Do you think they were lovers?” Grace asks. Taken aback, the caretaker says, “They were not lovers.” “Who was Darryl to Ms. Davis?” Grace asks. He says he was her son. What?!!! Apparently, this Mrs. Davis has a public face and a private face. The unmarried woman had a black son! (But I’m a little puzzled. How did she have enough money to buy a house of that stature without a husband during that time period? She must have inherited some money herself, maybe from her father…) But isn’t all wild?

Via the news, the family discovers that Bob Whitmore plans to announce his candidacy for Senate at the demolition. “The man is pure, unmitigated evil,” Bishop says. Grace tells her family what she has discovered.  When Charity hears the news, she is more determined than ever to stop the demolition of the church. “If we’re about to lose our house, I’m not giving up the church without one last fight.”

Bishop finally wants to meet with Rochelle and Tara, and they show up at the estate. Lady Mae breaks the news to the sisters. “Ms. Davis may have been your grandmother. That’s the only story that makes the first will plausible. If this is proven, your blood ties preceded our legal ties.” But as Tara said earlier, that news doesn’t satisfy her sister. Rochelle shouts, “All I want is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God.” Bishop gets up fed up. He promises to reveal all the truth “the whole God blessed thing.”

Speaking of the whole truth, Charity has done a thing as well. She emailed Calvary church members about Bob and Eden Vale Lending and told them they could hear the whole truth if they showed up at the church. Jacob found out about the email and told his parents so of course everyone is on the way to Calvary for a showdown!

At least 100 or so members have shown up and the room is buzzing. Bob gets in front of the church and accuses Charity of digging up a “bunch of old news.” But Bob is confronted by the whole truth which includes low-interest cash loans to an 100 percent black clientele. Nearly 300 of these loans defaulted and Gladys DeMars, Phil’s mother, was the signatory on each and every one. None of that sounds good and Phil, with his two-faced self, has to speak out as well.

“Gladys DeMars was my mother,” he says to the church. He explains that while on her death bed, “she seemed concerned that God couldn’t forgive her.” She didn’t reveal what she needed forgiveness for, but now he knows why she was concerned. His mother was a crook! Bob attempts to stop Phil from revealing his truth and calls him, “son.” “I’m not your son.” Next, in front of everyone, he says to Judee, “Give me my mother’s ring back, Judee.” Judee is shocked but recovers quickly enough to drop his “stupid ring” on the floor. Bob still attempts to save the situation. “Let’s stop focusing on the past. Let’s focus on the future.”

7th Heaven…

But the true shepherd of Calvary has shown up and he’s ready to come all the way clean. Bishop and his family come in the sanctuary and Bishop walks up front. He says, “I took advantage of your faith in me, and I got fat and happy in the process.” He explains that the only reason that the church even exists is that he was able to construct the building by using his home as collateral to get a loan from the bank. He was told by Mac that Ms . Davis was childless after Darryl James died in the fire and that she could be convinced to will the home to him.

His ambition blinded him to the connection of the fire and the destruction of the first will. “I was too enchanted to consider the cost and who had paid it.” Apparently, Mac with his evil self must have started that church fire or put everything in motion for the fire to happen. “I know that’s not what you wanted to hear Rochelle but that’s it’s true.” Yes, Rochelle and Tara were present. (Aside: I think Tara and Jacob are going to get together in the final episode…What say you?)

Bishop continues. “I’ve got a few more sins.” He admits that he was seduced by the demon of wealth and power. “I lost my way and you paid the price, and my family paid the price, and I’m so sorry. I dragged you into captivity by this monster. All I ever wanted to show you was what was possible with God, and all I showed you was what was inevitable without Him.” Whew, that’s a line for the ages, right? He finishes with “Bob, I told you your days are numbered.”

As Bishop finishes, Charity begins singing “Amazing Grace” and the whole family including A.J. surround him on stage. When they sing the line, “Grace will lead you home,” I’m reminded that Grace came home for the whole truth to be revealed and by God’s grace, it finally was. Somebody needs to shout!!!

At this juncture, Rochelle sees her way out, but Grace follows her into the hallway. “You happy now?” she asks Rochelle. Rochelle says, “I never wanted the house. All I wanted was what I got today.” Grace then reveals that she knows it was her who put A.J. in contact with Noah which ultimately led to them to being reunited as a family. Rochelle tells her that she wanted her dirty laundry to be aired out like she was doing to everyone else and in the end it worked out for Grace’s good. “God can use anybody,” she says, “even a mean old sinner like me.”

Another pair have to settle a score as well. Phil walks up to Charity and says, “You’re right. You didn’t deserve any of that from me. I love you.” Staring him down, Charity says, “Not even the father of my son broke my heart the way you have. I will never trust you again.” Wow! For once, Charity has had the right reaction to man and his misplaced overtures. There’s hope for her after all 🙂 She smiles as she walks away, not even bothering to look behind her. Phil was fine though. I must admit. Hopefully a man that fine but with some character is in her future.

Back in the sanctuary, Bob steps down from H&H…as if he had any other choices at this point.

Grace and Darius discuss what has happened as he drops her off at the estate. CBS will be running the entire story about Eden Vale Lending! They share a passionate kiss that leaves Darius wanting more. “We just can just go to my place,” he says. But Grace says, “Maybe tomorrow.” Bishop dropped a bomb and the family needs some time to sort through the wreckage so to speak. And Sophia needs to discuss something with her as well…

Sophia, thinking that Zora has told her mother about topless photos, tells her mother that she was wrong for sending topless pictures to Dante. “What pictures?” Grace asks. Zora didn’t tell on her cousin after all…Hmmm…

And now…here’s the moment that I was wholly unprepared for although I should have been…considering my interview with Greenleaf Creator Craig Wright and Executive Producer Kriss Turner Towner…

Darius ain’t the only one feeling lovey dovey. Lady Mae, dressed in her finest lingerie, comes behind Bishop, who is sitting on their bed and says, “Oh James, my darling, let’s get married tomorrow.” But when she hugs him, she realizes he is stiff and can barely move. Something is very wrong. It appears that Bishop is having a stroke! (Oh Bishop, why did you skip your physical?!!!) She gets ready to call 911, but Bishop, who has an open Bible on his lap, motions for to get a pen. He scribbles the words, “I do”on a piece of paper. She hugs him and says, “I do too, my love.”


He appears to ascend to Heaven right there in her arms, but I’m hoping it’s like the near death experience that A.J. had a few episodes ago. We thought he was dead, but he wasn’t. Did y’all notice that Bishop was adorned in a purple robe? It’s been some time since I’ve seen him in purple I think. Purple is the color of royalty. It seems to me that once he told the truth, he was reinstated to his royal position as the shepherd of the sheep at Calvary…Y’all, it can’t be just one episode left, but alas it is…tears…

Well, eight is the number of new beginnings so I imagine that the new Calvary or a brand new church altogether will open its doors next week…I pray that Bishop will be there to see it…

Thank you sooo much for reading my Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 7: The Seventh Day… and my other recaps so far. If you would like to keep up with OWN’s “Greenleaf,” and my recaps, please click on this link to subscribe to my blog 🙂!

Any thoughts?

 

Posted on

Greenleaf Recap Season 4 Episode 10: Gratitude…

Hello World,

I guess the number one biggest thing we learned tonight is that OWN’s “Greenleaf” is coming back at some point in 2020! Yay!  The second biggest thing is that Phil DeMars is precisely the self-serving scoundrel we always suspected he was. But more on that later in this Greenleaf Recap Season 4 Episode 10: Gratitude…

Give Thanks & Praises…

This week’s episode begins where last week’s episode ends – with Grace having decided that she is willing to turn her back on the pulpit to protect her son A.J. She walks off of the stage and to A.J., who is standing in the center of a church aisle. He is wearing white and looking angelic which is a stark contrast to an A.J. lookalike, who is wearing all black and shows up at the end of the episode. But let me not get ahead of myself. Grace grabs her son and says, “I’ve been worried sick about you. What are you doing here?” A.J., ever standoffish but for good reason, is confused as to why Grace is confused that he showed up. Both Grace and Sophia have been blowing A.J.’s phone so it’s no wonder that he finally comes back. He then tells Grace the bad news. “I’m going to turn myself in.”

After churchgoers scatter, Bob and his team of Phil and Judee convene in Grace’s former office. “What the he** happened here?” Bob asks them. He reveals that with Grace’s resignation, a key part of his plan has been thwarted. “What about my board?” he says. Bob wants the board to vote on his plans for Calvary as a part of the Harmony & Hope expansion. He’s particularly disappointed that his daughter wasn’t able to carry out his plan. “You’re going back to Phoenix today,” Bob says to Judee. Then he turns to Phil. “Did you have something to do with Grace stepping down?” Phil downplays his part in Grace’s decision, but he does affirm that he is seeing and in love with Charity as Judee blurted that before she stormed out of the office. Phil assures Bob that his relationship with Charity is a “good thing” and that she can be useful to them. However, Bob says, “I’m still not over how you hurt Judee. I think that’s a big part of the reason why things didn’t work out with Ken.”

Finally, Bob says, “What a mess!” Sooo…was Phil using Judee when he was involved with her? I’m inclined to think that he truly loved her because if he had been using Judee, Bob would have kicked him to the curb already…But I don’t know since Bob is an opportunist as well…

After that debacle at Calvary, Lady Mae can only stare out of her window, looking at the grounds on which the Greenleaf home is built. Charity knocks on her door and Lady Mae invites her in. “This house, this land is all we have left now, and I’m so scared,” Lady Mae says to her youngest daughter. Charity fixes her mouth to say, “I had nothing to do with with Phil and how he pressured Gigi.” Chile, please. Lady Mae asks Charity where did Phil get the evidence then? “Did he have confederates in unmarked vans on the property?” Charity says, “I don’t know.” “So you came in here to lie to me,” Lady Mae says. The disappointment she feels is tangible. She knew Charity was less than smart, but she didn’t know she was less than truthful too. She calls Charity, “Phil’s helpless little pawn.” Charity says, “Mama, I never meant to hurt you.” That got Lady Mae. She tells Charity that all of them from Grace to Nathan are connected. “It’s one life. You do damage to one life and the whole life suffers. He’s smart enough to make a big fool of you, and that’s the extent of his genius.”

In Grace suite’s, Grace and Aaron meet with A.J. Aaron explains to A.J. that if he turns himself in, he will probably get 10 years in jail. For whatever reason, A.J. is adamant about wanting to turn himself in although Grace and Aaron try to convince A.J. not to turn himself in. He plans to turn himself in the following day.  Then Aaron tries a different tactic. ” “Why not just go now?” he says. That did the trick because A.J. becomes apprehensive again and then flees the suite. Grace is confused. “There’s something that he’s not saying.” I feel the same way, but for the life of me, I cannot guess what this is…Can you?

Thanking the Good Lord…

Grace runs into Kerissa as she is rushing out to Urgent Care. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Grace tells Kerissa that as her situation has shifted, she can longer buy out Kerissa and Jacob’s share in the estate. Kerissa responds, but she has more important issues that need her attention. At the doctor’s office, Kerissa prays, “Please let it be negative” but God doesn’t answer the prayer in the way that she requested. “You have chlamydia,” a woman, a doctor or nurse perhaps, says to her. The woman attempts to give Kerissa instruction on how to discuss the matter with husband and tells her she can’t have sex with him for 10 days. But Kerissa tells the woman that Jacob did not give chlamydia to her. Isn’t that wild? That’s what she gets for cheating on her husband. The “c” in chlamydia is for cheating…

Later, Lady Mae and two of the board members meet to discuss the upcoming vote. The board plans to vote on dissolving Calvary and merging what’s left with Harmony & Hope.  When Charity’s name comes up, Lady Mae asks, “What has that little idiot done now?” LOL!!! If you’re mama thinks you’re an idiot, it’s safe to say that you are an idiot! LOL. But Charity’s vote is needed to break the tie so the family must find a way to be nice to her.

When Phil and Charity meet, she tells him that her family is breaking up as a result of Phil DeMars. Phil responds with, “Be still and know that I’m the man who loves you.” Charity thought he was going to say, “Be still and know that I’m God” and so did I. I’m so sick of Phil at this point.

Even later that night, Jacob snuggles into his woman. Obviously, the man wants to get down but Kerissa can’t. She says, “Not tonight, Jacob. ” After saying this a couple of times, Jacob asks, “What did I do now?” Kerissa says, “Nothing,” and tells him that she is on her period and doesn’t feel well.

The next day, Bishop goes to Charity to ask her to vote on the side of the Greenleafs. But Charity uses this opportunity to complain about her parents’ preferring Gigi to Charity all of these years. “So now, you two want my help!” she says. It’s clear to Bishop that Charity may end up supporting Phil in the vote to the detriment of her family. Bishop’s parting words to Charity are, “If you take everything your mother and I built and hand it over to Bob Whitmore, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

In Grace’s suite, A.J. and Sofia talk. Sofia tells her brother that she will write to him when he is in jail and that she will put money into his commissary. But A.J. tells Sofia to “just forget that I exist.” What is up with him? I don’t get it.

Back at Calvary, Charity sits outside of the board meeting. After a vote is taken, Phil opens the door and says to Charity, who is sitting in a chair as she looks into the meeting,”You ready to do this?” Obviously, she is needed to break a tie.

Bishop and Lady Mae are at the Greenleaf estate. Bishop gets a call from somebody, but Bob Whitmore calls Lady Mae next. “He wants me to come down to church right now and talk,” she tells Bishop.

In another part of the estate, Jacob is experiencing some physical symptoms and asks Kerissa for the pills she gave to Zora when she had a bladder infection. Without a lot of rumination it seems, Kerissa tells her husband, “You don’t have a bladder infection.” She continues. “First of all, I love you.” Then she detonates the bomb that blows up their marriage. “I have chlamydia,” she says. Jacob correctly guesses that Fernando Amable passed on more than insider information to Kerissa.  They go at it for like a minute and then Jacob says, “Just get out.” Kerissa reminds Jacob that all of his mistakes don’t compare to her one mistake. “I never gave you a disease,” Jacob says. “You are the disease,” says Kerissa back to him. “Go and get yourself a lawyer. This is over,” Jacob says. That’s the funny thing about men. Women can forgive men for cheating on them. But men cannot handle their women cheating. It’s unfair, but it is what it is. And after all of that, Kerissa calls Fernando!

The Grateful Dead…

For whatever reason, Bob wants the Greenleafs to be an integral part of his vision for a new and improved Calvary. In his meeting with Lady Mae, he tells her he wants Calvary to be multicultural and to “break down the walls of racism.” Bob sees himself and Lady Mae at the elm of this new multicultural church. You know as Bob was talking about this multiracial church, it occurred to me that maybe the creator of Greenleaf has been trying to dismantle the “black church” all along in favor of “the church.” “The church” is not confined to a denomination or a race. Lady Mae also uses this time to tattle on Phil.

Across town at Dante’s house, Sofia is no longer the good Christian girl that she once was. As Dante and Sofia continue to a make out, she tells him that she is a virgin. Dante tells her that he is willing to go at her pace and doesn’t pressure her to have sex with him. That’s nice.

Unlike Dante and Sofia, a devious couple with no boundaries – Fernando and Kerissa – meet. Fernando has been doing some digging and discovers a will in which it is revealed that Uncle Mac was the executor of the estate and that a botched burglary led to the Greenleafs getting their home. Weird, huh? And although Fernando has given Kerissa valuable information, she still slaps him after she says, “You gave me chlamydia.”

Grace and A.J. meet on a dock on the Greenleaf estate. She ask him, “Why are you doing this?” I don’t understand why he is choosing to go to jail either, particularly as Grace is willing to stick to her story on A.J.’s behalf. “Stay,” she says. “I wish I could,” A.J. replies. “Can you tell me why?” Grace asks. “You don’t get to know why. Like everything else in this world, you don’t get to know why. It just is.” I’m more confused than ever. I just know that he’s an integral part of this season, and I want to know more…

Lady Mae returns from her meeting with Bob, and she tells Bishop about Bob’s plans. She has agreed to his plans which Bishop is not feeling. “Your cockeyed ambition is making you plain stupid.” But I have to go with Lady Mae on this one.

Charity has sought out the comfort of her man in his home. He tells her that when he was in the third grade, he was so into magic that he flunked the grade. As of now, he still loves magic though and asks Charity to say the magic word in reply to his question. Yes, that fool asked Charity to marry him and foolish Charity agreed to do so. (It was a nice ring though.) And I must say that Phil is too fine. He takes off his shirt as the couple kisses and prepares to do the do after Charity was originally claiming she was “old-fashioned.” I guess that saying that, “It doesn’t mean a thing unless you have a ring” is true.

After he’s got some loving from Charity and has shut down Grace, Phil thinks his future at Calvary is set. But Bob reveals to Phil that he still won’t be in charge during an impromptu meeting at the church. “It’s going to be me and Mae. Mae told me what you did to Grace.” But Phil aine come this far to be turned back ’round now. “What do I have to do to change your mind? Name it.”

Although Kerissa originally wanted out of the Greenleaf estate at any cost, now that she is being kicked out, she is determined to stay. “Have you found a place to live?” Jacob asks Kerissa. “I’m staying put unless you want Bishop to die in jail.”  Something about a woman named Mrs. Davis was killed in order for the Greenleafs to get their home…Not sure I understand, but yes, that heffa is using that crazy will she got from Fernando to blackmail her husband. Smh…I didn’t know Kerissa was that dirty…Did you?

And speaking of dirty, Phil shows up out of the blue. He confronts Lady Mae about her meeting with Phil. “That arrangement you made with Bob is null and void.” He tells her that she and Bishop may want to get any belongings they have in the church because the building will be demolished in a week!

Before he can hardly get the words out, Charity sniffs out her man and shows up. This simpleton thinks he’s there to ask her father for her hand in marriage. When he tells her that he cannot marry her because he is marrying Judee, she dissolves into tears. At least he had the decency to tell her his news privately.

Grace, who visits her sister Faith’s grave, is having a heart to heart talk with God. At first, she laments the condition of the family and their church and her son. But then she she pivots and thanks God for every body in her family and the situation with the church. It’s kind of an eerie speech, but at the same time, it’s a prayer of acceptance. The Word does tell us that we can’t only thank God for the good things, we have to be thankful for the bad things as well as God is sovereign and over it all…

And then a man who could be A.J. doppelganger comes to her. He has dreads and the same complexion, only he is dressed in all black.  (Is A.J. covering for him somehow? Is this the guy who stole the drugs?) He correctly guesses that Faith was her sister. And then he says, “Everything has an expiration date” and calls her “Grace” although I don’t remember her telling him her name. Grace, who figures he somehow wandered onto the property, tells him how to get to main road to be on his way…I know that’s right.

Who is he? I know it must have something to do with A.J., but I guess we won’t know exactly what until 2020.

Thank you sooo much for reading my Greenleaf Recap Season 4 Episode 10: Gratitude… and my other recaps so far. If you would like to keep up with OWN’s “Greenleaf,” and my recaps, please click on this link to subscribe to my blog 🙂!

UPDATE: If you would like get a sneak peak of Season 5 and secrets from the Spinoff directly from OWN “Greenleaf” Creator Craig Wright & Executive Producer Kriss Turner Towner, click on my interview with them HERE!!!

Any thoughts?

 

 

Posted on

Greenleaf Recap Season 4 Episode 9: God’s Justice…

Hello World,

Do you know what’s unjust? The fact that only ONE more episode is left in Season 4 of OWN’s “Greenleaf!” So please take all of the time you need to enjoy this Greenleaf Recap Season 4 Episode 9: God’s Justice…

In the Name of Justice…

This week’s episode begins with Judee, Grace and Connie, the head deaconness, meeting with Clara to discuss Clara’s vote in the upcoming Deacon Board meeting. These unlikely Three Musketeers try to convince Clara that Harmony & Hope having more board seats (a 50-50 split between H&H and Calvary though) will not affect Calvary’s independence. But after having been schooled by Lady Mae at her engagement party, Clara has questions. “What about leaving room for God?” she asks. Since Grace now knows that she will be at the helm after the board’s reorganization, she has an extra incentive to get Clara to see things her way and she does. She explains that H&H is willing to “pour millions” into the church and that an even split of votes will mean there will be more conversation before voting. Clara says, “I will see y’all at the meeting, and I will vote ‘yes.'” Shortly afterward, Karine comes to collect her grandmother. At this point, all of the deacons have been met with except for Connie, and you know how she will vote.

After the meeting is over, Grace speaks with Lady Mae on the phone. She tells her mother how Clara will vote. Lady Mae tells her daughter that Bishop plans to meet with Connie to discuss her vote. At this point, I must admit I’m a bit confused. It seems that Bishop doesn’t want Connie to vote yes although Grace wants her to do so.

Following that conversation, Phil DeMars meets with Grace. As he walks into her office, she asks, “Pastor DeMars, How can I help?” Phil replies with, “By resigning.” He tells her that he has proof that she lied to keep her son out of jail. Apparently, he doesn’t mind if the “wheels of justice” rolls over both Grace and A.J. She has until Sunday to decide if she will resign before he goes to the police. “God is good,” he says with a devilish smile as he strides out of Grace’s office.

At the Greenleaf estate, Kerissa attempts to be persuasive as well. Jacob is on his way out as he is going to see Dante at his new sports bar “Buckets.” (That’s kind of a cute name for a sports establishment, right?) “Before you go, ask your mother about the house,” she says. Yes, Kerissa is still trying to find out who will inherit the Greenleaf estate in the event of the demise of the elder Greenleafs. But Jacob refuses to do so. “That’s rude,” he says. She attempts to explain to her husband that she only wants to know because she wants to determine if they have a share in the home. And if so, she wants to be able to sell the share to get money to buy a home. Still Jacob refuses. “I’m happy living here,” he says. “I’m not,” she says. But Jacob tells her that if she wants to know so badly, she can ask Lady Mae herself. He even offers to pray for his wife as she approaches Lady Mae! LOL. She gon need it…

If anyone needs prayer before he or she approaches somebody, it’s Bishop. He comes up on Connie outside of her home (I think) to discuss her vote in the upcoming meeting. He tells her the H&H people are “carpetbaggers with Bibles.” She says that H&H is “marching the church into the pages of history.” He wastes no time in telling Connie that he knows that she took a bribe to hand over Calvary to H&H.  He also tells her that he knows she gave the money to her daughter for safekeeping. Connie says, “I’m not going to dignify that madness with a denial.”  Bishop tells her that everyone will find out about the money if she doesn’t vote against H&H having more board seats. Again, Bishop’s stance is puzzling as it goes against what Grace wants.

Another curious confrontation occurs when Judee approaches Karine about getting Calvary’s bylaws. Apparently, this is the third time that Judee has asked for them but for whatever reason Karine is stalling. Finally, when Judee is about to make her present the bylaws at that moment, Karine tells her that if she changes screens on her computer, she will lose the Amy Grant tickets she is getting for Judee at Judee’s request. Now Amy Grant is not an artist I ever expected to hear mentioned on “Greenleaf!”

I guess Jacob has prayed for Kerissa because she approaches Lady Mae and asks her who will inherit the house after her and Bishop are dead and gone. Of course, Lady Mae takes this as an opportunity to tell her that she is the one who cleared out the safe as she was going to be “jacked by my son’s wife.” LOL! But she does answer Kerissa’s question though. Grace, Jacob and Charity will have equal shares. I kinda think Lady Mae didn’t tell her the whole truth though. Why? Because Lady Mae is always a step ahead of her daughter-in-law. With one more episode, we will find out sooner rather than later…

In the name of some kind of justice, we know that Charity is stabbing her sister in the back. And Grace suspects that as well which is why she approaches her sister about Phil. “What proof does Phil have that I lied to the police? Tell me Charity.” Charity plays dumb. “I don’t know what Phil has.”

Grace knows that Charity knows. She tries to appeal to her reasonable side by telling her that she is playing with her son’s life which could be ruined if the truth comes out. Charity still continues to play dumb. Actually, she’s not playing. “I haven’t done anything Grace. You brought this on yourself.” I hope when Charity realizes that she was played Phil, she says the same thing.

Justice League…

Judee is loitering in Phil’s office. When Phil asks why, she tells him she is simply waiting for her Amy Grant tickets and a copy of Calvary’s bylaws. She then asks him how his relationship is going with Charity. “It’s going very well,” he replies. But Judee knows the man. She tells him that he doesn’t love Charity. And if he does, is it because she’s black? Wait…What? Did she actually ask him why he chooses to love a black woman? That’s a weird question for a white woman to ask a black man about a black woman, right?

Nevertheless, he tells Judee that she and Charity are very similar underneath their skin. For starters, they are both the daughters of important men, and the fact that they don’t get their just due in the shadow of their important fathers. Judee asks Phil if the three of them can have dinner together. Phil obviously questions Judee’s motives, but she says, “I would never do anything to stop you from being happy.” Additionally, she questions Phil about why he doesn’t think that Grace has a chance to be named the long-term pastor of the church. “I have a feeling,” Phil says. She tells him she is feeling steak for dinner.

Feeling bad about his last interaction with Dante, Jacob finally gets over to Buckets to see Dante. He explains his feelings to the former NBA baller and apologizes. Dante says its all good. In fact, Dante actually wants to cut a check for Excellence Preparatory now. After having a conversation with the general manager of the Memphis Red Devils, he now believes a donation to the school would be a good look for him and get him a spot on the team again. He asks Jacob if his wife can set up press conference to get the word out about his good deed. After that, he gives the check to Jacob right then! I wonder how much he gave Jacob!

When Phil approaches Charity about having dinner with Judee, Charity wonders how much information has Phil given to Judee. “Does she know about Grace?” she asks. Phil assures her that she doesn’t know about Grace. Reluctantly, Charity agrees to have dinner with Phil and Judee if they eat sushi.

Speaking of Grace, Sofia knows about Phil attempting to blackmail her mother. While Grace and Sofia are together in their suite, Sofia calls A.J. to explain why he must come back. She doesn’t reach him, but she does leave a lengthy voice mail. “My mom could go to jail. If she goes to jail, I’m gonna lose my mother.” She tells him that although he may have reasons to be upset with Grace, he should consider Sofia’s feelings. “I haven’t done anything. I don’t deserve this.” I’m glad that Sofia is done punishing her mother for making a youthful decision to give her son up for adoption. She tells her mother that she is not going back to Hampton University – at least for now. “If I don’t stay for this, what would I stay for?” Amen, Sofia.

In Bishop and Lady Mae’s suite, Bishop approaches his wife-to-be. “I’m debating whether to tell you this,” he says. “But I’m feeling confident it will work out.” He tells Lady Mae about his conversation with Connie. “I’m flabbergasted,” Lady Mae says. This isn’t the first time this season she has told him to not use that information to get Calvary back. She wants clean hands in attempting to get back the church. She explains that “ungodly things” cannot be used in “Godly love.” But she does know that Bishop, however misguided, acted out of love, and she’s grateful for that. “If I didn’t have you, I would be drowning in a pool of hopelessness,” she says. And yet, she feels that “move against Connie is going to be our undoing.” She tells Bishop that she is going to her prayer closet where she will be until morning!

Grace should be in her prayer closet, but instead, she has to entertain the selfishness of her sister-in-law. Kerissa speaks with Grace about buying Jacob’s share of the Greenleaf estate. She explains that she and Jacob need more money to move out of the family home. She wants out like Jonah in the whale. Kerissa says that it should probably go for $1 million, but that they will accept anything over $2500,000. Grace actually tells her that she can swing it. And then this chick ask Grace where she got her money?! Aine that crazy?

Back at Calvary, Connie tells Judee and Phil that the motion to expand the deacon board must be amended. It can longer be a 50-50 deal. “The current members have to maintain control,” she says before explaining that Bishop knows about the money that H&H gave to her. Judee agrees to a 60-40 split and asks Connie who told Bishop about the money. Connie tells her that she suspects Karine is the culprit. Once Connie leaves, Judee wonders if the Greenleafs are experienced blackmailers. She fires Karine but not before calling her, “Little Missy.” Next, she goes to see Grace in her office. “Whose side are you on?” Judee asks. Grace tells her, “I need to know what you’re talking about.”

When we return to Greenleaf estate, both Kerissa and Jacob are in a good mood, and they do what two married people often do when they are in a good mood at the same time. I will give you a hint: Candles are everywhere you look in their suite. Kerissa has money from Grace apparently, and Jacob has money from Dante apparently. They can buy a house now! Life is good for the couple, at least during this episode. But somehow, I don’t think that will be the case next week. These two never realize when they are out of their league..

Poetic Justice…

Phil has to please two women – Charity and Judee. He brings the two of them to a restaurant where both steak and sushi are served! Judee lets it slip that she and Phil used to date.

One half this equation is the topic of discussion for Grace and her parents. She tells them that Charity will not admit what she knows about Phil’s blackmail. Bishop says that Charity is so hypnotized by Phil that she cannot even tie her shoes. Grace asks her parents for advice. She doesn’t know if she should step down or stay and fight. Lady Mae advises her daughter to tell everything to the congregation on Sunday including the fact that she lied to protect her son. That way everything would be in the open. “Let the church decide,” Lady Mae says. She explains that “this world is just a waiting room for the next.” And as a result, Grace needs to care for her soul if she intends to go to Heaven. “You speak your own truth,” she adds. Bishop has completely opposite advice. “You do what’s best for your son.” This sounds like good advice until Lady Mae ends with, “You do what’s best for your soul.” Amen.

Sofia no longer seems concerned about her soul and flaunts her new friendship/relationship with Dante at his new sports club Buckets in front of Zora and Nicki, Dante’s ex-girlfriend. Of course, fireworks ensue within the crew at the grand opening event. Sofia is basically mad and jealous bout Zora’s friendship with Nicki.

Charity is mad and jealous too after Judee’s revelation, but once Charity and Phil are alone in his car, he tells Charity that his relationship with Judee ended a long time ago. Doesn’t Charity know that Judee is married? I would be asking about that first! Did Phil date Judee when she was married? Charity wonders if she is being used, but Phil placates her by giving her the key to his apartment. He then tells her that she should feel free to peruse his apartment where she will find a page in his prayer journal that is dedicated to her and all of the things he wants to do for her. He ends with, “I love you.” He explains that he only agreed to dinner with Judee to “get her on our side.”

Sooner than I predicted, Jacob and Kerissa, unlike Charity and Phil, will be unhappy again very soon. Fernando Amable calls Kerissa to tell her insider information about the Greenleaf estate. We have to wait until next week though, the finale episode, to find out the particulars!

In the mean time, Judee has finally received a copy of the bylaws and discovers that in the event of a tie, the most senior member of the board can break the tie. That means Connie is the tie breaker! Uh oh. And keep your mouth open because more is coming.

On Sunday morning, Pastor Grace steps into the pulpit like she owns it and asks the church to turn to Luke 22:40 where they will focus on what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane. But then, A.J., clothed in white, walks in and Grace is shook. “I’m sorry church. There’s been a change of plans,” she says. “Effective immediately, I’m stepping down as pastor of Calvary Fellowship.” Yes, that’s right, Bishop’s advice prevailed, but maybe Lady Mae’s advice prevailed as well. Maybe she did what was right for her son and for her soul…Is that justice?

ONLY ONE MORE EPISODE LEFT, SAINTS…

Thank you sooo much for reading my Greenleaf Recap Season 4 Episode 9: God’s Justice… and my other recaps so far. If you would like to keep up with OWN’s “Greenleaf,” and my recaps, please click on this link to subscribe to my blog 🙂!

Any thoughts?