After several setbacks, Darrin eventually recruits many new members, most of which he does so by promising half of the competition's prize money to them (though he has no intention of actually paying anyone). Upon taking charge of the once-powerful choir, Darrin discovers that it has fallen into decline over the years, with only a handful of members remaining. This however, does not sit well with Paulina, as she had originally been next in line after Sally to become choir director.

After Aunt Sally's funeral, Darrin learns from Reverend Paul Lewis ( Wendell Pierce), the church's pastor and Paulina's brother, that Aunt Sally had stated in her will that he must direct the church choir and enter the annual 'Gospel Explosion' competition and win the prize money of $10,000 and in doing so, will inherit Aunt Sally's stock in the company that produces the show which is currently worth $150,000. (Mitchah Williams) and Lucious ( Mike Epps), the town's happy-go-lucky, womanizing cab driver. After being tracked down by a private investigator, Darrin finds out that Aunt Sally has died.ĭarrin returns to Monte Carlo and upon arrival, he finds new friendships in Paulina’s grandson Jimmy B. Eventually, his lies soon catch up with him and get him in trouble with his paranoid boss ( Dakin Matthews), resulting in Darrin‘s termination. However, Darrin has achieved so much under false pretenses, having faked his college degree and high school diploma and lied about being the son of a congressman. His secretary and only true friend, Rosa Lopez ( Lourdes Benedicto), does a good job at keeping his credit problems under control.

In 2003, 23 years later, Darrin has grown up to become a successful advertising executive in New York City with a bad habit of lying MaryAnn is later revealed to have died in a hit-and-run accident when he was a teenager. MaryAnn chooses the former, and she and Darrin are last seen on a bus saying goodbye to their beloved Aunt Sally ( Ann Nesby), as they sadly wave to each other. After being confronted about this by the self-righteous Paulina Pritchett ( LaTanya Richardson), MaryAnn is forced to choose between singing professionally or remaining in the choir. In 1980, a young boy named Darrin Hill ( Cuba Gooding Jr.) and his mother, MaryAnn ( Faith Evans), are run out of their hometown of Monte Carlo, Georgia after MaryAnn is soon discovered to be singing secular R&B music while also singing in their church's choir.

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