Synopsis
[Old Folks at Home]. Zeke Johnson, his brother Spunk and the rest of their family pick cotton on a big plantation. The two brothers are about to go into town to sell their family’s share of the latest crop. A late supper [Dance 1] is interrupted by Adam, Eve and their 12 children. Adam and Eve ask Mr Johnson to marry them.
While the ceremony is taking place, Zeke forces himself on his adopted sister Missy Rose and kisses her. He immediately apologizes, claiming the devil was in him. [Dance 2].
The next day, Zeke and Spunk sell the cotton [Waiting at the End of the Road]. Zeke collects $100 and resists the temptation to join a dice game. But he sees a young woman named Chick dancing [Dance 3]. Chick is not interested in him, until she sees his money. Spunk waits for his brother, but he does not return.
Chick takes Zeke to a night spot where she performs [Swanee Shuffle]. Chick introduces Zeke to Hot Shot, a gambler for whom she shills. Hot Shop plays dice with Zeke. Spunk, meanwhile, is searching for his brother. Zeke quickly loses all the money. Zeke accuses Hot Shot of cheating. Spunk enters while they are fighting and is shot and killed.
Zeke arrives home the next morning with Spunk’s body in the wagon. After the funeral, Zeke repents of his sins and leads the people in prayer [Swing Low, Sweet Chariot].
Some time later, Zeke has become the prophet Zekiel, a travelling preacher. He arrives in a new town and Chick and Hot Shot are in the crowd. They heckle Zeke, but he confronts and cows them. Zeke preaches to the crowd [(Gimme Dat) Old Time Religion], and Chick begins heckling again, but is eventually moved by Zeke’s preaching [Waiting at the End of the Road]. Later, Mrs Johnson and Missy Rose are shocked when Chick volunteers for baptism in the river. Zeke is tempted by Chick’s presence, but his mother intercedes.
That evening, Zeke asks Missy Rose to marry him. Elsewhere, Hot Shot tries to stop Chick going to the service, telling her she will always be a sinner, but she beats him with a poker and gets away. At the service, Missy Rose sees that Zeke is still drawn to Chick, and she to him. In an apparent religious ecstasy, Chick seduces Zeke and takes him away with her.
Months later, Zeke is working in a log mill and living with Chick. But Hot Shot has tracked down Chick and wants her to go with him [St Louis Blues]. Zeke is suspicious, but he still cannot resist her. When Zeke falls asleep, Chick packs a bag and leaves with Hot Shot in his buggy. Zeke chases them, and catches up when the buggy loses a wheel. Chick is thrown from the buggy and seriously injured. She begs Zeke’s forgiveness and dies in his arms. Zeke pursues Hot Shot through a swamp and kills him.
Zeke spends time in prison doing hard labour. He is released on probation, and returns to his family [Goin’ Home]. They all welcome him back.
