All language subtitles for Roots.The.Next.Generation.S01E01.720p.WEB.DL

[theme music]

(male narrator)
"Roots, The Next Generations."

It was the decade
after the Civil War.

Those first years of freedom
were a time of change

for Tom Harvey and his family.

But freedom
was only the beginning.

Hold your horses! I got me
a dumb nigger makin' trouble.

I gots the right to vote.

Papa, this here's Will Palmer.

Mr. Palmer.

Do you love me?

This ain't the time
nor the place

to be talkin' about
a thing like that.

And things had changed
for Colonel Warner

and his family as well.

We were married.

As far as I'm concerned

you are a nigger.

Your father'd never forgive
me if he knew I came at all.

What's that white lady
doin' here, pa?

I support
with my heart's blood

any action to safeguard the

the purity
of white civilization.

(male narrator)
"Roots," the true story
of an American family.

This family gonna go forward.

From the end of innocence

to the easy times of a new era.

I wish you could
stay with me now.

Through the war overseas
and hard times at home.

He's
Alexander Murray Palmer Haley.

The family's dream
of freedom survived.

Haley. Alex Haley. I'm a writer.

We call your race "niggers."

I have been called nigger
many times, and, uh

this is the first time
that I'm being paid for it.

The fulfillment of a dream
that lasted 200 years.

You old African!

I found you!

'Kunta Kinte.'

One family's triumph
is a triumph for us all.

And now,
"Roots, The Next Generations."

[instrumental music]

[goat bleating]

[cow mooing]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[dogs barking]

(Sally)
'People will be contrary.'

'And they've been bad
and mean. Giddap.'

Christian woman
can just take so much.

That's all I'm sayin'.

This is the line

between flesh and blood

that you can abide it or not.

Giddap.

I've been patient, you hear.

I've been patient
as Job's turkey.

God is my witness.

Come on, mule. Giddap, here!

Chicken George.

Good name for him.

'Cause he's just like
a old, dirty chicken.

'Fretsome, struttin'
and crowin'.'

That old man is not
gonna cross my threshold

with his dirty old rooster
and his poached egg.

Well, he got to stay somewhere,
Sally, and it's your turn.

No, it ain't, I don't care

if'n he stay in a ditch
alongside the road.

He's a uppity old man
long past his time!

Now, you shut
your mouth, you old Sally.

You hear?

[rooster clucking]

Come on, papa.

Gonna be with us a spell.

Don't know if I wants to.

Now, papa, I gotta be
on the train to Memphis

and I don't want you
makin' no trouble for Irene.

Who's Irene?

You knows who. She's my wife.

Oh, that Irene.

Come on, Papa George,
let me help you--

Don't need no woman helpin' me.

Where's my bird?

- 'Somebody stole my bird.'
- 'No, Papa George.'

(George)
'She said she's gonna
put it in the pot.'

I heard what she said!
She stolen my fightin' chicken!

- Papa George..
- Right here, papa.

Elizabeth, go get that
corn-shuck pallet so

'your grandpa can rest hisself.'

(Sally)
'Giddap.'

(Tom)
'You satisfied
keeping the old man?'

That's what we
promised your Mama Tildy

before she went to glory.

And he family, ain't he?

London, England.

That's where
I was fighting birds

for Sir Eric Russell.

That's the truth.
You hear me, Elizabeth, mm?

I'm Cynthy, grandpa.

That's what I said, now.

Round all them lords and earls

I got the habit
of eating my eggs poached.

London, England. Everybody
there eats their eggs poached.

Papa, ain't gonna make no fuss

whiles I's away in Memphis.

What you going for?

Told you. Politics.

Now, Mr. Beeman Jones, the most
important colored Republican

done sent for me
to come all the way to Memphis.

[laughing]

Prance around.

Call yourself the Committee
for Republicans of Color?

Boy, do you know what
the white Republicans

call the Committee
for Republicans of Color?

Niggers!

Papa, you never did know nothin'

except fightin' chickens.

Now, Tom, you ain't got no time
to be talking about politics.

Now, don't you
forget them dry goods

from the store
in Memphis and the frogs.

Frogs?

I told you, frogs.

Them braid fasteners
for my black church dress.

Cynthy, I want you to carry
your daddy's carpetbag out.

Bye, papa.

Boy, when
the fool-killer come round

you and your
nigger Republicans

sure better hide
in the high grass.

[rooster clucking]

[door opens]

- Is that the truth, daddy?
- What?

All them stories Grandpa George

tell about
his fightin' chickens?

Always won.

Hundreds and hundreds
and hundreds of time?

Well, Cynthy

he roamed from London, England..

..to Charleston
and places in between.

But I expect that chicken story

just like them fightin' cocks.

A lot of flappin' and crowin'

but when you plucks
out all the feathers

ain't much meat to it.

- Then they ain't true?
- Hm.

Them tales he tells
from the old times

they ain't true?

About that Kinte and the funny
words from Africa and all that?

Hold on. Hold on.

Now, that's somethin' else.

Them stories
from the far olden times

they's all true.

- Papa!
- Comin', Elizabeth.

I recollect, when
I was a little boy

runnin' around the quarters,
shirttail naked

my Grandmamma Kizzy used
to tell me the selfsame tale.

About the old African
who calls himself Kinte--

I know.

He call the river Kambi Bolongo

and the slave catchers
cut off his foot.

And just like
your Grandpa George told you

my Grandma Kizzy told me.

And it was her daddy
was the African himself.

And that make it true, mm?

What you doing with your
shoes around your neck, mm?

Ah. You're going to the depot,
not the cotton patch.

Your mama would die
from mortification.

I'll be stayin' at
Judge Damian's in Memphis.

Any necessary communication
can be addressed to me

there by telegraph.

- James!
- I heard you, papa.

I wish you'd oblige me,
by lookin' me

in the eye when I address you.

I didn't know
I was bein' addressed.

Often wonder what you managed
to find to occupy yourself

for two years of college

without touching
a single subject of any

practical advantage
for a gentleman.

Poetry.

James, I had..

...I have

the highest hopes for you

to carry on
the family tradition.

You've a keen, agile mind.

And I'll still entertain
the conviction that

if you would read law
with a proper advocate

you could be admitted
to the bar.

You'll be late
for your train, papa.

Train'll wait.

- James--
- Papa, it's no use.

The affairs of the Chesapeake,
Ohio, and Southwestern

will not come down
from father to son

unless Andy's
called to the bar.

Your brother's
frequently called to the bar..

...in fact, he never passes
one by.

Jimmy, I am concerned about you.

A gentleman..

No, I will go further, a man

must at some time of his life

reach a point where
he says, "This is my duty.

This I must do to be a man."

Colonel, Mrs. Warner is
sitting outside in the carriage

waitin' for you
to take her to the depot.

Yes, Minnie, I'm comin'.

Well, what do you want me to do
with that gal in the kitchen?

What girl?

This teacher for the colored.

Oh, yes, yes.
She wrote a letter.

Uh, bring her in here.

What's the matter, Minnie?

You want me
to bring that colored gal

right in here?

Just do what I tell you, Minnie.

Well, I ain't never heard
no outside niggers

comin' in the house before.

Now, I believe, sir,
we were discussing

your occupation or lack of it.

'A gentleman
in these modern times'

can hardly occupy
himself writin' scripts

of light verse
for irreverent magazines.

Come in. Come in.

Minnie, tell Mrs. Warner
I'll be right out.

Mm-hmm.

You're the schoolteacher?

Yes, sir.

Tom Harvey recommends you

very highly, young woman.

I'm very grateful to
Mr. Harvey for his confidence.

You want to borrow some books.

Well, uh, what was your name?

Barden. Carrie Barden.

Well, Miss Carrie

I'm a great believer
in appropriate education

for colored children.

And I wish you well
in your endeavor.

Thank you, colonel.

(Frederick)
'By all means, stay'

'and peruse the shelves.'

'My son will assist you.'

Though I'm not sure you'll find

volumes simple enough
for your usage.

- Miss Carrie.
- Safe trip, papa.

Thank you, James.

Lot of books.

Hm?

I'll wager you never saw
so many books in one place.

It is a fine library.

Little harder than
the First Primer or McGuffey's.

Yes, sir. I imagine so.

If you have any trouble
with the titles, I'll help you.

That's very kind of you.

Actually, there are
a lot of old friends here.

Shakespeare, "Paradise Lost"

Mr. Dickens, Mr. Whittier..

..and Mrs. Browning.

Mm.

"Sonnets From The Portuguese."

You don't need any help, do you?

I take the offer kindly, sir.

Do you think your father
would allow me to borrow this?

Why do you want that?

'Well, I have a student.'

I thought she might
find Mrs. Browning..

...most sympathetic.

[laughing]
'I'll be damned!'

I mean, that-that
is an amazin' notion.

A colored girl readin'
Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

It is.

Almost as amazing
as her colored teacher

borrowing it for her.

I'll come back when
your father returns.

Oh, no, wait. You
don't have to go.

- Now, hold on here.
- I'll just go now and..

You've read Mrs. Browning?

Yes.

I wasn't supposed to.

They didn't think her poems
were suitable for females

but all of us
at college read them.

Co..

You mean you went to co..

Where?

Fisk.

I was in second
graduatin' class.

That's remarkable.

[laughing]
That is remarkable.

I mean, the point is, I don't
suppose there are two people

in Lauderdale County who have

ever read Mrs. Browning's poems

and then you turn out
to be one of them.

I trust that you will
accept my formal apology

if I've offended you in any way.

Yes.

Y-yes, sir, if you like.

Please, continue
selecting your volumes.

[footsteps]

What is it, Minnie?

When she done, call me

and I'll see her
out the kitchen.

[chuckles]
Alright, Minnie.

- Do you know Whitman?
- Whitcomb? James Whitcomb?

No, no, no. Whitman.
Whitman. Walt Whitman.

He's a newspaper editor
up north.

Uh, the "Brooklyn Eagle,"
I think it is.

He writes poetry.

- It's very odd, though.
- Odd?

There's nothin' spiritual

or ideal about it.

It's earthy, uh..

Physical love between
a man and a woman..

Oh..

I hope I haven't offended you.

Mentionin' an indelicate topic
before a la...f-female.

I think that's what's
so upliftin' about poetry.

I mean, you can think about
so many things that would be

most improper
if it wasn't a poem.

That's true. That is very true.

'But most people
just don't understand that.'

I'd better go.

I have a copy of that book in my

trunk, if it ever arrives

I'd be happy to lend it to you.

I wouldn't put you
to any bother.

Thank you, Mr. Warner.

[instrumental music]

[train horn blaring]

(male #1)
'Come on, Willy!'

We gonna miss the steam cars

bein' flagged down.

Come on!

[train horn blaring]

[instrumental music]

Danny, hand me that catcher!

Well, hurry up, son!

Uh, thank you.

Oh, boys, uh, when
I give the signal

you start playin'

just like we rehearsed.

Hey, you young'uns!
Get off that track!

The train come, you
gonna be cut right in half!

You hear me?
You get off that track!

And you stay off!

Are you sure
it's safe, Frederick?

This close to the track?

Won't the horses bolt?

Don't worry, my dear.

Jethro will hold their heads.

Now one train will be stoppin'

in Henning every other day.

We must accept progress.

I'm not sure that a steam engine

pourin' out smoke is progress.

You are a romantic, my dear.

[whistling]

[laughing]

Andy Warner, you are
just crazy in the head.

- ...whoa!
- You gonna break my neck.

Mornin', papa.

We just thought we'd
wish you a pleasant

and a profitable trip.

- Andrew.
- Where are my manners?

Papa, may I introduce
to you Miss Lucy Damson?

I've heard of Miss Damson.

Colonel, you knew me when
I used to run around your place

bare-bottom naked.

'My daddy was overseer
for the war.'

'Royce Damson.'

I did not recognize you clothed.

'I take it
you're on liquor, sir'

'or you'd be aware
your mother's present.'

Mom?

May I introduce
to you Miss Lucy?

Andrew, I'm here
to bid your father goodbye.

Please don't force me
to be unmannerly.

Yeah.

We can watch the trains
come in when we get old.

Come on, there! Yeah! Hyah! Ha!

'Hyah! Hyada hah!'

[Andrew whistles]

[train horn blaring]

(male #2)
'Folks, I tell you, this
is a great day for Hennin'.'

'With the first
train comin' through'

this town is gonna
grow into a metropolis.

Danny, hand me my flag!

There's smoke, papa!
It's comin'! It's comin'!

Cynthy, remember
you saw the first train

to ever stop in Henning.

Papa, you ever ride
on the cars before?

First time.

Here I be

a free man in my Sunday clothes

with a first-class ticket
to ride in my hand.

If you don't mind, Frederick
I shall ask Jethro to drive me

home before the train comes.

- I don't trust the horses.
- Of course, my dear.

I wish you a safe
and successful journey.

[train horn blaring]

Jethro.

["Camptown Races"]

[indistinct chattering]

[music continues]

(male #3)
Will somebody look out there?

[indistinct chattering]

Sir, welcome you
to Hennin'. It's a glorious day.

[bells ringing]

Oopsy. Let me help
you with that.

Now, you be good
and mind your mama, you hear?

Alright, you go on
up a ways, uncle.

Excuse me, sir, this
here a first-class ticket.

What are you talkin' about?

Well, I seen it, now, go ahead
and get on that car there

like I told you.

That the baggage car with
the second-class board benches.

This here a first-class ticket.

Now, look here, uncle
if you wanna ride these cars

you're gonna do
as I tell ya, ya hear?

'I don't want you
to cause no trouble, you hear?'

I paid me
for a first-class ticket.

I got the right
to ride where this ticket say

in the first-class carriage.

- 'Let's get goin'.'
- Hold your horses!

I got me a dumb nigger
makin' trouble!

Now, you listen here.

If you want to ride this train

you go get on that
Jim Crow car like I told ya.

Law say a man got a right
to what he paid for.

The Jim Crow law says--

Perhaps I can be
of some small assistance.

I don't need
no assistance. Who are you?

Well, for one thing,
I'm General Counsel

of the West Tennessee
division of this railroad.

Colonel Frederick Warner.

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know.

- Colonel Warner, of course.
- Well, what's goin' on?

Well, I told him he had to ride
on the baggage car, but--

I paid me
for a first-class ticket.

Colored people always ride the
first-class coach since the war.

If'n they got a first-class
ticket. That the law.

Well, no more,
it ain't, from now on

in the state of Tennessee,
niggers do not ride

in the first-class coach
and that's the law.

Aah, conductor.

Certainly, for the railroad,
let me counsel you.

Mr. Hapgood sold this ticket
in good faith to this man.

Clearly, it's a case
of race ante legem

'until due notification
of the statute in situ.'

You mean I gotta let him ride?
Well, what about the law?

My dear fella

only a lower order
of white riffraff

needs such a law
to allay their fears.

[scoffs]
Tom and I know who we are.

We understand each other.

Well, what the hell you
waitin' on? Go ahead, get on!

I don't care if he owns
the entire railroad

the law's the law
in the state of Tennessee.

And that's
the last nigger gonna ride

first-class
on my train, you hear?

- Give me that.
- Okay.. Yes, sir.

Bo-o-oard!

[train horn blaring]

[instrumental music]

Bye, Daddy. Bye!

[cheering]

[dramatic music]

'Elizabeth!'

[Singing
"The Buttercup Song"]

[applause]

That was fine, darling.
Played real fine.

Daddy's proud of you.

Goodnight, Mr. Harvey,
Representative Boyd.

- Goodnight, darling.
- Goodnight, dear.

Please.

[exhales]
Now, gentlemen,
the truth of the matter

is that the colored voter
in Tennessee

is facin' a major crisis
in the forthcomin' elections.

Now, I'll be talking

'to all of the county
leaders in turn.'

Now, in the last election,
we delivered the colored vote

solid to the Republican Party.

And what happened?

They turned lily white on us.

There were no
state jobs for coloreds.

Now, we cannot afford
to let them take us for granted.

Mr. Harvey,
you rode up on the cars

with Colonel Frederick Warner.

Yes.

'That was no accident.'

'You see,
Colonel Warner is here'

'to do business with us.'

The Democrats want our votes.

Now, if you
gentlemen can deliver

those votes out
there in the counties

we got ourselves
one sweet little deal.

With the Warners?

In the old days, they owned more

niggers than
anybody in the county.

In the Johnson Amnesty,
they stole back the land

from the coloreds.

You tell me
I gotta vote for them?

Mr. Harvey, we are not talkin'
about the Last Judgment

where the Lord is gonna separate
the sheep from the goats.

We are talking politics.

I ain't never vote
nothin' but Republican.

I ain't gonna ask
my people to vote

for no nigger-ownin'
rebel officer.

They want us bad, Mr. Harvey.

They're willin' to make a deal.

We give them our support

and they will protect
the coloreds' civil rights.

They will protect the vote.

As long as we got that

we still got hope.

I, I be
a blacksmith, that's all.

Ain't had no schoolin'.

'Now you tell me I got to vote'

'for them redeemer Democrats'

'I got to believe it.'

But something
tell me my old daddy

had the truth of it.

When the fool-killer come

we all better be hidin'
in the high grass.

I know what you're doin'.

You go on and get out of here!

You're lookin'
in the mirror over the well

tryin' to see the face
of your future husband.

You are outta your head, child.

You see him?

What he look like?

Handsome.

Real handsome.

He got brown eyes
and he's real tall.

Oh, and, Cynthy, he got the
nicest smile you ever wanna see.

Can't see that face
in no looking glass.

That's the boy I see
you with down at the depot.

- Hush up!
- I seen you holdin' hands.

- You hush up! You hear me?
- And huggin' and kissin'.

- Cynthy, I'm gonna do you.
- I seen you.

That ain't the only thing.
He a white boy.

Not true! Not true!
He ain't no white boy!

You hear me? He is colored!

- He is colored!
- 'Elizabeth!'

Now y'all just
stop that squabblin'.

What in the world is
the matter with you children?

- Mama, you know what she--
- Zip it.

Child, you better
get in that house

and clean yourself up.

If you don't get out
of here, child, you better.

Elizabeth?

- What his name?
- Who, mama?

Now, child, don't
you trifle with me.

- I said, who is he?
- Name John Dolan.

- Don't know no John Dolan.
- From over Ripley way.

I met him when I was up
there help taking care of

Lacey Berwin
with the pneumonia.

- Where'd you see him?
- Nowheres.

Except just walkin', that's all.

What happened,
Elizabeth? He mess with ya?

No, mama! Mama, I swear!

Leastways I knows
you ain't pregnant

'cause you just finish
your time week ago Tuesday.

Mama shouldn't be
sayin' nothin' like that.

[chuckles]
Why not?

Child, that's a mama's business.

Keeping track of
her daughter's time of month

so she don't get
in no sinful ways.

Yeah, but, mama,
you ain't got no right

to expect nothin' like that.

I just love him, that's all.

Mama, what there be
wrong about that?

Nothin', but we's

a respectable
and Christian family.

Now, you wants
to keep company with the boy?

Then you dos respectable.

'Cause ain't gonna be no
runnin' off behind the bushes.

- Mm-mm! Not in this family!
- I know, mama, I'm not--

You got to ask your papa's
permission to keep company.

- But, mama, I loves John--
- Child!

Now, that's all there is to it.

Now, you ask him when
he get back from Memphis.

Now, listen to me, child 'cause
till then you ain't to see

nary hide nor hair of that boy.

Not till your papa
say yes or no.

Yes, ma'am.

[chuckling]

[bell ringing]

[indistinct chattering]

[horse neighs]

Please, ma'am, I gotta
go down to the depot

and, uh, I gotta fetch
somethin' for my mama.

And I'm gonna be late
if I don't hurry.

[sighs]

Alright.

I'll see you Monday, Elizabeth.

Yes, ma'am.

I didn't mean to interfere.

I thought all
the children were gone.

'Ex-except Elizabeth.'

I'm afraid she
didn't read it at all.

I thought she'd feel
close to Mrs. Browning.

Well..

It's a long way
from Italy to Tennessee.

Oh, if you've come for the
books, I'll get the books for--

Oh, no, no, no.
I, I didn't come for the books.

Oh?

In fact, quite the contrary.

My trunk finally arrived.

"Leaves Of Grass"
by Walt Whitman.

'I said I'd lend it to you.'

I didn't think you'd
bring it here, Mr. Warner.

Perhaps when I bring
the others back

you could leave it
for me in the kitchen.

Well, I have it here right now.

There's a poem here somewhere.

It begins, "When lilacs

last in the dooryard bloomed."

I read it last night
and I was most affected.

'It's about Lincoln,
when he died.'

'"The star early drooped
in the western sky."'

Anyway, I even
started downstairs

to the sitting room
to just share it

with someone.

And I suddenly realized
that there's absolutely

no one in this town I could talk

to about anything like this.

Well, I do understand your
feelin', Mr. Warner, but--

I do have
one serious misgiving, however.

Oh?

There is, of course, a
profound and obvious difference

between us.

'There are passages
in this book, words'

'and, uh..'

...and apostrophes
to the human anatomy

which might disturb
your sensibilities.

You mean because I'm a female..

...that's what you mean?

Well, it is true that
ladies are of a purer nature.

My mama can hardly refer
to the nether extremities.

She calls the leg
of a table a limb.

[laughs]

I assure you, Mr. Warner,
I call a leg a leg.

Whether it's on
a table or on myself.

[laughs]
Well, in that case,
I'm very glad

I didn't excise certain words.

I was gonna cut
'em out with my razor.

Oh, no! You wouldn't
cut up a book.

That would be like
mutilating a child.

You're absolutely right,
Miss Barden.

You will excuse me, Mr. Warner.

I'm obliged to go across
town to bring the lesson

to a child who's been stricken
with measles, so I must hurry.

My surrey's right outside.
Allow me to offer you a ride.

- I can walk.
- Oh, it's no trouble.

In fact, there
was somethin' else

I wanted to discuss with you.

There are some
newspaper stories from Georgia.

Fellow named Harris has set
down some old darky tales.

They're enchantin'.

Mr. Warner, I do
appreciate your kindness

but I cannot accept your offer.

- Well, why not?
- I would rather walk.

Please, Miss Barden--

And don't follow
me down the road

calling me Miss Barden.

Uh..

I was not thinkin' of custom.

I simply wish
to continue our exchange

of views, but I do understand.

Now, I can drive
around by Hollis Road.

And that way, no one is
likely to remark our passin'.

I simply wanted
the time to tell you

about Mr. Harris' stories.

[instrumental music]

Mr. Warner, I will ask
you not to turn your head

to talk to me
if anyone's watching.

I appreciate your
concern, Miss Barden.

[clicks tongue]

Mr. Harris, Joel Chandler Harris
from Georgia has written

these newspaper stories
regardin' delightful, delightful

old gentleman named Uncle Remus.

And he tells these
delightful darky tales

to the young white gentlemen
on the plantation.

And they concern
the-the adventures

of the most astute critter that
you ever heard of, there's a..

There's a Brer Fox
and a Brer Rabbit.

And I don't mind saying
that, uh, whenever there was

an encounter between the two,
Brer Rabbit always seems

to get the best of Brer Fox.

That little girl

sat up on that piano

with her velvet dress

and her fancy hair ribbon.

And she play
that buttercup song like--

The Good Book says

"Thou shalt not covet."

That's all you been doin'
since you been to Memphis.

Covetin'.

Papa, you done missed
the point entirely.

Mr. Beeman Jones showed

what the colored
can make of himself.

My children could
have a house like that

with a cast-iron parlor stove

instead of
an old brick fireplace.

(Tom)
'My grandchildren
could play that piano.'

You gonna lead all the niggers
that's in the county

to vote Democrat because
your head done been turned

by some fool buttercup song
on a piano--

Papa, you just never
did know nothin' except--

(Irene)
'Tom!'

Now, I ain't gonna
have my cookin' spoiled

one more time
with you and your daddy

spattin' on about politics.

Now, Papa George
you just keep on eatin'.

Anyway, Elizabeth got
something she wanna ask ya.

'Now, go on, Elizabeth.'

Papa..

...I wants to take up.

And I's asking your
permission to keep company.

[laughs]

[crickets chirping]

That's a fool thing.

- You're too young.
- Why, papa, I's 18!

Mama's 15 when you was married.

That's before the war.
Different now.

- Too young.
- 'Papa, I's a woman grown! '

Don't talk back on me.

You're still a child,
just a child.

Tom.

Now, you know she old enough.

'And she done the right thing
when she ask your permission.'

'Now you got to do right.'

You can't say no without
you talk to the boy

and there a good reason.

I talks to him next week or the
week after if I'm not too busy--

He waiting down
the road right now--

- Just hold on--
- Cynthy.

Go on down
to the turn of the road.

Ask the young man to come on in.

Papa, you just
gonna admire John.

- I know you are.
- Heh-ha!

Some things was better
in slavery days.

A man want a woman, he jump over

a broom and keep jumpin'--

- 'And Papa George..'
- Yeah!

...you goin' in
the back room and go to bed.

You tired.

[instrumental music]

(Tom)
'Ahem. Come in.'

[door creaks]

Papa, this here Mr. John Dolan.

Good evenin' to you, Mr. Harvey.

- Come on in, Mr. Dolan.
- Thank you, ma'am.

You'll excuse us, won't ya?

Elizabeth.

Elizabeth.

[instrumental music]

Well, I brought you
some pipe tobacco, Mr. Harvey.

It's, it's Virginia burley,
factory packed.

Thank you.

Sit down.

[exhales]

- Who your folks?
- Dolans.

We live about
five miles past Ripley.

Don't know no Dolans.

Well, we just move up
from Nashville two years ago.

- Who your mama?
- Winnie Dolan.

She was a baker
in a cookshop up to the war.

- Your daddy?
- Micah Dolan.

He a carpenter.

Before the Emancipation,
he hire his own time

and run a chair-makin' shop.

This here..

...Micah Dolan..

...he your natural father?

Mr. Harvey..

...it was Micah Dolan
raised me up

and put food on the table
and clothes on my back.

And teach me the trade to be

a first-class
journeyman cabinet maker.

If that's what
it take to be a father

that's who it was.

Mr. Harvey, I'm, I'm
asking your permission

to take up
with your daughter Elizabeth.

Now, I have a good trade.
I can read and write easy.

I'm a Christian and a member of

the Colored Methodist
Episcopal Church in Ripley.

I don't drink whiskey..

I thinks on it.

It sure be gettin' late.

I reckon I'd better
be gettin' on home.

I do thank you, ma'am,
for your hospitality.

Papa, can I walk
Mr. Dolan to the gate?

[instrumental music]

It gonna be fine, honey.
Papa got to say yes.

Ain't no reason
he won't say yes.

You gonna be cold out
in the tonight.

Oh, I loves you, Johnny.

- You know, whatever happens--
- I know.

And you is the only girl
I ever gonna love.

You gonna be my wife.
And that's for true.

Now, don't you worry.

'It gonna be fine.
Papa say yes.'

It gonna be just fi-ine.

Elizabeth?

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

- Mama?
- He say he think on it.

[instrumental music]

(James)
'"It is a beauteous evenin'.'

'"Calm and free.'

'"The holy time
is quiet as a nun'

'"breathless with adoration.'

The broad sun is sinking
in its tranquility."

I don't remember any more.

It's lovely.

What is it?

Uh, I was just thinkin'
what my father would say

if he knew I was sittin' here
reciting Wordsworth like this.

But then, he doesn't
approve of much that I do.

What do you want to do?

I don't know.

At college, I thought
I wanted to be a poet.

Or a writer.

But no one seemed to think
I was very good at it.

What do you care? I mean,
what anyone else thinks?

There's an old Arabian proverb.

"If one man says you
are an ass, pay no attention.

If five men say you are an ass
go out and buy a saddle."

[scoffs]
No.

If you wanna be a poet,
then go ahead and do it.

Don't let anyone
tell you you can't.

I'm afraid you don't understand.

Oh, yes, I do.

My mother worked
in a washhouse all her life.

And that's what
I would have done.

But I wanted to go to school

and learn things.

And teach. And I did.

- You are quite remarkable.
- So are you.

You have a, a sensitive soul.

And a fine,
delicate perception of life.

You should stand
up to the world.

Stand up to your father.

Follow your feelings.
I know you can do it.

[instrumental music]

It is getting late,
Mr. Warner, I think--

You're quite right, Miss Barden.

I must apologize for
detaining you this long.

Now, here's
an editorial reprinted

from the South Carolina paper.

- "The old slave owner--"
- Papa.

Have you ever
considered allowin' mama

to read the newspaper
for herself?

Oh, no, Jimmy.

Your papa reads
the suitable items for me.

I do prefer it that way.

There are things
in the vulgar journals of today

which would be distasteful
to a lady of breedin'.

I see no reason why your mother
should be exposed to them.

Now..

'"The old slave owner feels no'

'"social fear
of Negro equality.'

'"Feels no desire
to maltreat, browbeat'

'"and spit upon
the colored man.'

"He has no opposition
to education

elevation of the black man
to scale a civilized life."

Mornin', everybody.

You are late
for breakfast, Andrew.

(Andrew)
'I had a late night.'

- Horehound.
- 'Mama?'

Horehound and wintergreen leaves

and a decoction of soda water.

It sweetens the stomach
and the breath.

Thank you, mama.

(James)
'What were you doin', Andy?'

Discussing
the social implications

of the recent election
with the learned Miss Lucy?

- Um.
- 'I thought so.'

Avoidin' overindulgence
and dissolute companions

leads to a longer life, Andrew.

No, papa. Just
makes it seem longer.

Coffee, Minnie.
For God's sake, coffee.

We're talkin' about different
ways to treat the colored.

I suppose I cannot expect you to

join in such
a philosophical discussion.

Before breakfast?

Well, I know Jimmy
shares your opinion, dear.

I think it's very sweet
for you to offer

that colored school teacher

the benefit of
your education and advice.

[Andrew laughs]

Dora Fawcett said
she never knew any gentleman

to take such an active interest

in the education of those
dear little pickaninnies.

[laughs]

- Minnie.
- 'Ma'am?'

I want to go over that cold soup
with you for Saturday night.

Yes, ma'am.

[laughs]
Hey, Jim

I bet you're offerin'
that nigger school teacher

the benefit of a lot more
than your education.

What do you talk about when
you're doin' it, philosophy?

(Frederick)
'Andrew.'

If you're bound to be ribald

I'd appreciate your
lowerin' your voice.

Your mother's in the next room.

Papa, I assure you,
there's absolutely

nothin' to be concerned about.

That's fine, James.

I'm sure you'll manage
affairs like a gentleman.

There is nothin' to manage.

I know, I know,
it's just a phase

all young men have
to go through.

Your only responsibility
is to be discreet.

What papa means is keep
your darky a dark secret.

(Frederick)
'I would agree roughly with'

'Miss Ellen Terry
on the subject.'

"No matter what anybody does,
so long as they don't do it

in the street
and frighten the horses."

[Andrew laughs]

Oh, did you say somethin' witty?

I'm afraid, my dear, it was not
entirely suitable for ladies.

[laughs]

[coughs]

[clears throat]

[clock chiming]

(Elizabeth)
'Papa.'

'Papa, I..'

Papa, it's been two days.
You got to tell me somethin'.

Said I'd think on it.

- Nine o'clock. Going to bed.
- Papa, you gonna tell me now.

You got to give your answer.

Takin' up with a man..

...walking with him from church
and all that, means marrying.

I know, papa, John says--

And that's why..

...I ain't gonna give
my permission.

You ain't gonna be
marryin' with that man.

Why, papa? Why?

Papa, John a good man.

He's steady.
He got him a good trade.

Papa, he savin' to have
his own cabinet-repair shop

just the way you got
to blacksmithin'.

Oh, papa, you just can't say no.

Papa, you gotta say why.

I said my word
and that's it. No.

[crying]
You have got
to give me a reason, papa.

You got a reason, Tom.

Then you tell it
to your daughter.

That Micah Dolan
maybe raised that boy.

But more than likely,
he never fathered him.

'That boy almost white.'

There's a little nigger
around the mouth

but alongside of that, he could
pass for white most anywhere.

I ain't gonna have
my daughter married

to nobody look so white.

'Too white for black,
too nigger for white.'

'Never belong nowhere.'

John Dolan nigger enough to be
born a slave, Tom, same as you.

- Said my word.
- What's the matter?

You ain't makin'
no kind of sense at all.

Ain't nobody remembered
the way it was no more.

We was stock
on the master's place.

Like the cows and hogs.

The light-skinned niggers
was the favored ones.

Work in the house with a broad
cloth coat for the butler.

And a silk hat for the coachman.

The yellower they was, the more
they prized that coat, that hat.

They lie for it.

They carry tails
till they oversee

against their own people.

They lorded over all
over the quarters

'cause they whiter,
they righter.

"Out of my way,
blacker than me."

'Tom, them days
was a long time ago.'

That boy was runnin' in his
shirttail when freedom come.

[crying]
I don't understand.

Papa, you just can't say me no.

- Papa, please!
- I said my word.

I say no.

And that's all there is

'cause I'm the father
of this here family.

[Elizabeth crying]

Now, I done hung
the switch over the door.

'And ain't nobody gainsay
me before my own family.'

[Elizabeth crying]

Papa-a-a!

'Papa-a-a!'

[Elizabeth crying]

[instrumental music]

- How you do this thing?
- I hung the switch.

I ain't care if you hang
the overseer's old bullwhip

on the door.. I've gotta
speak for my children.

I know it don't sound,
but I can't do no different.

That boy walked through the door

with the lamplight
shinin' on his face

like the belly
of a dead fish in a pond.

'It come before me'

'since I remembers
I seen that face'

on the old massas
in Alamance County

on the patrollers
before the war

on the night riders, the Kluxers
after, that train conductor.

That the face of mine enemy.

That's all l know.

Oh, Tom, honey, honey.

You got everything mixed up
in your head like a magpie nest.

Ol' George Johnson from the
old days, he saved your life.

He was your best friend
up till the time he went west

and he was white.

Ain't got nothin' to do
with Ol' George Johnson.

'Marryin' is different.'

[exhales]
Now, you listen
to me, Tom Harvey.

I done heard the stories
in your family

from the time
I marry up with ya.

Your Grandma Kizzy was raped
by the Massa Tom Moore.

Your daddy, Chicken George,
is half white.

- You one-quarter white.
- Don't try me, Irene.

You look your daddy's face,
you see the face of your enemy?

You look yourself
in the lookin' glass, Tom

you lookin' at your own enemy--

I hates the white blood in me.

I hates them niggers preenin'

on their yellow color
like it a sign.

'Well, it a sign.'

'Before God,
it a sign of slavery.'

Of the black man

chained and beat down so he
can't protect his own womenfolk.

Woman, stay out my head.

Now, I said my word,
she my daughter

and I will not see
her married to that man.

They tied you to a tree

and they lashed you
till you almost died

but I tell you, Tom Harvey

all the scarrin' from slavery
days ain't on your back.

It on your soul.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Elizabeth.

[laughs]
Oh.

[laughs]
Listen to me, Elizabeth,
I got the most wonderful news.

Honey, don't say
nothin', not yet.

This here gonna make
everything fine.

You come to my folks tomorrow
and we gets married the next day

by the Reverend Calper
at the CME Chur--

I can't go.

What you talkin' about?

I told you. Papa
won't let me take up.

I can't go with ya.

That's crazy.

Why not?

I don't know. I just can't.

I can't go against Papa.

Now, we loves
each other, don't we?

And I gots a chance to have

a first-class cabinet shop
in Knoxville.

Your papa can't tell
you, you don't love me.

I do. I do love you, John.

But my papa

he the head of the family and I
can't go against the family.

[sobbing]

I loves you, Elizabeth.

I'm goin'
to Knoxville, Elizabeth.

I ain't be comin' back.

[door opens]

'So you come with me now.'

Don't look back. You
just walk away with me now.

John! Johnny!

[melancholic music]

It's your mama's word
to give you this time.

You come inside now, child.

'You'll understand, by and by.'

He gone.

He just be gone in the night.

I done it for you, Elizabeth.

You ruined my life, papa.

'Done it..'

...'cause you're my little girl.

If'n I can't marry John

I ain't never
gonna marry nobody.

[instrumental music]

[birds chirping]

Liz?

You alright this mornin'?

Heard you cryin'
most of the night.

Liz, I swear to you

unless papa change his mind

I won't never marry
nobody neither.

I'll always stay
with you, forever.

[chickens squawking]

What you frettin' for, child?

[crying]
Oh, Grandpa George,
I'm gonna die.

I'm just gonna die.

Of course, you are, child.

In the Lord's good time,
everybody's gonna die.

'Cept me.

Or you, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth? I know.

I heard.

How could papa do that?

How could he be so mean and..

Grandpa George,
couldn't you talk to him?

See, child, some things
about bein' a papa

I rightly don't know.

All these years

when the children was young

and a papa be needed,
I wasn't there.

'But your Papa Tom,
he was there at the beginning.'

But he being cruel!

'It look like it to you..'

'...maybe to me.'

But everything go by its nature.

It's the nature of
the gamecock to fight

for a young gal to be in love.

'Your Papa Tom'

'he gotta go by his nature.'

'Child'

ain't nothing I
can do about nothin'.

But I do love you.

I do.

'Indeed I do.'

[Elizabeth crying]

I ain't say no more.

Except sauce for the goose
ain't sauce for the gander.

What do that mean?

Nothin'.

Well, woman, what you talkin'

about gooses and ganders for?

You done forbid Elizabeth
to take up with the boy

on account of he looks white.

But you don't say
nothin' about carryings-on

between a colored woman
and an actual for God white man.

What you talkin' about?

What colored woman?

And what that gotta do with me?

Nothin'. Exceptin'
you bring her to town.

You go around talkin'
about how high-toned

and educated she is and all.

'You talkin' about Miss Carrie?'

'Miss Carrie Barden?'

You out your head.

Miss Carrie a bona fide graduate
of Fisk College.

Mm-hmm, that may be

but she still squat
behind two shoes.

(Carrie)
"I, young in life

"by seeming cruel fate
was snatched

"from Afric's
fancied happy seat.

"What pangs
excruciating must molest.

"What sorrows labor
in my parent's breast.

"Steeled was the soul
and by no misery moved

"that from a father
seized his babe beloved.

"Such, such my case.

And can I then but pray others
may never feel tyrannic sway?"

She was a slave.

Phillis Wheatley. Born 1753.

I don't wanna read
any more poetry now.

- Mr. Warner--
- We got to talk.

Well..

I ju-I just can't
take any more of it.

Oh, my God, the way
my own brother thinks.

The way he talks...
the grins and the jokes

- Let's go on with--
- No.

I don't care,
I just gotta come out with it.

Miss Barden?

Carrie...I care for you.

Oh, why can't I just say
it right out? I love you.

How could you?

I-I said, I love you.

It was all right the way it was

but you had to tarnish it all.

- Oh, you don't understand--
- 'Oh, yes, oh, yes, I do.'

I thought we could meet
on a spiritual plane.

It was so lovely.

The books and the poems
and the high ideals.

But that
wasn't the truth, was it.

'Oh, I know
they've been talking'

'the sisters
in the choir at church.'

"That high and mighty
school teacher

let that white man
mess around with her."

Carrie, stop it.

(Carrie)
'They're right.'

You are the white man

and any colored gal
is yours to take.

- Oh, for God's sake, Carrie--
- What difference does it make?

Going to school, studying..

Readin' Horace Mann
on education..

Emerson on self-reliance?

Elizabeth Barrett Browning?

'Cause after all, what am I?

Just a little nigger gal you
can take any time you wants to.

Carrie, Carrie,
for God's sake, listen to me.

Do you understand
what I'm telling you?

I love you. I wanna marry you.

No!

Carrie!

Carrie!

Listen to me.
Listen to me. You're crazy.

Color has nothing to do with us.
You understand me?

I said I love you
and you're gonna marry me.

You understand me,
Miss Carrie Barden?

I love you
and I'm gonna marry you

and I don't give a damn
what the whole world thinks.

(Andy)
'What's the matter,
little bruth?'

'You got your dauber down,
for sure.'

It appears to me
that little sonny Jim

isn't gettin'
it regular anymore.

Well, you've come to the right
place for expert advice.

Now, based on my experience,
which I don't mind telling you

is considerable with every color
from a nice cafe au lait

all the way down
to a blue-gum, pitch-black

what you ought to do,
is send up to Memphis

and buy that gal a red dress.

That's the ticket.

Red dress and beads,
it is infallible.

There isn't a nigger gal
anywhere won't put out

for a red dress and beads.

Oh, will you shut up, Andy?

You got to look
at it scientifically.

Niggers are closer to nature.

White girls are more
sensitive and delicate.

That's in their nature.

Niggers are lower
on the scale of evolution.

They're closer to the monkeys.

They're more elemental,
which is to say, they just

plain like to get it
any way they can.

They can't help it,
that's just the way they are.

It's different with this lady.

What lady? Oh.

Oh, yeah,
the nigger school teacher.

I bet it is different with her.

It is.
I've asked her to marry me.

That won't work as good
as a red dress and beads.

(Jim)
'I'm serious, Andy.'

Yeah. Sure you are.

I've already asked her...
and I mean to marry her.

[chuckles]

You're crazy.

You don't mean that.

I do.

You can't.

My God, you'll kill mama.

Pa will throw you
right out of the house.

You won't have a cent.

I'm afraid
that wouldn't bother me

as much as it would you, Andy.

You're seriously
contemplating marryin' a..

I can't even say it.
Marryin' a nigger?

Now, look here, Jim.
No white man can sink that low.

You're gonna
wake up every morning

with greasy nigger hair
in your face.

What the hell
are you talking about, Andy?

You've slept with enough of 'em.

I am not damn dumb enough
to marry one of 'em.

Well, I am,
if the lady will have me.

If she'll have you?
I'll tell ya.

I'll tell ya what, I'll show ya.

I'll send to Memphis myself
for that dress

and I'll bet ya double eagle

that nigger school teacher
will lie down for me

like the two-bit whore she is!

[intense music]

[groans]

[music continues]

Andrew, where is your decency?

That will be all, son.
You hear me?

Let me tell you something, boy,
before I let you make

a damn fool out of me marryin'
your nigger whore, I'll kill ya!

(Frederick)
'Stop. You will
oblige me by going'

to your room
and cleanin' yourself.

Before your mother
chances to see you

in this disgusting condition.

I will not discuss with you
the appalling spectacle!

Two brothers in a common brawl.

Better discuss it, papa. You
heard what Andy said. It's true.

I want you to understand,
James, I'm a worldly man.

But certain codes
of decency must be followed.

Proper respect
for public opinion.

Papa, listen to me--

The presence of colored women is

a necessity I concede.

They relieve the urgency
of white men

without distressing
their ladies.

Therefore, if you wish
to set this girl up

somewhere discreetly,
I will arrange to increase

your drawin' account
to cover the expenses.

Papa, you're not hearing me.
I'm going to marry Miss Barden.

I made you a handsome offer,
I expect you to see--

My God, papa, you are a
hypocrite in a whited sepulcher!

I will not discuss unthinkable--

I could keep her somewhere
in nigger town as a concubine!

I would have
your parental blessing

for discreet fornication.

Nobody'd give a damn,
would they?

Well, papa, you
brought me to church

and you taught me
the Commandments and I aim

to marry her
in the name of Jesus Christ

and in the sight
of God Almighty.

- What happened to Andrew?
- 'Nothin', my dear.'

(Frederick)
'An accident.'

I'm afraid,
my dear, this matter's

uh, not suited
to a lady's sensibilities.

- I must ask you--
- Don't be a fool, Frederick.

Do you think I'm deaf and blind?

The three of you roaring "Nigger
whore" through the house.

I'm not stupid, Frederick.

I've known about men
and their Negresses

since I was a little girl.

My father, my brothers.

I know that Andrew
does not confine himself

to that white slut
he parades around town.

And of course, you,
Frederick, when you

were younger,
were not so fastidious--

It's not the same, Mama.
I mean to marry this lady.

Oh, no.

White men marry white women
and hold them

in such high esteem
they set them under glass jars

on the parlor table
to collect dust.

I shall need..

...witch hazel...
and court plaster.

(Papa George)
'Proud of your morning's work?'

'March all them poor, fool
niggers down to the election'

'to vote for them Democrats.'

I've done explained
to you, daddy.

The way we vote this morning was
between the lesser of two evils.

That's what I said.

Two things gonna ruin
the colored man.

The boll weevils
and the lesser of two evils.

- Now, what I say--
- Gotta take this to the forge.

Damn, damn, damn,
damn it! Damn it!

Papa George,
now you just calm yourself.

Now, I asked ya, how come,
just when I'm going make him

hot enough in the argument,
that's when

he walks right out the room?

Sister Irene, may I speak
with you for a little?

Mm-hm, sure can, child.

We just go on out
to the backyard.

'Lizabeth! Come on
and sit with your grandpa.

- Walk right out.
- 'I'll be right there, mama.'

Walk right out on me.

Damn it, damn, damn.

Sister Irene, I'm so frightened.

I had to speak with somebody.

Mm, you didn't miss
your time, did you, honey?

That what it is?

What do you..

Oh.

No.

No, that isn't it.

Well, praise the Lord
who looks after the righteous.

I know.

Everybody in town
thinks I've been..

...sleeping with Mr. Warner.

You thought so. Didn't you?

Well, now, honey,
I didn't think nothin'

'cause it just
wasn't none of my business.

He asked me to marry him.

Mr. Jim Warner,
Colonel Warner's boy?

What you say?

Nothing'. I just ran away.

I mean, it's not possible.

You can't even
think a thing like that.

I never heard
anything like that, never.

Then what you feared of?

I...I can't sleep.

I'm afraid to sleep.

Mm-hm. You've been dreamin'.

I don't remember
the dreams after.

But I wake up..

...and I'm shiverin' and afraid.

'My mama...raised me
to be a Christian.'

She said, "Carrie..

"...you ain't
gonna be no nigger.

"And don't you let no man

"white nor colored make no..

...nigger whore out of you."

But there's something inside
of me that's, uh, laughing at me

that wants me to be bad
and-and-and dirty and sinful

and I'm afraid of it.

Aw, honey, honey, honey.

- What am I gonna do?
- Oh, child.

Oh, my God. What am I gonna do?

Well..

...look like to me question be

is you feared of this white man
because he white?

Or 'cause he a man?

It must be because he's white.

'Maybe, and maybe more.'

But let me tell you something

'cause you's just a little
bitty baby in slavery days

and I was a growed woman.

The only comfort
for us in them days..

...that was man
and woman lovin' each other.

And takin' care of each other

the best they could
under the circumstance.

And childrens..

[laughs]

Now, ain't nothin' bad,
nor dirty

nor sinful about that.

The yearnin' of a man
for his woman

and a woman for her man.

Child..

...that's God's doings.

''Cause when you growed up
past a little girl..'

'...when your breasts come'

'and your flow start'

and all that
what makes you a woman.

God. He done that.

'Cause that be his plan.

Not just to multiply

and replenish, like it say.

But for the joy of it, child.

For the joy of it.

Sister Irene?

You-you're the only folks
I've got left, you and Mr. Tom.

What am I gonna do?

First you close your eyes..

...and you look in your heart..

...and you ask yourself..

"Do I love this man
and do he love me?"

[screaming]

Oh!

Oh, Lord.

(Elizabeth)
'Mama! Mama!'

Oh! Oh, Lord!

Mama, he just fell over
in the fire.

Oh, no, oh, Papa George.

[sobbing]
Papa George! Papa-Papa George!

'Oh, Papa.'

[instrumental music]

He don't be feelin' nothin'

despite the burns.

Praise be Jesus.

Tildy?

Where my Tildy?

She gone to glory, papa.

That woman never
around when you needs her.

Papa, you just rest yourself.

Papa?

You hear me?

Me, it's Tom.

Well, I know that.

I ain't simple.

He just fell in the fire.

Ain't your fault, child.
You did all you could.

Ain't nobody's fault.
It just time.

[laughs]

Papa, what you laughin' at?

What the joke?

[instrumental music]

Lord God Jesus.

This here...George Moore.

Welcome him
to the bosom of Abraham.

'Where he gonna be
with his Matilda..'

...who was my mama..

...and with his mama..

...who was named Kizzy.

And with her daddy,
the old African.

Whose name was Kunta Kinte.

[music continues]

He was the head of this family.

[rooster crowing]

(Minnie)
'Nope.. W-wipe your feet
there on the mat.'

'Ain't gonna have no mud
tracked in on my carpet'

'Alright. This way.'

Come in.

Blacksmith here.

Come in, Tom. Come in.

Sit down.

Alright, Minnie.

Humph.

Tom...you will be
pleased to learn

we have made a clear victory
in this election.

Now, thanks to your leadership
and the..

...support of the Negro voters.

I pledge my continued effort to
advance the cause of colored men

in this part of the state.

However...it does appear that..

...you and I, Tom..

...have a problem on our hands.

Now, I admit I was dubious

when you brought
this teacher in.

I do not entirely approve of

radical Negro schools
such as Fisk.

But I-I acquiesced,
indeed I encouraged her

by lendin' her books.

You raising some
grievance against

Miss Carrie Barden, colonel?

She's obviously
not a fit person for the job.

We figured she doing alright.

Tom, I'll-I'll put it to you

because you're the one
who brought her here.

How can we best

remove this woman
from the school

and the town
and the county as well?

The alternative
would be most tragic.

Most tragic.

For the well-bein' of our good
Negroes, I would recommend

to the county board
they padlock the door

and close the school down.

Is that what you has
to say to me, colonel?

Tom, you and I
understand each other.

We have worked side by side
in our election victory.

Let us meet this difficulty
in equal harmony.

I thinks on it.

Of course,
I would not press you, Tom.

I will not expect your answer..

...till tomorrow.

[instrumental music]

(Irene)
'He can't just close down
our school.'

He can and he will.

He say Miss Carrie
ain't a fit teacher?

That's a lie
and we can prove it.

That ain't got nothin'
to do with it at all

and you knows it. Fool.

Why'd he have to go around
saying he gonna marry her for?

Oh, that what

stickin' your craw, marrying.

If he just lay with her
and leave her with a big belly

and no name for the child,
then that be alright.

Point is, that woman

was my responsibility.

I brung her here.

I talks big how we need

a graduate
from that Fisk University.

'It was my pride.'

And my pride been brung low.

Why can't she behave herself?

Why she let that white boy go
sniffing around her skirts for?

You like that Colonel Warner.

Blaming it all on Miss Carrie
like she's some

Beale Street woman from Memphis.

[chuckles]
How come he don't say nothin'
about his own son..

...nosin' around a decent
Christian woman

like a randy goat.

(Tom)
''Cause that's his son.
And he white.'

Papa, is you gonna turn
Miss Carrie outta school

and drive her out of town?

Now, you go on, girl.
This ain't none of your concern.

So you gonna make the judgment

like the massa
in the slave time?

Child, don't you say nothin'.
That's your father.

I know.

And he had the say over me

but you ain't the father
over Miss Carrie Barden.

- Elizabeth.
- You ruined my life, papa.

'You gonna do the same thing
to Miss Carrie?'

Tom...she ain't herself.

It's the melancholy.
She don't mean nothin'.

Now, Elizabeth..

...that school gotta keep on.

Meaning, sorry as it is..

...it's the only way black folk
gonna break out and climb.

Now that school gotta keep on.

So you gonna do
what the white man tell you?

You gonna knuckle under, papa?

Now, Elizabeth, you hush.

Colonel tell you to jump..

...and what you do, papa?

You jump. Jump.

Jump, Jim Crow.

¶ Jump jump ¶

¶ Jump Jim Crow ¶

¶ Wheel about and turn about
and do just so ¶

¶ Slide slide
and point that toe ¶

¶ You funny as a minstrel queen
when you ¶

¶ Jumped Jim Crow ¶

Elizabeth, stop that. Stop that.

Stop it, Jim Crow.

¶ Kneel to the buzzards
and you bow to the crow ¶

¶ Smile smile and away you go ¶

¶ Every time you wheel about ¶

¶ You jump Jim Crow ¶¶

Elizabeth!

Don't you touch this child!

(Elizabeth)
'I knows you's
a mighty man, papa.'

I heard your old stories
from Grandpa George..

...about the African.

You forgot about him, papa?

'Kunta Kinte..'

'...that was his name.'

He die a slave, papa,
and you be free.

What you done
with that freedom, papa?

'You gonna jump, papa.'

You gonna jump, Jim Crow.

[instrumental music]

Colonel Warner..

...I done come with the answer

about Miss Carrie Barden
and the school.

This how it be.

We ain't gonna turn Miss Carrie
Barden out the school.

Put the padlock on the door..

...take away the county money..

...we set the school up
in my house

or the blacksmith forge,
or the field.

That school belong to us.

And we gonna have
the teacher we wants!

The school gonna go on.

(Frederick)
'Tom?'

From my son.

Found it this morning
on my shavin' stand.

Went to Memphis last night
with that..

...Negress.

By this time..

...they have been married.

Tom, I understand
you had no part in this.

I consider you a good,
decent kind of colored man

who knows what's right
and who your friends are.

Well, colonel,
I is sure learning.

You and I both understand
this is wrong..

...but they say
that in every evil

there's a compensatin' good.

They're gone, and at least

we're shed of that woman
at the school.

Then I'd best go, colonel.

We gonna have a lot of huntin'
before we find us

another teacher with
the quality of Miss Carrie.

Mrs. Warner.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[dramatic music]

Andy!

Come out there, Andy.

Andy, lest you pop me
out of my clothes..

Earl, I'm occupied with a lady.

Hell, Andy, you can squeeze
them Damson plums any time.

This is some..

You want a drink, Earl?

[laughs]
Damson plums.

Reed Golightly
just rode into town.

[horse neighs]

Your brother's comin' back.

'He said he seen him on
the Ripley road, in his buggy'

'with his nigger woman
sittin' right beside him.'

Well, as the fellow said,
"Am I my brother's keeper?"

He got his nerve.

Gonna drive that slut
right up Main Street

in front of decent white women.

You remembers what we talked
about last night, don't you?

About what we all gonna do
if he brung her back here

'cause the boys is ready.

'They're gettin' a bit edgy..'

'...because, uh,
he's your brother.'

They just want to know
what you gonna do.

I'm gonna finish this bottle.

And then I'm gonna make me some

Damson plum jam.

[chuckling]

(Earl)
'How 'bout your brother?'

[dog barking]

I have no brother.

Whatever the boys feel
they have to do..

...it don't matter to me
one way or the other.

[instrumental music]

Hey, boys. Hey, Jesse.

Get on over here.

Alright,
Jim Warner's coming back..

...with his nigger bride.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

(Earl)
'Hey, darky..'

...if you like
white men so much..

...how 'bout a real one?

(Frederick)
'Jim!'

- Luther.
- Mr. Jim, sir.

Colonel asks you
up to the house.

He say I stay here and take care
of your buggy for you.

Thank you, Luther.

Good afternoon, papa.

[clicks tongue]

I assume you have carried out

the act
threatened in your letter.

We were married. By Judge
Braithwaite, you remember--

The legal aspects of the..

...liaison can be annulled

on several grounds, such as--

Papa. Papa, look at me.

Papa, it isn't a liaison,
you understand?

Carrie and I are married.
She is my wife.

I won't allow any annulment
or anything of the kind.

You got to face it, papa.
I love her.

[birds chirping]

I..

I am obliged to..

..to say you are
no longer my son.

'I have reviewed the deeds
to the family properties..'

'...and revised my last will
and testament.'

All these instruments

will be amended to..

...efface you from the family.

I assumed that, sir.

I know that I have no right
to ask anything from you.

But look at them.

'Earl Crowther and those men
that used to ride'

'with Bedford Forrest
and the Klan'

they're just waitin' there.

The only thing that's holding
them back right now

is the fact that you're here.
They're afraid of you.

I need your protection
for me and for my wife.

Papa, that's all
I'm asking from you.

[birds chirping]

I will make it clear..

...that no one
in this town is to

physically harm either you or..

...the woman.

'But all white men will merely
treat you as if you were black.'

As far as I am concerned..

...the mark is on you.

You are a nigger.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[clicks tongue]

[music continues]

[church bell tolling]

[birds chirping]

[indistinct chattering]

We're happy to have you
with us, Mr. Warner.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

We's all glad you came back
to the school, Sister Carrie.

[chuckles]
Oh, yes.

- Mr. Jim.
- Oh-ho.

Thank you, ma'am.
Thank you, ma'am.

- I do appreciate it.
- Yes, sir.

- Welcome to the community.
- Thank you very much, sir.

I appreciate that.
I certainly do.

- 'Meet some folks..'
- 'How do you do?'

Papa, I wants to go
to Memphis to school.

I want to be a teacher.

That's, uh, far away.

Memphis.

I's asking your permission
out of respect, papa..

..but that what I bound to do.

[birds chirping]

And that what you do.

[dramatic music]

(Tom)
Goodbye, daddy.

[music continues]

[theme music]

[music continues]