Original subtitles

Narrator: 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 MAKING 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 TALKING ABOUT A THING LIKE THAT.

Narrator: AND THINGS HAD CHANGED FOR COLONEL WARNER

AND HIS FAMILY AS WELL.

WE WERE MARRIED.

AS FAR AS I AM 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, PAPA?

I SUPPORT WITH MY HEART'S BLOOD

ANY ACTION TO SAFEGUARD SECURITY OF WHITE CIVILIZATION.

Narrator: ROOTS:THE TRUE STORY OF AN AMERICAN FAMILY.

THIS FAMILY GONNA GO FORWARD.

Narrator: FROM THE END OF INNOCENCE,

TO THE EASY TIMES OF A NEW ERA.

I WISH YOU COULD STAY WITH ME, NOW.

Narrator: THROUGH THE WAR OVERSEAS,

AND HARD TIMES AT HOME...

HE'S ALEXANDER MURRAY PALMER HALEY.

Narrator: 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.

Narrator: THE FULFILLMENT OF A DREAM THAT LASTED 200 YEARS.

YOU OLD AFRICAN!

I FOUND YOU!

KUNTA KINTE!

Narrator: ONE FAMILY'S TRIUMPH IS A TRIUMPH FOR US ALL.

AND NOW, ROOTS: THE NEXT GENERATIONS.

HE GONNA BE CONTRARY.

AND--AND BAD AND MEAN.

GET UP.

A CHRISTIAN WOMAN CAN JUST TAKE SO MUCH.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYIN'.

THERE'S JUST A LINE BETWEEN FLESH AND BLOOD

THAT IT ABIDETH BY NOT.

GIT UP HERE.

I'VE BEEN PATIENT, YOU HEAR?

I'VE BEEN PATIENT AS JOB'S TURKEY.

GOD IS MY WITNESS.

COME ON, MULE. GIT UP HERE!

"CHICKEN GEORGE." GOOD NAME FOR HIM.

'CAUSE HE'S JUST LIKE A OLD, DIRTY CHICKEN.

FRETSOME, STRUTTING AND CROWING.

THAT OLD MAN IS NOT GONNA CROSS MY THRESHOLD

WITH HIS DIRTY OLD ROOSTER AND HIS POACHED EGGS!

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.

YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU OLD SALLY.

YOU HEAR?

COME ON, PAPA.

YOU GONNA BE WITH US A SPELL.

DON'T KNOW IF I WANTS TO.

NOW, PAPA, I GOT TO 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, THATIRENE.

COME ON, PAPA GEORGE, LET ME HELP YOU.

DON'T NEED NO WOMAN HELPING ME.

WHERE'S MY BIRD?

SOMEBODY STOLE MY BIRD!

NO, PAPA GEORGE.

SHE SAID SHE'S GONNA PUT IT IN THE POT!

I HEARD WHAT SHE SAID!

SHE STOLE MY FIGHTING CHICKEN.

HE'S RIGHT HERE, PAPA.

LIZBETH, GO GET THAT CORN SILK PALLET

SO YOUR GRANDPA CAN REST HISSELF.

Grandpa: GET OUT OF HERE!

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.

THAT'S THE TRUTH. HEAR ME, LIZBETH?

I'M CYNTHIA, GRANDPA.

THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

NOW, AROUND ALL THEM LORDS AND EARLS,

I GOT THE HABIT OF EATING MY EGGS POACHED.

LONDON, ENGLAND, EVERYBODY THERE

EATS THEIR EGGS POACHED.

PAPA, YOU AIN'T GON' MAKE NO FUSS

WHILES I IS AWAY IN MEMPHIS.

WHAT YOU GOING FOR?

I TOLD YOU-- POLITICS.

MR. BEEMAN JONES,

THE MOST IMPORTANT COLORED REPUBLICAN,

DONE SENT FOR ME TO COME ALL THE WAY TO MEMPHIS.

HA! HA HA!

PRANCE AROUND AND 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 NOTHING

EXCEPT FIGHTING 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.

NOW, CYNTHY, I WANT YOU TO CARRY

YOUR DADDY'S CARPETBAG OUT.

BYE, PAPA.

BOY, WHEN THE FOOL-KILLER COME AROUND,

YOU AND YOUR NIGGER REPUBLICANS

SURE BETTER HIDE IN THE HIGH GRASS.

IS THAT THE TRUTH, DADDY?

WHAT?

ALL THEM STORIES GRANDPA GEORGE TELL

ABOUT HIS FIGHTING CHICKEN.

ALWAYS WON, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS

AND HUNDREDS OF TIMES?

WELL, CYNTHY,

HE KNOWS FROM LONDON, ENGLAND,

TO CHARLESTON, AND PLACES IN BETWEEN.

BUT I EXPECT THAT CHICKEN STORY,

JUST LIKE THEM FIGHTING COCKS:

A LOT OF FLAPPING AND CROWING,

BUT WHEN YOU PLUCKS OUT ALL THE FEATHERS,

AIN'T MUCH MEAT TO IT.

THEN THEY AIN'T TRUE.

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 SOMETHING ELSE.

THEM STORIES FROM THE FAR OLDEN TIMES,

THEY'S ALL TRUE.

Elizabeth: PAPA!

COMING, ELIZABETH.

I RECOLLECT, WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY,

RUNNING AROUND THE QUARTERS

SHIRT-TAIL NAKED.

MY GRANDMAMA KIZZY USED TO TELL ME THE SELFSAME TALE.

ABOUT THE AFRICAN WHO CALLS HIMSELF KINTE

I KNOW.

HE CALL THE RIVER KAMBY 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. HMM?

WHAT YOU DOING WITH YOUR SHOES AROUND YOUR NECK?

HMM?

YOU'RE GOING TO THE DEPOT,

NOT THE COTTON PATCH.

YOUR MAMA WOULD DIE FROM MORTIFICATION.

I'LL BE STAYING 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, SIR,

BY LOOKING ME IN THE EYE WHEN I ADDRESS YOU.

I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS BEING ADDRESSED.

I 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 GENTLEMEN.

POETRY.

JAMES, I HAD--

I HAVE THE HIGHEST HOPES

FOR YOU TO CARRY ON THE FAMILY TRADITION.

YOU HAVE 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.

THE TRAIN WILL 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 IS CALLED TO THE BAR.

YOUR BROTHER IS FREQUENTLY CALLED TO THE BAR.

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

WAITING FOR YOU TO TAKE HER TO THE DEPOT.

YES, MINNIE, I'M COMING.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO

WITH THAT GIRL IN THE KITCHEN?

WHAT GIRL?

THE TEACHER FOR THE COLOREDS.

OH, YES. YES. SHE WROTE A LETTER.

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.

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

WRITING SCRIPS 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 OUR COLORED CHILDREN,

AND I WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR ENDEAVOR.

THANK YOU, COLONEL.

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.

HMM?

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!

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 IS AN AMAZING NOTION!

A COLORED GIRL READING 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.

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.

COL-- YOU MEAN YOU WENT TO--

WHERE?

FISK.

I WAS IN THE SECOND GRADUATING CLASS.

THAT'S REMARKABLE.

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.

YES, SIR, IF YOU LIKE.

PLEASE, CONTINUE SELECTING YOUR VOLUMES.

WHAT IS IT, MINNIE?

WHEN SHE DONE, CALL ME,

AND I'LL SEE HER OUT THE KITCHEN.

ALL RIGHT, MINNIE.

DO YOU KNOW WHITMAN?

WHITCOMB? JAMES WHITCOMB--

NO, NO, NO. WHITMAN. WHITMAN. WALT WHITMAN.

HE'S A NEWSPAPER EDITOR UP NORTH.

THE BROOKLYN EAGLE, I THINK IT IS.

HE WRITES POETRY. IT'S VERY ODD, THOUGH.

ODD?

THERE'S NOTHING SPIRITUAL OR IDEAL ABOUT IT.

IT'S EARTHY.

PHYSICAL LOVE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN--

OH...

I HOPE I HAVEN'T OFFENDED YOU,

MENTIONING AN INDELICATE TOPIC BEFORE A LADY--

FEMALE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S SO UPLIFTING 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.

COME ON, WILLY.

WE'RE GONNA MISS THE STEAM CARS

BEING FLAGGED DOWN.

COME ON!

DANNY, HAND ME THAT CATCHER.

HURRY UP, SON!

THANK YOU.

OH, BOYS, WHEN I GIVE THE SIGNAL,

YOU START PLAYING JUST LIKE WE REHEARSED IT.

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 IT!

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.

FROM NOW ON,

TRAIN'LL BE STOPPING EVERY OTHER DAY.

WE MUST ACCEPT PROGRESS.

I'M NOT SURE THAT A STEAM ENGINE

POURING OUT SMOKE IS PROGRESS.

YOU ARE A ROMANTIC, MY DEAR.

[LAUGHING]

ANDY WARNER, YOU ARE JUST CRAZY.

YOU'RE GONNA BREAK MY NECK.

MORNING, 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 BEFORE THE WAR.

ROYCE DAMSON?

I DID NOT RECOGNIZE YOU CLOTHED.

I TAKE IT YOU'RE ON LIQUOR, SIR,

OR YOU'D BE AWARE OF YOUR MOTHER'S PRESENCE.

MAMA, MAY I INTRODUCE TO YOU MISS LUCY?

ANDREW, I'M HERE TO BID YOUR FATHER GOOD-BYE.

PLEASE DON'T FORCE ME TO BE UNMANNERLY.

YEAH.

WE CAN WATCH THE TRAINS COME IN WHEN WEGET OLD.

COME ON, THERE, HYAH! GIT!

[TRAIN WHISTLE]

FOLKS, I TELL YOU,

THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR HENNING.

WITH THE FIRST TRAIN COMING THROUGH THIS TOWN,

IT'S GONNA GROW INTO A METROPOLIS.

HAND ME MY FLAG!

THERE'S SMOKE, PAPA! IT'S COMING. IT'S COMING!

CYNTHY, REMEMBER THAT 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 WHISTLE]

JETHRO.

[PLAYING CAMPTOWN RACES]

SIR, WELCOME YOU TO HENNING.

IT'S A GLORIOUS DAY.

I'LL HELP YOU WITH THAT.

YOU BE GOOD.

MIND YOUR MAMA, YOU HEAR?

ALL RIGHT, YOU GO ON UP A WAYS.

EXCUSE ME, SIR, THIS HERE A FIRST-CLASS TICKET.

WHAT YOU TALKING 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 WANT TO RIDE THESE CARS,

YOU'RE GOING TO DO AS I TELL YOU, YOU 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.

Man: LET'S GET GOING.

HOLD YOUR HORSES.

I GOT ME A DUMB NIGGER MAKING TROUBLE.

NOW, YOU LISTEN HERE,

IF YOU WANT TO RIDE THIS TRAIN,

YOU GO GET ON THAT JIM CROW CAR

LIKE I TOLD YOU.

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,

WEST TENNESSEE DIVISION OF THIS RAILROAD,

COLONEL FREDERICK WARNER.

OH, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T KNOW.

COLONEL WARNER, OF COURSE.

WHAT'S GOING 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'S THE LAW.

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.

AH, 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 RES ANTE LEGUM

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.

TOM AND I KNOW WHO WE ARE.

WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.

WELL, WHAT THE HELL YOU WAITING 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.

YES, SIR.

ALL ABOARD.

BYE, DADDY. BYE!

[WHISPERING] Oh, Lizbeth!

♪ THEN BUY OF YOUR BUTTERCUP

♪ DEAR LITTLE BUTTERCUP

♪ SAILORS SHOULD NEVER BE SHY

♪ SO BUY OF YOUR BUTTERCUP

♪ POOR LITTLE BUTTERCUP

♪ COME, OF YOUR BUTTERCUP, BUY ♪

[APPLAUSE]

THAT WAS FINE, DARLING. YOU PLAYED REAL FINE.

DADDY'S PROUD OF YOU.

GOOD NIGHT, MR. HARVEY,

REPRESENTATIVE BOYD.

GOOD NIGHT, DEAR.

PLEASE.

NOW, GENTLEMEN,

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT

THE COLORED VOTER IN TENNESSEE

IS FACING A MAJOR CRISIS

IN THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS.

NOW, I'LL BE TALKING TO ALL

OF THE COUNTY LEADERS IN TURN.

IN THE LAST ELECTION,

WE DELIVERED THE COLORED VOTE SOLID

TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

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.

UNDER JOHNSON AMNESTY,

THEY STOLE BACK THE LAND FROM THE COLOREDS.

YOU TELLING ME I GOT TO VOTE FOR THEM?

MR. HARVEY,

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE LAST JUDGMENT

WHERE THE LORD IS GOING TO 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-OWNING REBEL OFFICER.

THEY WANT US BAD, MR. HARVEY.

THEY'RE WILLING 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 BE A BLACKSMITH, THAT'S ALL.

I AIN'T HAD NO SCHOOLING.

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 HIDING IN THE HIGH GRASS.

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

YOU GO ON AND GET OUT OF HERE!

YOU'RE LOOKING IN THE MIRROR OVER THE WELL,

TRYING TO SEE THE FACE OF YOUR FUTURE HUSBAND.

YOU ARE OUT OF 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 WANT TO SEE.

CAN'T SEE THAT FACE IN NO BROKEN GLASS.

THAT'S THE BOY I SEEN YOU WITH

DOWN AT THE DEPOT.

HUSH UP.

I SEEN YOU HOLDING HANDS.

YOU HUSH UP, YOU HEAR ME?

AND HUGGING AND KISSING.

CYNTHY, I'M GONNA DO YOU.

I SEEN HIS FACE.

ONLY SEE HE A WHITE BOY.

NOT TRUE! NOT TRUE! HE AIN'T NO WHITE BOY.

YOU HEAR ME?

HE IS COLORED! HE IS COLORED!

LIZBETH, NOW Y'ALL JUST STOP THAT SQUABBLING.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THE MATTER

WITH YOU CHILDREN?

MAMA, YOU KNOW--

CHILD, YOU BETTER GET IN THAT HOUSE

AND CLEAN YOURSELF UP.

BUT SHE--

IF YOU DON'T GET OUT OF HERE, CHILD, YOU BETTER.

LIZBETH.

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 AUNT LACEY BERWIN

WITH THE PNEUMONIA.

WHERE DID YOU SEE HIM?

NOWHERES.

EXCEPT JUST WALKING, THAT'S ALL.

WHAT HAPPENED, LIZBETH?

HE MESS WITH YOU?

NO, MAMA. MAMA, I SWEAR.

LEASTWAYS I KNOWS YOU AIN'T PREGNANT

BECAUSE YOU JUST FINISH YOUR TIME

A WEEK ON TUESDAY.

MAMA, YOU SHOULDN'T BE SAYING NOTHING LIKE THAT.

WHY NOT? CHILD, THAT'S A MAMA'S BUSINESS.

KEEP 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 NOTHING LIKE THAT.

I JUST LOVE HIM, THAT'S ALL.

MAMA, WHAT THERE BE WRONG ABOUT THAT?

NOTHING.

BUT WE'S A RESPECTABLE AND CHRISTIAN FAMILY.

NOW, YOU WANTS TO KEEP COMPANY WITH THE BOY,

THEN YOU DO IT RESPECTABLE.

'CAUSE THERE AIN'T GONNA BE NO RUNNING OFF

BEHIND THE BUSHES.

MM-MMM. 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. IF I GOT--

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 SEE NARY HIDE NOR HAIR

OF THAT BOY,

NOT TILL YOUR PAPA SAY YES OR NO.

YES, MA'AM.

[BELLS RINGING]

PLEASE, MA'AM. I GOT TO GO DOWN TO THE DEPOT

AND I GOTTA FETCH SOMETHING FOR MY MAMA.

AND I'M GONNA BE LATE IF I DON'T HURRY.

ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU MONDAY, ELIZABETH.

YES, MA'AM.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERFERE.

I THOUGHT ALL THE CHILDREN WERE GONE.

EXCEPT ELIZABETH.

I'M AFRAID SHE DIDN'T READ IT AT ALL.

I THOUGHT SHE'D FEEL CLOSE TO MRS. BROWNING,

BUT IT'S A LONG WAY FROM ITALY TO TENNESSEE.

OH, IF YOU'VE COME FOR THE BOOKS,

I'LL GET THEM FOR YOU.

OH, NO, NO.

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.

NO, 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.

BUT I SUDDENLY REALIZED

THAT THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO ONE IN THIS TOWN

I CAN TALK TO ABOUT ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

WELL, I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR FEELING, 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 THE PURER NATURE.

MY MAMA CAN HARDLY REFER

TO THE NETHER EXTREMITIES.

SHE CALLS THE LEG OF A TABLE A LIMB.

I ASSURE YOU, MR. WARNER,

I CALL A LEG A LEG,

WHETHER IT'S ON A TABLE OR ON MYSELF.

WELL, IN THAT CASE,

I'M VERY GLAD I DIDN'T EXCISE CERTAIN WORDS.

I WAS GOING TO CUT THEM 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 SOMETHING ELSE

I WANTED TO DISCUSS WITH YOU.

THERE ARE SOME NEWSPAPER STORIES FROM GEORGIA.

A FELLOW NAMED HARRIS

HAS SET DOWN SOME OLD DARKY TALES.

THEY'RE ENCHANTING.

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.

I--I WAS NOT THINKING OF CUSTOM.

I SIMPLY WISH TO CONTINUE OUR EXCHANGE OF VIEWS,

BUT I DO UNDERSTAND.

NOW, I CAN DRIVE AROUND BY HOLLIS ROAD.

THEN THAT WAY NO ONE IS LIKELY

TO REMARK OUR PASSING.

I SIMPLY WANTED THE TIME TO TELL YOU

ABOUT MR. HARRIS' STORIES.

MR. WARNER, I WILL ASK YOU NOT TO TURN YOUR HEAD

TO TALK TO ME IF ANYONE IS WATCHING.

I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN, MISS BARDEN.

MR. HARRIS--JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS FROM GEORGIA

HAS WRITTEN THESE NEWSPAPER STORIES

REGARDING A DELIGHTFUL, DELIGHTFUL OLD GENTLEMAN

NAMED UNCLE REMUS.

AND HE TELLS THESE DELIGHTFUL DARKY TALES

TO THE YOUNG WHITE GENTLEMEN ON HIS PLANTATION.

AND THEY CONCERN THE ADVENTURES

OF A MOST ASTUTE CRITTER THAT YOU EVER HEARD OF.

THERE'S BR'ER FOX AND BR'ER RABBIT.

AND I DON'T MIND SAYING THAT

WHENEVER THERE IS AN ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE TWO,

BR'ER RABBIT ALWAYS SEEMS TO GET THE BEST OF BR'ER FOX.

THAT LITTLE GIRL SAT UP ON THAT PIANO

WITH HER VELVET DRESS

AND HER FANCY HAIR RIBBON,

AND SHE PLAYED THAT BUTTERCUP SONG--

THE GOOD BOOK SAYS, "THOU SHALT NOT COVET."

THAT'S ALL YOU BEEN DOING SINCE YOU BEEN TO MEMPHIS.

COVETING.

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.

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--

PAPA, YOU JUST NEVER DID KNOW NOTHING--

TOM!

I AIN'T GONNA HAVE MY COOKING SPOILED

ONE MORE TIME WITH YOU AND YOUR DADDY

SPATTING ON ABOUT POLITICS.

NOW, PAPA GEORGE, YOU JUST KEEP ON EATING.

ANYWAY,

ELIZABETH GOT SOMETHING SHE WANT TO ASK YOU.

NOW, GO ON, LIZBETH.

PAPA, I WANTS TO TAKE UP.

AND I IS ASKING YOUR PERMISSION

TO KEEP COMPANY.

THAT'S A FOOL THING.

YOU'RE TOO YOUNG.

PAPA, I IS 18.

MAMA WAS 15 WHEN YOUSE MARRIED.

THAT'S BEFORE THE WAR. DIFFERENT NOW.

TOO YOUNG.

PAPA, I IS 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.

TALKS TO HIM NEXT WEEK

OR THE WEEK AFTER IF I'M NOT TOO BUSY--

HE WAITIN' 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.

SOME THINGS WAS BETTER IN SLAVERY DAYS.

A MAN WANT A WOMAN,

HE JUMP OVER A BROOM AND KEEP JUMPING.

AND PAPA GEORGE,

YOU GOING IN THE BACK ROOM AND GO TO BED.

YOU TIRED.

COME IN.

PAPA, THIS HERE MR. JOHN DOLAN.

GOOD EVENING TO YOU, MR. HARVEY.

COME ON IN, MR. DOLAN.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

YOU'LL EXCUSE US, WON'T YOU? LIZBETH.

ELIZABETH.

I BROUGHT YOU SOME PIPE TOBACCO, MR. HARVEY.

IT'S VIRGINIA BURLEY, FACTORY-PACKED.

THANK YOU.

SIT DOWN.

WHO YOUR FOLKS?

DOLANS.

WE LIVE ABOUT FIVE MILES PAST RIPLEY.

DON'T KNOW NO DOLANS.

WE JUST MOVE UP FROM NASHVILLE TWO YEARS AGO.

WHO YOUR MAMA?

WINNIE DOLAN.

SHE WAS A BAKER IN A COOK SHOP

UP TILL THE WAR.

YOUR DADDY?

MICAH DOLAN.

HE A CARPENTER.

BEFORE THE EMANCIPATION,

HE HIRE HIS OWN TIME AND RUN A CHAIR MAKING 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 TEACHED ME THE TRADE TO BE A FIRST-CLASS

JOURNEYMAN CABINETMAKER.

IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKE TO BE A FATHER,

THEN THAT'S WHO IT WAS.

MR. HARVEY, I'M ASKING YOUR PERMISSION

TO TAKE UP WITH YOUR DAUGHTER LIZBETH.

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 GETTING LATE.

I RECKON I'D BETTER BE GETTING ON HOME.

I DO THANK YOU, MA'AM, FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY.

PAPA, CAN I WALK MR. DOLAN TO THE GATE?

IT GONNA BE FINE, HONEY.

PAPA GOT TO SAY YES.

AIN'T NO REASON HE WON'T SAY YES.

YOU GONNA BE COLD TONIGHT.

I LOVE 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 THE TRUTH.

NOW, DON'T YOU WORRY.

IT GONNA BE FINE. PAPA SAY YES.

IT GON' BE JUST FINE.

LIZBETH?

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

MAMA?

HE SAY HE THINK ON IT.

"IT IS A BEAUTEOUS EVENING,

"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?

I WAS JUST THINKING WHAT MY FATHER WOULD SAY

IF HE KNEW I WAS SITTING 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 IS AN OLD ARABIAN PROVERB,

"IF ONE MAN SAYS YOU'RE AN ASS,

"PAY NO ATTENTION.

"IF FIVE MEN SAY YOU ARE AN ASS,

GO OUT AND BUY A SADDLE."

NO. IF YOU WANT TO 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 WASH HOUSE

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 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.

IT IS GETTING LATE, MR. WARNER, I--

YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT, MISS BARDEN.

I MUST APOLOGIZE FOR DETAINING YOU THIS LONG.

AH, HERE'S AN EDITORIAL

REPRINTED FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA PAPER.

"THE OLD SLAVE OWNER--"

PAPA, HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED

ALLOWING 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 THE DAY

WHICH WOULD BE DISTASTEFUL TO A LADY OF BREEDING.

I SEE NO REASON WHY YOUR MOTHER

SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO THEM.

NOW,

"THE OLD SLAVE OWNER FEELS NO SOCIAL FEAR OF NEGRO EQUALITY.

"HE FEELS NO DESIRE TO MALTREAT, BROWBEAT,

"AND SPIT UPON THE COLORED MAN.

"HE FEELS NO OPPOSITION TO THE EDUCATION

"AND ELEVATION OF THE BLACK MAN

TO THE SCALE OF CIVILIZED LIFE.."

MORNING, EVERYBODY.

YOU ARE LATE FOR BREAKFAST, ANDREW.

I HAD A LATE NIGHT.

HOREHOUND.

MAMA?

HOREHOUND AND WINTERGREEN LEAVES

IN A DECOCTION OF SODA WATER.

IT SWEETENS THE STOMACH AND THE BREATH.

THANK YOU, MAMA.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING, ANDY?

DISCUSSING THE SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS

OF THE RECENT ELECTION

WITH THE LEARNED MISS LUCY?

I THOUGHT SO.

AVOIDING OVERINDULGENCE AND DISSOLUTE COMPANIONS

LEADS TO LONGER LIFE, ANDREW.

NO, PAPA. IT JUST MAKES IT SEEM LONGER.

COFFEE, MINNIE. FOR GOD'S SAKE, COFFEE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS TO TREAT COLOREDS.

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 SCHOOLTEACHER

THE BENEFIT OF YOUR EDUCATION AND ADVICE.

[LAUGHTER]

DORA FAWCETT NEVER KNEW ANY GENTLEMAN

TO TAKE SUCH AN ACTIVE INTEREST

IN THE EDUCATION OF THOSE DEAR LITTLE PICKANINNIES.

MINNIE, I WANT TO GO OVER

THAT COLD SOUP WITH YOU FOR SATURDAY NIGHT.

YES, MA'AM.

HEY, JIM.

I BET YOU'RE OFFERING THAT NIGGER SCHOOLTEACHER

THE BENEFIT OF A LOT MORE THAN YOUR EDUCATION.

WHAT DO YOU TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT?

PHILOSOPHY?

ANDREW, IF YOU'RE BOUND TO BE RIBALD,

I'D APPRECIATE YOUR LOWERING YOUR VOICE.

YOUR MOTHER'S IN THE NEXT ROOM.

PAPA, I ASSURE YOU,

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

THAT'S FINE, JAMES.

I'M SURE YOU'LL MANAGE AFFAIRS LIKE A GENTLEMAN.

THERE IS NOTHING TO MANAGE.

I KNOW. I KNOW.

IT'S JUST A PHASE ALL YOUNG MEN HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE DISCREET.

WHAT PAPA MEANS IS

KEEP YOUR DARKY A DARK SECRET.

I WOULD AGREE ROUGHLY WITH MISS ELLEN TERRY

ON THE SUBJECT.

"DOESN'T MATTER WHAT ANYBODY DOES,

"SO LONG AS THEY DON'T DO IT IN THE STREET

AND FRIGHTEN THE HORSES."

[LAUGHTER]

OH, DID YOU SAY SOMETHING WITTY?

I'M AFRAID, MY DEAR,

IT WAS NOT ENTIRELY SUITABLE FOR LADIES.

PAPA?

PAPA?

PAPA, IT'S BEEN TWO DAYS.

YOU GOT TO TELL ME SOMETHING.

I SAID I'D THINK ON IT.

9:00. GOING TO BED.

PAPA, YOU GONNA TELL ME NOW.

YOU GOT TO GIVE YOUR ANSWER.

TAKING UP WITH A MAN,

WALKING WITH HIM TO CHURCH AND ALL THAT,

MEANS MARRYING.

I KNOW, PAPA. JOHN SAYS--

THAT'S WHY I AIN'T GONNA GIVE MY PERMISSION.

YOU AIN'T GONNA BE MARRYING WITH THAT MAN.

WHY, PAPA? WHY?

PAPA, JOHN A GOOD MAN.

HE'S STEADY. HE GOT HIM A GOOD TRADE.

PAPA, HE SAVING TO HAVE HIS OWN

CABINET REPAIR SHOP,

JUST THE WAY YOU GOT THE GLASS SMITHING.

OH, PAPA, YOU JUST CAN'T SAY NO!

PAPA, YOU GOT TO SAY WHY!

I SAID MY WORD, AND THAT'S IT.

NO.

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 GON' HAVE MY DAUGHTER MARRIED

TO NOBODY LOOKS 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.

I SAID MY WORD.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

YOU AIN'T MAKING NO KIND OF SENSE AT ALL.

AIN'T NOBODY REMEMBERED THE WAY IT WAS NO MORE!

WE WAS STOCK ON THE MASSA'S PLACE,

LIKE THE COWS AND HOGS.

THE LIGHT-SKINNED NIGGERS WAS THE FAVORED ONES.

WORK IN THE HOUSE,

WITH A BROADCLOTH 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 TALES TO THE OVERSEER

AGAINST THEIR OWN PEOPLE.

THEY LORD IT OVER ALL OVER THE QUARTERS.

BECAUSE THEY WHITER, THEY RIGHTER.

"OUT OF MY WAY, BLACKER THAN ME."

TOM, THEM DAYS ARE LONG TIME AGO.

THAT BOY WAS RUNNING IN HIS SHIRT TAIL

WHEN FREEDOM COME.

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.

NOW, I DONE HUNG THE SWITCH OVER THE DOOR.

AIN'T NOBODY GAINSAY ME BEFORE MY OWN FAMILY.

PAPA!

PAPA!

[ELIZABETH CRYING]

HOW YOU DO THIS THING TO YOUR--

I HUNG THE SWITCH.

I AIN'T CARE IF YOU HANG THE OVERSEER'S

OLD BULLWHIP ON THE DOOR.

I GOT TO 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 SHINING 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 I KNOW.

OH, TOM, HONEY,

YOU GOT EVERYTHING MIXED UP IN YOUR HEAD

LIKE A MAGPIE NEST.

OLD 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 NOTHING TO DO WITH OLD GEORGE JOHNSON.

MARRYING IS DIFFERENT.

NOW, YOU LISTEN TO ME, TOM HARVEY.

I DONE HEARD THE STORIES IN YOUR FAMILY

FROM THE TIME I MARRY UP WITH YOU.

YOUR GRANDMA KIZZY WAS RAPED BY THE MASSA TOM MOORE.

YOUR DADDY, CHICKEN GEORGE, IS HALF WHITE.

YOU 1/4 WHITE.

YOU LOOK YOUR DADDY FACE,

YOU SEE THE FACE YOUR ENEMY?

YOU LOOK YOURSELF IN THE LOOKING GLASS, TOM,

YOU LOOKING AT YOUR OWN ENEMY?

I HATES THE WHITE BLOOD IN ME.

I HATES THEM NIGGERS PREENING 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!

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 SCARRING FROM SLAVERY DAYS

AIN'T ON YOUR BACK.

IT ON YOUR SOUL.

LIZBETH.

LISTEN TO ME.

JOHN.

I GOT THE MOST WONDERFUL NEWS.

HONEY, DON'T SAY NOTHING, NOT YET.

THIS HERE GOIN' MAKE EVERYTHING FINE.

YOU COME TO MY FOLKS TOMORROW,

AND WE GETS MARRIED THE NEXT DAY,

BY THE REVEREND CALPER AT THE C.M.E. CHURCH--

I CAN'T GO.

WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT?

I TOLD YOU.

PAPA WON'T LET ME TAKE UP.

I CAN'T GO WITH YOU.

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.

I LOVES YOU, LIZBETH.

I'M GOING TO KNOXVILLE, LIZBETH.

I AIN'T BE COMING BACK.

SO YOU COME WITH ME NOW.

DON'T LOOK BACK.

YOU JUST WALK AWAY WITH ME NOW.

JOHN.

JOHNNY!

IT WAS YOUR MAMA'S WORD

TO GIVE YOU THIS TIME.

YOU COME INSIDE NOW, CHILD.

YOU UNDERSTAND, BY AND BY.

HE GONE.

HE JUST BE GONE IN THE NIGHT.

I DONE IT FOR YOU, ELIZABETH.

YOU RUIN MY LIFE, PAPA.

I DONE IT

BECAUSE YOU'RE MY LITTLE GIRL.

IF'N I CAN'T MARRY JOHN,

I AIN'T NEVER GOIN' MARRY NOBODY.

LIZ, YOU ALL RIGHT THIS MORNING?

HEARD YOU CRYING MOST OF THE NIGHT.

LIZ, I SWEAR TO YOU,

UNLESS PAPA CHANGE HIS MIND,

I WON'T NEVER MARRY NOBODY NEITHER.

I ALWAYS STAY WITH YOU, FOREVER.

[CHICKENS CLUCKING]

WHAT YOU FRETTING FOR, CHILD?

OH, GRANDPA GEORGE, I'M GOIN' DIE.

I'M JUST GOIN' DIE.

COURSE YOU ARE, CHILD.

IN THE LORD'S GOOD TIME, EVERYBODY'S GOIN' DIE.

EXCEPT ME.

OR YOU, LIZBETH.

LIZBETH?

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 BEING 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 NOTHING.

BUT I DO LOVE YOU,

I DO.

INDEED I DO.

I WON'T SAY NO MORE.

EXCEPT, SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE

AIN'T SAUCE FOR THE GANDER.

WHAT DO THAT MEAN?

NOTHING.

WOMAN, WHAT YOU TALKING

ABOUT GOOSES AND GANDERS FOR?

[SPEAKING INAUDIBLY]

...ON ACCOUNT OF HE LOOKS WILD.

BUT YOU DON'T SAY NOTHING

ABOUT CARRYINGS-ON BETWEEN A COLORED WOMAN

AND AN ACTUAL, BEFORE-GOD WHITE MAN.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WHAT COLORED WOMAN?

AND WHAT THAT GOT TO DO WITH ME?

NOTHING, EXCEPTING YOU BRING HER TO TOWN.

YOU GO AROUND TALKING ABOUT

HOW HIGH TONED AND EDUCATED

SHE IS, AND ALL.

YOU TALKING ABOUT MISS CARRIE,

MISS CARRIE BARDEN?

YOU'RE OUT YOUR HEAD.

MISS CARRIE A BONA FIDE GRADUATE

OF FISK COLLEGE.

MM-HMM, THAT MAY BE,

BUT SHE STILL SQUAT BEHIND TWO SHOES.

"I, YOUNG IN LIFE, BY SEEMING CRUEL FATE

"WAS SNATCHED FROM AFRIC'S FANCY'D HAPPY SEAT,

"WHAT PANGS EXCRUCIATING MUST MOLEST,

"WHAT SORROWS LABOR IN MY PARENTS' BREAST.

"STEEL'D WAS THE SOUL AND BY NO MISERY MOV'D

"THAT FROM A FATHER SEIZ'D 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 WANT TO READ ANY MORE POETRY NOW.

MR. WARNER.

WE GOT TO TALK.

I JUST CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE OF IT.

MY GOD, THE WAY MY OWN BROTHER THINKS,

THE WAY HE TALKS,

THE GRINS, AND THE JOKES.

LET'S GO ON WITH IT--

NO. I DON'T CARE,

I JUST GOTTA COME OUT WITH IT.

MISS BARDEN, CARRIE,

I CARE FOR YOU.

WHY CAN'T I JUST SAY IT, RIGHT OUT?

I LOVE YOU.

HOW COULD YOU!

I SAID, I LOVE YOU.

IT WAS ALL RIGHT THE WAY IT WAS,

BUT YOU HAD TO TARNISH IT ALL.

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

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 SCHOOLTEACHER

"LET THAT WHITE MAN MESS AROUND WITH HER."

CARRIE, STOP IT.

THEY'RE RIGHT.

YOU ARE THE WHITE MAN.

AND ANY COLORED GAL IS YOURS TO TAKE.

FOR GOD'S SAKE, CARRIE--

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE,

GOING TO SCHOOL, STUDYING,

READING HORACE MANN ON EDUCATION,

EMERSON ON SELF-RELIANCE,

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING?

BECAUSE AFTER ALL, WHAT AM I?

JUST A LITTLE NIGGER GAL

YOU CAN TAKE ANY TIME YOU WANT TO.

CARRIE.

CARRIE, FOR GOD'S SAKE LISTEN TO ME,

DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TELLING YOU?

I LOVE YOU, I WANT TO MARRY YOU.

NO!

CARRIE.

CARRIE!

LISTEN TO ME. YOU'RE CRAZY.

COLOR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH US.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

I SAID I LOVE YOU,

AND YOU'RE GOING TO MARRY ME.

YOU UNDERSTAND ME, MISS CARRIE BARDEN?

I LOVE YOU, AND I'M GOING TO MARRY YOU,

AND I DON'T GIVE A DAMN

WHAT THE WHOLE WORLD THINKS!

WHAT'S THE MATTER, LITTLE BROTHER?

YOU GOT YOUR DAUBER DOWN, FOR SURE.

IT APPEARS TO ME

THAT LITTLE SONNY JIM ISN'T GETTIN' IT

REGULAR ANY MORE.

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 OUGHTA DO IS

SEND UP TO MEMPHIS AND BUY THAT GAL A RED DRESS.

THAT'S THE TICKET.

A 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 GOTTA 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 SCHOOLTEACHER.

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.

I'M SERIOUS, ANDY.

YEAH. SURE YOU ARE.

I'VE ALREADY ASKED HER.

AND I MEAN TO MARRY HER.

YOU'RE CRAZY.

YOU DON'T MEAN THAT.

I DO.

YOU CAN'T.

MY GOD, YOU'LL KILL MAMA!

PA'LL 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

MARRYING A--

I CAN'T EVEN SAY IT-- MARRYING 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 THEM!

BUT 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 YOU...

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I'LL SHOW YOU.

I'LL SEND TO MEMPHIS MYSELF

FOR THAT RED DRESS,

AND I'LL BET YOU A DOUBLE EAGLE

THAT NIGGER SCHOOLTEACHER

WILL LIE DOWN FOR ME

LIKE THE TWO-BIT WHORE SHE IS!

WHERE IS YOUR DECENCY?

THAT WILL BE ALL!

DO YOU HEAR ME?

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, BOY.

BEFORE I LET YOU MAKE A DAMN FOOL OUT OF ME,

MARRYING YOUR NIGGER WHORE, I'LL KILL YOU.

STOP! YOU WILL OBLIGE ME

BY GOING TO YOUR ROOM

AND CLEANING YOURSELF--

BEFORE YOUR MOTHER CHANCE TO SEE YOU

IN THIS DISGUSTING CONDITION.

I WILL NOT DISCUSS WITH YOU THE APPALLING SPECTACLE

OF BROTHERS IN A COMMON BRAWL.

YOU'D 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--

THE PRESENCE OF COLORED WOMEN IS

A NECESSITY, I'LL 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 DRAWING 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 DOWN

IN NIGGERTOWN 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?

NOTHING, MY DEAR, AN ACCIDENT.

I AM AFRAID, MY DEAR,

THIS MATTER IS 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, POOR NIGGERS

DOWN TO THE ELECTION

TO VOTE FOR THEM DEMOCRATS?

I DONE EXPLAIN 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 DID I SAY--

GOT TO TAKE THIS TO THE FORGE.

DAMN, DAMN!

DAMN IT! DAMN IT!

PAPA GEORGE,

NOW YOU JUST CALM YOURSELF.

NOW, I ASK YOU.

HOW COME,

JUST WHEN I'M GOIN' MAKE HIM

HOLLER "ENOUGH" IN THE ARGUMENT,

THAT'S WHEN HE WALKS RIGHT OUT THE ROOM?

[KNOCKING]

IT'S SISTER IRENE,

MAY I SPEAK WITH YOU FOR A LITTLE?

SURE CAN, CHILD.

WE'RE JUST GOIN' ON OUT TO THE BACK YARD.

LIZBETH!

COME ON AND SIT WITH YOUR GRANDPA.

WALK RIGHT OUT.

WALK RIGHT OUT ON ME!

DAMN IT, DAMN, DAMN!

Carrie: SISTER IRENE,

I'M SO FRIGHTENED.

I HAD TO SPEAK WITH SOMEBODY.

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?

HONEY, I DIDN'T THINK NOTHING.

'CAUSE IT JUST WASN'T NONE OF MY BUSINESS.

HE ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM.

MR. JIM WARNER, COLONEL WARNER'S BOY?

WHAT DID 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.

HMM-MM, YOU'VE BEEN DREAMING.

I DON'T REMEMBER THE DREAMS AFTER,

BUT I WAKE UP,

AND I'M SHIVERING 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 LAUGHING AT ME,

THAT WANTS ME TO BE BAD AND DIRTY

AND SINFUL.

I'M AFRAID OF IT.

HONEY, HONEY.

OH, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

OH, CHILD.

OH, MY GOD!

WHAT AM I GONNA DO?

WELL,

LOOK LIKE TO ME,

THE QUESTION BE,

IS YOU FEARED OF THIS WHITE MAN

'CAUSE 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 BABY

IN SLAVERY DAYS,

AND I WAS A GROWED WOMAN.

THE ONLY COMFORT FOR US IN THEM DAYS--

THAT WAS MAN AND WOMAN LOVING EACH OTHER,

AND TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER

THE BEST THEY COULD UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCE.

AND CHILDRENS--

NOW AIN'T NOTHING BAD,

NOR DIRTY, NOR SINFUL ABOUT THAT.

THE YEARNING OF A MAN FOR HIS WOMAN,

AND A WOMAN FOR HER MAN--

CHILD,

THAT'S GOD'S DOINGS.

'CAUSE WHEN YOU'RE GROWED UP,

PAST A LITTLE GIRL,

WHEN YOUR BREASTS COME AND YOUR FLOW START.

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'RE THE ONLY FOLKS I'VE GOT LEFT,

YOU AND MR. TOM.

WHAT AM I GOIN' 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?"

[SCREAM]

OH, LORD!

MAMA!

HE JUST FELL OFF IN THE FIRE!

OH, NO, PAPA GEORGE.

PAPA GEORGE!

PAPA GEORGE!

OH, PAPA.

HE DON'T BE FEELIN' NOTHING,

DESPITE THE BURNS.

PRAISE BE TO JESUS.

TILDY?

WHERE MY TILDY?

SHE GONE TO GLORY, PAPA.

THAT WOMAN NEVER 'ROUND WHEN YOU NEEDS HER.

PAPA, YOU JUST REST YOURSELF.

PAPA,

YOU HEAR 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'S JUST TIME.

PAPA, WHAT YOU LAUGHING AT?

WHAT THE JOKE?

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.

HE WAS THE HEAD OF THIS FAMILY.

[COCK CROWING]

NO. WIPE YOUR FEET THERE ON THE MAT.

AIN'T GOIN' HAVE NO MUD TRACKED IN ON MY CARPET.

THIS WAY.

COME IN.

BLACKSMITH HERE.

COME IN, TOM. COME IN.

SIT DOWN.

ALL RIGHT, MINNIE.

TOM, YOU WILL BE PLEASED TO LEARN

WE HAVE MADE A CLEAR VICTORY IN THIS ELECTION--

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.

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 ACQUIESCED, INDEED I ENCOURAGED HER

BY LENDING HER BOOKS.

YOU RAISING SOME GRIEVANCE AGAINST MISS CARRIE BARDEN?

SHE'S OBVIOUSLY NOT A FIT PERSON FOR THE JOB.

WE FIGURED THAT SHE DOING ALL RIGHT.

TOM, 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-BEING 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.

COURSE, I WOULD NOT PRESS YOU, TOM.

I WILL NOT EXPECT YOUR ANSWER UNTIL TOMORROW.

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 NOTHING TO DO WITH IT AT ALL,

AND YOU KNOWS IT.

FOOL.

WHY'D HE HAVE TO GO 'ROUND

SAYING HE GONNA MARRY HER FOR?

OH...

IS THAT WHAT STICK IN YOUR CRAW--

MARRYING?

IF HE JUST LAY WITH HER

AND LEAVE HER WITH A BIG BELLY

AND NO NAME FOR THE CHILD--

THEN THAT'D BE ALL RIGHT?

THE 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.

HOW COME HE DON'T SAY NOTHING ABOUT HIS OWN SON,

NOSING AROUND A DECENT CHRISTIAN WOMAN

LIKE A RANDY GOAT?

BECAUSE THAT'S HIS SON, AND HE WHITE.

PAPA, IS YOU GONNA TURN MISS CARRIE

OUT THE 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 NOTHING.

THAT'S YOUR FATHER.

I KNOW.

AND HE HAD THE SAY OVER ME,

BUT YOU AIN'T THE FATHER OVER MISS CARRIE BARDEN.

LIZBETH.

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 NOTHING.

NOW, LIZBETH,

THAT SCHOOL GOT TO KEEP ON.

MEANING, SORRY AS IT IS,

IT'S THE ONLY WAY BLACK FOLK

GONNA BREAK OUT AND CLIMB.

AND THAT SCHOOL GOTTA KEEP ON.

SO YOU GONNA DO

WHAT THE WHITE MAN TELL YOU?

YOU GONNA KNUCKLE UNDER, PAPA?

LIZBETH, YOU HUSH!

THE 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 YOUR TOE.

YOU'S FUNNY AS A MISCHIEF

WHEN YOU JUMP, JIM CROW.

JUMP, JIM CROW.

JUMP, 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!

LIZBETH!

DON'T YOU TOUCH THIS CHILD!

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 WHAT 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?

COLONEL WARNER?

I DONE COME WITH THE ANSWER

ABOUT MISS CARRIE BARDEN AND THE SCHOOL.

THIS HOW IT BE.

WE AIN'T GOIN' TURN MISS CARRIE BARDEN

OUT OF 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 GOIN' HAVE THE TEACHER WE WANTS.

THE SCHOOL GOIN' GO ON.

TOM.

FROM MY SON.

I FOUND IT THIS MORNING ON MY SHAVING STAND.

HE 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.

COLONEL, I IS SURE LEARNING.

YOU AND I BOTH UNDERSTAND THIS IS WRONG,

BUT THEY SAY THAT IN EVERY EVIL

THERE IS A COMPENSATING GOOD.

THEY'RE GONE,

AND AT LEAST WE'RE SHUT OF THAT WOMAN AT THE SCHOOL.

THEN I BEST GO, COLONEL.

WE GOIN' HAVE A LOT OF HUNTING

BEFORE WE FIND US ANOTHER TEACHER

WITH THE QUALITY OF MISS CARRIE--

MRS. WARNER.

[TALK AND LAUGHTER]

EARL, I'M OCCUPIED WITH A LADY.

COME ON,

YOU CAN SQUEEZE THEM DAMSON PLUMS ANY TIME.

THIS IS SOMETHING.

YOU WANT A DRINK, EARL?

DAMSON PLUMS...

JIM GOLIGHTLY JUST RODE INTO TOWN.

YOUR BROTHER'S COMING BACK.

HE SAID HE SEEN HIM ON ON THE RIPLEY ROAD

IN HIS BUGGY,

WITH HIS NIGGER WOMAN SITTING RIGHT BESIDE HIM.

WELL, AS THE FELLOW SAID, "AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?"

HE'S GOT HIS NERVE.

GONNA DRIVE THAT SLUT RIGHT UP MAIN STREET

IN FRONT OF DECENT WHITE WOMEN.

YOU HEAR US WHAT WE'S TALKING ABOUT LAST NIGHT,

DON'T YOU?

ABOUT WHAT WE WAS ALL GONNA DO

IF HE BRUNG HER BACK HERE?

'CAUSE THE BOYS IS READY.

THEY'RE GETTING A BIT EDGY--

BECAUSE HE IS YOUR BROTHER.

THEY JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO.

I'M GOING TO FINISH THIS BOTTLE.

THEN I'M GONNA MAKE ME SOME DAMSON PLUM JAM.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR BROTHER?

I HAVE NO BROTHER.

WHATEVER THE BOYS FEEL THEY HAVE TO DO...

IT DON'T MATTER TO ME ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

HEY, BOYS!

HEY, JESSE!

GET ON OVER HERE!

ALL RIGHT, JIM WARNER IS COMING BACK

WITH HIS NIGGER BRIDE.

HEY, DARKY.

IF YOU LIKE WHITE MEN SO MUCH,

HOW ABOUT A REAL ONE?

JIM!

LUTHER.

MR. JIM, SIR,

COLONEL ASKS YOU UP TO THE HOUSE.

HE SAY I STAY HERE

AND TAKE CARE 0F YOUR BUGGY FOR YOU.

THANK YOU, LUTHER.

GOOD AFTERNOON, PAPA.

I ASSUME YOU HAVE CARRIED OUT

THE ACT THREATENED IN YOUR LETTER.

WE WERE MARRIED BY JUDGE BRAITHWAITE...

THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE...

LIAISON...

CAN BE ANNULLED ON SEVERAL GROUNDS--

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.

I...

I'M 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 ALL THOSE OTHER MEN

THAT USED TO RIDE

WITH BEDFORD FOREST AND THE KLAN,

THEY'RE JUST WAITING 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.

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'M CONCERNED,

THE MARK IS ON YOU.

YOU ARE A NIGGER.

[CHURCH BELL]

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.

OH, YES, MISTER JIM.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. I DO APPRECIATE IT.

WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

PAPA, I WANTS TO GO TO MEMPHIS TO SCHOOL.

I WANT TO BE A TEACHER.

THAT'S FAR AWAY.

MEMPHIS.

I IS ASKING YOUR PERMISSION

OUT OF RESPECT, PAPA,

BUT THAT WHAT I BOUND TO DO.

AND THAT WHAT YOU DO.

Tom: GOOD-BYE, DADDY.

"I FEEL WE HAVE KEPT COMPANY LONG ENOUGH

"FOR ME TO PROPOSE

"TO YOU THAT WE DISCUSS THE CONTRACT OF MARRIAGE.

"SINCERELY,

W.E. POME."

I WILL,

WITH A SUITABLE SHOW OF MODESTY,

ALLOW YOU...

TO PLACE MY NAME IN NOMINATION ON YOUR SLATE.

GOOD. AGAINST YOUR OWN PA.

I DON'T NEED YOU.

I CAN MAKE MY OWN CONTACTS.

PAPA.

WILL GOT SOMETHING

HE WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

Man: DEARLY BELOVED,

WE ARE GATHERED HERE TONIGHT...

I'M GOING TO MAKE A SUCCESS OUT OF THIS BUSINESS.

THAT'S MY WAY OF WINNING THIS HERE FIGHT.

I MEANS ON MAKING DO.

AND I MEANS ON GOIN' STRAIGHT FORWARD.

THIS HERE OUR GRANDCHILD

THIS FAMILY GOIN' TO GO FORWARD.