Original subtitles

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

NARRATOR: Last on Roots...

(CHUCKLING) Kizzy, there you are. There you are.

My friend. My dearest friend.

This is a traveling pass.

Noah confessed it was forged for him

by Kizzy.

Noah's been sold off, what's left of him.

And Kizzy--

Oh, God, no. No, Massa. You can't sell Kizzy, too.

Mr. Tom Moore owns Kizzy now.

(CRYING) Mama! Papa! No!

KIZZY: Mama! No! Papa!

Missy Anne, please, no!

KIZZY: Mama!

-You know your name? -Kizzy. Kizzy Reynolds.

Uh-huh. Kizzy Moore. I bought you. You're my property now.

(SCOFFS) Cost a fair price.

Enough for a payment on a cotton gin, your overseer said.

Well, Kizzy, I'm gonna get my money's worth.

(CRYING)

My name's Malizy. I's the cook.

You best know about Master Tom Moore.

He keeps studdin' you till you has a baby. Then he leaves you alone.

When I has my baby, he gonna be a boy.

And when that boy grow up,

I promise you one thing,

Massa Tom Moore gonna get what he deserve.

(HORSE NEIGHS)

(SAM EXCLAIMING)

(EXCLAIMING)

(CHUCKLING)

Oh, welcome, Mr. Bennett. Welcome to our home.

Of course, it's not nearly so fine as what you're used to.

Well, a smile like yours will make any house a mansion, Mrs. Moore.

Oh, for heaven's sake.

Well said, sir. You have a gift.

Oh, no, not in comparison to my boy, Sam, here.

He's a terrible one for the ladies.

Aren't you, Sam?

Yes, sir.

Not much to choose from around here.

I don't keep too many slaves.

Oh, Mr. Bennett, you must be weary after your long journey.

Won't you step inside and rest yourself?

Thank you, ma'am. I'm much obliged.

Kizzy, girl.

That driver got his eye glued on you.

Just glued!

MALIZY: Smile at him, you foolish child.

Bee needs a sniff of honey to keep him buzzing around.

(SCOFFS)

I'd sooner die than smile at that sassy peacock.

Girl, pride is a deadly sin,

and you is too young to die.

(LAUGHING)

Mama?

I come to tell you, I can't eat supper with you tonight.

Why you can't?

Gotta get the chickens ready for tomorrow.

Massa showing off his stock to some gamecocker from Georgia!

Massa.

I made you a special supper,

all the things you like.

Ow!

Ooh! Mmm!

Can't help it, though.

Me and Mingo gonna be up most of the night getting them birds ready.

Now, what you getting all fussed about?

It ain't my fault.

Right, then, go on and say it, then.

"Georgie, I swear you loves them roosters more than you loves your own mama.

"Georgie,

"why can't you be like your granddaddy, the African,

"and get yourself some learning and get..." I'm gonna tell you why.

Ain't nobody gonna cut off my foot for no damn fool runaway.

Have me limping--

You keep your mocking tongue off my daddy, boy!

Least he weren't like you, slave down to your bones.

You think you pretty smart and grown up, don't you?

I may not be much older than you, but I am your mama,

and I'm gonna make something of you in spite of yourself.

You gonna do as I say.

All right, Mama.

I'll tell Massa, "Il can't tend your chickens tonight

"'cause my mama wants me to eat supper with her."

Get on out of here, boy.

Oh, Mama. Thank you, Mama.

(CLUCKING)

I think Massa Bennett might like to see old Red, Mingo.

Yes, sir!

Come on there, Red.

Show him that gamecock, boy!

Here he is, old Red!

Come on, now. Come on.

Catch it if you can, now. There it is, come on.

Bad chicken. Look at you.

(SAM EXCLAIMING)

Come on! (LAUGHS)

(LAUGHING) Come on.

It's time you got pitted, anyway. Come on!

Catch it.

Yeah, there he is.

That's enough, George. Don't run him to death.

Massa, ain't nothing gonna Kill that red devil

unless it's a spur through his head.

MR. BENNETT: It's a fine bird, fine.

Your stock's gonna strengthen our breed.

That's all, boys.

-Boy? -Yes, sir?

You seem to have a sure hand with a gamecock.

(CHUCKLES) Why, thank you, sir.

But, ain't nothing I knows except what Massa and Mingo teached me.

Where's that fancy nigger of yours?

Last time I saw him,

he was chasing a plump little chicken with a speckled bandanna.

Hey... (STUTTERS) I's called Samuel.

Samuel Bennett.

Girl, is you bashful?

Is you deaf?

Or just plain ornery?

-Is you talking to me? -(SCOFFS)

Lord, Lordy. I reckon I is talking to you.

There don't seem to be nobody else out here.

(SCOFFS) I can't believe you talking to me.

You such a grand driver.

Traveling every which way around the county.

And me, just plain as mud.

Ooh, you is sassy, woman. (CHUCKLES)

I bet you give that man of yours one devil of a time, huh?

I be by myself, thank you.

Uh, look here, how is you called?

Kizzy.

(MOUTHING) Kizzy.

(GRUNTS)

(CHUCKLES)

Look here.

These here are for you, pretty Kizzy.

Why, thank you.

Massa Moore be mighty obliged, you weeding his garden for him.

(EXCLAIMS) Woman, you has a sharp tongue.

Oh, but I likes you.

Yes, I likes you in spite of yourself. (LAUGHS)

Look here.

Uh, what you say me and you go out walking this evening, huh?

What you want with me anyway?

Oh, now, what any healthy man want with any fine-looking woman, huh?

Well, you can want what you want all you want.

Now, look here.

Now, I ain't gonna be here, but for this week, now.

Now, ain't you got any heart at all?

If 1 do, Mr. Fancy Driver,

nobody take it free or buy it cheap.

Hallelu... Yeah!

(ALL SINGING GOSPEL)

Amen! Amen!

Oh, Lord, we have the Spirit!

And we thanks you for bestowing it on us!

-Amen! Amen! -Amen!

Dear God. Our Lord.

Well, good mornin', sister.

Thank you for coming to the meeting.

Thank the Lord for a good lookin' service.

You really shouted down that old devil, Reverend.

His ears must still be ringing! (LAUGHING)

Well, Sister Sara, my lungs is in the service of the Lord.

-Amen! -Amen!

Daddy, you supposed to baptize young Joshua Clayborne.

And his mama say he about to fall asleep.

Yes, indeed. I thank you, Mathilda.

Excuse me, ladies.

Always good to see you, angel.

How's Georgie been treating you?

It's my hope you and my boy gonna jump the broom someday.

Good wife like you just what he need to steady him down.

Miss Kizzy.

I so partial to that sinful boy of yours that I ashamed of myself.

But I ain't gonna give him the time of day until he mends his ways.

That's what I'm talking about.

We got to grab the evil,

a scaly creature, by his slimy neck,

you see, and then you just

shake him out!

I say you... Oh, you shake him good!

And then you tussle him on down, you see,

and then you tell him right straight out.

You got to tell him straight out. You say,

"Get thee behind me, Satan.

"I say, get thee behind me.

"The Lord, the Lord am with me!”

I say, "Get thee behind me, Satan!"

Oh, I'm gonna tussle you...

George Moore, you stop that right this second!

(CHUCKLES) Oh, well, it's always so nice to see a new face at the services.

I'm so glad you could join us, Sister Mathilda.

You were just blaspheming and mocking a fine man like my daddy.

You is no account, George Moore!

Wait. (CHUCKLES) Erm...

Uh, excuse me a minute.

Tildy... (CHUCKLES)

Tildy, I's sorry.

I was only funnin'.

You know I don't mean nothing against your daddy.

(GASPS) Don't nothing matter to you?

You matter to me, Tildy.

Even though you always a preacher's daughter, never just a girl.

Save that for them giggling ninnies

who follows you around, hanging on your every word.

(CHUCKLES) Aw...

-Come here, Tildy. -Oh, leave me alone, George Moore.

Go on,

do what you want.

It ain't nothing to me.

Oh, it ain't, huh?

Then how come you shaking?

Look, I wanna take you and show you what does matter to me.

Something I ain't never showed no other girl, come on.

(HORSE NEIGHING)

If you's handing out kisses, where do the line start?

I ain't handing any out, Mr. Man.

Well, then, what was you giving that chicken trainer there, young George, huh?

George is special.

-He anything to you, girl? -Mmm-hmm.

He my son.

(LAUGHING)

You the boy's mama, huh?

Well, Lord, Lord, don't that beat all.

Uh...

Look here.

If you's thinking about going home,

I thought I might see you safe to your cabin.

(SCOFFS) You thought wrong as usual, Mr. Man.

Oh, come on, now.

What you scared of, girl?

I ain't scared of nothing,

least of all you.

Well, now, shouldn't be no reason I can't see you home, now, should there?

(LAUGHS)

Do the boy know the Massa's his real daddy?

He used to ask, but I never told him.

If he has a notion, he don't ask no more.

Well, he gonna find out someday.

Not from me, he ain't.

Ain't nothing I wants to crow about.

I used to pray that George'd kill Massa Moore when he was old enough.

But I got older and I wanted my boy to be older too, so I give it up.

Girl, don't you be talking about niggers hurting white folks.

(SCOFFS) You know that ain't healthy.

Ain't no fear of that happening.

He and Massa closer than finger and thumb.

Off to those cockfights with old Mingo every week.

Well, this is my place.

Uh... (SNIFFLES)

Do... Do the boy stay here with you?

George stay where he most happy,

with his chickens.

Well, what we standing out here for? Let's go on inside, then, huh.

You wanted to see me safe to my cabin.

I's safe now. Thank you and goodbye.

Uh, Kizzy?

I thinks you's powerful lonesome, pretty Kizzy.

Well, if I is,

it ain't for the likes of you.

Woman, you has a lot of pride.

But I admire you for it. Yes, sir. (CHUCKLES)

But, you see, I's a prideful man myself.

And you ain't been giving my pride much nourishment.

Now, you could go on in there if you wants to and shut the door on me,

but if you do, now, do it for good, you hear.

'Cause I ain't gonna come around here knocking on your door no more.

Well?

What you standing out there for, fool?

(LAUGHING)

Look at these stags go at it. Isn't it something?

Come on.

Easy, easy!

You will have your day, boy.

Ain't you scared?

Scared?

I loves these birds.

They like my babies.

(CHUCKLES)

Good boy.

It's time they was a mating.

You see, that's what all the ruckus is about.

Ain't nothing more ornery than a young game bird

without a whole covey of hens to kind of soothe him down.

It's the way of nature.

It's the way of dumb critters, George.

It's fine for them.

But I ain't no dumb critter.

Won't think like one.

Won't live like one.

And I sure don't want to be treated like one.

Tildy...

Time I was getting home.

Girl, what you looking at me like that for?

You is a gentle man.

I am?

Maybe something about you brings out the gentle in me.

(LAUGHS)

Sam Bennett.

What's your real name, Sam Bennett?

-Just that. -No, it ain't.

That's your slave name.

Like my slave name is Kizzy Moore.

But my real name is Kizzy Kinte, after my daddy.

Girl, what is you talking about?

I'm talking about where we come from.

About Africa.

-And what we was before we were slaves. -(LAUGHING)

Lord, Lord, ain't nothing a bigger pain than a nigger got Africa on his mind.

What's so grand about Africa anyhow, huh?

You know one thing?

I drive and see more than most Africans can dream about.

You ain't one to know how much an African can dream, Sam.

In your driving, you ever come on a plantation called the Reynolds plantation?

I reckon I have passed it once or twice.

I think it'd be about...

About four hours away from here. Why?

I got some folks I know there.

At least, I think I do.

-Who that? -My mama and my daddy.

And I'm longing to see them.

(CHUCKLES)

Lord, you sure is a girl full of a whole lot of longings, ain't you?

(BOTH LAUGH)

Mmm-hmm, yes, I is.

Girl, what is you... Don't put no hex on me.

I ain't putting no hex on you, fool!

I'm writing your name. See?

S-A-M.

Hey, look here.

Where you learn that?

Young Missy teach me,

on another plantation.

Well, best you just forget it, hear?

Massa don't like no black folks

knowing nothing about no reading and writing.

Why you all the time worried about what the Massa like?

I's only worried about you, girl.

I just don't want no harm to come to you, that's all.

Come here.

SAM: Lord, Kizzy.

I swear, if I didn't know better, I'd say you was working on getting me fat.

All this here food you handing out.

KIZZY: Don't want you fat, Sam.

Just trying to keep up your strength is all.

SAM: Whoo! (LAUGHING)

Come here, girl.

Now, you leave me be.

-I got work to do. -Well, so has I. (LAUGHS)

Come on, now, stop.

Lord, Lord.

Look here.

I sure is thirsty, girl.

-Has you got any water in this here cabin? -Uh-huh.

(GRUNTS)

Well, fetch me some.

(SIGHS)

I glad to do that.

Got me some lovely fresh spring water.

And I'm taking it right from the bottom of this barrel,

so it'll be nice and cool.

Oh, that's good.

Here's your water, Samuel, dear.

(GASPS)

Damn it! What'd you do that for?

Never say "Fetch me."

You want something from me, anything, I glad to give it.

But you ask.

Just 'cause you bedded me don't mean you can abuse me.

I slave enough in my life without being slave to you.

(SCOFFS)

Come here.

I mean, please.

Pretty Kizzy, please come here.

See now?

"Please" gets his self pleased.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

What... Honey, what's wrong?

Come on, now, tell me what's wrong.

(SNIFFLING)

Sam, I loses everybody.

Everybody.

The first boy I ever loved.

Noah, he was sold away.

Then they took me from my mama and my daddy.

And now, you're going away.

Oh, hush up, girl, come here. Come here.

Sam, what am I gonna do after you're gone?

What am I gonna do?

Same with me.

Go on living one day at a time, just like we always done.

Come here.

We got a whole lot of night left. (LAUGHS)

Hey, George. (LAUGHS)

George.

-What you want? -Come here.

Uh, you, uh, lose a rooster, George?

No. Why?

Well, now. (SCOFFS)

Sure looks like your mama found one.

Get him off of me!

(GEORGE GRUNTS)

Mama. Mama, I wanna talk to you. (PANTING)

"Good morning, Mama. How you feeling this morning?"

-"Oh, I'm just fine--" -I want to talk to you about you.

Ain't you ashamed of yourself?

Everybody knows that you been

keeping that driver in your cabin all these nights.

Don't you care nothing about how I feels?

It's scandalizing everybody.

I can't go nowhere without people looking and laughing and winking their eye.

Well, I ain't gonna stand for it.

What's that you ain't gonna stand for, George, huh?

You let my mama be.

Oh, I knows all about you.

Now, I's warning you.

You leave my mama be.

Afraid I can't do that, boy.

I's gonna marry your mama.

Sam?

Massa always told me.

If I find me a girl I wants to marry, he'd buy her for me.

Well I asked him.

And he agreeable.

-Sam, I-- -Kizzy.

Kizzy, I can't leave you.

I's obliged to tell you it ain't for lack of trying.

The boy there, he right about me, far as I know.

I done had a whole bunch of girls.

And that ain't no secret.

I've been a rolling stone so long, I don't know if I can live any other way.

But I never stopped being lonely till I met you.

Scared me half to death, wanting somebody just for myself.

But I want you, Kizzy.

Will you have me?

I can't answer you now, Sam.

I got to puzzle things out.

Well, puzzle fast, girl, ‘cause we ain't got a whole bunch of time.

Er, sure do admire you, way you stands up for your mama, boy.

Does you proud.

Georgie.

I reckon he's a good man, Mama.

I reckon I could be wrong.

I can't leaves you. You needs me.

Don't you fret.

Besides, we'll be seeing each other all the time.

He being a driver and all,

and me traveling around with Massa Moore.

Mama.

You give me all you could give me.

You got some happiness coming to you in your life.

Oh, Georgie.

I loves you.

-(CRYING) -It's gonna be all right, Mama.

Don't you...

Don't you fret.

It's gonna be all right.

(CRYING)

Come now, Tom.

Everything has its price. How much for the boy? Really.

Well, Mr. Bennett, I'll be straight with you.

Ain't no amount of cash could pry that George loose from me.

(CHUCKLES) You can see as clear as I do.

That's the best natural-born chicken fighter there ever was.

That nigger is my fortune and my future.

I don't disagree with you, Tom, but I was obliged to try.

If you sold that boy, you'd be a damn fool,

and you ain't no fool, Tom. Oh, that's a fact.

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Ma'am.

I have dined on Frenchified food from Philadelphia to New Orleans.

But there is nothing that lingers on the palate

like the taste of good, honest country cooking.

-That was a fine meal, ma'am. -Why, thank you, sir.

Mr. Bennett, can I offer you the hospitality of my slave row?

-Not tonight, Tom. Thank you. -Are you sure, sir?

Nothing rounds off a fine meal like a visit to slave row.

One of the best traditions of civilized living.

Well, some other time, Tom. (STUTTERS) I'm a bit tired.

Up to you, sir.

Mr. Bennett, can I get you anything more?

Why, no, thank you, ma'am.

If you'll just excuse me, I'm about to retire.

Mrs. Moore, Tom. Fine meal.

I'm feeling kind of sluggish, myself.

You don't mind if I take a walk and enjoy a cigar?

‘Course not.

l, um... I may be a while.

If you're feeling tired, you needn't wait up for me.

That's very considerate of you.

Well, good night.

Good night.

Tom?

Don't catch anything on your walk.

There's a little nip in the air.

Sam?

It's been quite a while, huh, Kizzy?

(MR. MOORE LAUGHING)

Come on, Kizzy, I haven't got all night.

-No. -What did you say?

No, Massa, please.

I'm gonna be married in a while.

Well, I know that.

I agreed to it, didn't I?

(GRUNTS)

Got me another boot, Kizzy.

(CHUCKLES) My massa give me the rig for the day.

That Massa, Bennett, treat you pretty good,

-letting you have this rig like this. -(LAUGHS)

And traveling passes, too.

Oh, he one fine Massa.

Treat me just like I's white! (LAUGHS)

Yes, yes! You gonna like it up there.

-Sam. -What's that?

-Take me there. -Take you where?

Girl, you ain't making no sense at all. What you talking about?

To see my mama and daddy, to the Reynolds plantation.

Oh, now, I don't know about that.

That's almost four hours away from here, now.

Sam, please.

I ain't been off this plantation since I got here.

And I'd do anything to see my folks and tell them about us.

Sam, take me there.

I won't ask you anything again as long as we live.

Hah! Come on!

Oh, come on, now, Kizzy, back off. You're gonna have us in a ditch.

Ol' Toby went about two years ago.

After your mama, Bell, was sold away to that traveling slaver,

he just faded.

(CHUCKLES) Lord, that crazy African.

What do you mean, "Crazy"?

Well, all he ever talked about was running away.

Plotting and scheming about escaping till the day he die,

and him not hardly able to walk.

I was with him when he passed to glory.

Did he say anything before he died?

Nothing I could make no sense of.

Just jabbered away in African.

He kept saying something like,

"Belong..." "Belong" something.

Were it Kamby Bolongo?

That's right.

He kept saying it over and over.

"Kamby Bolongo. Kamby Bolongo."

Like he were praying.

"Kamby Bolongo?" What that mean?

It mean "river."

(CRYING) It was one of the first things he ever taught me.

I sorry about your folks, miss.

I sure miss that old African.

I'd like to be alone for a while.

(SOBBING)

Daddy.

Mama.

Wherever you be, oh, I miss you so.

I'm sorry you died without my comfort.

I guess you worried about what happened to your little girl.

Well, I ain't so bad.

I've had my sorrows just like you, and my joys.

I got me a son, George.

I wish you could see him.

He's tall and strong,

and he got a grin that'll blind your eye and break your heart.

You'd like him, Daddy.

I know you would.

I told him how 'bout how you were looking for a log to make a drum

when the slave catchers took you.

And about your real name being Kunta Kinte.

And Kamby Bolongo mean "river," and ko, "a fiddle."

Sometime he seems to forget.

But he's a good boy, Daddy.

He's just young, that's all.

(SNIFFLES)

Soon, I'm gonna get married,

and I'm gonna have more children.

And I'm gonna teach them about freedom.

So that they can teach their children.

I promise you, Daddy, your dream will not die.

Someday, we gonna be free.

Kizzy.

I don't mean to trouble your mourning, but we better be getting back, yeah?

(SCRAPING)

SAM: Hah!

Get up, there!

You ain't got to work in them fields no more, neither.

No, sir. (CHUCKLES)

You gonna be right up there in the big house with the missus herself.

Oh, and one other thing.

I knows you a proud and sassy woman,

Lord knows I loves you for it.

But Massa.

Massa can't abide a nigger gets above herself.

Yeah, you gonna have to walk a might softer

when you gets up there in the big house.

That sun getting mighty low.

We gonna be in a world of trouble.

Step lively, you lazy beasts!

(YELLING)

Come on!

Get up there!

There, there.

Whoa, there.

Whoa, whoa.

How dare you abuse my good nature.

I told you to get that carriage home before dark!

I'm sorry, Massa. I'm powerful sorry. But you see--

I have a good mind to send you back into the fields.

No, Massa.

-Give you a taste of some real work. -No, Massa.

-Then maybe you'll appreciate... -Please don't do that to me.

-...the good life you've seen. -I'm sorry, Massa. I'm sorry, Massa.

-I just might not buy you that bitch! -No, no, no, Massa!

-Please, please don't do that. Please. -Bed down these horses.

-Massa, please. -They're all lathered up. Bed 'em down!

Yes, sir. Yes, sir, Massa.

I'm sorry, Massa. Awful sorry, Massa. Please.

-I'll deal with you in the morning. -Bless you, Massa.

Bless you.

(GASPS)

(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)

Oh, he's...

He a powerful man. (CHUCKLES)

But it gonna be all right.

It gonna be all right.

I don't ever, ever...

...wanna come that close to trouble again.

Uh...

I'm gonna take care of these horses here

and come back and help you get your things together.

Is you all packed, darling?

No.

(SCOFFS)

What you mean, "No?"

We're leaving here early in the morning.

No, Sam. I ain't goin' with you.

I thought you loved me, darling.

I do love you, Sam.

You is a good and loving man.

And you've made me happier this week than I have ever been in my whole life.

And I'll never forget you, but I can't marry you.

Oh... (CHUCKLES)

Sure, you just got the last-minute wobbles, that's all.

No, Sam. I can't marry you, and there are no two ways about it.

Oh, now, Kizzy.

Come on.

Come on, tell me what I've done wrong, huh?

I'll make it up to you.

It ain't your fault.

There ain't no makin' up to do.

It's just that we're too different. That's all.

I forgot who I was for a while.

I'm sorry.

Forgive me.

You just think you better than I is, don't you?

I didn't say that, Sam.

No, but I hear it just the same.

(SCOFFS)

Funny part is, you do the Massa's biddin' the same as I do.

You think I don't know Massa Moore been here last night?

You knew the Massa was here last night?

I seen him come down from the big house.

How come you didn't say anything about it today?

Kizzy, now, what'd you expect me to say, huh?

What'd you expect me to say?

That's the way it is.

There wasn't nothing I could say about it.

Yes, there was.

You could have cared, Sam. You could have cared.

The Massa can take my body, but he can't touch my spirit.

He can't touch the dream of me being a free woman.

When they bought you, you just gave them your soul for free.

-Kizzy-- -Oh, goodbye, Sam.

Kizzy, don't say I ain't got no dreams.

'Cause I has.

Just ain't big as yours, and that's all.

Well, I hope it come true for you, Sam.

All right, boys, now that you got Bennett's birds on his carriage,

we better start treatin' these birds.

We got us some dates to fill around this county.

(CACKLING)

Yes, sir. These birds are raring to go, and so is I.

Um, them birds is going, Mingo, but you are staying here.

You ain't been looking too good lately.

I want you to get yourself rested up.

Oh, I all right, Massa.

Anyway, you too old for all this traveling.

George here can handle things on his own now.

But, Massa, cockfighting is all my life.

But I ain't taking you away from your chickens.

You can go on tendin' 'em and trainin' 'em.

Massa, uh...

Mingo, he fine, just fine.

Sure, he been feelin' a little poorly lately,

but he's one of the finest cockfighters alive.

Now, you all know that.

I made up my mind, boy.

Mr. Bennett admired you too much for me to overlook it.

You is my main trainer now.

We is gonna make us a pile of money.

Only gonna be two names gamecockers talk about from now on.

Tom Moore and his boy George. (LAUGHS)

-Oh, uh, one more thing. -Yes, sir?

Find yourself a wife quick. You hear?

I don't want my trainer catting around the countryside at night

spending up all his gumption.

Yes, Massa Moore.

-Mingo, look, I-- -Don't fret, boy.

It been coming a long time.

And he right. You is ready.

Everything you learn about chickens I teach,

there's things you know nobody can teach nobody.

No, man. I...

I be thanking you for everything you given me.

You're the only one I ever give it to, Georgie.

And I wanna thank you.

Georgie.

Yes.

Take it, boy.

(STUTTERS) No, no. I can't.

Take it, boy. You the cock of the walk now.

Take it.

(MR. BENNETT SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

MRS. MOORE: Ah, thank you, sir.

(SAM EXCLAIMING)

Mama, wait till you hear the news! (LAUGHS)

Mama, I...

Why didn't you marry him, Mama?

Sam wasn't like us.

Nobody ever told him where he come from.

So he didn't have a dream of where he ought to be going.

I sorry.

(SOFTLY) The cap.

Master made me head trainer today.

That nice.

Mama, I know how you be feelin' about cockfighting and all.

But listen to me one time.

I'm gonna tell you something.

I loves being a cockfighter.

I's proud.

Ain't nobody in the world know them birds better than I do.

I'm gonna make a name for myself.

Uh-- Get me some respect.

But not by running like your daddy.

No, I...

I'm gonna pick them birds until I can buy myself free.

And then I'll look straight ahead the rest of my life.

Not over my shoulder.

Another thing.

I be marrying Mathilda.

(CHUCKLES) Oh, she don't know yet.

But I got a feeling she ain't gonna put up too much fuss.

There is hope for you yet, Georgie.

Oh, hope for us, Mama. Hope for both of us.

A little for me.

But a whole lifetime of hope for you yet.

-But one thing, Georgie. -What's that, Mama?

Don't you believe everything Massa tell you.

Don't you trust that man.

(LAUGHING)

What you talking, Mama? What...

Well, Massa, he treat me fine.

Why he more like a daddy to me.

(CLAMORING)

(LAUGHING AND WHOOPING)

MR. MOORE: Yeah! Yeah!

Yeah!

The winner. The winner.

Squire James, do you see the winner?

Only the first.

Thank you, brothers.

(LAUGHING)

What you mean, your last fight? You been sold?

Nope. I'm a nigger what owns a nigger.

I done bought my own freedom papers.

Bought yourself?

I didn't know a slave could do that?

All you need

is a willing master and the money.

And I got a bill of sale to prove that I own me.

Took me near 20 years,

but I done it.

Saved every penny.

-More than $2,000! -Two--

I could have bought free sooner if I was just a field hand.

But trainers of fighting chickens, like you and me, George,

we cost the most.

Now that old no-account massa of yours, do he ever share the winnings with you?

Then you can do it too, George.

Save up.

Got my wife, Tildy,

Mama Kizzy, and two young ones. (CHUCKLES)

Likes to bring them presents.

And that takes a lot of money.

Presents, huh?

And fine clothes for yourself, hmm?

Stuff like that?

I'm a sporting man, Marcellus.

Now, sporting men got their ways.

-Mmm. -Chicken George.

I admire your handling of the white.

Your fight was well-fought, Chicken George, well-fought.

Thank you, sir.

Let's be on our way, Marcellus.

(CROWING)

Gonna be your own massa.

And that's the best part, George. Being free.

Can't nothing be better than that.

(EXCLAIMING)

(SINGING)

(LAUGHING)

Who'd have thought old Marcellus go and buy himself?

(GUNSHOT)

Stand and hold, you murdering black!

Massa Moore. Massa Moore.

All right, boy. What do you got in there?

(STUTTERS) Fighting cocks, sir.

Belong to Master Moore. He asleep right here in the back.

Master Moore!

You know a nigger named Nat Turner, boy?

No, boss. Don't know nobody by that name.

Master Moore!

We find out that you know anything about Nat Turner, boy,

I'm gonna stick the muzzle of this musket right in your teeth

and I'm gonna pull the trigger. Do you hear me?

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I hears you, sir.

Master Moore!

Hey, now,

what's going on around here?

What's your name?

Moore. Tom Moore.

-What the devil is your name? -You all right, Moore?

Is he your slave?

Yeah, of course he's mine.

He's...

Tell me, what is going on around here?

We're wasting our time.

This nigger's harmless.

This cracker's drunk.

Let's go. Come on.

What did you call me?

What did you call me?

I'm no cracker! I'm Tom Moore!

And I own my own land, and I don't owe nobody a penny!

And I fight the best string of chickens in Caswell County!

Tom Moore is no cracker!

Another one.

Gentry, aristocrats. (SPITS)

They treated me worse than a nigger my whole life.

Still do.

-Tell me something, George. -Yes, Massa.

You and I, we've been cockfighting almost 20 years, right?

That's right.

It don't matter that we got our pockets stuffed full of money from winning.

It don't matter.

I know, Massa.

It seem like every time we get ourselves a new brood of chickens,

I says, "Maybe this one."

"Maybe this one's gonna be the one who gonna be champion.

"Gonna beat old Squire James

"in some big, fancy fight, like!"

Hell, George, you and I got the same secret hankering.

In some ways, you and I is more alike

than any white man and nigger I ever saw.

I would go to my grave happy, George,

if I could beat him just one time.

One time, George.

And I would be the happiest man in Caswell County.

Massa, you ever hear tell of a slave named Nat Turner?

(STAMMERING) No, never heard of him.

Well, them white men, they looking after him.

He must be a runaway.

(GEORGE SINGING)

(DOG BARKING IN THE DISTANCE)

Massa Moore?

We's home, but there don't appear to be--

You killed him!

You killed my Tom, you black heathen!

Mrs. Moore, he ain't dead, he's--

Look, Mrs. Moore, I swear, I didn't kill no--

You're with that Nat Turner!

You killed my Tom, and you're out to kill me now.

Mrs. Moore, why don't you listen to me, I swear--

Stand still!

Stand still, you mealy-mouthed, psalm-singing son of a...

(CRYING)

Oh, Lord, you're gonna have to help me.

I can't stay awake, and they're gonna murder me in my sleep.

Please help me.

MR. MOORE: Whatever you say, my dear.

(GRUNTS)

Oh, Tom! Thank God, you're alive!

Of course I'm alive, woman. (LAUGHS)

I thought that damn Chicken George had killed you for sure.

Chicken George kill me? Now, what kind of blather is that?

What's all that shooting about? What's going on around here?

Tom, the niggers are killing white folks.

Are you addled, woman?

What niggers are killing what white folks?

Nat Turner. That Nat Turner, he's doing it all.

I heard that name before.

Ah... Who is this Nat Turner?

Come on, come on.

How long she been like this?

Started about three days ago,

ever since she heard about what that Nat Turner was doing.

Now, you sure this true?

Ain't some scaredy tale she heard and didn't understand?

It true, George. It gospel true.

MRS. MOORE: It started in Virginia, in South Hampton County, Tom.

Oh, a whole gang of blacks went from plantation to plantation,

killing whole families, even the babies.

Even the poor little babies.

And you here all by yourself, poor thing.

But I could see it in their faces,

I could see it in their eyes.

They was planning. They was plotting!

Calm down, dear. I'm home now.

Everything's gonna be fine.

Don't you fret.

Don't fret?

(MUTTERING)

Miserable...

Here, here.

What do you think of that?

Piece of grit or bone or something.

Or ground glass.

I found that next to my plate last night.

I tell you, Tom, the niggers are putting ground glass in our food.

They're trying to Kill us,

and we gotta do something about it before it's too late.

(GEORGE LAUGHING)

Yeah, Massa Moore gonna smooth her feathers down.

-(LAUGHS) You'll see. -George.

You keep talking like Mrs. Moore a crazy old lady.

But she sure ain't the brightest thinkin' person I ever seen.

But the fact is, that this here Nat Turner is killing white folks.

And that ain't no scaredy tale. It's so.

Tildy...

...Massa Moore knows we ain't going out killing no white folks.

He gonna let this woman know. You'll see.

All that man knows about is cockfighting.

That's all he knows.

You know why, Mama? Because it made him somebody.

(CHUCKLES) Made me somebody.

I'm Chicken George!

Don't you ever want nothing else out of life, George?

Got what I want, Mama.

I'm a sporting man.

Of course, now, if I could be a sporting man and my own massa, too,

I'd be alive, but I'd be in heaven.

(GEORGE LAUGHING)

Mama, can I be a sporting man?

Eat your supper, Tom.

You too, Lewis.

Time enough for you to be what you gonna be.

GEORGE: And it's true, Mama.

Massa been more like a friend than a massa.

Don't you never say that!

He can't be a friend.

He's white. Toubab!

I know what I'm saying, George.

Was a time when I thought the bestest friend I had were white.

Missy Anne.

We were the bestest friends in the whole world.

She teach me how to read and write.

But when I needed her most,

that Missy Anne, she turned her back on me.

And she never lifted a finger to save me.

Your grandpapa was right.

You can never trust a foubab.

Massa ain't gonna let nothing happen to me

or mine.

He saved me from them patrollers already.

Saving his prize trainer was what he was doing.

Saving his best friend was what he was doing, Mama.

Look, it's all gonna be forgotten in a day or two.

Soon as they catch this here Nat Turner, huh!

White folks stop acting crazy like they doing.

Ah-- Look, I was coming through Washington County with the Massa,

and overheard this fat sheriff tell him saying,

(INHALES)

"The thing we gots to do, Mr. Moore..." Says it like that there.

"Is take the sheets off your beds,

"put them over our heads," like this here. (LAUGHS)

“Now, when the darkys comes,

"he thinks we's ghosts of hell. He'll run for sure now.

"There's one thing the darkys is afraid of,

"and that's ghostses and hauntses."

(LAUGHING)

Bed sheets! Saints alive, whatever gave them that notion?

Hi, George.

All of you.

You got any ideas about rising up and doing away with me and my missus,

you just forget about them. You hear me?

You come near the main house...

I catch you with so much as a sharpened nail on you,

I'll blast you to Kingdom Come!

Massa, you can trust us.

Trusting blacks got whole families dead.

Now you just remember, I'm sleeping with a shotgun

just in case you're thinking of breaking in.

-Massa, we-- -Mathilda!

You take all the cooking knives from this cabin

and bring them to the main house.

You do the same things, George,

with fighting spurs for the cocks. You hear me?

-Massa, look-- -Get back.

Get back or I'll splatter you to Kingdom Come.

Get!

There be your fine friendship, George.

No matter who they is,

they all be toubab.

GEORGE: Well, to do like Marcellus done,

and buy ourselves,

you, me, the children and Mama Kizzy,

it costs near...

Near $6,000.

How you figure $6,000?

Marcellus paid over $2,000 for himself.

Now, I'm a trainer, and younger, too. See?

So you gotta allow $2,500 for myself.

Tom,

well, a slave trader figure he just coming into his good working years.

So he'd cost $1,000.

-Lewis? -Five hundred.

Too young to know what he's gonna do yet.

Oh, my God.

Me, George?

Fifteen hundred.

Tildy, honey,

you still a breeder.

What about your mama?

She old.

I'm thinking Massa throw in her freedom as a favor, see.

Five hundred, no more than.

That's $6,000.

We ain't even got enough to buy us our own baby.

If we's lucky, we could save it.

Ten years.

As soon as Massa gets right in his head,

we starts cockfighting again.

Ten years?

Then we's free, Tildy.

We's free, honey.

Oh, Georgie.

My sweet Georgie.

Scratching for mushrooms.

This some fine thing for the best trainer in all the county to be doing.

Better than chopping cotton.

They might have set you doing that, too. Don't forget.

Oh, yeah, ain't I the lucky one?

(MATHILDA CHUCKLING)

(MATHILDA GASPS)

George?

(GASPS)

What...

Dead.

Shot.

Three-- Four times.

You ever seen him before? You know him?

Oh, no, no, no.

I got my reckoning.

Nat Turner's boys.

Trying to get away.

Headed cross the river there.

He crossed the river now, George.

Amen.

George,

how come you figure he be smiling like that?

(HORSE NEIGHING)

SQUIRE JAMES: Chicken George.

Yes, sir, Squire James.

-Morning, sir. -Good morning.

I'm on my way to make Mr. Moore a proposition.

If he should accept the proposition,

would you have any objections to leaving here?

(CHUCKLES)

I don't rightly know.

(STUTTERING)

Don't rightly know

what a proposition is.

(CHUCKLING) Well,

I have a friend arriving within the month from England.

He's bringing 20 of his best fighting cocks.

Now, with his 20 and 20 of mine,

we shall issue a challenge to fight all comers for a purse of $30,000.

I want to buy you to train and handle my birds.

I'll promise you the usual trainer's share of the purses

and your freedom in five years.

(CHUCKLES) Uh...

But Master Moore said there ain't gonna be no more cockfighting as long as, um--

As long as that bloodthirsty Nat Turner is still out and about?

Don't worry, that's over and done with.

They caught him three days ago. Hung him. Left his body out to rot.

The rest of the savages are scattered to the four winds.

I understand there were only some 80-odd blacks involved anyway.

Not exactly Armageddon.

Well, at any rate,

I'll be talking to Mr. Moore this--

Squire James, sir?

This here is Tildy.

My wife. We got us a family and--

Uh, don't worry, George. I wouldn't split up a family.

Wouldn't do to have an unhappy trainer on your hands, now, would it?

(CHUCKLES) No, sir!

I wouldn't be unhappy!

I'll talk to Tom Moore right now.

I just hope something can be worked out.

Yes, sir, Squire James.

I sure hopes you can work something out, too.

(TAPPING)

(BOTH LAUGH)

Dumb aristocrat thought he could buy you for $3,500.

That's feed for chicken, George.

Master Moore, you don't need me.

You ain't fighting no more.

I am now. The troubles are over.

Yes, sir, George, we are gonna be fighting now for real money.

$30,000 in the purse, and side bets starting at $250.

We are gonna squeeze the last two-bit piece

out of Squire James and his fancy Englishman friend.

But Squire James say he set me free.

Ain't for him to say.

You are gonna stay here and fight my chickens.

You're mine.

You are my property, George.

You are gonna beat that Englishman and anybody else who comes along.

Then it don't matter how much you get offered for me, then?

It don't matter how much I saves to buy myself free.

You ain't gonna let me go, no reason.

You're my nigger, George.

Can't you get that through your thick skull?

Yes, sir.

It got through that time.

I understands it all now.

You ain't got no more use for this, brother.

But I sure do!

KIZZY: Don't, George!

You can't.

Tildy told me about that dead boy.

About the gun.

You can't do what you're thinking on, George.

I'm gonna do it, Mama.

I'm gonna kill Master Tom Moore.

He done the worst thing that a man can do to me.

He took away all my hopes.

What about Tildy and the children?

They ain't got no hopes so long as Master Moore's alive.

Man ain't worth a chicken! He ain't alive.

-Mama, get out my way! -Don't do it, George!

It be the worst sin there is!

Killing Master Tom Moore? That's no more than killing a dog.

-Now, move. -No, damn it, no!

(CRYING) He's your daddy!

I was never gonna tell you, George.

But you has to know.

(SNIFFLES)

When Massa Moore bought me from the Reynolds plantation in Virginia,

he brought me here.

I was no more than 16.

And Massa Moore, he come to my cabin the first night and he...

He forced himself on me.

All I knew was it hurt.

It hurt so bad.

That don't matter now.

I love you more than anything in this whole world, George, honey.

But you can't do what you gonna do.

You be damned for your sin forever.

It'd be killing your own flesh and blood.

He is your papa.

You his boy, George. You his boy.

(CRYING)

(SHUDDERS)

Now,

what we gonna do,

we gonna bury that poor boy and his gun.

And we gonna say some words for him.

Then we going back, and we gonna make out the best way we can.

That's what we gonna do.

Yes, Mama.

GEORGE: I just want to know one thing.

Are you my daddy?

(LAUGHING)

Sure am.

Then, how could you do this to me? How could you do this to your own child?

Fact is, I got 20 like you spread out from Caswell County to Charleston Harbor.

(LAUGHS)

You know me, George. I always did like a fresh nigger gal.

It's hard to believe, but your Mama Kizzy was fresh once.

What you gonna do, George?

Don't rightly know.

But I know I don't feel like fighting your chickens no more.

You better fight ‘em or--

What you gonna do?

You gonna sell me?

No, George. I ain't gonna sell you.

I'll sell your boy Tom.

Or maybe Mathilda.

That's what I'm gonna do.

What you gonna do, George?

(STRAINING) I'm gonna fight your chickens.

Massa.

(CLAMORING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Five hundred dollars! Five hundred dollars right here on the Englishman's bird.

Five hundred dollars!

Hear that, George? Five hundred dollars!

Fellow told me there's gamecockers here from as far away as Texas.

Some from Florida. (CHUCKLES)

They come a long way to lose their money to Tom Moore!

(CROWING)

Next, the bird of Sir Eric Russell

to fight the bird of Tom Moore!

(CHEERING)

Tom Moore! Tom Moore!

Tom Moore! Tom Moore!

Tom Moore! Tom Moore!

This Tom Moore seems to be the local favorite.

With the scum of the county.

Five pounds, 15 ounces!

(CHEERING)

Tom Moore, weigh your bird.

(CROWING)

Six pounds even!

(CHEERING)

MAN 1: We gotta get that creature all the way back to England!

MAN 2: Get that Britisher, Tom!

If I said sport's for kings, I stand corrected.

This chap and his friends

would disqualify it as even a sport for gentlemen.

Well, you're mighty puffed up! Take him down a peg or two!

I wonder where his red coat is?

I wonder, do he fight foxes, too?

Or just run from them!

Let me speak! If I may.

Oh, let him speak!

I like that girlie way he talk.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Mr. Moore, considering your extra ounce,

I thought we might choose to waive

any particular limits to our own personal fighting fowl.

That would suitable to me, sir.

Would $10,000 be agreeable?

Or do you find that beyond your faith in that ferocious creature of yours?

-Time. -Time.

MAN: You hear that?

-$10,0007? -MAN 2: $10,000!

$10,000!

Get that Britisher's bird, Tom!

We're counting on you, Tom! You're our boy, Tom!

-Here's to you! Go get him! -(LAUGHING)

Can he do it, George? Now, can he?

You know what I'm asking.

Can I be sure you'll handle him to win?

You might just lose to spite me.

I'd feel a heap easier if I felt you wanted him to win.

Don't know about you, George,

but I want to win that money and be champion.

If the Speckled Red wins,

I'll set you free.

You mean it?

You're my boy, George.

Wouldn't lie to you of all people.

(BOTH LAUGH)

Come on!

Master Moore's Speckled Red will be the winner!

(CHEERING)

Watch it, George.

Bill your birds!

Sir. (LAUGHING)

(LAUGHING) Aw!

GEORGE: Come on.

(GEORGE SCATTING)

-Come on. -Get ready to pit!

(CROWD FALLS QUIET)

Pit!

(CLAMORING)

(CHEERING)

MAN: Get on, now!

Yeah! Yeah!

Yeah! Yeah!

Retrieve the birds!

We're doing fine, just fine.

I think we got the Englishman.

Free.

We's gonna be free.

Make it 20,000.

You, sir, have a bet.

(GEORGE LAUGHING)

Yeah. Yeah!

-Let's fight. -Let's have the re-pit.

Pit!

(CLAMORING)

Watch him.

(MOUTHING)

REFEREE: The winner!

The bird of Sir Eric Russell!

(WEAK APPLAUSE AND GROANING)

(CRYING) Well, at least you free.

REFEREE: Squire James' bird will fight the next challenger.

-(CROWING) (APPLAUDING)

About that $20,000--

Mr. Moore, in all candor, your bird had no right in the same pit as mine.

The charcoal strain was developed at the cost of 8,000 pounds.

Still, your bird fought admirably.

Testament to his handling and training.

Perhaps we can solve your indebtedness in some mutually satisfactory fashion.

See, all I got is the house, the land and you few slaves.

Nowheres near the money I bet him.

England.

We can call things square if he can have you over there.

He says for just a few years, George, to train somebody else.

I'll set you free when you get back.

Wrote it out and signed it. All legal.

Certificate of manumission, the law calls it.

In writing, and you can have my hand on it.

(TOM AND LEWIS CRYING)

I'll keep the family together when he's gone.

I swear it.

Bet no darky from Caswell County ever got to England before.

No.

No, I don't want no crying.

None of y'all.

I'm your husband, your pappy, and I'm telling you, now.

A few years!

(SCOFFS) That's no time at all.

Be back!

You'll see.

I won't tell you to take care of the children

‘cause I know you can do that.

And I won't tell you to take care of Mama ‘cause I know you'll do that, too.

But I'm gonna tell you to take care of you,

‘cause you're the most important reason why I be coming back here.

You take care of you for me.

Come back to me soon, George.

(WHISPERING) Come back to all of us.

You can count on that sure as the sun rises and sets.

You can all count on your Chicken George.

Mama.

Do one thing for me, George, honey.

Tell the children one more time before you go.

Here, boy.

Don't you never forget who you are, y'hear?

Your great-granddaddy's name was

Kunta Kinte.

Son of Omoro, a Mandinka warrior.

Proud.

Proud!

You be proud, too.

‘Cause that African blood flows through you.

As long as you know you comes from him...

That we all come from him,

you know why we be strong.

Why we gonna stay strong.

Why we gonna stay together no matter how far apart we be.

Ma'am, I's afraid I might have took the wrong turn.

That ridge yonder, that be north?

You is right.

That's north.

Thank you kindly.

Surely.

Oh, could my lady have a cup of fresh water?

The road be dusty.

Surely.

Yes?

Begging your lady's pardon,

but is your name Missy Anne Reynolds?

Missy. (CHUCKLES)

Nobody's called me Missy for over 1,000 years.

But my maiden name was Reynolds, yes.

I'm Kizzy.

I'm sorry, but I...

I don't recollect knowing any darky by the name of Kizzy.

Another cup.

(SPITS)

We got no money, Tom.

And with you out of cock-fighting, none of it's coming in either.

What do you plan on doing?

What are we gonna do, Tom?

We sell off the slaves is about all we can do.

Except for Kizzy. We'll keep her on.

Why will we keep on Kizzy?

She's too old to fetch any kind of price, my dear.

And I'm too old for you to be worrying about any other reason.

Mr. Harris over in Alamance County, he's expressed interest from time to time.

Sure he and I can do some business.

What about Chicken George?

What's gonna happen when he comes home and finds out you sold off his family?

What you gonna do then?

He won't come back white, my dear.

He'll still come back a nigger.

And, really, what's a nigger to do?

NARRATOR: Next on Roots...

He's back.

Daddy?

NARRATOR: Chicken George comes home as a free man.

We got a law here, Mr. Free Man.

You stay in this state more than 60 days, you get to be plain nigger again.

War!

NARRATOR: And the Civil War changes the face of a nation forever.

I do believe you are looking for a whipping.

I ain't gonna let you, Jimmi Brent.

Ain't you now?

NARRATOR: Roots, the triumph of an American family, continues.

No.

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

English SDH