Original subtitles

(insects chirping, animals chittering)

OLD JULY: The life of a white missus

on a Jamaican sugar plantation

be surely full of tribulation.

From the scarcity of beef

to the want of a fashionable hat

to the almost impossible search on this so-small island

for a suitable man to marry.

-(fan fluttering) -CAROLINE: Marguerite.

Marguerite. Marguerite. Marguerite!

OLD JULY: But if that is the story you wish to hear,

Marguerite!

...then be on your way.

Go. Yes, go.

For the tale I have to tell

is quite a different one.

CAROLINE (in distance): Marguerite!

Marguerite!

GODFREY: July, missus calling you.

JULY: Yeah, soon come. Me busy.

-What you have there? -Missus' dress. She want it.

-Then go give it. -July, me can have some of them button?

Yeah, when the missus give you dress for mend,

then you may have button.

-CAROLINE: Marguerite! -HANNAH: Molly, come.

-The missus calling you. -GODFREY: July, go see to her now.

She paining me head.

Oh, what are...?

-(laughs) -Yes.

-HANNAH: She's fierce enough. -CAROLINE: Marguerite!

-GODFREY: She's too fierce. -HANNAH: She don't want to listen to nothing,

she don't want to hear nothing, she feels it's too nice.

-Hmm, not our manners. -(grunts)

-You have any milk? You have any...? -You see we have milk?

You have any cold milk?

(indistinct chatter)

(insects chirping, animals chittering)

♪♪ ♪♪

CAROLINE: Marguerite!

Marguerite!

Marguerite!

-Marguerite! -JULY: Yes, missus!

(panting): Me here. Me come quick as me could.

Me... me did finish the dress.

(grunts)

I have decided

to arrange a grand Christmas dinner here at Amity.

In England, we used to have such parties and balls

at this time of year.

Carol singers, roaring fires.

(exhales)

Fresh holly berries.

♪♪ If you have no penny, a halfpenny will do ♪♪

♪♪ If you haven't got a halfpenny, God... ♪♪

Careful!

Breathe in, missus.

(Caroline groans)

Christmases here are so dreary.

This year, I am resolved...

(grunts) Ow.

Just a likkle more.

CAROLINE: ...to give a party the likes of which

this island has never before seen.

Ow!

-Ooh. -That hurts. That's enough.

(sighs)

Didn't this dress used to have buttons on the sleeve?

No, missus.

No, no, that'd be the yellow dress you think of.

No, no, look.

Look, here are the threads where they were.

JULY (sighs): Oh, missus.

Must be them washer women in the river.

Them slap the dress against the rock

-and bash it till it... -No, no, no, no, no.

How many times have I told you not to let those women anywhere

-near my dresses? -I-I did scream and I shout, missus,

"Mind the missus' dress," I did tell them.

But, look, the buttons come loose now.

-Look. -No, but they were pearl buttons.

-They were pearl buttons. -(exhales)

They was pearl buttons.

(whispers): Well...

I fear them pearls be back down at the bottom of the sea

once more.

I could have you whipped for this.

I could have you sent back into the fields.

-Come here. Come here! -Missus, no, please!

-No! -Marguerite! Stop it...

OLD JULY: But wait.

I cannot start my tale here.

For it not be plain how this crafty girl

come to be a ladies' maid, nor why her mistress

call her "Marguerite," when her name be July.

No.

Me must start at... the beginning.

♪♪ Bring me half a hoe ♪♪

♪♪ Come give me a, bring me half a hoe... ♪♪

The successful cultivation of the sugar cane crop

requires a tropical climate and a fertile soil.

♪♪ Bring me half a hoe... ♪♪

Plenty water, plenty sunshine,

plenty shit.

♪♪ Bring me half a hoe... ♪♪

And at the time of which I am speaking, plenty slaves.

(man shouting)

July's mama was a field slave name Kitty.

(conch shell blowing)

(horse grumbles)

Kitty had not felt the lash

of the driver's whip for many a month now.

And there was a reason for this.

(thudding, grunting)

Thankfully his part was small,

and he was always done quick.

And if she kept quiet, he seldom hit her.

(shuddering)

Tam Dewar was his name.

From Scotch Land.

And she would never forget him.

KITTY (crying): Miss Rose! Miss Rose!

(wailing)

ROSE: Kitty. I come. I come.

Oh...

(baby cooing)

She's so, so pretty.

You not see him in her face.

She be your pickney.

What you gonna call her?

July.

But it be December.

Well...

She be July.

(laughs softly)

(shushing)

♪♪ ♪♪

♪♪ ♪♪

You!

Back to work.

July.

(July giggles)

(people singing in distance)

July, co--

Come from out there.

W-We must not stop here.

(sighs)

(laughs softly)

Here.

Hmm. Now come on, you naughty girl.

-(horse approaches) -Hmm?

(horse neighs)

Hey!

(quietly): Come on, follow me. Come.

-You, where are you going? -Uh, um, me have pass, massa.

Me and the pickney.

We are go Unity Pen.

(gasps)

Oh.

Look at the little one.

Isn't she pretty?

John, what's her name?

Tell your mistress the name of your child.

July, massa.

(laughs softly)

Come, sister, this will be an education for you.

(clears throat)

Uh, look at, look at the legs, Caroline.

-I... -(chuckles)

Like tree trunks.

Feel the muscles.

Come on, she won't bite.

(John laughs)

-(grunts softly) -(John chuckles)

JOHN: Imagine putting silk stockings over these, eh, Caroline?

(laughs) There are some in England

that say it should be done.

Come, let's, uh, get out of the heat.

Oh, but look how adorable the little one is.

JOHN: Well...

(sighs) Well, bring her, then, if you like.

CAROLINE: What? Can I?

JOHN: Of course, if she amuses you. She's my property.

She'll be taken from the mother soon enough anyway.

It will encourage her to have another.

They're dreadful mothers, these Negroes.

Massa, m-me have p-pass. We are go market.

Well, I suppose if I am to stay on this island,

I could train her to be my ladies' maid.

(laughs softly)

(laughs)

They aren't very bright, you realize.

Please, massa, no. No...

Yes, yes, I'll take her.

-Right. -Oh, no.

KITTY: Massa, she too, she too small.

-JOHN: Quiet. -Have mercy, massa. Massa, massa...

-JULY: Mama! -KITTY: Please, massa, no.

-Massa, no, please. -No...

Please, massa, no!

-Be off with you. -She too small.

-Massa, please... -Be off!

(July whimpers)

Yes, I...

I think I'll call you Marguerite.

Like the flower.

JULY: Mama?

JOHN: Hyah!

(horse neighing)

(wind whistling)

OLD JULY: And that was that.

Happened all the time in them days.

Your pickney not your own.

(July crying)

(crying continues)

Your mother is sold away. You are mine now.

You must do as I say, otherwise I will send you

back into the field like any other filthy little piccaninny.

-JULY: Where be my mama? -Miss Kitty. Miss Kitty.

CAROLINE: You belong to me now.

-And you must obey me! -You cannot keep coming here.

-Come. -CAROLINE: Come on, you stupid girl.

ROSE: Come!

CAROLINE: Stop crying.

ROSE: If them catch you,

it gonna be the cat-o'-nine-tail.

Or worse! Come.

-No. -Ow! Marguerite!

-Marguerite, come back here! -OLD JULY: Enough.

Let us rejoin our tale.

Suffice to say that despite all our beatings

-and whippings... -(gasps)

...July realize that her missus never would

return her to the fields.

Marguerite, come here.

For, come, what would that fool, fool woman do without her?

She was stuck on that godforsaken island

with no husband, friend or companion.

All she had was that one little slave girl

that she did call Marguerite...

...but who would forever cling to the name

her mama give her.

(rooster crowing nearby)

Enough, Marguerite.

July.

We must have the best turtle soup.

We must have mutton pies and pigeon pies and boiled ham,

two brace of quail, roasted.

And, of course, a turkey.

No, uh, let us have two turkeys, and duck.

Uh, three if you can get them, Godfrey. In aspic.

-All this for seven people, missus? -Yes, yes.

And, Godfrey, enquire in town about cheese.

And buy whatever you can.

I will enquire, missus.

I want candles all over the walls.

Uh, a hundred of them. Yes.

Yes, I've seen it done in London.

It looks quite magical.

(Caroline clears throat)

All this be plenty, plenty money, missus.

Well, how much do you need?

Well, to start, the beeswax candles,

which the missus do prefer,

be six shillings and eight pennies for the box.

What? No, that's too expensive.

Now, the tallow candles be

one shilling and one penny for the box.

Tallow? Do you expect this room to smell like an abattoir?

Then it's six shillings and eight pennies for a box.

(Caroline scoffs)

My brother says you cheat me.

How can they be that expensive?

It is not that the candles be expensive, missus,

it is just that you cannot afford them.

(stifled laughs)

How dare you talk back to me!

Just get me a good price for them, boy.

Or I will have you whipped.

Yes, missus.

Make sure you put the Irish linen upon the table.

That will impress Elizabeth Wyndham.

Marguerite!

(indistinct chatter)

♪♪ ♪♪

GODFREY: Run this to the kitchen.

Did you not hear me? Hurry up!

Morning, Mr. Godfrey.

HANNAH: Molly!

(Godfrey mutters indistinctly)

I'm fed up with these people.

Making me do this, do that,

like I have nothin' to do but chop.

Seven people never gon' eat all of these dead creature,

not in one dinner, eh?

Not even them white greedy-guts.

GODFREY: Come, dinner not just be for eatin'.

-Dinner be for show. -The mango woman say, one day soon we all be free.

-JULY: Free? -HANNAH: What you chattin', girl?

MOLLY: The mango woman hear it from the fisherman.

The king in England say no more slaves.

Yeah, me hear that the fisherman good friends

with the king in England.

Come, we hear all this freedom chat before.

Mornin', Miss July.

-My, how you're all grow up. -(July chuckles)

Mornin', Mr. Nimrod.

The fisherman hear it from the white preacher-man

at the Sunday chapel, and he don't... him not lie.

HANNAH: What? Go get more garlic.

GODFREY: Girl, you have no time this day

to chat no freedom gossip.

Of course, me, I'm in freedom already.

-(chuckles) -(door creaks)

Me bought it.

Walked right up to the massa with 100 pounds in me hand.

Yeah?

And where you get that money?

Me free to do anything me like.

Set up shop.

-Take wife if me want. -Mr. Nimrod,

you want mango juice?

Me make it fresh and sweet.

Get me a house in town.

GODFREY: Miss July, come lay the table.

We got work to do here, Mr. Nimrod.

Of course, Mr. Godfrey.

Massa say jump and you jump.

-But I is free. -(July chuckles)

Not in my kitchen.

Good day, Mr. Nimrod.

Come on. (scoffs)

Mr. Godfrey,

this be a dirty bed sheet, not linen for the table.

I beg your pardon?

It be a bed sheet.

It be a fine linen tablecloth.

Then lay it upon the table.

(laughs)

JOHN: Why didn't you ask me first, Caroline?

This monumental expense for a dinner

when we're hanging by a thread.

And it's our busiest time of the year; to what end?!

It will do you good. I-It will cheer you up.

John, please, we need to meet more people.

I need company.

There is no reason that I should not marry again.

Nor even you. We're still young.

I'm not young by a long chalk, sister.

And I shall never remarry.

You will not ruin this Christmas dinner for me, John!

It's high time we had some fun.

-(man grunts) -Where is he, Marguerite?

(whip cracks)

-There, missus. -Joh-- John!

John.

John, please, listen to me.

John, just wait. John, please...

(fiddles playing "Silent Night")

♪♪ ♪♪

(horse snorts)

How's business here at Amity, Dewar?

I hear it's been a little slow.

We're shifting 140 hogshead a month, Mr. Sadler,

so I think we can still give you

-at Prosperity a run for your money. -(George chuckles)

You run things here with a firm hand, Dewar.

Come along, Evelyn.

Damn bloody racket.

Oh, Evelyn. (chuckles nervously)

My, that's quite a dress, Caroline.

(kissing)

Look at all these candles.

I don't know how we shall stand the heat.

EVELYN: Ah. Oh, Charles...

(fiddles continue playing "Silent Night")

(song ends with flourish)

-(snaps fingers) -Ah.

-(low, indistinct chatter) -(man clears throat)

Here. There.

(chatter continues)

(quietly): No, Caroline.

-Yes. -Caroline, no.

-Get up. -I will not.

No, I will not, sister.

(dinging)

-Ah. -Mm!

-(soft laughter) -(Charles clears throat)

-Uh, friends, neighbors, -(Caroline chuckles)

um... welcome,

uh, welcome to Amity.

As you know, these are dark days.

The abolitionists in England

are gaining support, and yet they are still happy

to eat our sugar and drink our rum.

-(low murmurs) -And thanks to them,

mutinous talk has been circulating amongst the slaves.

Now, I have always prided myself

on being a fair master.

-Mm... -But now more than ever,

we must be vigilant...

-(men murmuring assent) -...and stand together.

-Hear, hear! -WOMAN: Absolutely.

(clears throat)

Yes, uh...

uh, your-your good health.

Yes! Your good health.

Merry Christmas!

-(low chatter) -(Caroline clears throat)

(dishes rattle)

(snaps fingers)

GEORGE: Those Baptist preachers are to blame, Howarth.

They've put it into the Negroes' heads

that they're as good as a white man.

CHARLES: That's true.

-The Baptists are whipping up discontent, -(low murmurs)

and it spells nothing but trouble for us.

TAM: We won't have problems with our slaves.

There are good ones and there are bad ones.

-Mm. -You just need to weed out

-the bad ones early on. -CHARLES: True enough.

They won't rise against us for one simple reason:

they lack any ability to organize themselves.

(laughter)

-(snaps fingers) -(laughter stops abruptly) -OLD JULY: Oh, yes,

all white folk did know for sure

that slaves had not the wit to organize themselves.

So of course it be impossible

that they arrange a Christmas party of their own,

to entertain the slaves of their masters' visitors.

♪♪ ♪♪

No, them slaves could no more organize a Christmas party

than they could start a rebellion.

♪♪ ♪♪

(whooping)

(laughing)

Whoo!

(laughs)

♪♪ ♪♪

♪♪ ♪♪

MAN: Yeah!

Is it me dress you like

or me pretty fair face that make you both stare so?

Me just recalls there--

me missus did give me cloth

to make a white dress like yours.

Cast-off.

(laughs) I cannot abide to be dressed in cast-off.

JULY: No, no, no.

It be new.

It be the finest white muslin from ship...

just come from England.

(laughs)

Your missus no give you fine muslin.

Yes, she do.

Then why she dressed so bad herself?

No worthy white missus be wearing cotton print.

Well, your missus does have an ugly face.

How dare you...

impudence me missus.

Me missus would never have a maid as dark as you.

I is a quadroon.

Me mother was a mulatto

and me papa was a naval man from Scotch Land.

Me papa be from Scotch Land, too.

(scoffs)

You lie.

I is a mulatto.

My papa be the Scotch overseer.

-Mr. Godfrey, Mr. Godfrey! -What?

Tell Miss Clara, sir,

my papa be the Scotch overseer

of Amity.

Miss July.

Take Byron and go and get us some more wine.

(woman whoops)

Yes, Mr. Godfrey.

GODFREY: Just the open bottles, you know?

And no come back with nothing, you hear me?

Yes, Mr. Godfrey.

MAN: Not too much!

JULY: Byron.

(indistinct shouting)

(indistinct chatter)

(crickets chirping)

EVELYN: I say, you must go to Kingston for silks.

That's where I go-- it's more expensive, of course, but...

(indistinct chatter)

EVELYN: ...it's worth it.

Yes, one must make the effort...

(indistinct chatter)

EVELYN: Yes, I feel lost out here, so lost...

(George grunting)

-GEORGE: You, what are you doing there? -What?

I said what are you doing?

Oh, Marguerite, there you are.

We've been waiting an age.

Yes, where is the dessert?

Can't you see she's stealing from you?

Come here, girl.

EVELYN: How embarrassing.

GEORGE: Come here.

(low murmuring)

(July gasps, pants)

You're a thieving little nigger, aren't you?

No... no, massa.

-No, massa, me no steal, massa, me no steal... -Yes.

-No. -You're stealing wine.

JOHN: Sadler, let her go so she may bring the dessert.

Please...

GEORGE: Not till she admits she's a dirty little thief,

who deserves... a good lashing.

Please...

(clamoring outside)

-MILITIA MAN: Sorry to disturb you. -What's going on?

Apologies.

-EVELYN: George, what's happening? -There's trouble in the West.

The slaves are burning down the plantations.

-BOTH: What?! -This is exactly what I feared.

I'm gonna need every man to report to militia duty at once.

-(overlapping chatter) -John, you can't leave me here!

Marguerite, get up from there

at once and look to your mistress.

She needs you now.

You can't leave me here!

JOHN: You must not leave this house at any cost!

Just stay inside.

Oh, God.

(indistinct shouting, clamoring)

(crying): Misery.

(sniffles, sobbing)

Marguerite?

Yes, missus?

This isn't the Irish linen.

(sobs) Oh, my God.

Evelyn Sadler will testify to everyone

that a soiled bedsheet was used on my table

upon this beastly dinner.

(sobbing)

(exhales)

♪♪ ♪♪

OLD JULY: Some say that

the Christmas Rebellion of 1831 was start

by Sam Sharpe up in Montego Bay.

Some say it start in Salt Springs

when the Negro driver refused to flog his own wife.

I cannot say.

♪♪ ♪♪

For when all that rage and fury was finally unleashed,

all your storyteller could hear...

(crunching)

...was the sound of old Miss Hannah

sucking on a hambone.

(crunching continues)

What?

Can you see anyone?

-Anyone? -Nobody, missus.

Oh, where's my brother? Where is he?

Why has he not sent word? What if something's

happened to him and I'm all alone?

No be fretting, missus.

True...

you is all alone.

With no white people near.

No massa.

No friend, no bakra...

Oh, my God...

Oh, my God, what am I to do?!

But no be feared.

Me two fists is raised!

Them no take you from me, missus.

-(horse neighs outside) -Is that a horse?

Is that my brother? Tell me it's him!

(dogs barking in distance)

It be no white massa.

-It be a Black man, missus. -(gasps)

(whimpers)

-Me go see what him want. -No! No!

-No, no, no. No, don't go! -Missus, let me go!

-Don't go! Don't go... -Let me go so me can,

-so me can go see what happen. -(whimpers)

Me will turn the key in the door

just till the Negro be gone.

Then me soon come back and set you free.

All right?

(whimpering)

NIMROD: Them slaves jumped on them white man.

Them seize them cutlass, bound them hands,

blindfold them and march them to the works.

Ah, Miss July.

-Greetings. -Good evening, Mr. Freeman.

♪♪ ♪♪

Continue, Mr. Nimrod, continue!

And then them throw them white men in the boiling sugar.

-No... -Oh, my...

You say all this going on as we sit?

You hear me now, this island ablaze.

-Oh. -They be fighting in the streets.

The white men be running for their lives.

CAROLINE: Marguerite!

Wait, Miss July.

Is that your missus?

Mm-hmm. (laughs)

She not safe here.

She must go to town, Miss July.

Oh, come, there been plenty trouble here before.

Not like this ever before. I tell you now there not

be a white person left in town-- them all dead or gone!

GODFREY: Where them all go to?

NIMROD: Them sail away when this trouble start.

Your missus must go to town, Miss July.

There be a ship in the bay.

She must board that ship.

She not safe here.

This island ablaze.

CAROLINE: I am forgot!

Abandoned by my own brother!

Do I take the blue one or do I take the yellow one?

-Or do I take both? I... -Hurry, missus, hurry!

You must board that ship!

My goodness, I'm so hot.

(exhales) Byron!

CAROLINE: Hurry, Marguerite!

Bring the hatbox.

I can't believe it's come to this.

Have you packed my cloak?

It may be cold upon the ship.

Where's Godfrey? Where's Godfrey?

Come on, Godfrey, let's be gone.

(crickets chirping)

Quickly, now, quickly!

What, you want me to lift all this

into the cart and then drive you into town?

(stammers) Do not play the fool with me, Godfrey.

You know I need to go into town for my own safety.

Then you must pay me.

(scoffs) Don't be ridiculous.

Pick up the trunk!

GODFREY: Well, missus, you see, if them

fight-for-freedom slaves

find me on the road with you,

then my throat be cut sure as yours.

So me want payment for taking you.

Marguerite... tell him.

-Tell him. -Let her go.

Get up and do as I bid.

(gasps) No!

Marguerite, he's touching me!

(Caroline whimpering)

GODFREY: No, her name

not be Marguerite, it be July.

Speak it!

Speak her name!

(Caroline sobbing)

July... July.

Now say it to her.

Say Miss July.

Miss July... (sobbing)

GODFREY: Good.

Now...

you want me take you into town?

How much?

If my brother hears about this, he'll,

he'll send you all back into the field.

-It's so dark! -Hyah!

-Get up! -He'll have you whipped.

-Lady, shut up. -BYRON: Mr. Godfrey!

You want them to kill us? Hush your mouth.

Mr. Godfrey, the cover!

GODFREY: Leave it!

-The cover, sir. -I said leave it!

(July exhales)

(laughs softly)

(laughs)

("Missa Bilban" playing, lyrics in Jamaican)

♪♪ ♪♪

♪♪ ♪♪

(laughing)

♪♪ ♪♪

JULY: Marguerite!

Come do my hair!

(sniffs)

♪♪ ♪♪

(laughs)

Marguerite...!

(laughing)

(whoops)

♪♪ ♪♪

Mm. Mm.

Marguerite.

Marguerite!

I am waiting for my plum pudding.

Marguerite.

Quickly.

Oh, Miss July...

Greetings.

(giggles)

I am waiting for my plum pudding.

Ah, well...

-here, missus. -Oh!

Be careful, nigger.

This is our finest wine!

(giggles)

Am I to peel it myself?

-Oh, um... -Mm-hmm.

Sorry, missus.

Mm-mm, not so close!

-No beat me. -You stink.

-Well, no beat me, missus. -You stink!

-No beat me, missus! -You stink!

(laughing)

-(both laughing) -You stink.

Mr. Nimrod.

(laughs softly)

Mr. Nimrod...

Yes, Miss July?

Is me pretty?

Oh, yes, Miss July.

Prettier than Molly?

-Oh, yes. -Hmm.

You is definitely prettier than Miss Molly.

(squeals)

(giggles)

Miss Hannah say you have plenty woman in town.

Hmm.

That be true, Mr. Nimrod?

No, Miss July, no.

But me are getting a house...

in town.

-(humming) -You could come and live there with me.

(giggles)

-As a free woman. -A free woman?

But this be the massa's room...

Massa gone.

There be no white bakra here no more.

We done chase them from this island.

All gone?

Gone.

Black man gon' rule now.

(July exhales)

-(panting) -(kissing)

Mr. Nimrod...

is me free now?

OLD JULY: And so,

while the island burn and blaze,

our July was abed,

drifting upon a cloud of foolish dreams...

-(loud banging, shouting) -Shoo!

Stop that! Get away!

(girls giggling)

Hmm.

(girls shouting, laughing)

(exhales)

OLD JULY: How could she know

that the consequences of her actions that night

would change her life forever?

(rooster crows)

(chickens clucking)

(birds singing)

(grunts)

(groans happily)

(humming quietly)

(carriage approaching)

(exhales) Oh.

Wake up, Nimrod. Nimrod. Wake up, wake up.

CAROLINE: How you could just abandon me here like a stray dog?

If Tam Dewar hadn't discovered me on the quayside,

then I don't know what would have happened!

JOHN: Oh, leave it, Caroline! You're back now!

What more is there to it?

CAROLINE: Godfrey just disappeared into the night!

I need you to find him and I want you to punish him, John!

JOHN: For heaven's sake, will you let me alone, woman!

-Let me to bed! -Yes, but I want your word...

Oh, for God's sake, will you just get out!

-(exhales shakily) -John.

(sniffles)

Lord, on this night I have taken more lives than I can count.

But still they keep coming.

We are done for here.

Forgive me.

(gunshot)

CAROLINE: John?

(July panting)

(footsteps approaching)

John? John!

Oh, God, oh, God!

(muffled): I can't believe...

Oh, God! Oh, God!

-TAM: He's dead. -CAROLINE: No, no,

no, no, no.

TAM: Aye. Shot himself.

CAROLINE: No, no, no, it's-- it's a crime!

He put a pistol in his mouth.

No, no.

We'll lose everything.

(gasps)

TAM: What the hell is...

-(July whimpers) -What in hell's name are you doing there?

(panting)

-Get up! -Have mercy.

-Get up. Stand. Stand still! -Have mercy. Yes, massa.

CAROLINE: It was him. He shot my brother.

NIMROD: Not me! Not me, massa, not me!

CAROLINE: Yes, no, I saw him.

With my own eyes. From behind.

NIMROD: No! No! Not me, massa.

Not me. Massa...

TAM: If you want to save your plantation...

-No shoot me, no shoot. -...well, all right.

But you've got to tell the story as I say it.

(sobbing) No shoot.

Your brother was shot from the front.

So you got to say you saw

this nigger here shoot him from the front.

-NIMROD: No, no! -CAROLINE: Yes, from the front.

-That's what I meant, from the front... -(grunts)

(gasps)

TAM: When he tried to escape,

you shot him. Like this...

-Mm-hmm. -Have mercy, please...

Me? No.

-No, no! I can't. -NIMROD: Mercy, massa. I am a free man.

TAM: I'll do it.

Remember, you shot him as he tried to escape.

NIMROD: Massa. Massa, massa, mercy, massa!

-Massa, mercy. -Keep still!

NIMROD: Massa, massa.

Not me. Not me.

Massa...

-We'll see who... -(screaming)

-(gunshot) -(glass shattering)

(yelps)

(Tam shouting)

(door rattling)

(panting)

OLD JULY: But where could July run?

Where could she hide?

All she could think was to go

-to them field slaves... -Don't stop! Don't stop!

...and beg for shelter.

TAM: Hyah! Hyah!

JULY (in distance): Help!

Please help us!

Help us, please!

(panting)

Please help!

Help!

Please help! (pants)

Massa John be dead!

He shot hisself!

-Help us, please! -(indistinct chatter)

Massa John shot hisself!

Please! (pants)

Mr. Nimrod...

Them say Mr. Nimrod did it, but him never did!

-Please! -ROSE: Wait, wait!

This be Miss Kitty's pickney!

-(gasping) -(exclaiming)

Miss July?

(panting)

Go find Miss Kitty.

-Bring her here, quick. -No, no, no, no, no! Mama...

Mama sold away! She gone!

-She not... -ROSE: She...

(July panting)

She here, child.

♪♪ ♪♪

ROSE: All these years.

She feel the lash many time for try come find you.

What?

ROSE: Go!

DRIVER: Hey!

♪♪ ♪♪

(indistinct shouting)

Hyah! Hyah!

(indistinct shouting)

Where are they?!

(sobbing quietly)

TAM: I said where the hell are they?

(woman screams)

(whispers): It's all right. It's all right.

Shh.

(Tam shouting)

Go, go, go, go, go, go.

-(gasps) -(grunts)

-(shouts) -(horse neighs)

I am a free man.

(July crying)

(sniffles)

He no kill massa! He no kill massa!

(fading): No! He no kill massa...

He no kill...

♪♪ ♪♪

TAM: Don't you dare look at me.

(gun clicks)

(gunshot echoes)

(crying)

(gun clicks)

(gasps)

Mama?

Hey...

(men shouting nearby)

MAN: All right! Spread out!

-Run, July. Run. -(horses approaching)

But, Mama...

(horse neighs)

Run.

Run, my girl.

Run.

♪♪ Eyes don't see ♪♪

♪♪ Heart don't fear ♪♪

♪♪ Ears don't hear ♪♪

♪♪ In my heart is no fear ♪♪

♪♪ You can say what you will ♪♪

♪♪ Do what you will ♪♪

♪♪ You're the one worthy thing revealed... ♪♪

OLD JULY: After that uprising,

so many slaves hang

that the pile did interfere with the drop.

♪♪ My darling... ♪♪

For how else to make plain

to them murdering Negroes that they was not yet free?

♪♪ And if you talk... ♪♪

(chains rattling)

♪♪ Too much ♪♪

♪♪ My darling ♪♪

♪♪ You're going to talk again ♪♪

♪♪ Eyes don't see ♪♪

♪♪ Heart don't fear. ♪♪

(exhales)

(July wailing)

-(baby crying) -ROSE: Miss July?

You have a fine son.

Strong and healthy.

-Take him. -(groans): No.

-You gonna call him Nimrod after him papa? -No.

Hush now.

Me say hush. Mm-hmm.

Yes. Oh.

Me know you grieve bad for your mama,

but see, all this suffering, all this death,

a new pickney is come.

A new slave.

Soon taken.

ROSE: Oh.

Oh, sure, oh, sure.

OLD JULY: But how,

how could she set this child free?

She found no strength to smother him,

nor will to hold him under the river's swell.

In God she had no trust.

So she decide she must leave this child to fate.

(baby crying)

Oh.

(woman shushing softly)

Time did stand still for our July.

(man shouting)

She was not strung up like her mama.

Her missus did spare her that.

Instead,

she was sent back to toil in them fields.

(panting, grunting)

Hey. Hey, hey, hey.

Look.

(horse approaching)

OLD JULY: And yet, the time came

when her missus did need her.

For she was now left all alone at Amity.

Who else could she trust to press her petticoats?

Who else could make her morning tea

just as sweet as she like it?

And who else could keep her idle, disobedient house slaves

toiling at their tasks?

(grunts)

DRIVER: Move on.

(insects buzzing)

♪♪ ♪♪

(man shouting in distance)

In the drawing room, yes?

Yes, Miss July.

OLD JULY: And all the while, time was marching on.

Them troublesome Jamaican slaves would not be quelled,

but kept on rising up till that king in England

finally decree that all must prepare

for the coming of the end.

-(knocking on door) -JULY: Missus?

Him come. New overseer.

Oh, yes.

He's quite young.

Thank you.

Mrs. Mortimer?

-Robert Goodwin at your service. -Uh-- Well...

Well, how do you do?

I give thanks, Mrs. Mortimer.

I give thanks for the coming of this historic moment,

because, in just a few days, slavery,

that dreadful evil, will be finally abolished.

OLD JULY: Really?

How do you do, madam?

OLD JULY: This blue-eye bakra be come to set all free?

-And how do you do? -(scoffs)

If only my tale...

were so simple.

♪♪ Hill and gully rider, hill and gully... ♪♪

For me is now free.

♪♪ And you bend down, low... ♪♪

ROBERT: The well-being of the workers is the key

to the success of a plantation.

We will need you all to work seven full days

-a week from now on. -What?

And why does your mistress call you Marguerite?

Her think it pretty name to call a slave.

I must confess I thought I should

never again be blessed with love.

-(grunts) -Oh...

♪♪ Hill and gully rider... ♪♪

We shall have the finest sugar crop in all of Jamaica.

-Move it! -Hey!

We be slaves no more!

-Where you be going in it? -Fishing.

♪♪ Hill and gully... ♪♪

JULY: Me can leave, you know. Any time me want.

♪♪ Hill and gully rider, hill and gully ♪♪

(screams)

♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪

♪♪ And a low dung bessy dung ♪♪

♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪

♪♪ Hill and gully rider ♪♪

♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪

♪♪ Hill and gully rider, hill and gully ♪♪

♪♪ And you better mind, you tumble down ♪♪

♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪

♪♪ And you tumble down, you broke your neck ♪♪

♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪

♪♪ Hill and gully rider ♪♪

♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪

♪♪ Hill and gully rider ♪♪

♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪

♪♪ And you low down, bend down ♪♪

♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪

♪♪ And a low dung bessy dung ♪♪

♪♪ Hill and gully. ♪♪