All language subtitles for Beloved.1998.DVDRip.x264-HANDJOB

%% [ Woman Vocalizing ]

[ Bird Squawking ]

[ Dog Barking ]

[ Girl ]
BUGLAR, MAKE IT STOP !
I CAN'T ! I CAN'T !

PLEASE !
[ Crying ]
[ Boy Screaming ] MAMA !

[ Dog Growling,
Whimpering ]

[ Screaming ]
MAKE IT STOP, PLEASE !

[ Whimpering Continues ]
[ Boy ]
MAMA, HELP ME !

[ Boy Screaming ]
[ Girl ]
HERE, BOY !

[ Crying ]

[ Whimpering Continues ]

OH, GRANDMA BABY.
MMM-MM.

SHH !

WE'RE GONNA NEED SOME FOOD.
WAIT HERE.
OKAY.

[ Here Boy Whimpering ]

GOOD BOY,
HERE BOY.

HOWARD, COME ON !

COME ON.
HOWARD,
BUGLAR !

WHERE YOU GOIN' ?

BYE, DENVER.
BYE ?

[ Gasps ]
WE GOTTA GO !

[ Crying ]
BUGLAR, COME ON.

NO !
BUGE !
GO AHEAD.

HOWARD !

NOW WHAT'D YOU GO
AND DO THAT FOR ?

[ Panting ]

MAMA.

[ Hoofbeats Clattering ]

%% [ Woman Vocalizing ]

[ Barking ]

WATCH OUT THERE,
HERE BOY.

[ Child Crying ]

[ Barking ]

PAUL ?

PAUL D ?

IS THAT YOU ?

WHAT'S LEFT.

[ Hoofbeats Clattering ]

HOW YOU BEEN, GIRL ?
BESIDES BAREFOOT.

MESSED UP MY LEGS
BACK YONDER.

CHAMOMILE.

I DON'T EVEN
WANNA HEAR ABOUT IT.

I ALWAYS DID HATE
THAT STUFF.

YOU'RE LOOKIN' GOOD.

DEVIL'S CONFUSION, SETHE.

HE LETS ME LOOK GOOD
AS LONG AS I FEEL BAD.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN ?

EIGHTEEN YEARS.

EIGHTEEN YEARS ?

I SWEAR, I'VE BEEN WALKIN'
EVERY ONE OF 'EM.

MIND IF I JOIN YOU ?
YOU WANNA SOAK 'EM ?
LET ME GET YOU SOME WATER.

NO. CAN'T BABY FEET.

THEY'S GOT A WHOLE LOT MORE
TRAMPLIN' TO DO.

[ Sighing ]

YOU AIN'T
LEAVIN' RIGHT AWAY.
YOU STAY AWHILE.

AH, WELL, LONG ENOUGH
TO SEE BABY SUGGS...

AND YOU.

WHERE IS SHE ?

DEAD.

OH, NO.

WHEN ?
EIGHT YEARS AGO
NOW.

ALMOST NINE.

WAS IT HARD ? I HOPE
SHE DIDN'T DIE HARD.

SOFT AS CREAM.

BEIN' ALIVE
WAS THE HARD PART.

SORRY YOU MISSED HER,
THOUGH.

IS THAT WHAT
YOU CAME BY FOR ?

THAT'S SOME
OF WHAT I CAME FOR.

REST IS YOU.

[ Sighs ]
TRUTH BE KNOWN,

THESE DAYS I GO ANYWHERE
THEY LET ME SIT DOWN.

I WOULDN'T HAVE TO ASK YOU
ABOUT HIM,WOULD I ?

YOU'D TELL ME IF
THERE WAS ANYTHING TO TELL,
WOULDN'T YOU ?

I'D TELL YOU.
YOU KNOW I WOULD.

SO YOU DON'T KNOW
NOTHIN' EITHER.

[ Sighs ]
HALLE, HALLE.
[ Grunts ]

[ Horse Whinnying ]

WE GOT SPARE ROOMS.

COULD STAY THE NIGHT
IF YOU HAD THE MIND TO.

YOU DON'T SOUND TOO STEADY
IN THE OFFER.

OH, IT'S TRULY MEANT.

IT'S JUST THAT I HOPE
YOU'LL PARDON MY HOUSE.

"MY HOUSE."

I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT.

COME ON IN.

COME ON IN.
[ Chuckling ]

GOOD GOD, GIRL.
WHAT KIND OF EVIL
YOU GOT IN THERE ?

IT AIN'T EVIL.
JUST SAD. COME ON.

STEP ON THROUGH.

I-I THOUGHT YOU SAID
SHE DIED SOFT.

THAT'S NOT BABY SUGGS.

WHO THEN ?
MY DAUGHTER.

THE ONE I SENT AHEAD WITH
THE BOYS BEFORE I RUN OFF.
SHE DIDN'T LIVE ?

NO.
BOYS TOO ?

NO, THEY ALIVE,
I PRAY.

THEY RUN OFF JUST BEFORE
BABY SUGGS WENT AND DIED.

PROBABLY BEST.
AHH !

NEGRO BOY GOT LEGS,
HE OUGHT TO USE 'EM.

SIT AROUND TOO LONG,
SOMEBODY'LL FIGURE OUT
A WAY TO TIE 'EM UP.

AHH !

BY YOURSELF THEN ?
NO.

GOT THE GIRL I WAS CARRYIN'
WHEN I LEFT SWEET HOME.

YOU HAD THAT BABY, DID YOU ?
DAMN, I DIDN'T THINK
YOU'D MAKE IT.

RUNNIN' OFF PREGNANT,
ALL BY YOURSELF TOO.

[ Footsteps ]
DENVER !

COME HERE, BABY.

I WANT YOU TO MEET SOMEBODY.

PAUL D, THIS HERE
IS MY DENVER.

UH, MORNIN', MISS DENVER.
IT'S A PLEASURE.

MORNIN', MR. D.

UH, GARNER, BABY.
PAUL D GARNER.

YES, SIR.
GLAD TO GET
A LOOK AT YOU.

SHE A FINE-LOOKIN'
YOUNG LADY, SETHE.

YEAH. GOT HER DADDY'S
SWEET FACE.

YOU KNOW MY DADDY ?

OF COURSE HE KNOW YOUR DADDY.
HE FROM SWEET HOME.

YEAH.

SWEET HOME.

HOW COME EVERYBODY WHO RUN OFF
FROM SWEET HOME CAN'T STOP
TALKIN' ABOUT IT ?

IT LOOKS LIKE
IF IT WAS SO SWEET,
YOU WOULDN'T RUN AWAY.

GIRL, WHO YOU THINK
YOU TALKIN' TO ?

TRUE, TRUE.
SHE-SHE RIGHT, SETHE.

IT WASN'T SWEET,
AND IT SURE WASN'T HOME.

BUT IT'S WHERE WE WERE,
ALL TOGETHER.

COME BACK WHETHER
WE WANTED TO OR NOT.

[ Sighs ]

WE HAVE A GHOST HERE,
YOU KNOW ?

[ Liquid Pouring ]
WE MET.

DENVER, HEAT UP THAT STOVE.

CAN'T HAVE A FRIEND STOP BY
AND DON'T FEED HIM.

OH, DON'T GO TO NO TROUBLE
ON MY ACCOUNT.

BREAD AIN'T
NO TROUBLE.

THE REST I BRING BACK
FROM WHERE I WORK.

LEAST I CAN DO
WORKIN' DAWN TO NOON
IS BRING HOME SUPPER.

GOT ANY OBJECTIONS
TO PIKE ?

IF HE DON'T OBJECT TO ME,
I DON'T OBJECT TO HIM.

WHY DON'T YOU SPEND THE NIGHT,
MR. GARNER ?

THAT WAY, TWO OF YOU
CAN TALK ABOUT SWEET HOME
ALL NIGHT LONG.

DENVER, WHAT IS THE MATTER
WITH YOU ?

I NEVER KNOWN YOU
TO BEHAVE THIS WAY.

[ Crying ]

[ Sniffling ]
MAMA, I CAN'T NO MORE.

[ Sniffling Continues ]

I CAN'T NO MORE.

YOU CAN'T WHAT ?
WHAT CAN'T YOU ?

CAN'T LIVE HERE.

I DON'T KNOW
WHERE I'M GONNA GO
OR WHAT I'M GONNA DO,

BUT I CAN'T STAY HERE !

[ Sobbing ]

NOBODY SPEAKS TO US,
NOBODY COMES BY,

NOBODY EVEN KNOWS
I'M ALIVE.

OH, DENVER.

COME HERE, BABY.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.
SETHE.

I'M A GROWN MAN...

WITH NOTHIN' NEW
LEFT TO SEE OR DO,

BUT I TELL YOU
IT CAN'T BE EASY,

A YOUNG GIRL
LIVIN' IN A HAUNTED PLACE.

MAYBE YOU OUGHT
TO MOVE.

NO.

NO MOVIN'.
NO LEAVIN'.

IT'S ALL RIGHT
THE WAY IT IS.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.

YOU WANNA TELL ME
IT'S ALL RIGHT, SETHE,

AND THAT CHILD'S HALF
OUTTA HER MIND.

[ Clattering ]

[ Denver Whimpering ]
HUSH, I SAY !

I GOT A TREE
ON MY BACK...

AND A HAINT
IN MY HOUSE...

AND NOTHIN' IN BETWEEN
BUT THE DAUGHTER
I'M HOLDIN' IN MY ARMS.

NO LEAVIN'.
NO RUNNIN' FROM NOTHIN'.

YOU HEAR ME ?
[ Mumbling ]

I WILL NEVER RUN
FROM ANOTHER THING
ON THIS EARTH.

COME ON.

YOU CAN SIT DOWN
AND EAT,

OR YOU CAN
LEAVE US BE.
[ Sobbing ]

[ Grunts ]

LORD.

WHAT TREE, SETHE ?

HUH ?

I DON'T SEE NOTHIN'
GROWIN' ON YOUR BACK.

IT'S THERE ALL THE SAME.

CHOKECHERRY TREE.

LEAVES, BRANCHES.

THAT WAS 18 YEARS AGO.

- HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.
- THAT NIGHT ?

-[ Screaming ]
- TREE COULD HAVE CHERRIES
BY NOW FOR ALL I KNOW.

I AIN'T FOLLOWIN' YOU,
SETHE.

I HAD MILK, PAUL D.

[ Chattering ]

I HAD MILK, SEE ?

I WAS PREGNANT WITH DENVER,

BUT I HADN'T STOPPED NURSIN'
MY BABY GIRL...

BEFORE I SENT HER
AND THE BOYS OFF.

[ Crying ]

ALL I KNEW WAS,
I HAD TO GET MILK
TO MY BABY GIRL.

I THOUGHT WE WAS TALKIN'
ABOUT A TREE.

WE WAS ALL SUPPOSED TO MEET
IN THE CORNFIELD.
NONE OF YOU CAME.

I HAD TO LEAVE MY CHILDREN,
GO BACK LOOKIN' FOR HALLE.

THAT'S WHEN I SAW YOU
IN THE SHED.

SIXO DEAD. SCHOOLTEACHER
DONE GONE AND BURNT HIM.

PAUL A TOO.
THEY HANG HIM FROM A TREE.

SAID YOU WERE GONNA RUN
NO MATTER WHAT.

I DIDN'T THINK YOU WOULD
MAKE IT TO THE GATE.

- I WENT BACK IN THE BARN
TO LOOK FOR HALLE.
- ANIMAL.

THAT'S WHEN
SCHOOLTEACHER SAW ME.

[ Schoolteacher ]
WHAT'S IT TASTE LIKE ?

CAME IN THERE
WITH HIS BOYS AFTER ME.

YOU'VE GOT
ANIMAL CHARACTERISTICS.

THEM BOYS TOOK MY MILK.

THAT'S MY BABY'S FOOD !

THAT'S WHAT
THEY COME IN THERE FOR.

[ Screaming ]

HOLD ME DOWN,
TAKE IT.

I TOLD MISS GARNER
ON 'EM.

[ Sethe ]
THEY'RE LYIN', THE ANIMALS !

SHE HAD THAT LUMP ON
HER NECK AND COULDN'T SPEAK.

BUT HER EYES ROLLED OUT TEARS,
I REMEMBER.

THEM BOYS FOUND OUT
I TOLD ON 'EM.

[ Screaming ]
YOU'RE HORRIBLE
AND BEATEN UP !

YOU'RE HORRIBLE
AND BEATEN UP !

SCHOOLTEACHER HAD ONE OF 'EM
WHOOPIN' UP MY BACK.

AND WHEN THEY CLOSED,

IT LEFT A TREE.

THEY USED COWHIDE
ON YOU.

AND THEY TOOK MY MILK.

THEY BEAT YOU
AND YOU WAS PREGNANT ?

AND THEY TOOK MY MILK.

OH, LORD, GIRL.

[ Clattering,
Baby Crying ]

[ Crying Continues ]

[ Screaming ]

[ Screaming ]
GODDAMN IT !

HUSH UP !

[ Barking ]

[ Sethe ]
DENVER ! DENVER !

MOVE ! MOVE !

GET OUTTA THE WAY !

[ Paul D ]
LEAVE THIS PLACE ALONE !

I SAID, HUSH UP,
GODDAMN IT !

PAUL D, LOOK OUT !

PAUL D !

[ Paul D Groaning ]

- PAUL D !
- YOU WANNA FIGHT ?

THEN COME ON, GODDAMN IT !
[ Yelling ]

[ Panting ]

[ Birds Twittering ]

[ Panting Continues ]

[ Coughing ]

[ Chickens Clucking ]

[ Baby Cooing ]

[ Man ]
I WAS UP THERE IN THE LOFT !
[ Paul D Screaming ] HALLE !

[ Sethe ]
THEM BOYS TOOK MY MILK.
HALLE !

THAT'S WHAT
THEY COME IN THERE FOR.
[ Halle ] THE LOFT, THE LOFT.

HALLE !
I SEEN IT ALL !

[ Sethe ]
HOLD ME DOWN AND TAKE IT.
[ Screaming ]

[ Gasping ]

- HALLE !
- MILK IT LIKE A COW.

- THAT'S WHAT WE MEAN
BY ANIMAL CHARACTERISTICS.
-HALLE ! STOP !

[ Paul D ]
?? LITTLE RICE ??

?? LITTLE BEAN ??

?? NO MEAT
IN BETWEEN ??

?? HARD WORK
AIN'T EASY %%

[ Sethe ]
ANYBODY HERE ?

MAMA !
MAMA !

[ Chuckling ]

SETHE ?
[ Clears Throat ]
HMM ?

I WAS THINKIN'
OF LOOKIN' FOR WORK
AROUND HERE.

WHAT YOU THINK ?
HMM. AIN'T MUCH.

RIVER MOSTLY.
AND HOGS.

WELL, I NEVER WORKED
ON THE RIVER,

BUT I CAN PICK UP
ANYTHING HEAVY AS ME,
HOGS INCLUDED.

WHITE FOLKS HERE
BETTER THAN KENTUCKY,

BUT YOU JUST MIGHT
HAVE TO SCRAMBLE SOME.

WELL, IT AIN'T
WHETHER I SCRAMBLE,
IT'S WHERE.

YOU SAYIN'
IT'S ALL RIGHT
TO SCRAMBLE HERE ?

BETTER THAN ALL RIGHT.

YOUR GIRL, DENVER,
IT SEEMS SHE OF
A DIFFERENT MIND THOUGH.

YOU DON'T NEVER HAVE
TO WORRY ABOUT DENVER.

SHE A CHARMED CHILD
FROM THE BEGINNING.

GOTTA KNOW ONE THING
THOUGH, PAUL D.

THIS HERE
AIN'T NO BETTER LIFE.

JUST NOT THAT OTHER ONE.

WHAT I DO HERE--
ALL I EVER DO...

IS KEEP DENVER
FROM THAT OTHER ONE.

WON'T LET THE PAST
IN MY YARD AGAIN.
YOU UNDERSTAND ?

DANGEROUS TO LOVE
ANY ONE THING THAT MUCH,
SETHE.

THE BEST THING
IS TO LOVE EVERYTHING
JUST A LITTLE BIT.

THAT WAY,
IF IT BREAKS OR RUNS OFF
OR IS TAKEN AWAY,

YOU KNOW, MAYBE,
YOU STILL HAVE
A LITTLE LOVE LEFT OVER.

HMM. WELL, THAT'S THE WAY
IT IS, PAUL D.

IF I HAVE TO CHOOSE,
WELL, AIN'T NO CHOICE.

THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.
I AIN'T ASKIN' YOU
TO CHOOSE.

I JUST WANNA KNOW
IF THERE'S A PLACE
FOR ME.

IF THERE'S MORE THAN,
"YOU CAN STAY, IT'S FINE."

MORE LIKE,
"I WANT YOU HERE, PAUL."

MAYBE WE OUGHT
TO JUST LEAVE THINGS
THE WAY THEY ARE.

SETHE, I'M NOT SAYIN' THIS
'CAUSE I NEED A PLACE TO STAY.

WE COULD MAKE A LIFE, GIRL.
A LIFE.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT,
PAUL D GARNER.
LEAVE IT TO ME !

SEE HOW IT GOES.
NO PROMISES IF YOU DON'T WANNA
MAKE NONE.

JUST LEAVE IT TO ME.
ALL RIGHT ?

[ Hoofbeats Clattering ]

ALL RIGHT,
WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.
[ Sighing ]

YOU'RE WILLIN'
TO LEAVE IT TO ME ?

SOME OF IT.

SOME.
OKAY. OKAY.

HERE'S SOME.
THERE'S A CARNIVAL IN TOWN.

THURSDAYS FOR COLOREDS,
AND I GOT TWO DOLLARS.

ME, YOU AND DENVER
GONNA SPEND EVERY PENNY.

WHAT YOU SAY ?
I DON'T KNOW.

ALL RIGHT ?

NO.
AW--
PLEASE !

[ Denver ]
YOU THINK BABY GHOST'S
REALLY GONE ?

DON'T KNOW.

SHE MY SISTER.

I MISS HER.

[ Paul D ]
?? WELL, I SAID
COME HERE, BLACK WOMAN ??

I WISH HE'D SHUT UP.
HE GONNA RUIN EVERYTHING.

SHH.
GIVE HIM A CHANCE.
%% [ Singing Continues ]

DO THAT
FOR ME.
WHY ?

HOW LONG
HE STAYIN' ?

DON'T KNOW.
?? I SAID
RUN HERE, BLACK WOMAN ??

I THINK THE BABY
AIN'T GONE.

I THINK THE BABY
GOT PLANS.

MAYBE.
?? I KNOW YOUR HOUSE %%

[ Sethe ]
MAYBE SO.

[ Bird Squawking,
Wings Fluttering ]

[ Snoring ]

[ Wheezing ]

[ Snoring, Wheezing
Continue ]

[ Gasping ]

[ Wheezing Continues ]

[ Snoring ]

[ Wheezing, Snorting ]

%% [ Calliope ]
[ Man ] COME ONE, COME FORWARD,
COME ALL ! DO NOT FEAR !

COME INSIDE TO THE LARGEST LADY,
ROUNDELLA, WITH ME TODAY.

SWEET, GENTLE AND DELICATE,
EATING A CHICKEN FROM EACH HAND.

COME INSIDE NOW AND SEE HER.
DON'T BE AFRAID. COME THIS WAY.
WAIT ! COME BACK !

[ Crowd Chattering ]

...AND WHO WILL SWALLOW
A CONFEDERATE SWORD
TO THE HILT...

IN FRONT OF
YOUR VERY EYES.

STEP FORWARD AND SEE !
WHOO !

[ Chattering ]

OH, GRACE.

YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE
WHO COME WALKIN' UP IN HERE.
[ Lion Growling ]

HOW DO ?
[ Man ]
COME ON, LUCY.

[ Boy ]
DON'T FORGET
THE PIG RIDE.

[ Paul D ]
HOW DO, MA'AM ?

[ Crowd Gasping,
Applauding ]

STEP INSIDE TO SEE
THE THINGS YOU THOUGHT
COULD NEVER BE.

THE FEROCIOUS AFRICAN SAVAGE,
CLUCK BUTOO !

BORN WITH FANGS,
RAISED BY WILD ANIMALS
AND CAPTURED CRAZY.

LOOK HOW FAT
SHE IS, MAMA.

[ Growling ]

I-I KNEW THIS ONE
BACK IN ROANOKE.

WANT SOME LICORICE,
DENVER ?
YES, PLEASE.

PEPPERMINT STICK ?
YES, PLEASE.

- SOME GUMDROPS ?
- YES, PLEASE.

MIND IF I TAKE A SIP ?

MMM.
MMM !

HEY, DENVER !

HI.

THANK YOU.

I'LL TAKE
ONE OF THOSE LEMONADES TOO.

BUT TELL ME
ABOUT SOME WORK.

I MEAN, TELL ME ABOUT
WHERE I CAN FIND SOME.
WELL, THEY HAVE--

[ Man ]
...TURNS HIS HEAD
INSIDE HIS OWN FACE...

AND PULLS HIS EARS--
[ Men Chattering ]

[ Crowd Singing ]
?? HEADIN' BACK ??

?? GOIN' HOME ??

%% [ Continues ]

[ Chattering ]

WHAT'S THAT ?

?? AIN'T WANNA
HURT NOBODY ??

?? OH, NO ??
[ Snoring ]

?? AIN'T GONNA
HURT NOBODY ??

?? OH, LORD ??

%% [ Continues ]

[ Gasping ]

EXCUSE ME.

[ Coughing ]

YOU FROM
AROUND HERE ?

WHAT MIGHT
YOUR NAME BE ?

[ Speaking In
Guttural Voice ]
B...

E...

L...

O...

V...

E...

D.

BELOVED.
[ Grunting ]

THAT'S A PRETTY NAME,
BELOVED.

WHY DON'T YOU REST YOURSELF
WHILE I-- I FIX US A LITTLE
SOMETHIN'.

WE JUST GOT BACK
FROM THE CARNIVAL
OVER IN CINCINNATI.

[ Paul D ]
MISS ? MISS ?

YOU WANNA REST A SPELL ?

- [ Beloved Gasping ]
- I GOT HER !

I GOT HER.
I GOT HER.

[ Whimpering ]

LOOK AT HER FEET.

AIN'T WALKIN' FEET.

MORE LIKE SHE...
[ Wheezing ]

RIDE FROM SOMEWHERE
ALL THE WAY HERE.

IS SHE FEVERISH, DENVER ?

NO, SHE COLD.

[ Paul D ]
COULD HAVE THE CHOLERA.
SHE AIN'T SICK.

[ Paul D Chuckling ]
[ Sethe ] NAH, IT'S JUST
A LITTLE SOMETHIN' I WHIPPED UP.

A LITTLE SOMETHIN'
YOU WHIPPED UP ?

MMM. MMM.
[ Beloved Moaning ]

HEARD THERE'S WORK
DOWN IN BUCKTOWN.

GO SEE IT
FOR MYSELF TODAY.

[ Paul D And Sethe
Laughing ]

[ Wheezing ]

[ Snoring ]

MMM-MM.

[ Paul D ]
WHOA ! WHOA !
HEY ! HO-HO ! WHOA !

HEY !

[ Chattering ]

[ Wheezing, Snoring
Continue ]

%% [ Denver Singing ]

%% [ Stops ]
[ Wheezing, Snoring
Continue ]

[ Grunting ]

YOU WANNA TRY SOME ?

COME ON, COME ON.
COME ON.

OVER HERE.
COME ON.
[ Beloved Wheezing ]

THERE YOU GO.

COME ON !
[ Laughing ]

I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT.
[ Chuckling ]
OH.

YOU HUNGRY ?

[ Giggles ]

IT'S GOOD !

[ Giggling ]

SLOW DOWN.

[ Laughing ]

%% [ Woman Vocalizing ]

COME ON.

CHICKEN, CHICKEN,
SHOO, SHOO, SHOO.

%% [ Vocalizing Stops ]
I CALL THIS ONE JUNE,

AND THAT'S MAY.

YOU GOTTA DO SOFT TOUCH.

REMEMBER ?
CAN YOU DO SOFT TOUCH ?

TOUCH IT--
NO !

BELOVED.

[ Wheezing ]

BELOVED.

I HELP
MAKE YOU BREAD.

THAT'S NICE.

IS MY APRON HERE ?

ALL RIGHT,
WE NEED A LITTLE FLOUR.
WE NEED SOME--

I DON'T KNOW. I SEE
YOU GOT ALL MY THINGS
LAID OUT.

OH, WAIT, WAIT,
WAIT, WAIT. NOW YOU NEED
SOME OF THAT RIGHT THERE.

YOU NEED THIS.

THERE.
WAIT, WAIT.

[ Paul D ]
?? LITTLE RICE, LITTLE BEAN ??

?? AIN'T NO MEAT
IN BETWEEN %%

[ Beloved Chattering ]

[ Denver Laughing ]
OOH, LOOK AT YOU.

OKAY, PUT IT DOWN.
PUT IT BACK.

%% [ Continues ]

[ Beloved ]
GO INSIDE AND GET BISCUIT.

EASY.

[ Denver ]
?? I WENT DOWNTOWN
TO GET MY GRITS ??

?
?? CAME BACK HOME
JUST A-PULLIN' THE SKIFF ?

?? JUST A-PULLIN'
THE SKIFF ??

?? I RAN UPSTAIRS
TO MAKE MY BED ??

?
?? I MADE A MISTAKE
AND I BUMPED MY HEAD ?

?? JUST A-PULLIN' THE SKIFF
JUST A-PULLIN' THE SKIFF ??

?? WENT DOWNSTAIRS
TO MILK MY COW ??

?? I MADE A MISTAKE
AND I MILKED MY SOW ??

?? JUST A-PULLIN' THE SKIFF
JUST A-PULLIN' THE SKIFF ??

?? TOMORROW, TOMORROW
TOMORROW NEVER COMES ??

?? TOMORROW, TOMORROW
TOMORROW NEVER COMES %%

%% [ Singing ]

[ Thunder Rumbling ]

[ Beloved
Whimpering ]
COME ON !

CLOUDS LOOK LIKE
THEY'RE GONNA BURST.

[ All Screaming,
Laughing ]
OH, HERE IT COME !

HERE, HERE !
COME ON, GIRL.

HERE, MAMA !
PULL !
PULL IT !

GO ! GO !
HURRY UP !
HURRY UP. COME ON.

BELOVED,
PICK UP THAT SHEET.
RUN ! IT'S RAINING !

YOU'RE DRAGGIN' IT
ON THE GROUND.
GO !

[ Screaming, Laughing
Continue ]

STOP DRAGGIN' THEM SHEETS.
PICK 'EM UP OFF THE GROUND NOW,

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO
WASH 'EM AGAIN.

COME ON. WHOO !

ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT.

SPREAD 'EM OUT.
BELOVED, PUT THAT SHEET
DOWN NOW.

SPREAD IT OUT.
KEEP IT UP
OFF THE FLOOR.

%% [ Singing ]

WHERE...

YOUR DIAMONDS ?

DIAMONDS ?
[ Chuckles ]

WHAT WOULD I BE DOIN'
WITH DIAMONDS ?

ON YOUR EARS.

WISH I DID.

COME TO THINK OF IT,

I HAD SOME CRYSTAL ONCE.

PRESENT FROM THE LADY
I USED TO WORK FOR.

TELL ME.

TELL ME
YOUR DIAMONDS.

WEDDING PRESENT
FROM MISS GARNER...

BACK AT SWEET HOME...

WHEN HALLE AND ME GOT MARRIED--
WHAT THEY CALLED MARRIED
BACK THERE AND THEN.

GUESS SHE SAW HOW BAD
I FELT WHEN...

I SAW THERE WASN'T GONNA BE
NO CEREMONY, NO PREACHER.

I NEVER SAW YOU
WITH NO CRYSTALS.

GONE.

LONG GONE.

COME HERE, GIRL.
YOU BEST UNBRAID
THAT HAIR.

COME ON.
GET THE COMB.

IT'S RIGHT HERE.

OW !
THAT HURTS.

COMB IT EVERY DAY,
IT WON'T.

YOUR WOMAN...

NEVER FIX UP
YOUR HAIR ?

MY WOMAN ?
YOU MEAN MY MOTHER ?

MAMA DON'T TALK ABOUT
ALL THOSE THINGS.

TELL ME.

IF SHE DID,
I DON'T REMEMBER.

I DON'T THINK I SAW HER
BUT A FEW TIMES
OUT IN THE FIELD...

ONCE WORKIN' INDIGO.

BY THE TIME
I WOKE UP MORNINGS,
SHE WAS IN LINE.

HMM. IF THE MOON WAS BRIGHT,
THEY WORKED BY ITS LIGHT.

SUNDAYS, SHE SLEPT
LIKE A STICK.

TELL ME ABOUT HER.

I REMEMBER, ONCE,
SHE PICKED ME UP AND CARRIED ME
BEHIND THE SMOKEHOUSE.

ONLY THING I DO REMEMBER,
IN FACT.

SHE OPENED UP HER DRESS,
AND RIGHT ON HER RIB--

RIGHT HERE--

WAS A CIRCLE...

AND A CROSS
BURNT RIGHT IN THE SKIN.

SHE POINTS AT THIS MARK,
AND SHE SAYS--

SHE SAYS TO ME,

"THIS IS YOUR MA'AM.
I'M THE ONLY ONE
GOT THIS MARK NOW.

"THE REST ALL DEAD.

"SOMETHIN' HAPPEN TO ME,
YOU CAN'T TELL ME
BY MY FACE,

YOU KNOW ME
BY THIS MARK."

SCARED ME
SO I COULDN'T THINK
OF NOTHIN' TO SAY,

SO I SAYS, "YES, MA'AM.

"BUT HOW YOU KNOW ME ?
MARK THE MARK ON ME.

MARK ME TOO."

DID SHE ?

NO.

SHE SLAPPED MY FACE.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT THEN.

NOT TILL I HAD
A MARK OF MY OWN.

[ Beloved ]
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER ?

HUNG.

MA'AM.
WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH YOU, MA'AM ?

WHY THEY HANG
YOUR MAMA ?

I NEVER FOUND OUT.

WAS A LOT OF 'EM.

[ People Crying ]

[ Bones Cracking ]
[ Woman Sobbing ]

PAUL D BE HERE
IN A MINUTE.

[ Thunder Rumbling ]

HOPE THIS PUDDING'S
GOOD TONIGHT.

DENVER, PASS ME
YOUR PLATE DOWN HERE.

PAUL D.

WHERE YOU BEEN
ALL THEM YEARS...

SINCE SWEET HOME,
MR. PAUL ?

AIN'T YOU GOT
NO PEOPLE ?

YOU WANNA KNOW
ABOUT ME NOW.
UH-HUH.

I GOT NO PEOPLE.

EIGHTEEN YEARS SINCE
I LEFT SWEET HOME, AND I'VE BEEN
WALKIN' THE WHOLE TIME.

MOVE, WALK, RUN, HIDE,
SOMETIMES STEAL AND MOVE ON.

ONLY TIME I STAYED IN ONE SPOT
FOR MORE THAN A MONTH OR SO...

WAS WITH A WEAVER WOMAN
IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

MEANEST PLACE FOR A NEGRO
I EVER SEEN...

OUTSIDE OF PULASKI COUNTY,
KENTUCKY.

I SEEN NEGROES
SO STUNNED AND HUNGRY,

THEY LIVED IN CAVES,
FOUGHT OWLS FOR FOOD.

SEEN SOME WHO SLEPT
IN TREES IN THE DAY...

AND MOVED ONLY BY NIGHT,

WHO BURIED THEMSELVES IN SLOP
TO HIDE FROM...

POSSES AND LAWMEN
AND REGULATORS.

MET A NEGRO BOY ONCE--
ABOUT 14--

WHO LIVED BY HISSELF
IN THE WOODS...
[ Sighing ]

AND SAID HE COULD NEVER REMEMBER
LIVIN' ANYWHERE ELSE.

SEEN A WITLESS
COLORED WOMAN HANG...

FOR STEALING DUCKS
SHE BELIEVED WAS HER OWN BABIES.

IN ALL THESE YEARS,
GIRL,

YOU BEAT ALL.

I AIN'T NEVER SEEN
A NEGRO LIKE YOU.

I THINK IT'S TIME
YOU TELL US A LITTLE SOMETHIN'
ABOUT YOURSELF.

SHE DON'T
REMEMBER NOTHIN'.

OH, YOU'D BE SURPRISED
WHAT YOU START REMEMBERIN'
SOON AS YOU START TALKIN'.

AIN'T YOU GOT
NO BROTHERS OR SISTERS ?

I AIN'T GOT NOBODY.

PAUL D, STOP IT.

DENVER, HELP ME
CLEAN UP THIS TABLE.

I WANNA KNOW, SETHE.

WHAT YOU LOOKIN' FOR
WHEN YOU COME HERE, BELOVED ?

THIS PLACE.

I LOOK FOR THIS PLACE
I COULD BE IN.

SOMEBODY TELL YOU
ABOUT THIS PLACE ?

SHE TOLD ME.

WHEN I WAS AT THE BRIDGE,
SHE TOLD ME.

HOW YOU COME ?
WHO BRUNG YA ?

I WALK HERE.

IT'S A LONG, LONG,
LONG, LONG WAY.

NOBODY BRING ME.
YOU WEARIN'
NEW SHOES, GAL.

IF YOU WALKED SO LONG, HOW COME
YOUR SHOES DON'T SHOW IT ?
[ Sethe ] PAUL D.

STOP PICKIN' ON HER.

I WANNA KNOW !
WHERE YOU GET THEM SHOES
AND THE DRESS YOU HAD ON ?

I TAKE THE SHOES,
AND I TAKE THE DRESS !

THE SHOESTRINGS
DON'T FIT.

I'LL TEACH YOU
HOW TO TIE YOUR SHOES.

[ Gagging ]

BELOVED.
BELOVED !

[ Coughing ]
BELOVED.

BELOVED, BELOVED,
YOU ALL RIGHT ?

LET IT OUT.
[ Hand Hitting Back ]

GO TO SLEEP NOW.

[ Denver ]
YOU CAN COME IN MY ROOM.

I CAN TAKE CARE OF YOU
UP THERE.

[ Crying Continues ]

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU ?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT HER
VEX YOU SO ?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE HOLD IS.

IT'S CLEAR WHY SHE HOLD
ON TO YOU. I JUST CAN'T SEE
WHY YOU HOLDIN' ON TO HER.

WHAT YOU CARE
WHO HOLDIN' ON TO WHO ?

SHE NICE GIRL,
COMPANY FOR DENVER.

THERE'S SOMETHING FUNNY
ABOUT THAT GAL.

ACT SICK, SOUND SICK,
BUT SHE DON'T LOOK SICK.

EATS SWEETS ALL DAY LONG,
AS STRONG AS A BULL.

SHE NOT STRONG. SHE CAN'T
HARDLY EVEN WALK WITHOUT
HOLDIN' ON TO SOMETHIN'.

CAN'T WALK,
BUT I SEEN HER PICK UP
THE ROCKER WITH ONE HAND.

YOU AIN'T SEEN
NO SUCH A-THING.

HEY, DON'T TELL ME.
ASK DENVER.
SHE RIGHT THERE WITH HER.

SETHE, SETHE, BABY.

WE WERE STARTIN' TO FEEL
A LITTLE LIKE A FAMILY OURSELF
TILL SHE COME ALONG.

IS THAT WHAT GOT
YOUR TEETH ON EDGE ?
IT'S A FEELIN' IN ME.

I CAN'T PLACE IT.
IT'S HER.
YOU WANNA
FEEL SOMETHIN' ?

FEEL WHAT IT FEEL LIKE
TO BE A COLORED WOMAN
ROAMIN' THE ROADS.

AND ANYTHING GOD MADE
LIABLE TO JUMP ON YOU.
FEEL THAT !

I KNOW EVERY BIT
OF THAT, SETHE.

I WASN'T BORN YESTERDAY,
AND I NEVER MISTREATED A WOMAN
IN MY LIFE.

WELL, THAT MAKES
ONE OF YOU
IN THIS WORLD.

ONE. NOT TWO ?

NO, NOT TWO.

WHAT'D HALLE
EVER DO TO YOU ?
HALLE STOOD BY YOU.

HALLE RAN OFF.

HE LEFT ME,
AND HE LEFT
OUR CHILDREN.

YOU DON'T KNOW THAT.
WHO HE LEAVE THEN
IF HE DIDN'T LEAVE ME ?

HE WASN'T THERE.
HE WASN'T WHERE HE SAID
HE WAS GONNA BE.

I HAD TO PACK MY BABIES OFF
AHEAD OF ME ON THEIR OWN.

STAYED BEHIND
TO LOOK FOR HIM.

GOT CAUGHT BY SCHOOLTEACHER
AND HIS BOYS FOR MY TROUBLE.

[ Dishes Clattering ]

HE COULDN'T GET OUT
THE... LOFT, I EXPECT.

LOFT ?

WHAT LOFT ?

ONE IN THE BARN,
I RECKON.

HE WAS THERE ?

HOW DO YOU KNOW ?

MORNIN' AFTER YOU RUN,
I SEEN HALLE...

CHAINED TO A POST.

I SAID, "WHAT HAPPENED ?
WHERE YOU BEEN ?"

"THE LOFT, THE LOFT.
THE LOFT."

THAT'S ALL HE SAID.

COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT
WHAT HE MEANT BY THAT.
[ Sighing ]

HE SAW THEM BOYS
DO THAT TO ME ?

AND HE LET THEM
KEEP ON BREATHIN' ?

I-I ASK HIM,

"HOW COME YOU DIDN'T RUN
WITH SETHE ?"

HE NEVER ANSWERED ME.

I SEEN HIM ONCE MORE,
THE DAY SCHOOLTEACHER
SOLD ME TO BRANDYWINE.

TAKIN' ME AWAY
IN THE WAGON.

THERE HALLE WAS,
IN THE YARD,

SITTIN' BY THE CHURN.

THEY DIDN'T NEED TO PUT
NO CHAINS ON HIM NO MORE.
HIS MIND WAS GONE.

SETHE,

A MAN AIN'T
A GODDAMN AX,

CHOPPIN' AND HACKIN',

BUSTIN' EVERY MINUTE
OF THE DAY.

THINGS GET TO HIM.

THINGS HE CAN'T CHOP DOWN
'CAUSE THEY INSIDE.

HALLE NEVER JUST RUN OFF
AND LEAVE YOU, SETHE.

YOU SEE,

YOU THE ONLY ONE OF US
WHO MADE IT OUT THAT NIGHT.

THE ONLY ONE.

[ Thunder Rumbling ]

I DIDN'T PLAN
ON TELLING YOU ALL THAT.

I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T PLAN
ON HEARIN' IT.

DIDN'T PLAN ON YOU
WALKIN' DOWN THAT ROAD
NEITHER,

COMIN' INTO MY HOUSE,

BRINGIN' ALL THIS
WITH YOU.

[ Denver Humming ]

[ Denver Giggling ]

WHERE'D YOU LEARN
TO DANCE ?
NOWHERE !

WATCH ME DO THIS.

OHH !

[ Laughing ]
NOW YOU ! COME ON !

YOU MAY AS WELL.
JUST GO ON !

[ Laughing ]

[ Screaming ]

[ Groaning, Sighing ]

WHY YOU CALL YOURSELF
BELOVED ?

IN THE DARK,
MY NAME BELOVED.

WHAT'S IT LIKE
WHERE YOU WAS BEFORE ?
CAN YOU TELL ME ?

DARK. I WAS SMALL
IN THAT PLACE...

LIKE THIS HERE.

WERE YOU
COLD ?
HOT !

NOTHING TO BREATHE
DOWN THERE.

NO ROOM TO MOVE.

YOU SEE ANYBODY ?

IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE...

DOWN THERE.

SOME IS DEAD.

YOU SEE JESUS ?
BABY SUGGS ?

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW
THE NAMES.

WELL, WHAT YOU
COME BACK HERE FOR ?

TO SEE HER FACE.

MAMA'S ?

SETHE'S ?

SETHE.

I REMEMBER !

I REMEMBER !

I WAS IN THE WATER.

I SEE HER DIAMONDS
DOWN THERE.

THEN SHE LEFT ME BEHIND...

BY MYSELF.

DON'T.

YOU WON'T EVER LEAVE US,
WILL YA ?

NO.
NEVER.

THIS IS WHERE I AM !

DON'T TELL.

PLEASE DON'T LET MAMA
KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
YOU HEAR ME ?

DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO !

DON'T YOU NEVER, NEVER
TELL ME WHAT TO DO !

- BUT I'M ON YOUR SIDE !
- SHE THE ONE !

SHE THE ONE I NEED !

YOU CAN GO !
SHE THE ONE I HAVE TO HAVE !

[ Mumbles ]

TELL ME HOW SETHE...

MAKE YOU IN THE BOAT.

TELL ME.

SHE NEVER TOLD ME
ALL OF IT.

TELL ME.

DENVER.

TELL ME.
[ Crying ]

WELL--

MAMA WAS RUNNIN' !

[ Bird Squawking ]
[ Sethe Panting ]

[ Screaming ]

[ Moaning ]

[ Moaning Continues ]

WHO IN THERE ?

WHO THAT
BACK THERE ?

[ Panting ]

[ Chuckling ]
MY, MY, MY.

MY, MY, MY, MY !

IT'S A NIGGER !
IF THAT DON'T BEAT ALL !

GIRL, YOU ABOUT
THE SCARIEST-LOOKIN'
SOMETHIN' I EVER SAW.

WHAT YOU DOIN'
WAY BACK UP HERE ?

I'M RUNNIN'.

THESE THE FEET
YOU RUNNIN' ON ?

[ Groans ]
JESUS, MY !

MISS, AM I IN OHIO ?
[ Gasps ]

[ Chuckling ]
OHIO ? NO, GIRL,
YOU IN KENTUCKY.

YOU ABOUT A THOUSAND MILES
AWAY FROM OHIO.

YOU HAVIN' A BABY ?

OH, MY !

I EXPECT THIS BABY THERE
IS GONNA DIE
IN THESE WILD ONIONS.

I GOTTA EAT ME SOMETHIN'.

W-W-WHERE-WHERE WAS YOU
ON YOUR WAY TO-TO, MISS ?

BOSTON.
GET ME SOME VELVET.

IT'S A STORE CALLED WILSON'S.
THEY JUST HAVE
THE "PURTIEST" VELVET.

YOU EVER SEEN VELVET
OR TOUCHED IT ?

I-IF-- IF I DID,
I DIDN'T KNOW IT.

VELVET I SEEN WAS BROWN,

BUT IN BOSTON,
THEY GOT ALL COLORS.

WHAT THEY CALL YOU ?

L-LU.

[ Nervously Chuckling ]

WELL, WHAT YOU GONNA DO, LU ?
YOU JUST GONNA LAY HERE
AND FOAL ?

I-- I-I CAN'T GET UP.
I-I CAN'T MOVE.

OH, SURE, YOU CAN, LU.
COME ON. YOU STAY HERE,
THE SNAKES MIGHT GET YA.

I CAN'T.
COME ON, COME ON.

COME ON, COME ON.
COME ON.
[ Groaning ]

COME ON !

I WAS FISHIN' OFF
THE BEAVER ONCE WHEN A NIGGER
FLOATED RIGHT BY ME.

I DON'T LIKE
DROWNED PEOPLE MUCH.
DO YOU ?

YOUR FEET KINDA
REMINDED ME OF HIM.

ALL SWOLL-LIKE.

NOW THIS IS GONNA
HURT A LITTLE.
[ Groaning ]

ANYTHING DEAD
COMIN' BACK
TO LIFE HURTS.

YOU AIN'T GOT NO BUSINESS
POKIN' 'ROUND THESE HILLS,
MISS.

LOOKIT HERE
WHO'S TALKIN'.

AIN'T NOBODY AFTER ME,
BUT I KNOW SOMEBODY
AFTER YOU,

AND THEY CATCH YOU,
THEY'RE GONNA CUT
YOUR HEAD OFF.

STOP WIGGLING, GIRL.
MY BACK HURT ME.

YOUR BACK ?
YEAH.

GIRL, YOU A MESS.
TURN OVER HERE
AND LET ME SEE.

[ Groaning ]

[ Screaming,
Moaning ]

COME HERE.
JESUS !

IT'S A TREE, LU.

YOUR BACK GOT
A WHOLE TREE ON IT.

CHOKECHERRY TREE
IN BLOOM.

SEE ? HERE'S THE TRUNK.

IT'S SPREAD
AND SPLIT WIDE OPEN,
FULL OF SAP AND BRANCHES.

AND DARNED IF THESE
AIN'T BLOSSOMS.

COME ON, GIRL.
[ Gasping ]

'CAUSE OF ME,
YOU'RE UP AND WALKIN'.

SEE, JESUS.
LU MADE IT THROUGH.

I'M GOOD
WITH SICK THINGS,
AIN'T I ?

YEAH, YOU GOOD.

WHAT'S ALL OVER
YOUR DRESS, GIRL ?
IT'S MILK.

GOTTA GET MILK
TO MY BABY GIRL.

YOU MEAN, YOU GOT
ANOTHER BABY WAITIN'
FOR YOU ?

OH, MY, JESUS.

[ Panting ]
COME ON.

COME ON.
COME ON.

[ Giggling ]
NOW...

THAT'S OHIO.

[ Giggling ]

JESUS LOOKIN'
AT YOU, GIRL !

[ Laughing ]

WHOO !
COME ON.

[ Groaning ]

OH, HERE'S YOUR PADDLE !

[ Screaming ]
WHAT YOU DOIN' NOW,
POOR GIRL ?

[ Gasping ]
STOP THAT RIGHT NOW !

JESUS, LU !
STOP IT ! STOP IT !
[ Panting ]

LU ! LU !
STOP IT !

OH, JESUS !
I'M AWFULLY SORRY
ABOUT BRAGGIN'.

I NEED YOU HERE NOW !

DON'T BE GETTIN' LOST
ON ME NOW, JESUS !
[ Continues Panting ]

COME ON !
PUSH ! PUSH !

[ Screaming ]
PUSH !

OH, HERE COMES THE HEAD.

OH, DEAR JESUS,
PLEASE, HELP !

GOD, IT'S STUCK !

[ Grunting ]
COME ON !
[ Screaming ]

[ Panting ]

[ Laughing ]
[ Baby Crying ]

OH, PRAISE JESUS.
PRAISE JESUS.

[ Crying Continues ]

SHE AIN'T NEVER
GONNA KNOW WHO I AM.

YOU BETTER TELL HER
WHO BRUNG HER
INTO THIS WORLD.

[ Crying ]

YOU SAY,
"MISS AMY DENVER...

OF BOSTON."
MM.

PRETTY.
THAT'S PRETTY.

DENVER.

REAL PRETTY.
SHH.

[ Denver Narrating ]
SO AMY DENVER, SHE LEFT
ME AND MAMA ON THE RIVERBANK.

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME
WE MET STAMP PAID.

[ Denver Crying ]

HEY THERE.

YOU HEADIN' ACROSS ?

YES, SIR.

ANYBODY KNOW
YOU COMIN' ?

YES, SIR.
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW,
BABY SUGGS.

[ Crying Continues ]

[ Denver Narrating ]
MOST FOLK CALL HER
BABY SUGGS HOLY.

TO ME,
SHE WERE GRANDMA BABY.
[ Laughing ]

THANK YOU, ELLA.
THANK YOU, STAMP.

[ Laughing ]
OH !

[ Laughing Continues ]

OH, MY LORD.

MY SWEET JESUS !

THANK YOU !

[ Baby Suggs Laughing ]
[ Sethe Crying ]

WHERE'S MY HALLE ?

WELL,
HE W-WASN'T THERE...

WHERE HE SAID TO MEET HIM,
AND I HAD TO GO.

HAD TO.

H-H-HE'LL MAKE IT.

IF I MADE IT,
HALLE SURE CAN.

WHERE-WHERE'S
MY CHILDREN ?
OH, NO, NOT NOW.

WE GOT TO
FIX YOU UP FIRST.

YOU TOO UGLY-LOOKIN'
TO WAKE 'EM.
[ Laughing ]

SHH.
[ Door Opening ]

BUGLAR, HOWARD !
[ Both ]
MAMA, MAMA !

OH, LOOK AT YOU.
[ Children Laughing ]

LET ME SEE.
OH !

TELL ME THE OTHER BABY.

TELL ME YOU BIG SISTER.

[ Denver ]
MM, BABY SUGGS CALL HER...

CRAWLIN' ALREADY BABY.

CRAWLIN' ALREADY ?
AIN'T THIS SOMETHIN' ?

ALL RIGHT, BABY GIRL.
RIGHT THIS WAY.

MAMA'S WAITIN'.

ALL RIGHT,
HOWARD, BUGLAR.

[ Crying ]

YOU'RE OKAY.
YEAH.

AIN'T NOTHIN' HERE
WORTH SAVIN'.

WHAT IS THIS ?

WEDDIN' PRESENT
FROM MRS. GARNER.

I WISH THERE WAS A GROOM
TO GO WITH IT.

PUT 'EM ON, CHILD.

MAYBE THEY'LL
LIGHT HIS WAY.

LOOK AT THOSE SHINE.

PRETTY, HUH ?

DADDY COME SOON, HUH ?

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPEN,

GOD HAS LED YOU HOME.

SO...

LAY 'EM DOWN, SETHE.

SWORD AND SHIELD.

STUDY WAR NO MORE.

GOD HAS LED YOU HOME.

WHERE WE GOIN', MAMA ?
WE GOIN' TO PAY TRIBUTE
TO YOUR DADDY.

OUR HOUSE USED TO BE
A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.

STRANGERS RESTED THERE.

PEOPLE LEAVIN' MESSAGES.
FOLKS COMIN' AND GOIN'
ALL THE TIME.

IT WAS A HAPPY HOUSE WHEN
I FIRST GOT THERE WITH DENVER
STRAPPED TO MY CHEST...

WAITIN' ON HER DADDY
TO COME.

DADDY.

HALLE BOUGHT
BABY SUGGS' FREEDOM,

BUT SLAVERY DONE ALREADY
BUSTED HER LEGS...

AND BUSTED HER BACK,
HANDS, EVERYTHING.

WHEN SHE COME HERE,
SHE AIN'T HAD NOTHIN' LEFT
TO MAKE NO LIVIN' WITH...

BESIDES HER HEART.

BABY SUGGS USED TO PREACH
RIGHT HERE.

LET THE CHILDREN COME.

[ Laughing ]
[ Footsteps ]

LET YOUR MOTHERS
HEAR YOU LAUGH.

[ Children Laughing ]

LET THE GROWN MEN COME.

LET YOUR WIVES
AND YOUR CHILDREN...

SEE YOU DANCE.

[ Crowd Cheering,
Chattering ]

WOMEN !
WOMEN !

I WANT YOU TO WEEP !

JUST WEEP...

FOR THE LIVING,

FOR THE DEAD.

WEEP.

GRANDMA BABY USED TO SAY
YOUR DADDY WAS TOO GOOD
FOR THIS WORLD.

REMEMBER ?

HE WAS A GOOD MAN.

IT SCARED HER.

SHE USED TO ALWAYS FRET
WHETHER HE WASN'T GONNA
MAKE IT THROUGH NOTHIN'.

HE MADE IT
THROUGH A LOT.

MAYBE GRANDMA BABY
WAS RIGHT.

DENVER...

YOUR DADDY AIN'T GONNA
NEVER SHOW UP HERE.

YOU UNDERSTAND ?
BUT--

THE DAY AIN'T GONNA
NEVER COME...

WHEN HALLE KNOCKS
ON THAT DOOR.

NEVER.

THERE--

MAMA !

PAUL !

PAUL D !
PAUL D !

YOU HERE ?

[ Laughing ]
WHERE ELSE WOULD I BE
ON A SUNDAY OFF ?

[ Water Splashing ]

[ Panting ]
YOU'RE HERE.

UH-HUH.

WHY DON'T YOU
COME ON IN HERE ?
[ Laughing ]

GIRLS RIGHT
BEHIND ME.

I DON'T HEAR
NOBODY.

I GOTTA COOK.
ME TOO.

YEAH, YEAH.

I THOUGHT I'D MAKE
SOME SNAP BEANS.

FRY UP
A LITTLE CORN.
YEAH.

PAUL D, STOP IT.
STOP IT.

[ Paul D Whispering ]
DENVER ?

BELOVED ? THAT YOU ?
[ Paul D ]
SHH, SHH.

[ Sethe Slapping
Paul D ]
PAUL D !

[ Paul D Chuckling ]
COME ON.

[ Sethe Giggling ]

[ Whimpering ]

[ Crying ]

[ Crying Continues ]

[ Calling ]

[ Beloved Wheezing ]

THAT WAS REAL FINE, SETHE.
THANK YOU.

SURE YOU GOT
ENOUGH ?
YES, MA'AM.

BONE-TIRED
AND RIVER-WHIPPED.

[ Dishes Clattering ]

[ Sethe Chattering ]

PAUL D.
[ Groaning ]

DON'T TELL ME
I SLEPT IN THIS CHAIR
THE WHOLE NIGHT.

I'M NOT GONNA SAY
A THING.

WHY YOU DIDN'T
ROUSE ME ?
I DID.

I TRIED CALLIN' YOU
TWO OR THREE TIMES.

I THOUGHT MAYBE
YOU WENT OUT SOMEWHERE.
SORRY, HONEY.

I'LL MAKE US
SOME BREAKFAST.
YOU KNOW SOMETHIN' ?

BREAKFAST CAN WAIT.
[ Chuckling ]

PAUL ! PAUL D !
PAUL D !
[ Paul D Snoring ]

WHAT YOU DOIN'
IN BABY SUGGS' BED ?

I DON'T KNOW.

LIKE I'M HAVIN'
HOUSE FITS.

IT GOT ME
TO MOVE FROM BED...

TO CHAIR TO BED.

SLEPT GOOD THOUGH.

NO. COME ON NOW.
YOU GONNA BE LATE
FOR WORK.

COME ON, COME ON.
I GOT TO GET TO WORK.
SO DO YOU.

COME ON.

YEAH, RIGHT.

COME ON,
BELOVED.
YEAH.

[ Thunder Rumbling ]

[ Beloved ]
WHY DON'T THE CHICKENS
HAVE NO TEETH ?

[ Sethe Laughing ]

[ Beloved Mumbling ]
[ Sethe ]
WHOO !

CHICKEN HAS NO TEETH.
[ Sethe Laughing ]

MAMA'S COOKIN' CHICKEN !

[ Paul D Moaning ]

OH, GOD.
[ Gasps ]

HEAD HURTS.

WHAT YOU WANT
IN HERE ?

I WANT YOU TOUCH ME...

ON THE INSIDE PART...

AND CALL MY NAME.

GOOD PEOPLE TAKE YOU IN,
TREAT YOU GOOD,

YOU OUGHTA TRY
TO BE GOOD BACK.

YOU DON'T--

SETHE LOVES YOU...

AS MUCH AS
HER OWN DAUGHTER,
YOU KNOW THAT.

SHE DON'T LOVE ME
LIKE I LOVE HER.

I DON'T LOVE NOBODY
BUT HER.

THEN WHAT YOU COME
IN HERE FOR ?

I WANT YOU TO TOUCH ME
ON THE INSIDE PART.

GO BACK IN THAT HOUSE
AND GET IN THAT BED.

YOU HAS TO TOUCH ME
ON THE INSIDE PART.

YOU HAS TO CALL ME
MY NAME.

NO !

NO.
I'LL GO
IF YOU CALL IT.

NO, BELOVED.
PLEASE, CALL IT.

BELOVED.

[ Groaning ]

BELOVED.

RED HEART.

RED HEART.

RED HEART.

RED HEART.

RED HEART.
RED HEART.

[ Paul D ]
RED HEART.

RED HEART.
RED HEART !

RED HEART !

RED HEART.
RED HEART.

[ Paul D Crying ]

[ Screaming ]

[ Crying Continues ]

ARE THERE FLOWERS
IN THE DARK ?

THERE IS.

[ Steamship Whistling ]
[ Man Yelling ]

[ Yelling Continues ]

[ Men Chattering ]

COME ON.
COME ON.
WHOO-HOO !

[ Paul D Mumbling ]

PAUL D !
WANNA RIDE WITH US ?

WE GOT THE WAGON TODAY.
WHY DON'T WE--

[ Whispering ]
IF I COULD
JUST TELL HER.

[ Paul D ]
NOW, SETHE, YOU AIN'T GONNA LIKE
WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY.

SOMETHIN' IS HAPPENING
TO ME.

THAT GIRL DO IT.

FIXIN' ME. YEAH.
SHE FIXED ME, SETHE.

SHE FIXED ME,
AND I CAN'T BREAK IT.

SHE-SHE MOVED ME
OUT OF THE HOUSE,

AND THEN SHE--
SHE JOINED ME.

NO.

PAUL D ?
[ Dog Barking ]

PAUL D ?

WHY, YOU MAKE ME FEEL
LIKE A YOUNG GIRL,

COMIN' BY TO PICK ME UP
AFTER WORK.

PUPSKI.
THERE YOU GO, PUPSKI.

BETTER WATCH OUT.
I MIGHT START
LOOKIN' FORWARD TO IT.

YOU GET OFF FROM WORK
EARLY OR WHAT ?

I TOOK OFF EARLY.

[ Horse Whinnying ]
ANYTHING THE MATTER ?

IN A WAY OF SPEAKIN'.

SETHE, YOU AIN'T GONNA LIKE
WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY.

WELL, SAY IT, PAUL D,
WHETHER I LIKE IT OR NOT.

I WANT YOU PREGNANT.

YOU WANT ME PREGNANT ?

IS THAT WHAT
YOU COME BY HERE FOR ?

DON'T YOU THINK
I'M A LITTLE TOO OLD
TO START THAT ALL OVER AGAIN ?

TH-THINK ABOUT IT.

[ Paul D Laughing ]

YOU CRAZY MAN.

COME ON.

[ Laughing Continues ]

[ Sethe ]
WHAT HAS GOT INTO YOU ?

YOU NEED SOME BABIES
OR SOMEBODY TO PLAY WITH.

I'M SURE WILLIN' TO TRY.
I NEED A WILLIN' PARTNER
THOUGH.

I'LL SAY.
I'LL SAY.

MERCY.

LET'S RUN.
LET'S RUN.

I'VE BEEN ON MY FEET
ALL DAY.

OH, WHERE I BEEN,
SETHE ?

STOP, PAUL D.
MY LEGS AIN'T MADE
FOR THIS.

[ Laughing ]

?? HARD WORK AIN'T EASY ??

?? DRY BREAD AIN'T GREASY ??
[ Laughing ]

?? LITTLE RICE
LITTLE BEAN ??

HEY, STAMP !
STAMP PAID !

I'M GONNA TAKE
THIS ONE HOME
WITH ME !

[ Yelling, Laughing ]

HEY, YOU LIKE THIS WORK SO MUCH,
MAYBE YOU BEST GET IN THE CHUTE
WITH THE OTHERS.

YOU AIN'T GOT MUCH MORE SENSE
THAN THEY DO.

?? NO MEAT IN BETWEEN %%

I AIN'T SINGIN'
ABOUT THIS !

IF A MAN CAN MAKE A PLAN,
THE MAN CAN MAKE
THE GOOD TIMES HAPPEN.

THE MAN GOT PLANS ?
YOU SAVIN' UP
FOR A GOLD MINE, BOY ?

BETTER THAN GOLD.
ME AND MY WOMAN'S PLANNIN'
ON STARTIN' A FAMILY.

YEAH, A NEW LIFE.
BORN FREE !

NOW, IF THAT DON'T MEAN
A GOOD TIME,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT DOES.

NOTHIN' BORN FREE
EVER AGAIN.

WHAT YOU TALKIN' ?

I BEEN BOUGHT AND SOLD
FIVE TIMES.

THE LAST TIME,
TO THE NORTHPOINT BANK
AND RAILWAY COMPANY.

NO MORE !
I WALK AND I SLEEP
AND I EAT WHERE I PLEASE.

I EARN A FREE MAN'S WAGE.

NOBODY'S GONNA OWN US
NO MORE.

NOBODY'S GONNA OWN
MY CHILDREN EITHER.

NO MORE !
NO MORE !

CHILDREN INHERIT
WHERE THEY COME FROM.

JUST 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE
NO CHAINS DON'T MEAN
THEY NOT THERE.

AND AS LONG
AS THE WORLD IS WHITE,
THAT'S WHERE WE STAYIN'.

COME ON.
LET'S GO GET SOMETHIN' TO EAT.

COME ON.
COME ON.

[ Hogs Squealing ]

MIND IF I JOIN YOU ?

FREE COUNTRY,
NO MATTER WHAT NOBODY SAY.

YOU DON'T KNOW,
DO YOU, SON ?

KNOW WHAT ?

YOU ONE OF BABY SUGGS'
SWEET HOME MEN, AIN'T YA ?

YES, SIR.

ME. MY BROTHERS.
HER SON, HALLE.

YOU KNEW BABY ?
OH, YEAH.

BABY SUGGS HOLY.
GOD REST HER SOUL.

YEAH. SETHE TOLD ME
SHE DIED SOFT AS CREAM.

WELL, MAYBE
ON THE OUTSIDE.

WHY IS THAT ?

[ Papers Shuffling ]

IT WAS ME WHO HAD BRUNG SETHE
ACROSS THE RIVER WHEN
SHE RUN AWAY FROM SWEET HOME.

I WAS THERE
THE DAY IT HAPPENED.

WHO IS IT ?

THAT THERE'S
A PICTURE OF SETHE.

SETHE ?

[ Scoffs ]
THAT AIN'T HER MOUTH.

I CAN SEE
WHY YOU MAY THINK IT,

AROUND THE EYES.

B-BUT THAT THERE
AIN'T HER MOUTH.

BESIDES, WHY WOULD THEY PUT
SOME COLORED WOMAN'S PICTURE
IN THE PAPER ?

YOU DON'T READ,
DO YOU, SON ?

YOU WANT ME TO READ
TO YOU ?

[ Sweeping ]

[ Chattering, Distant ]

[ Horse Whinnying ]

ALREADY FED THE GIRLS.
YOU EAT ?

WANT SOMETHING ?

BEST YOU COME INSIDE.

I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU
ABOUT SWEET HOME,

WHAT IT WAS.

MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR ME
TO GET AWAY FROM THERE.

I DID IT.
I GOT US ALL OUT.

UP UNTIL THEN,
IT WAS THE ONLY THING
I EVER DID ON MY OWN.

ME... USIN' MY OWN HEAD.

BUT IT WAS MORE
THAN THAT.

I WAS-- I WAS BIG...

AND WIDE, PAUL.

SO WIDE, WHEN I STRETCHED
OUT MY ARMS, ALL MY CHILDREN
COULD GET IN BETWEEN.

LOOKED LIKE I--
LOOKED LIKE I LOVED 'EM MORE
AFTER WE GOT HERE.

[ Chuckles ]

MAYBE I JUST KNEW THAT
LONG AS WE WAS IN KENTUCKY
WITH SCHOOLTEACHER,

THEY REALLY WASN'T MINE
TO LOVE.

LOOK LIKE WHEN
I JUMPED OFF THAT WAGON,

WASN'T NOBODY IN THIS WORLD
I COULDN'T LOVE
IF I WANT TO.

TWENTY-EIGHT DAYS.

TWENTY-EIGHT GOOD DAYS
OF FREE LIFE.

I'D WAKE UP
IN THE MORNING AND...

DECIDE FOR MYSELF
WHAT TO DO WITH THE DAY.

SOMETIMES I--
I HEAR MY BOYS--

HEAR 'EM LAUGHIN' A LAUGH
I AIN'T NEVER HEARD.

FIRST I GET SCARED, SCARED
SOMEBODY MIGHT HEAR 'EM...

AND GET MAD.

THEN I REMEMBERED
THAT IF THEY LAUGHED
THAT HARD TILL IT HURT,

THAT'D BE THE ONLY HURT
THEY HAVE ALL DAY.

AND WHEN THE PEOPLE
WOULD GATHER--

THEY'D COME FROM ALL AROUND
TO HEAR BABY SUGGS HOLY--

I SEEN AND HEARD THINGS
I AIN'T NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

I SEEN WHAT FREE NEGROES
LOOK LIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

HERE IN THIS PLACE,
WE ARE FLESH.

FLESH THAT WEEPS,

LAUGHS,

DANCES BAREFOOT
IN THE GRASS.

[ Audience Murmuring Approval ]

LOVE YOUR FLESH.

LOVE IT HARD.

YONDER...
THEY DO NOT LOVE OUR FLESH.

[ Man ]
AMEN.

[ Chuckling ]
OH, MY PEOPLE...

THEY DO NOT LOVE YOUR HANDS.

THOSE...
THEY ONLY USE,

TIE, BIND,

CHOP OFF...

AND LEAVE EMPTY.

LOVE YOUR HANDS.

RAISE THEM UP...

AND KISS THEM.

[ Kissing ]

[ Guffawing ]

[ All Laughing, Clapping ]

TWENTY-EIGHT DAYS
OF... FREEDOM.

ON THE 29th DAY,
IT WAS OVER.

[ Chopping ]

[ Whispering ]
OUTSIDE.

[ Baby Crying ]

[ Chopping Continues ]

%% [ Humming ]
[ Crying Continues ]

[ Sethe Narrating ]
THERE'S A LOOK
THAT WHITE FOLKS GET.

RIGHTEOUS LOOK THAT'S LIKE
A FLAG GOIN' UP A POLE.

A RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT...

COMES ALONG WITH THE WHIP
AND THE FIST,

THE BURNIN', THE LIE.

LONG BEFORE IT HAPPENS
IN THE OPEN.

NO, NO !

HOWARD, BUGLAR,
GET IN THE SHED !
[ Crying ]

GET IN THE SHED ! RUN !

[ Crying Continues ]

[ Screaming ] NO !

GET IN THE SHED ! NO !

[ Sethe, Distant ]
NO ! NO ! NO ! NO !

[ Sethe Continues Screaming ]

[ Whinnying ]

[ Screaming Hysterically ]
NO, NO, NO !

-[ Sethe ]
NO, NO, NO !
-[ Boy ] MAMA !

[ Boys Screaming ]

[ Boy Screaming, Crying ]
MAMA !

[ Screaming, Crying Continue ]

[ Baby Crying ]

[ Grunting ]
SETHE ! SETHE ! NO !

SETHE !
[ Screaming ]

[ Sethe Panting ]

[ Coughing, Crying ]

GOD ALMIGHTY.

[ Denver Crying ]

WHAT'D YOU GO
AND DO THAT FOR ?

WHAT'D YOU GO
AND DO THAT FOR ?

[ Breathing Heavily ]

WHAT'D YOU GO
AND DO THAT FOR ?

[ Denver Continues Crying ]

[ Gasping ]

Y'ALL BETTER GO ON.
NOTHIN' HERE TO CLAIM,
I GUESS.

LOOK LIKE YOUR BUSINESS
IS OVER.
[ Throwing Hat ]

MINE'S STARTED.

[ Spits ]

ANIMAL.

[ Crying Continues ]

[ Baby Suggs Gasping ]

OH.
[ Continues Gasping ]

OH.

- OH.
- I'M GOING OUT.
I'LL SEND FOR A WAGON.

HOWARD, HOWARD !
[ Wheezing ]

- WAKE UP. BUGLAR. BABY !
- [ Buglar Wheezing ]

COME ON, SWEETHEART.
WAKE UP ! WAKE UP !

[ Moaning ]
OH !

I BEG YOUR PARDON.

SETHE, YOU TAKE MY ARMLOAD
AND GIVE ME YOUR'N.

[ Boys Coughing ]
[ Crying ]

[ Baby Suggs ]
I BEG YOUR PARDON.
I BEG YOUR PARDON.

I BEG YOUR PARDON.

YOUR LOVE
IS TOO THICK, SETHE.

LOVE IS OR IT ISN'T,
PAUL D.

THIN LOVE
AIN'T NO LOVE AT ALL.

I STOPPED HIM.

I PUT MY BABIES
WHERE'D THEY BE SAFE.

DIDN'T WORK, THOUGH,
DID IT ?

YOUR BOYS ARE GONE,
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE.

ONE GIRL'S DEAD.
THE OTHER CAN'T GET
FURTHER THAN THE YARD.

HOW DID IT WORK ?

THEY AIN'T AT SWEET HOME.

SCHOOLTEACHER AIN'T GOT 'EM.

MAYBE THERE'S WORSE.
IT AIN'T MY JOB TO KNOW
WHAT'S WORSE, PAUL D.

IT'S MY JOB TO KNOW WHAT IS AND
KEEP MY CHILDREN AWAY FROM IT,
'CAUSE I'D RATHER KNOW...

THEY AT PEACE IN HEAVEN
THAN LIVE IN A HELL HERE
ON EARTH, SO HELP ME, JESUS.

WHAT YOU DID WAS WRONG, SETHE.
I SHOULD'VE
GONE BACK THERE ?

TOOK MY BABIES
BACK TO SWEET HOME ?

THERE COULD'VE BEEN A WAY.
SOME OTHER WAY.

WHAT WAY, PAUL D ?

YOU GOT TWO FEET,
SETHE, NOT FOUR.

YOU CAN SET ASIDE SUPPER
FOR ME.

I MIGHT BE LATE
GETTIN' BACK.

AFTER ALL
I JUST TOLD YOU, PAUL D,

AND AFTER YOU TELLIN' ME
HOW MANY FEET I GOT,

YOU THINK SAYIN' GOOD-BYE
IS GONNA BREAK ME INTO PIECES ?

YOU'RE A SWEET MAN.

[ Door Shutting ]

SO LONG, PAUL D.

WE COULD ROAST
SOME TATERS.

TOO LATE.
TOMORROW.

%% [ Humming Lullaby ]

%% [ Continues ]

%% [ Stops ]

I MADE THAT SONG UP.

I MADE IT UP AND SANG IT
TO MY CHILDREN.

NOBODY KNOWS THAT SONG BUT...

ME AND MY CHILDREN.

I KNOW.

%% [ Resumes Humming ]

[ Muffled Humming,
Wheezing ]

[ Gasping ]

YOU CAME BACK TO ME.

[ Softly ]
YEAH.

[ Beloved Snoring,
Wheezing ]
OHH.

BACK STIFF ?
MMM. YEAH.

SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR'S SUPPOSED
TO BE GOOD FOR YOU.
HURT LIKE THE DEVIL.

SHOULD I WAKE HER ?

NO. LET HER REST.

SHE LIKES TO SEE YOU OFF
IN THE MORNING.

I'M GONNA LET HER,
BUT FIRST GET ME THAT HAM
OUT OF THERE.

I'M GONNA MAKE US
A NICE, BIG BREAKFAST
AGAINST THE COLD OUTSIDE.

WON'T YOU BE LATE FOR WORK ?
FIRST TIME I'LL BE LATE
IN 16 YEARS.

IT DON'T MATTER.

WHATEVER GOES ON OUT THERE
GOES ON WITH OR WITHOUT ME
SHOWIN' UP ON TIME.

THE WORLD IS RIGHT HERE
IN THIS ROOM.

RIGHT HERE IS ALL THAT IS
AND ALL THERE NEEDS TO BE.
[ Stirring ]

SHE AIN'T EVEN MAD
AT ME. NOT A BIT.
[ Continues Wheezing ]

[ Groaning ]

[ Girls Chattering, Distant ]

[ Chuckling ]

WHOO.

[ Boy #1 ]
MAMA !
[ Boy #2 ]
MAMA !

MAMA !
MAMA !

[ Footsteps Crunching
In Snow ]

MAMA !
MAMA !

[ Chattering ]

[ Man ]
PUT IT BACK IN THERE.
PUT IT BACK.

[ Speaking German ]
THAT'S IT. YOU'RE LATE.
YOU'RE FIRED.

THAT'S ALL.
I-I-- I'VE HAD IT.

YOU MAKE POTATO SALAD
ALWAYS TOO SWEET.

AND YOU DIDN'T MAKE
THE PIES TODAY.

YOU TAKE HOME TOO MUCH FOOD.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING ?
WHERE ARE YOU GOING ?

MY GOODNESS.
IS THAT--
YES, IT IS.

DID YOU SEE THAT ?
WHAT ?
THAT'S A DISGRACE.

[ Chattering ]

SETHE.

[ Woman ]
DON'T LOOK NOW,
BUT THERE IS SETHE.

MM.
IS SHE THE ONE ?

WILL THAT BE ALL, MA'AM ?

[ All Screaming ]

[ Women ]
?? TO GET MY GRIP ??
[ Screaming ]

?? I CAME BACK HOME
JUST A-PULLIN' THE SKIFF
JUST A-PULLIN' THE SKIFF ??

?? WENT UPSTAIRS
TO MAKE MY BED ??

?? I MADE A MISTAKE
AND BUMPED MY HEAD ??

?? JUST A-PULLIN' THE SKIFF
JUST A-PULLIN' THE SKIFF ??

[ Together ]
?? I CAME DOWNSTAIRS
TO MILK THAT COW ??

?? I MADE A MISTAKE
AND I MILKED THAT SOW ??

?? JUST A-PULLIN' THE SKIFF
JUST A-PULLIN' THE SKIFF ??

[ Screeching, Laughing ]
?? TOMORROW, TOMORROW
TOMORROW NEVER COMES ??

?? TOMORROW, TOMORROW
TOMORROW NEVER COMES ??

[ Denver ]
THE BEST PART.
%% [ All Grunting In Tune ]

%% [ Grunting Continues ]
[ Beloved Babbling ]

LOOK AT MY PRETTY BABY.
SHE'S MY BEST THING.
DENVER.

?
[ Beloved ]
?? TOMORROW NEVER COME ?

THANK YOU, MAMA.
?? TOMORROW, TOMORROW
TOMORROW IN THE BARN %%

]
[ Laughing ]
%% [ Grunting

[ Beloved Babbling ]

THIS ONE ?

WOULD YOU WRAP IT,
PLEASE ?
WHAT'S SHE DOING ?

[ Sethe Panting ]

THE FIRST DAY WE GOT HERE
TO BLUESTONE ROAD,

YOU DRIBBLED CLEAR SPIT
ON MY FACE.

JUST LIKE WHEN YOU COME BACK
AND DRINK THAT WATER,
IT RUN DOWN YOUR CHIN.

I'D HAVE RECOGNIZED YOU
RIGHT OFF,

[ Beloved Grunting ]
BUT PAUL D,
HE DISTRACT ME.

THEN LATER ON,

WHEN YOU ASKED ME ABOUT
THEM EARRINGS I USED TO DANGLE
FOR YOU TO PLAY WITH,

[ Babbling ]
I'D HAVE KNOWN
THAT WAS YOU,

EXCEPT FOR PAUL D.

LOOKED TO ME LIKE
HE WANTED YOU OUT
FROM THE BEGINNING.

BUT I WOULDN'T LET HIM.
WHAT YOU THINK ?

HMM.

I MEAN, LOOK HOW HE RUN OFF
FIRST HE HEAR ABOUT YOU AND ME
IN THE SHED.

TOO TOUGH FOR HIM
TO EVEN LISTEN TO.

"MY LOVE TOO THICK," HE SAID.

WHAT DO HE KNOW
ABOUT IT ?

[ Sethe ]
?? HIGH JOHNNY ??

?
?? WIDE JOHNNY ?

?
?? DON'T YOU LEAVE MY SIDE ?

?
?? HIGH JOHNNY ?

?
?? WIDE JOHNNY ?

?? SWEET WILLIAM
BEND DOWN LOW ??

-?? JACK, WE RAISE UP HIGH ??
- [ Beloved Laughs ]

?? LAMBS WOOL %%
WHY YOU HURT ME ?

BABY, YOU KNOW.

WHY YOU LEAVE ME ?

BELOVED, I WASN'T NEVER
GONNA LEAVE YOU.

NEVER.

BUT THERE WASN'T NO WAY
I WAS GONNA LET SCHOOLTEACHER
COME HAUL ALL OF US OFF...

AND MEASURE YOUR BEHIND
'FORE HE TORE IT UP.

- YOU LEAVE ME.
- NO, BABY. NO.

SEE, MY PLAN WAS TO GET US
ALL OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE
WHERE MY OWN MAMMY IS.

THEY STOPPED ME
FROM GETTIN' US ALL THERE,
BUT YOU HAD TO BE PUT...

WHERE YOU'D BE SAFE,
AND I DID THAT.

NOW YOU COME BACK,

AND BABY, I AIN'T GONNA
NEVER LET YOU GO.

I WANT A SWEET.

SWEET ?

[ Moaning, Grunting ]
SWEET.

WE DON'T HAVE NOTHIN' SWEET
NO MORE, BABY.

WHY YOU DON'T LET ME
EAT THE PIE NO MORE ?

[ Plate Crashing ]

[ Moaning ]
SINCE MAMA SPENT ALL THE MONEY,
WE DON'T HAVE NO MORE.

[ Screaming ]
I WANT A SWEET !
I WANT A SWEET !

SWEET, SWEET, SWEET !
BELOVED ? BELOVED !

-[ Screaming Continues ]
-[ Sethe ]
BELOVED, BABY ?

BABY ? BELOVED !

[ Screaming,
Crying ]

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

[ Gasping ]
I UNDERSTAND.

[ Buzzing ]
[ Whimpering ]

[ Buzzing Continues ]

[ Chirping ]

[ Moaning ]

[ Gagging ]

[ Screeching ]

[ Screeching Continues ]

BELOVED ?

[ Crying ]

[ Buzzing ]

[ Birds Chirping ]

[ Clucking ]

[ Clanking ]
[ Beloved Screaming ]

[ Glass Breaking ]
[ Beloved Screaming ]

MAMA !

[ Footsteps Above ]
MAMA !

[ Metal Clanking ]
[ Babbling ]

[ Groaning ]

[ Babbling Continues ]

MAMA !

[ Rattling ]
[ Screaming, Babbling ]

MAMA !

MAMA !

[ Babbling Resumes ]

YOU BEST LEAVE
THAT QUILT ALONE.

THAT'S GRANDMA'S QUILT.

[ Gasping ]

[ Babbling ]
I WANT A SWEET.
WHERE IS SWEET ?

[ Clattering, Distant ]

[ Chattering, Distant ]

[ Baby Suggs ]
YOU MEAN I NEVER TELL YOU
ABOUT YOUR DADDY, HALLE ?

HOW HE BOUGHT MY FREEDOM
WITH ALL THAT TOIL...

AND NEVER HAD A CHANCE
TO SEE THE PROMISED LAND
FOR HISSELF ?

DIDN'T I TELL YOU
ABOUT THE BODWINS,

WHO FIND ME
THIS HERE HOUSE...

AND GIVE ME WORK
IN THEIRS ?

HOW THE BODWINS,
THEY SAVED YOUR MAMA'S NECK
FROM THE ROPE.

I NEVER TELL YOU ALL THIS ?

IS THAT WHY YOU SCARED...

TO GO DOWN THEM STEPS
AND OUT YONDER...

BY YOURSELF ?

IS THAT WHY
YOU DIDN'T GO BACK
TO MISS LADY...

AND FINISH LEARNIN'
YOUR LETTERS ?

YOU LIKED GOING THERE.
I REMEMBER.

BEIN' WITH THE OTHER CHILDREN.
ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'VE STOPPED.

THERE WAS THIS BOY...

AND HE SAID THINGS
ABOUT MAMA.

[ Gasping ]
HE SAID
HE COULD PROVE IT.

[ Wheezing ]
MY JESUS, MY.

COME HERE, CHILD.

WE GOT TO GO
SOMETIME.

YOU GOT TO GO OUT YONDER
BY YOURSELF SOMETIME.

YOU GOT TO GO ON
OUT THE YARD.

GO ON.

[ Hammering ]

[ Chattering ]

[ Man ]
COME ON, NOW.

[ Denver ]
I WANT TO WORK, MISS LADY.

WORK ?

START LEARNIN'
YOUR LETTERS AGAIN ?

I MEAN "WORK" WORK.

WELL, DENVER,

WHAT CAN YOU DO ?

I CAN'T DO NOTHIN'.

BUT I COULD LEARN IT FOR YOU...
IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA.

EXTRA ?

FOOD.

MY MAMA...

SHE DON'T FEEL TOO GOOD.

[ Sighs ]
OH, BABY.

EAT. BAD SETHE.

YES. BAD SETHE.

[ Beloved Babbling ]

[ Beloved ]
EAT.

EAT.

[ Chirping ]

OHH, HONEY.

WHAT YOU GOT ?

[ Gasping ]
THANK YOU, MA'AM.

YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME,
MY CHILD.

THANK YOU.

[ Woman ]
NO, NO. THAT'S NOT MY BOWL.

SUGAR, MINE GOT
A BLUE RING ON IT.

YOU WANNA
COME IN A SPELL ?
COME ON IN.

I GOT SOME WARM GINGERBREAD.
YOU JUST GO ON IN THERE.
OKAY.

[ Rooster Crowing ]

[ Chattering ]

[ Dog Barking ]

SHH. SHH. GO ON.
MOVE. GET OFF OF ME.

- YOU STINK, AND YOU MESSIN'
UP MY DRESS. STOP IT.
- [ Barking Continues ]

I'M TELLIN' YOU,
GET OFF OF ME.
GET OFF OF ME, NOW !

[ Grunting ]
STOP IT.
[ Growling ]

- HOW FAR YOU GOIN', MISS ?
- I GOIN' TO CINCINNATI.

[ Driver ] THAT'S AS FAR AS
WE'RE GOIN', MISS. GET OFF.
THANK YOU.

HOW'S IT GOIN' ?
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF,
ALL RIGHT ?

EXCUSE ME. I WAS LOOKIN'
FOR THE BODWIN'S HOUSE.

YOU BUGGER OFF,
YOU HEAR ME ?

[ Chattering ]

YES ?

WHAT YOU WANT ?

I WANTED TO SEE
MR. AND MRS. BOWMAN--
MR. AND MRS. BODWIN.

MS. BODWIN.

THEY BROTHER
AND SISTER, DARLIN'.
WHAT YOU WANT WITH 'EM ?

I WAS LOOKIN' FOR WORK,
AND I THOUGHT THAT
THEY MIGHT KNOW ABOUT SOME.

OHH...

YOU BABY SUGGS' KID,
AIN'T YOU ?

[ Chuckling ]
YES'M.
I HEARD
YOUR MOTHER TOOK SICK.

IS THAT SO ?
YES'M.

WELL, COME ON IN.
YOU'RE LETTIN' IN FLIES.
COME ON.

YOU KNOW WHAT ? I BEEN HERE
SINCE I'M 14, AND I CAN
REMEMBER LIKE YESTERDAY...

WHEN BABY SUGGS HOLY CAME HERE
AND SAT RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

WHITE MAN, NAME OF GARNER,
BROUGHT HER. HE AND MR. BODWIN
WAS GOOD FRIENDS.

THAT'S HOW SHE GOT
THAT HOUSE YOU ALL LIVE IN.
OTHER THINGS TOO.
YES'M.

I NEVER WENT
TO THOSE WOODLAND SERVICES,
BUT SHE WAS ALWAYS NICE TO ME.

ALWAYS.
NEVER BE ANOTHER LIKE HER.

I MISS HER.

BET YOU DO.
EVERYBODY MISS HER.
THAT WAS A GOOD WOMAN.

WELL...

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE BODWINS
THINK SO OR NOT, BUT THEY SURE
COULD USE SOME EXTRA HELP.

[ Both Chuckling ]
YOU THINK ?

ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT,
WHEN IT'S NO GOOD
FOR ME TO COME.

IT'LL TAKE SOME CONVINCIN',
BUT MAYBE YOU COULD COME
AFTER SUPPER.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR MAMA
DURING THE DAY.
HOW'S THAT ?

FINE.
[ Chuckling ]

BUT WHAT WOULD I DO
AT NIGHT ?

JUST BE HERE
IN CASE.
IN CASE WHAT ?

IN CASE THE HOUSE BURNED DOWN OR
BAD WEATHER SLOPPED THE ROADS UP
SO BAD I CAN'T GET HERE ON TIME.

OR LATE GUESTS NEEDED
CLEANIN' UP AFTER.

ANYTHING.

[ Snickering ]
DON'T ASK ME WHAT
WHITE FOLKS NEED AT NIGHT.

THEY GOOD WHITE FOLK ?
OH, YEAH. THEY GOOD.

CAN'T SAY THEY AIN'T GOOD.
I WOULDN'T TRADE 'EM FOR
ANOTHER PAIR, I TELL YOU THAT.

BUT YOU COME BACK IN A FEW DAYS.
GIVE ME A CHANCE
TO LEAD UP TO IT.

ALL RIGHT ?

WHAT IS IT, CHILD ?

WHAT'S THE TROUBLE
WITH SETHE ?

[ Whimpering ]

[ Chattering ]

IS IT REALLY
THE DAUGHTER, JANEY ?
THE KILLED ONE ?

THAT'S WHAT
THE GIRL SAY.

- HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S HER ?
- IT'S SITTIN' THERE, LUCILLE.

IT SLEEPS, EATS
AND RAISES HELL.

I'LL BE. A BABY.
[ All Murmuring ]

NAH. IT'S GROWN. IT'S
THE AGE IT WOULD'VE BEEN
HAD IT LIVED.

MERCY.
WHAT YOU TALKIN' ABOUT ?
YOU TALKIN' ABOUT FLESH ?

I'M TALKIN' ABOUT FLESH...
AND IT'S WHOOPIN' HER...
[ Women Gasping ]

LIKE SHE WAS BATTER.

- I GUESS SHE HAD IT COMIN'
A LITTLE.
- NOBODY GOT THAT COMIN'.

BUT ELLA, YOU JUST DON'T UP
AND KILL YOUR CHILDREN.

NO, AND THE CHILDREN
CAN'T JUST UP
AND KILL THE MAMA.

THEM THAT DIE BAD
DON'T STAY IN THE GROUND.

[ All Commenting ]

[ Sethe Muttering ]

[ Chopping ]

[ Beloved Snorting ]

[ Sethe ]
SCHOOLTEACHER--

MAMA ?

NOBODY AIN'T MAKIN' NOTHIN'.

NOBODY.
MAMA, I'M GOING OUT NOW.

[ Continues Muttering ]

[ Chopping Continues ]

I GOT A JOB WORKIN' NIGHTS
OVER AT THE BODWINS.

MR. BODWIN'S COMING
TO PICK ME UP NOW.

WRITIN' MY BABY'S
CHARACTERISTICS !
[ Grunts ]

LAY THAT DOWN.

WE HAVE MONEY NOW.

[ Muttering Continues ]

MAMA !

[ Muttering ]

[ Beloved Wheezing ]

HEY.

[ Snorting ]

[ Sniffling ]

[ Footsteps Approaching ]

[ Agitated Chattering ]

IT'S COMIN' OUT.
IT'S OVER.

[ Chanting ]

[ Chanting Continues ]

- [ All Murmuring ]
-[ Woman ]
HELP US, HELP US.

OHH !

OHH, AMEN !

[ Chanting ]

[ Crying Out ]

[ All Joining In ]
HELP US, JESUS !

[ Crying Intensifies ]

[ Screaming ]

JESUS, JESUS, JESUS.

-[ Woman ]
?? I HEARD THE VOICE ??
- YES.

I HEARD THE VOICE.
?? I HEARD THE VOICE ??

I HEARD THE VOICE.
?? I HEARD THE VOICE ??

?? I HEARD THE VOICE SAY ??

?? COME UNTO ME AND REST ??

[ All, Growing Louder ]
?? I ??

?? HEARD ??
[ Woman ]
?? THE VOICE ??

?? THE ??

?? VOICE ??

?? OF ??

-?? JESUS ??
- [ Wheezing ]

?? SAY ??

?? COME ??

?? UN-TO ??

?? ME ??

?? AND ??

?? REST ??

[ Woman ]
?? LAY DOWN, THOU WEARY ONE ??
IT'S ALL RIGHT.

?? LAY DOWN THY HEAD
UPON MY BREAST ??

[ All ]
?? LAY ??

?? DOWN ??

?? THOU ??

?? WEARY ??

?
?? ONE ?

- MAMA ?
-?? LAY ??

[ Snorting ]
?? DOWN ??

%% [ Tails Off ]
[ Murmuring ]

[ Gasping, Screaming ]

-[ Woman ]
?? I CAME TO JESUS ??
- [ Grunting ]

OH, LORD, PLEASE.
?? AS I WAS ??

?? THE WEARY ONE WHO SAID ??

?? I ??

?? CAME ??

?? TO ??

?? JE-SUS ??

?? AS ??

?? I ??

?? WAS ??

?? HE ??

?? HAD ??

?? HOLD AND ??

-?? SAID ??
- NO.

NO, NO, NO, NO.
?? TILT YOUR EYES DOWN LOW ??

NO, NO, NO, NO.

[ Screeching ]

[ Crying ]

- MAMA ?
-?? I %%

MAMA ?

- [ Continues Screaming ]
-MAMA, THAT'S MR. BODWIN !

%% [ Singing Continues ]
MAMA !

MAMA !

MAMA !
NO, NO, NO !
NO, NO, NO !

NO !
MAMA ! MAMA !

-[ All Yelling ]
- [ Sethe Whimpering ]

[ Screaming ]

[ Screaming Stops ]

[ Birds Chirping ]

[ Chirping Continues ]

%% [ Girl Humming ]

%% [ Humming Continues ]

[ Hammering ]

[ Chattering ]

PAUL D ? IS THAT YOU ?

GOOD MORNING.

WELL, IT IS NOW.

HOW YOU GETTIN' ALONG ?
DON'T PAY TO COMPLAIN.

YEAH. RIGHT.
YOU ON YOUR WAY HOME ?
NO.

I GOT AN AFTERNOON JOB
AT THE SHIRT FACTORY.

I FIGURE BETWEEN THAT
AND MY NIGHT WORK
AT THE BODWINS,

I MIGHT BE ABLE
TO PUT SOMETHIN' ASIDE
FOR ME AND MAMA.

THEY TREATIN' YOU RIGHT
OVER AT THE BODWINS ?
MM-HMM. MORE THAN ALL RIGHT.

MS. BODWIN,
SHE TEACHIN' ME STUFF.
BOOK STUFF.

SHE SAY I MIGHT GO
TO OBERLIN COLLEGE.

THAT'S FINE,
MIGHTY FINE.

WELL.

[ Stammering ]
YOUR MOTHER ALL RIGHT ?

NO. SHE'S NOT
A BIT ALL RIGHT.

SHE HASN'T GOTTEN OUT OF BED
SINCE THAT DAY.

THINK I SHOULD STOP BY ?
THINK SHE'D WELCOME IT ?

I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK
I LOST MY MAMA, PAUL D.

TH-THAT GIRL.
YOU KNOW. BELOVED.

SHE-SHE GONE
LIKE THEY SAY ?

HAVEN'T SEEN HER
SINCE THAT DAY.

MAMA SAY SHE GONE.
SHE CAN FEEL IT.

YOU THINK SHE SURE ENOUGH
YOUR SISTER ?

AT TIMES.

AT OTHER TIMES...

I THINK SHE WAS MORE.

BUT WHO WOULD KNOW THAT
BETTER THAN YOU, PAUL D ?

YOU SURE ENOUGH KNEW HER.

- WELL, IF YOU WANT MY OPINION--
- I DON'T.

I HAVE MY OWN.

%% [ Woman Vocalizing ]
YOU GROWN.

YES, SIR.

WELL, GOOD LUCK
WITH YOUR JOB.

THANK YOU.

%% [ Vocalizing Continues ]

BYE, NOW.

[ Man ]
WATCH YOUR STEP.

PAUL D ?

YOU DON'T HAVE
TO STAY AWAY.

BUT YOU WATCH HOW YOU TALK
TO MY MAMA, YOU HEAR ?

DON'T WORRY.

[ Horse Whinnying ]

[ Man ]
HEY, MISS DENVER !
WAIT UP !

HI.

WATCH IT, MISS.

YEAH.
[ Chuckles ]

OHH.

%% [ Vocalizing Ends ]

[ Heavy Breathing ]

SETHE ?

PAUL D ?

[ Sighs ]

[ Chuckling ]

YOU SHAVED.

YEAH. LOOK BAD ?

LOOKIN' GOOD.

[ Guffawing ]

DEVIL'S CONFUSION.

I SEEN DENVER.
SHE TELL YA ?
[ Gasping ]

YOU GOTTA GET UP
FROM HERE, GIRL.

LOOK.
DENVER BE HERE IN THE DAY.
I'LL BE HERE AT NIGHT.

I'M GONNA TAKE CARE
OF YOU, YA HEAR ?

STARTIN' NOW.

WHAT, BABY ? WHAT ?

[ Crying ]
SHE LEAVE ME.

SHE GONE AGAIN.

OH, GIRL. DON'T CRY.

SHE LEAVE ME.

SETHE, SETHE.

[ Voice Breaking ]
PAUL,

SHE MY BEST THING.

YOU YOUR BEST THING, SETHE.

YOU ARE.

ME ?

ME ?
[ Gasping ]

AND THE BEAT,
BEAT OF YOUR HEART.

[ Audience Applauding,
Murmuring Approval ]

%% [ Chorus Vocalizing ]
LOVE IT...

MORE THAN THE LUNGS...

THAT NEED YET...

TO BREATHE FREE AIR;

MORE THAN THE WOMB...

THAT HOLDS LIFE;

MORE THAN
THE PRIVATE PARTS...
THAT GIVE LIFE.

[ Man ]
THAT'S RIGHT.
LOVE YOUR HEART.

[ Audience Applauding ]
[ Man ]
YES ! LOVE YOUR HEART !

THIS... THIS...

THIS IS THE PRIZE.

[ Applause, Cheering ]

AMEN.
[ Man ]
YES !

[ Woman ]
AMEN.
THIS IS THE PRIZE.

AMEN.

%% [ Vocalizing Continues ]

[ Man ]
THANK YOU, SISTER.
[ Woman ] THANK YOU, SISTER.

[ Crying ]

[ Woman ]
I FEEL IT.

[ Crying Continues ]

BLESS YOU. BLESS YOU.

BLESS YOU.
HALLELUJAH !

[ All ]
HALLELUJAH ! HALLELUJAH !
HALLELUJAH !

HALLELUJAH ! HALLELUJAH !

%% [ Children Singing
In Foreign Language ]

%% [ Singing Continues ]

%% [ Singing Ends ]

%% [ Woman Singing Dirge
In Foreign Language ]

%% [ Singing Continues ]

%% [ Singing Continues ]

%% [ Singing Ends ]

%% [ Woman Vocalizing ]

%% [ Vocalizing Continues ]

%% [ Chorus Vocalizing ]

%% [ Vocalizing Ends ]

---the end---