Original subtitles

The only thing I ever knew was cotton.

It was hard work.

Now, you know the cotton is red when the bud splits.

And the bud is star -shaped, like a big old star in the sky.

Like your big old head.

Hold on, is that some cotton?

But I didn't mind because I got to spend all day working with my daddy.

Take a picture, y 'all.

Why don't everybody smile?

See?

Patty, come on. I need your help in the shed.

Come on.

Will you take him home? Get back to work.

Cecil! Come back here, boy.

Come out!

Come here.

Look at me, boy.

Don't you lose your temper with them men.

This is war.

We're just living in it.

You hear me?

Now get on back to work.

Whatcha gonna do?

You get back to work.

Hey, you get some of the hands held. Dig a hole for his path.

Hurry up.

Stop crying.

I'm going to have you in the house now.

I'm going to teach you how to be a house nigger.

He's coming. Yes, ma 'am. And quiet when you're serving.

I don't even want to hear you breathe.

Yes, ma 'am. The room should feel empty when you're in it.

It was much nicer working in the house than in the field.

Crazy maker from the last.

When I got older, I knew I had to go before he killed me, too.

Part of me was scared to leave.

It was the only world I ever knew.

I took Paul's watch.

Ma? Ma, I'm leaving.

My mama never spoke much after that.

I knew she'd miss me.

But I also knew she wanted me to leave that place.

And even though Miss Annabeth never said it,

I knew she'd miss me too.

I don't think God meant for people to not have a family.

Outside the cotton field was even worse than I thought it would be.

No one would give me a job, a food, or a place to sleep.

Any white man could kill any of us at any time and not be punished for it.

That law wasn't on our side.

You know what can happen to you, son.

Get up.

I said get up.

I'm going to have to lie to the boss man about that window.

Good Lord, say, you ain't supposed to lie.

I'm sorry, son.

Where's your mom and your pa?

I'm all crazy in the head that my pa got killed.

I'll make you some ham sandwiches and send you on your way.

The boss will be here in a minute.

Sundays are busy as morning.

You looking for some help?

I know how to serve.

You done broke our window.

You done stole our food.

And now you asking for a job?

Back in Macon, I'm a house nigger. A good one.

I'm sure I've used that word.

That's a white man's word.

It's filled with hate.

Didn't your father ever teach you any better?

Slow down.

Stop. Yeah, look through the eyes.

See what it is they want.

Got it?

Struggling, yeah. I got it.

Yeah.

See what it is they need.

Right this way?

Anticipate.

a smile with the eyes of your principal.

Perfect. Perfect.

Don't forget to save me them chitlins.

Why you like chitlins so much? Go save them a goodie.

The manager of the sales team in D .C.

came by yesterday.

He offered me a job as a butler.

Must be paying you the top dollar, huh, boy?

Yeah.

I was thinking about taking it, but I don't know.

I'm too old to be leaving North Carolina.

I'm just fine right here.

I told him to hire you.

Just now I found my way around this hotel.

Ain't ready for all them highfalutin' white people and all their fancy words.

See, sir.

We've got two faces, ours and the ones that we've got to show the white folks.

Now, to get up in the world, you have to make them feel non -threatened.

Use that, but think fancy words that I haven't taught you.

White folks up north, they like some uppity colors.

Yeah.

I took that job up in Washington, D .C.

It was the most beautiful motel I'd ever seen.

I hope it wasn't too presumptuous of me to have prepared a few spirits after

your long journey in from Buffalo.

Best decision that court ever made was to slow this whole mess down.

Nigger boys in school with white girls. Never heard of such a thing.

Next thing you know, they'd be fornicating.

Yeah, this here is different.

We could start another civil war.

Cecil, what do you think about niggers going to school with white children?

To be honest with you, Mr. Jenkins, I tend to not be too concerned with

American... or European politics.

No, but should you, Cecil? They're all criminals.

Earl Warren should be shot and hanged. That dumb son -of -a -bitch judge is

trying to integrate our schools.

I think Judge Warren is going to find that quite challenging.

Damn right, Cecil.

Damn right.

Never in my life did I dream I'd work in the police.

I never dreamed my life It'd be so good.

Gloria and I met working at the Excelsior.

She was a maid at the hotel.

But now her only job was raising our two boys.

I made sure that they never laid eyes on a cotton field.

I gotta pee.

Not today. Don't try that.

Finish that homework.

Where's Louis at?

He's taking the trash out.

Working late again, huh?

How's your shit?

He's working for a living.

I miss you at night, honey.

Did you say you gotta pee?

Go on then.

Wash your hands when you come out of that bathroom, boy.

Good morning.

Hey, Dad.

Hey, Louis.

You all right? Yeah, I'm fine.

That woman whose son got killed, she's around doing speeches now. What's her

name, honey?

Mamie Till.

Mamie Till.

I remember that story just like it was yesterday, even though...

Three years ago.

It was just damn great what they did to that boy.

Just for looking at a white woman.

Beat him up.

Threw his body in the river.

Killed him.

He wasn't older than Louis. He was 14 at the time.

Crazy white folks down south.

Ain't fine.

At least we got a little better in D .C., huh?

Still treating us bad, too.

Get on down here, Charlie.

Wash your hands.

Louis said we should stop taking the white man's shit.

Hey, watch your mouth. Watch your mouth.

Hello, Gaines residence.

Uh, yeah, hold on, Mr. Kagan.

It's Bob from my dad.

What did he call that phone?

When the white man called, I always assumed the worst.

Yes, sir. I would have put money on it, and I was getting laid off for something

that day.

Can you follow me, please?

I'm Cecil Gaines.

It's a pleasure to meet you. You as well.

Are you political, Mr. Gaines?

No, sir.

Good.

We have no tolerance for politics at the White House.

How'd you find me?

I didn't. You served R .D. Warner at the Excelsior Hotel.

He oversees operations for the entire White House. You make quite an

I don't recall.

Mr. Warner and myself make note of potential staff around town.

Butler positions rarely open, as most stay on for 30 years or more.

I know I was quite surprised when I got the call.

It was a surprise for me as well.

As the White House Major D, I normally hire the butlers.

Forgive me for saying this, Mr. Fellows.

I certainly wouldn't want to be hired under circumstances that would make you

feel uncomfortable.

Really? You need butlers that...

you've hand -picked, I mean, to your liking, that will fulfill your vision of

proper White House staff.

Is that limit drops?

These decanters are replicas of metal flasks that were found on the

in Jarnac.

Correct?

The Italians, they know their wines. And the Irish, they certainly know how to

make a great whiskey.

But I believe the French have a distinct advantage when it comes to cognac.

Savoury?

Oh, yeah. You'll make a good house, nigga.

Would you care for a dummy talk?

Sometimes it'll just be me and Faye up in here.

Me, Faye, and a little Scott.

That's how you do it. You know how to throw a bash.

What did you do to this potato?

I'll tell you what I did. I put some dill in it because I read in Woman's Day

where pickles drown out the flavor and dill bring up the flavor. That's what

you're tasting right now.

Oh, okay.

Yeah, I like it.

Make a difference on it. It really does.

You must be so proud of Cecil. You know he got that job himself.

The White House called him. He didn't call the White House. He's a good man.

You got a good man. She's fine, man.

Not like this one right here, old sourpuss.

Oh, you still mad at me?

I got freezers.

No, you don't. I told you, I went down to the number spot, played my little

numbers, got me some barbecue, and then I went down, and I didn't get nothing to

drink. I am so, I'm so sick of these number spots.

Doris Howard, how do you expect me to believe you were down at the number

Whether you believe it or not don't mean it ain't true. Come on, y 'all. Come

on. Stop that. You want to do this right now? Come on, y 'all. Come on, come on,

come on. You don't believe it? They don't have to believe it, buddy. Hey,

hey, come on, y 'all. Why you really want to do this right now? Stop this

now.

We are here to celebrate.

Y 'all could be nice just one time. Get over here.

That's why I was out, trying to make you happy.

Y 'all need to get a room.

Ain't that the truth.

He drives me crazy.

You ain't, uh, you want to come to the room with us?

Now. Hey, where the boys at?

Here, see you in the back room.

Boys?

Get on down here. I need to see your face now. What y 'all doing up here?

Congratulations.

Honey, when you gonna take me to the White House?

You wanna go to the White House with me?

You know I wanna go to the White House.

Where you wanna go?

Don't play with me now. You know I wanna go to the White House. The White House,

that's a big step up.

Ooh. Girl,

you up in that house now?

I want to hear all the stories.

I don't know how many stories you're going to hear, because they done swore

to some kind of secret code, and he can't tell me nothing. Oh, no, no, no,

Vera, you give it to him right.

Uh -huh. You say everything. That's the key right there.

You listening?

Oh, oh, oh, did you hear? Oh, who you been giving it to? Well, if you was at

home, I could be giving it to you.

I don't know what you're talking about. Boys,

y 'all better bring y 'all little narrow butts down here.

Here they come. Oh, y 'all, 19 times.

Boys, stop running through this house. You know better than that. All right.

over here.

Come here.

Give me some money.

No. Tell them what you're going to be when you grow up. I want to work at the

White House just like Mr. Gaines. Ah, that's my boy. Right there. All right.

Lewis,

what you going to be when you grow up? You going to work at the White House

your daddy?

I'll tell you one thing, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I was 13.

Yeah, a number runner.

I'm Cecil Gaines.

I'm the new butler.

Yes, sir.

There are 16 full -time maids.

We have six butlers, four carpenters, two painters, seven electricians, three

dishwashers, three doormen, and four kitchen staff, including pastry chef and

three full -time calligraphers.

Two painters, seven electricians, nine engineers.

Here comes Warner.

Mr. Warner, I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to work in the White

House.

Come on.

Here we go.

Ma 'am, I'm Peter Gaines.

I'll be working with you here.

Mr. Gaines, please don't do that.

Come on.

And when lifting a plate, never scrape the bottom.

Never listen or react to conversation.

The room should feel empty when I'm in it.

Then she says... Then she says... Okay.

Then she says... Stick your whole hand in.

Put my whole hand in.

Then she yells out, put both hands in.

Okay. Then she screams, now clap.

I said, I can't.

She looks up, smiles, and says, see,

told you.

Hey,

there he is. Heard you were coming. What's your name, my brother?

I'm Carter Wilton, the head butler.

Don't worry about Big Mo behind you. His brother in the mayor over here, his

name's James Holloway. He's my second in command.

Jackie Robinson and William Hayes. Why don't you shake the man's hand first

before you start asking difficult questions like that? I just want to know

the man's coming from.

Looks like the jury's still out on that one, right?

Well, Pastor Freddy give you the toy yet?

He did.

Is the Dodgers still losing?

I might be able to answer that question if Carter over here stopped running his

nasty mouth.

Cut this shit and let's get to work.

Ready.

Lord, help us.

Don't be nervous, man.

She's going to get to it.

You hear nothing.

You see nothing.

You only serve.

Federal troops to the South.

If it comes to it, yes.

I can't see any situation where I'd send federal troops to the South.

Ever.

Could cause another civil war.

Sir, if the federal government doesn't enforce Brown, then who will?

The South must comply with the law.

It's just going to take some time to adjust.

That's all. I understand, Mr. President. But if Faubus continues to block the

Negro children, then what do we do?

We must enforce the Constitution.

Give Faubus more time.

A little persuading, he'll back down. We just want to move slowly.

How'd it go?

I almost shit myself.

I dated a girl once. Every time I hit her, she'd shit herself.

It's off.

You're no sex.

Shut up.

You shut up.

I put a towel down.

You and Marcella said the very same thing last night, just before I put her

sleep.

Wow. You poor... Just like I did Ed.

I do it.

Real quick.

Bye!

See you! What?

Shut up.

Man, man, the popcorn all over the sofa.

Your dad's gonna get it.

Hey, Dad.

Hey. Hi, Mr. James. Hey, Dad.

Hey, everyone.

Lewis, I told you about letting these kids watch that show.

It's too scary.

They're too young for it.

Turn it off.

Where your mama at?

His daughter tried standing up, but she went to sleep.

Hey, Roy, ain't nobody ask you nothing.

Take your butt home before your mama come up from in here with the both of

Come on, Dad.

Go.

Bye. Get off.

Go stop up upstairs with your mama.

What is that?

Is that that made -me -teal stuff?

I want to go to this.

Absolutely not.

How can you?

Ain't no good can come of that.

Dad, you heard what Mom said.

That mess right there happened down south.

This could have been me.

It happened down south.

I got out of there so we could have us a better life.

Right now, I'm working for the white man.

Make things better for us.

And not just any white man. The lights off. Go to B.

I'll have your chicken soup, Mr. President.

Just set it on the table, Cecil. Yes, sir.

Did you ever complete school, Cecil?

I didn't go to school, Mr. President.

I grew up on a cotton farm.

I grew up on a farm.

Do you have any children?

Yes, I have two sons.

Do they go to an all -colored school?

Yes, they do.

What is it?

State guard just blocked all the colored kids again.

Farber's promised me the guards would escort the kids in.

Governor, I guess I lied, Mr. President. What is wrong with him?

Why is he forcing me to do this?

Yes, sir.

Our next move needs to be bold and swift.

I have today issued an executive order.

directing the use of troops under federal authority to aid in the

federal law at Little Rock, Arkansas.

When the president sent those troops down to Little Rock, it was the first

I ever seen a white man stick his neck out for us.

I told Lewis that the president was going to make things better for us.

All congratulations and luck.

She was so nosy.

I'm going to make some potato salad.

I can see that I knew what I was talking about.

That was wonderful. I'm so proud of you.

Thanks, Mama.

The head looks stupid.

The face looks stupid.

Proud of you, too.

Dad.

Don't start something in there.

Did you see one white kid in my school?

Why couldn't Lewis see that the president made things better for us?

Couldn't? Couldn't.

Thank you.

Boy,

I told you it was going to be late.

I cannot miss this bus.

Wait a second. Wait, wait, wait. I've got to say goodbye.

Miss, can we?

And the sea is a long ways away, Pop.

Fisk is a really good school to have.

You can change your mind. You can go to Howard. I cannot believe you are still

talking about Howard University.

He's going to Fisk. I know. I know. It's just so far away. That's all.

That's the point.

What's the point?

Give me a cigarette and don't tell me you don't smoke.

I don't have one.

Go ahead.

You know you want to cry, punk.

Not for you.

Look under your mattress. I can't protect you down south.

The south has changed, Cecil. I'm too young for playboys.

South ain't what it was when you was there. Mom, Louis is leaving me a filthy

magazine.

Why are you sticking him in with the magazine?

I love you, mama.

I love you, son.

I love you, Louis. I love you, mama.

I need your hand, Sam.

Thanks, mama.

Come on, Dad.

Okay.

Here you go.

I know.

I'm really proud of you.

I've got to go now.

Give me anything, you call me.

All right.

All right.

Bye, Mama.

Remind me again while we're doing this, please, somebody.

Tell me.

That looked like a mugging to me. That's what that looks like. This is the art

of French bacon.

Negro, please.

Art of French bacon. This is absolutely nothing.

This is. I don't.

The boy's always so simple.

You want me to play with it? I'll play with it.

Play with it like this.

It'll be good if it had a little nipple on it.

Come on, man.

That's how you play. You jiggle it. You shake it.

No, it's full.

Good evening, Mr. Vice President.

That looks like a tasty treat.

Yes, sir.

I brought you all something.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I don't want to say anything negative about that Kennedy boy. I'm sure he's a

real nice fellow.

But do you really want that spoiled, rich, son -of -a -bitch fuck to be your

next president?

Think about it.

I'm cheering for you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you, Cecil.

Let me ask you something in all candor. As members of the Negro community, what

are your biggest concerns?

Now, come on now, boys.

Don't be shy.

Holloway, come on.

Well, since you asked, sir. I did.

The colored help gets paid almost 40 % less than the white help. Is that right?

Yes, sir.

And it's very difficult for the colored staff to be promoted.

I'll tell you what.

When I'm president, I'm going to look into getting your boys the raises and

promotions you deserve.

That would be swell, sir.

I've got my word on that.

Thank you, sir.

You tell your people to vote for me, that's exactly what's going to happen.

You don't want to date nobody.

After all these guys that come after you?

Girl, please.

Like that one?

I'm talking about you and Ozzy. Now, come on. Tell me what happened.

You looking

for

love, bud?

That's what we call the lost and worked out. The love school.

Is that what you're looking for?

That's why I came to fit.

Me too.

I'm Carol Hammy.

Louis Gaines.

Come on, follow me.

You a country boy, ain't you?

He's a doctor.

What does your dad do?

He's in power.

Really?

What has been so effective in South Africa, so effective in India, for his

people and others, and we're going to employ it right here in Nashville.

So we're going to form an army, you and I.

This army has one weapon. That weapon is love.

Now, I am of the opinion, yes.

If our only weapon is love and then their weapons are weapons, isn't that

dangerous? Oh, you can't be killed.

If anybody's uncomfortable with that, you know where the door is. I understand

that sounds provocative, but it's true.

All right, kids.

It's showtime.

has demonstrated for us that brown man in his native land or anywhere that he's

being oppressed can pull himself out of segregation with patience, with

persistence, with intelligence and thought, with discipline, and

a bit of a sense of humor.

y 'all can't sit here we would like to be served please this is unprecedented

what we're talking about but it needs a patience that none of us have ever seen

you can order food in the colored section but i'm not going to be serving

here we are organized we have a leader with every group we have lookouts with

pocket change and the local phone numbers for ambulances ready and when

comes off that lunch counter what follows a whole nother wave of negro

sitting right there at that lunch kind of blowing their mind

We would like to be served, please.

Now, who wants to role play?

Jim, we need your help over here.

Now, you all know you're not supposed to sit there.

Attack. This is an experiment.

So do whatever it takes to break their spirit.

Use the length. I need to hear nigger coming out of your mouth. I need to hear

coon. I don't feel comfortable saying that. You came here to get yourself

prepared and to get her prepared.

So let me hear it now.

Nigger.

Louder. Say the words like you mean it.

Nigger. Louder.

You are a nigger.

You need to be sitting in the colored seating. This is not for you. You cannot

be served here. You need to do as you're told and sit in your place.

You are a nigger.

Make her believe me. You're a nigger. I don't believe you. You know that's where

the colored people sit.

You see these people over here? They're in their section over here. You coon

ass. Get up. Get up. Get up, you nigger. If you want us to shop in this

establishment, make them go.

Come on, Robert. Let's go.

Get up, monkey.

What is this?

Get up.

Get up.

Get up. Get up. Get up.

What are you doing here? What are

you doing

here?

What are you, stupid?

You're a nigger lover now?

Get up, you nigger! Look at me! Look at me!

Disrespect your muscles!

Huh? Huh? You understand?

Stop it! Stop it!

Get up!

Get up, you nigger! Look at me!

Look at me! Is that up there or is that here?

You don't have to tell me, but you have to decide.

You want some coffee?

Just serving our country.

We got no business out here.

You're all sentenced to 30 days in the county jail.

Baylor, get these niggers out of here.

Something special is going on down here, Dad.

What's so special about another colored man, Gene?

What are you doing with my hard -earned money, Pop?

Are you even in school? I'm trying to change the way Negroes are treated in

Moscow. You're breaking the law.

That judge just sentenced you to 30 days in the county workhouse.

You're going to get killed. If I can't sit at any lunch counter I want, then I

might as well be dead.

We're fighting for our rights. Rights? Boy, what are you talking about? We're

trying to change a nation's consciousness toward the American Negro.

You're a damn liar. Hey!

What the hell do you think you're talking to?

I brought you into this world. I'll take you out of it.

Y 'all been able to talk to him?

Talk to who?

Lewis.

Yeah, we talked to him.

He joined something called the Freedom Riders, whatever the hell that's

to mean.

You gonna see him?

I've been fixing to trying to see him.

Every time I do see him, he'll get all riled up, so I don't know when that's

gonna happen. Fixing to trying. See, that's the problem.

You gotta stop trying and you just gotta do it.

He take you to the White House yet?

People say we go in soon.

People say, people say.

Four years, that makes you a little bit gullible, darling.

Yeah, I understand.

I understand why he can't get the president to do something. Gina, that's

problem. You just say stupid stuff.

President got more to do than be thinking about Lewis's foolishness.

You know, why don't you just shut up?

It's just a mess.

It's nice.

Who told you you could tell me to shut up?

Go get me a drink. I want some scotch.

Well, I personally think Lewis is going to get here.

One of us killed.

They're coming to get us. They're coming to get us.

He's crazy like his mama.

I meant it in a good way.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Get back over here.

Let me get you a... I received also a...

Wire from President Eisenhower, which says my congratulations to you. The

president lives at the White House until the moment the next one is sworn in.

So the staff has exactly two hours during the inauguration ceremony to move

old president out and move the new one in.

They say this new white boy is smooth.

I just need to give my butt home to Glory because his hours are killing us.

How's your boy doing, Cecil?

Gentlemen, the President's arriving.

Why can't we start?

I'm not sure. This way, Mr.

President. Hello, everyone.

I am thrilled to be working with all of you over the next four years.

Eight years, John.

Well, you see who wears the pants around here.

I'm not going to remember any of your names, but I'm going to try.

Jesse. Jesse. It's a good thing you're here, because I'm going to forget.

Thank you. This is Lorraine. Pleasure to meet you.

James. Mr. President. Hey, James.

Carter. Pleasure, Mr. President. Carter.

This is Jason. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. President. How are you? Well, yeah.

Excuse me.

Greg. How are you?

Wednesday. Got it.

She's all right.

Pleasure to meet you, Miss Carolyn.

Miles. Miles.

Well, settle your breath, Lorraine.

Stop. Stop.

What's that?

Maybe that's gin. I can smell it in here. It said Addison's disease.

Stop it. We stopped. Did you take Charlie to the dentist today?

Somebody the way I've got Addison's disease?

No, I did not take Charlie to the dentist today. And what you asking me

for? You're never home.

Now you're going to take Charlie to the dentist?

You ain't never here. I don't know how you gonna take him. His teeth fall out

waiting on you to take him.

It'll be it, Gloria.

I'll take him tomorrow.

How many pairs of shoes does she have?

I said, how many pairs of shoes does Miss Jackie Kennedy have?

How the hell do I know?

In that White House day and night, I thought you knew everything.

Coming in trying to tell me what to do.

Worried about me drinking.

Y 'all be worried about your house.

Our boy's in jail, Cecil.

Our boy's in jail, and you can't come home.

You don't see him here trying to talk to you?

I bet you wish I spoke French, just like Jackie.

Jackie Kennedy.

Casey Ross.

Sarah.

You like that?

You like the way she talks?

Cecil, you hear me talking to you?

Bobby told the president they shouldn't be worried about the Negro citizens.

Polls show the U .S. does not support civil rights.

Told you that white boy was smooth.

A little too smooth for my money.

Hey, Cecil, how's your boy doing?

Out of jail.

He says he's back in school, but I think he's doing that freedom riding thing.

How's Glover doing with that drinking?

He's hanging.

They say that cat that's playing is a big deal.

Pablo Casals, world famous.

Of course he's world famous.

You think Mr. Kennedy's going to have some backwoods country fiddle band

out there for him?

Why don't you start a band? Maybe you can go out there too.

You know, in fact, let's all start a band.

I'll play the bongos. What about you? I'll play a mean skin flute.

Casals is a righteous soul.

He refuses to play in any country that recognizes Franco's regime.

Who's Franco?

Forget it, man. Huh?

Forget it.

You're ignorant.

Carol, are you tired?

You just want me to put my head on your shoulder.

What's wrong with that?

I'm not putting my head on your shoulder. You can.

You ever been on a freedom bus before?

No. No?

How's your boyfriend feeling about that? My boyfriend?

Yeah.

Yeah. I mean, this must upset him, right? You being on this bus down here.

I don't have a boyfriend. You don't have a boyfriend?

How do you not have a boyfriend?

I don't know.

No,

thank you.

I don't like bacon. It's too hot to eat. Okay.

Lewis, what is that?

It's a cross.

It's a cross. Driver, turn!

Turn the bus!

Oh, my God.

Everybody out!

In an old house in Paris that was covered

with lines lived 12 little girls in two straight

lines.

The smallest one was Madeline.

Like Caroline.

She was not afraid of mice.

Why do people ride in the freedom bus?

Uncle Bobby told my daddy that the freedom bus exploded today.

I can't tell you if I walked off the bus or if I crawled off or someone pulled

me off.

I didn't know if my boy was dead or alive.

A man came up to me, and I'm coughing and straining.

He said, boy, you all right?

And I nodded my head, and the next thing I knew, I was on the ground.

He just hit me.

I want you to listen to me, Lewis.

I want you to come home.

I know we ain't seen eye to eye, but your mama, she wants you home.

They're keeping me.

How long?

I don't know.

They said three months.

When I get out, I'm gonna take another ride. What are you talking about? What's

he saying? Let me talk to him.

Give me that phone. It's my right to ride that bus. That is my legal right.

I will exercise my rights as an American citizen.

American citizen?

What you talking about?

You know what they gonna do to you?

They gonna lynch you.

And then they gonna throw your little ass in the river.

They gonna kill you.

Ma, and they just gonna have to kill me.

Negro and white in Birmingham have been building up the scenes to...

like this situation was perilously close to an explosion arrests were made in

mass blocks everyone charged with the same offense city

police were carrying out their pledge to fill their jails to capacity

if necessary

You on to something?

Stop calling him a nigger.

Because he ain't no nigger.

What's wrong, baby?

What's wrong with me is this.

What are you talking about?

This is what's wrong with me. You know what? This is wrong.

This is wrong. You ain't been wrong yet.

I can't do this to Cecil.

We ain't doing it to Cecil. We're doing it to you.

I want you out of my house.

Why do you think God brought us next to each other each day? God ain't got

nothing to do with this. Put you right next door to me.

You always talking about how lonely you are without CISO being at the White

House. And you need a man that can appreciate the love and the woman that

are like I do.

I want your number running ass up out of my house, off of my sofa right now.

I'm through.

I told you.

Let me make a demonstration for you. Don't come here with this bullshit crazy

talk. It's not.

This is you, right? You got your direction as you move. What you doing,

hangers? This is you.

And this is me. Now, we seem like we don't fit at all. We just crash into

other. But then when you line things properly, like God putting you next door

me, everything kind of worked out.

Even if you slow down.

I got you.

You need to get your yellow ass up out of my house. We need each other. What I

need is my husband.

And not to be laying up here in the gutter with you.

On average, how many pills do you think I take a day, Cesar?

About... 103, sir.

Help me up.

Mr. President.

I know your son is a freedom rider.

He's in prison right now in Birmingham with Martin Luther King.

You...

You know how he is, huh?

I'm guessing he's pretty beat up.

At least on his record, he must be used to it.

See, so he's been arrested 16 times over the past two years.

Yes, sir.

Will that be all, sir?

No, that's it.

You know, I never understood what you all really went through until I saw

My brother says these kids have changed his heart.

They've changed mine, too.

The fires of discord are burning in every city, north and south, where legal

remedies are not at hand.

Redress is sought in the streets, in demonstrations, parades, and protests.

I am therefore asking the Congress to enact legislation giving all Americans

right to be served in facilities which are open to the public.

Hotels, restaurants, theaters, retail stores, and similar establishments.

It seems to me to be an elementary right.

Its denial is an arbitrary indignity that no American in 1963 should have to

endure, but many do.

A great change is at hand, and our task, our obligation, is to make that

revolution, that change, peaceful and constructive for all.

Those who do nothing are inviting shame as well as violence.

Those who act boldly...

Hey, hey Cecil.

Cecil, what's wrong?

Cecil.

The blue thing.

President Kennedy was shot as he drove from Dallas Airport to downtown Dallas.

Governor Connolly of Texas in the car with him was also shot.

It is reported that three bullets rang out. A Secret Service man has been

referred to.

He's dead.

Whether he referred to President Kennedy or not is not yet known. The president

cradled in the arms of his wife, Mrs. Kennedy.

Mrs. Kennedy refused to change her clothes so that everybody could see what

they did, done.

The last time I saw that much blood was the day my daddy was killed.

Mom, what you doing?

Here.

Why don't you take this box and put it in the basement and make sure you label

it trophies? This Louis done right. You know you're going to be pissed. I don't

care nothing about Louis being pissed.

I'm the one that pissed. He ain't been here in three years.

Why you pissed, Mom?

And don't put that next to my jar of okra. Ain't nobody trying to throw that

stinking okra. And when you come back, I want you to get me some fish food.

I'm really sorry about the president.

I really am.

But you and that White House can kiss my ass.

I don't care what goes on in that house. I care about what goes on in this

house.

A song through its door.

Just as if it seems to know I'm exclusively yours.

Knowing this, I feel but one way.

You will understand it too.

In these words that I...

I knew that Gloria had been unhappy for some time now.

I knew that's probably why she drank.

She wanted me to get along better with Lewis.

I didn't know how.

I couldn't.

And I could cut back them long hours at the White House.

How do you adjust that?

How many pairs of shoes she got?

She got about 125.

125 pairs of shoes. And

I'll tell you what.

Next time there's a light on in an empty room, I will fire every sorry son of a

bitch in this house.

I mean it, Cecil.

Go back to Texas and learn that it comes from a dirt shack if I have to. Is that

what you want?

Who do you think pays the goddamn bills around here? I don't, but you know what

I mean.

Yes.

just stinking up my bathroom.

What you doing?

Give

me

my wig. What's wrong with you?

That's my good wig.

Oh, shit.

What you... We got the space up. Brother just handling it. We can still do this.

James.

That Dr. King told the president that we would be going to the streets down

south for our right to vote.

Didn't you, baby?

What? Didn't you tell me that Dr. King told the president that we were going

down south for our right to vote?

I ain't make that up. Is that what you heard? That Dr. King ain't no joke. This

little militant ass. Who's she talking to, damn it? I don't feel like somebody

talking.

Okay. Leave my bird alone.

Well, you know them three kids got killed down there.

trying to get colored folks registered to vote. That's why I didn't want Lewis

to go down there. That's what I was trying to tell you. Well, you shouldn't

sent him down there. I know. Well, he is down there now, and there ain't nothing

we can do about it. The only reason the president sent the FBI is because two of

them were white. Now, who told you that?

Who told her that? Where did you hear that? I didn't tell you that. It was in

one of them colored newspapers from Baltimore. Is that all right with you?

See, she's getting smart now.

Damn. Honey, you think the president ought to do something about the voting

rights bill? That ain't the problem.

President Johnson, we've just passed the greatest piece of civil rights

legislation since Lincoln freed his slaves.

It's going to be very difficult to pass another bill anytime soon.

That's it. You see how my wife quizzes me?

I get it every day. Only you got to know how much to say when you cross the

line. If you deal with your woman, I'll deal with mine. At least you tell your

wife what's going on over there. Aces.

Damn. Can't be a king in your own castle.

You hit the strip joint.

Hey, Glo, did you hear about your neighbor Howard?

The guy down on 8th Street caught him in bed with his wife.

Shot him dead.

Shot him in the back. That's it.

That's all of it.

I don't know. Maybe he got what he deserved.

You sorry sap -asses got to realize the nigger ain't going to take it no more.

This entire country's a tinderbox.

Goddamn tinderbox. A nigger rage just waiting to explode.

Now I want you all to get on the phone. Call the NAACP. Corn.

Whoever else will listen to your sorry asses and help me keep them neighbors

the street.

Buck, I smell your ass from here. What the hell are you waiting for?

Jesus Christ.

Cecil, give me some of that goddamn prune juice.

I'm not sure where to make a Malcolm X.

I know what to make of him. Got a better plan in place than Dr. King.

If someone puts their hands on you, put them in the cemetery. That a better

plan?

We finna go.

Bye, Claire Mae. Good night.

Good night.

I mean... You just mad because he was talking about your daddy.

What?

Why are you saying all that stuff about house Negroes? That's why you get mad.

My dad is not a house Negro.

He a butler, ain't he? Don't talk about my dad. I don't talk about your dad, all

right?

Because my dad is proud of what I'm doing.

Went to church to raise money for the kids down in the field.

But I didn't go.

I wasn't going to give money to pay for my son to be a kid.

Once again, them kids got beat.

This one was so bad that the press called it Bloody Sunday.

They marched in small groups through the city of Selma and were not stopped.

But once they crossed over the Alabama river in Selma, it was a

different story.

Mounted sheriff's deputies helped to break up the column.

Once the line was broken... How are your boys, Cecil?

I don't know how

my own to see it.

Mr. President, I believe he might be himself.

And you know, sometimes I feel like we're living in two different worlds.

Just want to keep him safe.

Every American citizen must have

an equal right to vote.

Yet the harsh fact is that in many places in this country, men and women

kept from voting simply because they are Negroes.

Negroes? Since when did you start calling us Negroes?

That nigga uses the word nigga more than I use it.

But really it's all of us who must overcome the crippling

legacy of...

Bigotry and injustice.

And we shall overcome.

First, a barrage of fire and then a charge across the street. The Marines

out from the fortified army camp.

They stole the original attack and advanced into the empty, abandoned

of what was Hue University.

Hue, the ancient imperial city.

It is to Vietnamese what old Boston is to Americans, where many of its

leaders are born or educated.

I wish they'd shut up. The first sniper shots ricochet around the thick walls of

the building, taking the first casualties at the first block.

The snipers, maybe only two or three, are invisible in the buildings beyond

wall, but there is also a machine gun down the street to the left. Dr. King,

might want to lie down with that.

President Johnson is making a tragic error in Vietnam.

Move over, Big Yellow.

Why should we fight in Vietnam?

The Viet Cong don't call us niggers for one.

Seriously, how many of your parents support the war?

Well, my Lord, why do your parents support it?

We haven't spoken about it specifically. I just know they do.

Well, what did your daddy do?

He's a butler.

The black domestic played an important role in our history.

I didn't tell you that to make fun of me.

Young brother, the black domestic defy racial stereotypes by being hardworking

and trustworthy.

He slowly tears down racial hatred with his...

example of a strong work ethic and dignified character.

Now, while we perceive the butler or the maid to be subservient, in many ways

they are subversive without even knowing it.

Since the colored, the black staff, does just as much work as the white staff,

I believe that our salaries should reflect our service.

Black staff.

I also feel that we should have opportunities

of advancement.

No black houseman, has ever been promoted to the engineer's office.

You're very well liked here, Cecil.

But if you're unhappy with your salary or position, then I suggest you seek

employment elsewhere.

Don't let that Martin Luther King shit fill your britches out.

Just remember where I found you.

Dr. Martin Luther King, the apostle of nonviolence in the civil rights

has been shot to death in Memphis, Tennessee.

Police have issued an all -points bulletin for a well -dressed young white

seen running from the scene.

Lord,

I try.

I was going to get home alive.

It was the first time I felt like I didn't belong in my own neighborhood.

The whole world was changing and I didn't know where I fit in.

once in a four and five hundred year leader has been taken from us by hatred

bitterness. Even as I stand at this hour, I cannot even allow hate to enter

heart at this time, for it was sickness, not meanness, that killed them.

My room's pink.

Make sure you get some more of my sweet potatoes, Carol.

I use orange juice when I make them. That's what makes them so tart.

How long y 'all been dating?

Five years.

Is, um, all the rest of the students, are they getting involved in politics,

too?

There's been a division, kind of a split, ma 'am.

A few of them like John Lewis.

Oh, I love John Lewis.

How do you know who John Lewis is?

Well, honey, I read that magazine.

I'm not just sitting up there soaring for you all day.

Ooh.

I'm sick and tired of getting thrown in jail.

Yeah, well, that makes two of us, don't it?

Dr. King's philosophy ultimately got him murdered.

It worked when we started, but now it's time to take the next step, which is

politics. What, so y 'all going to the White House now?

Dad and Lou's going to the White House. You know they ain't gonna let you in

there with them nipples out.

Maybe one, but not both of them.

Shut up.

Nah, we're more grassroots.

One -on -one with the community.

Although we have started our own political party.

Don't you party?

You like to party?

I like to party.

What's the party called?

The Black Panther Party.

What kind of name is that?

What does that stand for?

We provide free breakfast for children, free medical clinics, free clothing,

self -defense classes.

And why y 'all need self -defense?

We ain't getting beat no more.

Me and your daddy saw a wonderful movie the other night. It reminded me so much

of you.

Oh, yeah?

What was the name of that movie, honey?

In the Heat of the Night.

In the Heat of the Night with Sidney Poitier.

Lord, Sidney Poitier. I love Sidney Poitier. Sidney Poitier is a white man's

fantasy of what he wants us to be.

But his movies have him fighting fake rights.

Only in a way that's acceptable to the white status quo.

Ah.

And the brother can't act.

What are you talking about?

He just won the Academy Award.

He's breaking down barriers for all of us. By being white.

By acting white.

Sidney Poitier is nothing but a rich Uncle Tom.

Look at you.

All puffed up.

With your hat on your head.

Coming in here.

Saying whatever you want.

Girlfriend belching at the table.

You don't even feel you gotta go to school even though I gave you the money.

Yeah. Lewis.

I need you to get out of my house.

What?

Get the hell out of my house! Get on out!

I can't take this no more! We ain't seen this boy! We ain't seen this boy!

I'm sorry, Mr.

Butler. I didn't mean to make fun of your hero.

Everything you are and everything you have is because of that butler.

Now you take that trifling low -class bitch.

I'd like to send it before they did it.

What the hell we did? Look who's coming to dinner?

Everything ain't a joke.

Carol came to dinner.

Let's try it.

Police took Lewis the next day.

Y 'all gonna make me late for work?

Aunt, I'm tired.

Who else am I supposed to call to bail them out?

What they got him in for this time? Sit up.

They said they stopped him just because.

Just because?

He said he wasn't going to get beat no more, so he got out the car and he had a

match.

What about that little gal of his?

They put her in the hospital.

The hospital?

Charlie, this just got to stop, man.

I'm late for work.

You tell Louis I'm not his mama.

I want my money back.

You all right?

Yeah, I'm all right.

Thanks, Uncle Carter.

You can take all this Black Panther shit somewhere else.

I'm not there. I want my money back.

Hear me?

Yes, sir.

Every dime.

Yes, sir. Hey, Uncle.

Don't tell daddy.

How you avoid all the prison prison?

Do they teach you that with the pants?

They teach you how to sit?

She been drinking again?

No. She sober.

She ain't doing nothing but sewing and feeding them damn fishes.

Feed them more than she feed me.

You excited about going back to Howard?

Excited about not going back.

What?

Yeah.

Going to Vietnam.

Charlie, don't do this.

Don't do this.

Your country treats us like dogs. Do what? Don't do this?

You fight your country.

I want to fight for my country.

I'm going to go to your funeral.

Good.

Because I don't want you there with all of that black leather

latex shining and taking away the attention off of my pretty face and my

What do they call you now? Louise?

Shut up. Louise Gaines. Shut up.

I want to know every goddamn domestic policy decision right now, and I want it

on the table right now. Okay. Okay. Did you get the memos we sent last week?

John and I strongly agree that the time calls for a period. Goddamn fly. Goddamn

fly in here.

Jesus Christ. John and I both think that the time calls for a period of benign

neglect. Benign neglect.

Yeah. Yeah. I like that. I like that. You know, when pigs in the media

us as terrorists, A terrorist is one who terrorizes and frightens others.

We don't want to get terrorized.

How can we exist in peace when we're scared to walk down the street to the

stove? All right, there's this whole black power movement going on, right?

Right.

What if we, um... What if Nixon promotes

black power to mean black businesses and we find ways to support black

entrepreneurs?

Pass the Buckland desegregation to the courts. Push Black Enterprise to win the

20 % of the votes against Winner. Excellent.

You don't know if you're still going to cave in to your slumlord too busy

running around collecting rent checks.

But he's going to fix your roof.

It's time we take a stand against these injustices that have plagued our

community. They take one of us.

We're taking two of these, right?

We just need to make sure that Nixon black power doesn't equate Nixon with

Black Panthers. You lost your mind, man. Did you read Hoover's last memo on

that? It's my point.

Goddamn terrifying.

No, no, no. I gave him the green light to gut those sons of bitches. Good.

Absolutely. No, round them all up and throw them down an elevator shaft.

I won't proclaim to know everything.

I promise you.

They'll always be where the nigga with a gun There

be anything else

How many kids we got coming to the breakfast tomorrow morning? Got about 25

30. 25 to 30 kids will be able to go to school and focus on their lessons.

They don't want us to be able to feed our kids.

They don't want us to be able to protect ourselves.

What are we doing here?

I thought this was going to be our community service.

This is community service.

Someone kills one of us?

Community protection.

Are you ready to kill somebody, Carol?

Because I ain't.

I am.

Did you ever love me, baby?

Today, a day after police shot it out with the Black Panthers, killing two of

them, they raided the apartment of another Panther. The shooting of 26

in the past year may represent a national campaign by police to wipe out

Panthers. The immediate violent criminal reaction of the occupants in shooting

at announced police officers emphasizes the extreme viciousness of the Black

Panther Party.

Happy birthday to you.

Why not? This is the present I want right here.

Well, you want it right here? Mm -hmm. All right.

Right here? Get the kids down.

Ain't no kids in the house no more.

Hey, I made you a birthday cake.

I'm going to get all the cake I want right here. No, you're crazy.

Champagne, cool in an icebox, and some ice cream, too. Get some ice cream. You

going to be drinking with me?

You know I don't drink.

I don't drink.

Let's just play once.

I just want to see you move a little bit. Go ahead.

Oh, my God.

We're getting an email from Charlie today.

No.

No? I've heard from Charlie.

I know. I got an idea.

I think we should go to Shantae's tonight.

Oh, no. No, I'm too old for disco.

We're not old. Come on. We ain't old. I don't feel like going to disco.

My boys are gone. It's just you and me.

You and me. And we are free. Oh, I forgot this. I forgot this.

Now, look it up.

A little happy birthday present.

I want you to go put it on.

Upstairs. I'll put it on.

Yeah, go put it on. All right. Make it snappy. Bring down my sewing kit because

I need to do some alteration.

Make it snappy.

Hello.

Hi, where are you?

Where?

You should call me back because this is not a good time.

Call me back.

Okay.

Hey,

Lewis. I didn't expect to hear from you on your birthday.

You should feel ashamed of yourself.

You're a grown -ass man calling your mama asking for money.

Guess what? Mr. Button has money.

Uncle Paul has money.

And he ain't giving none out today.

Yeah.

I got it.

You got the wrong house.

Vietnam took my boy and I didn't understand why we were there in the

place.

Your father's still alive, sir?

No, sir.

My father died when I was a child.

Is there anything else that you would like, Mr. Resnick?

Come sit.

There's been a lot of talk of me resigning and things of that nature, but

want you to know it's never going to happen.

I'm going to come out of this thing stronger than ever.

Is there anything else that you would like, Mr. President?

Lewis is here looking for you.

Got everybody all worried? Well, I finished school.

I got my master's in political science.

Hey, that's what I'm talking about.

Get that education.

There he is.

Hey, well, I'm going to let you all do it.

Ain't no need for that, Carter.

Hey, Dad.

Get out of here, Lewis.

I see you.

Leave.

Keep doing what you're doing.

Thank you. Don't go, Carter.

Why you do that?

Huh? That was wrong.

That boy's hurting, too.

You know, he's just trying to get his act together.

Carter.

Boy didn't even go to his own brother's funeral.

He's full of shit. He ain't doing nothing right.

You just got this bastard.

What more you want him to do?

The greater I am, it's because of that boy.

The heat had started to drift by, but the pain in my heart never went away.

I have the love to wash away your

pain. Lewis and I never spoke.

and soul and spirit of our national world.

Two of you, stay home until you feel better.

Okay, Barn, I'll stay.

But I ain't never gonna feel no better.

In our district

alone, we have 9 % unemployment. In the country at large, 14 % are living below

the poverty line. 60 %!

Reducing those figures is going to be one of my primary objectives.

Thanks, Christine. There's some interesting developments happening.

Yeah.

Oh, hey.

Thanks for coming back to me.

I almost did a little bye.

Really?

All right, then.

I appreciate it.

No, he didn't win.

I think you should call him.

Right after Charlie passed, Lewis came over and paid me a visit.

He found me on the kitchen floor.

I had passed out.

Drunk.

I'd gone to the bathroom all over myself.

He'd want to clean me up.

And then he told me I was the best mother anybody could ever want.

I think about now.

He'd want to hear from his daddy.

I think you ought to call him.

Cecil.

Cecil.

You stay there. I'm coming to you.

I have a secret mission for you.

Yes, sir.

I like to send people money when they write me about their financial problems,

but my staff has been trying to get me to stop. Do you think you could help me

today?

Keep this going.

Absolutely, Mr. President.

I appreciate your help with this. Please, don't tell Nancy.

Of course not.

Write it down.

I've been here for over 20 years now.

For all that time, the black help had been paid a smaller salary

than the white help.

And I just don't think that's right, Mr. Warner.

There are black housemen who should be engineers by now.

They should have been promoted years ago.

You think so?

I'm going to have to be paid the same as the White House, or I'm going to have

to move on.

I guess you'll be moving on then.

I know the president.

Did you say that?

He told me to tell you to take this up with him personally.

Excuse me.

I'm not comfortable with all the foreign policy hawks surrounding Ronnie Jim.

We need more moderates on his staff.

And a summit with the Russians.

Ronnie has to meet with them face to face if we're ever going to thaw this

Cecil. Yes, Miss Reagan? We will talk to you, yes.

Yes, ma 'am.

You're very popular around here.

Everyone says you're the man that got them raises and promotions.

I have no idea.

I wish I could take credit for that.

I'd like to invite you to the state dinner next week.

I'm going to be there, Miss Reagan?

No.

Not as a butler, Cecil. I'm inviting you as a guest.

But the president prefers for me to serve in person.

Don't you worry about Ronnie. I'll take care of that.

So we'll see you next week, you and your wife.

My wife?

It's Gloria.

Yes?

Yes, ma 'am.

Here's the entrance hall.

Thank you.

Can I get you a glass of champagne, Mr. Gaines?

Shut up.

Ladies and gentlemen, the President and First Lady of the

United States.

It was different sitting at the table instead of serving it.

A real difference.

I could see the two faces the butlers wore to survive.

And I knew I'd live my life with those same two faces.

Gloria looked so happy, but I didn't feel the same way.

I guess I wish we were there for real instead of for show.

I think

that's Bon Appetit,

everybody.

I want

to make myself

clear on this issue.

If Congress passes sanctions against South Africa, I will

be forced to veto those sanctions.

Well, Mr. President, we feel that that would be a major mistake.

The brutal repression of South African black citizens makes this no longer a

foreign policy issue, but a United States racial issue.

We're senators from your own party.

That's why we feel so comfortable in letting you know that South Africa is a

human rights disaster.

Black people are being beaten, tortured, gunned down in the middle of the

street. Americans see all this on TV.

They're horrified by apartheid. I've made my decision.

Mr. President, your reputation as a world leader is at stake.

United States of America needs to be on the right side of history on the race

issue. I'll see you again.

If Congress passes this bill, I will veto it.

Nothing seemed right to me after that state dinner.

Got all confused.

They had started writing books about everything Lewis and his friends had

done.

Lewis was never a criminal.

He was a hero fighting to save the soul of our country.

Do you like a cookie?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Cookie. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Cookie.

I had always loved service.

I just felt different now.

I didn't know that an old man could feel so lost.

That's how I felt.

That's how I felt.

Americans always turn a blind eye to what we've done to our own.

We look out to the world and judge.

We hear about the concentration camps.

Well, these camps went on for 200 years right here in

America.

Got my daddy right over there.

My mama would have been right proud of me.

Being with a man like you, taking such good care of me all of these years.

I love you, Cecil Gang.

I love you more, Lauren.

Are you sure about this?

Yes, sir.

I just want to be the one to tell you the first thing I saw.

You're the best butler here.

You're like family, Cecil.

Be honest with me.

Well, just for me, I'm sure I speak for all the presidents when I say that

you've served your country well.

Cecil, this whole civil rights issue, I

sometimes fear I'm on

the wrong side of it, that I'm just wrong.

Sometimes I think I'm just scared of what it really means.

I'm trying not to be so scared anymore.

for our rights.

Today, we march to free the people of South Africa.

Ronald Reagan has attacked or dismantled every civil rights program that has

ever been put in place.

Aiding the oppression of black South Africans is absolutely consistent with

policies on race issues.

Hi, Dad.

Hi, Dad.

What are you doing here?

I came here to protest with you.

You get arrested, Dad. You lose your job.

I love you, Jim.

We had a hand in a few hours.

I said I was worried.

After going to jail, I thought I'd seen it all.

But I never imagined I'd see a black man

be a real contender for the president of the United States.

It's that sweet corn.

Gloria and I would walk to our polling place every

night to see where we'd be voting for Barack Obama.

We'd just stare at him.

Time to go.

You done pretty good there.

Thanks, honey.

How come Lewis' wife named that child Shaquanda?

I don't start that again.

I ain't starting that. I just don't know what kind of name that is.

I mean, really, Shaquanda.

I think she done that just to spite me.

Ain't nobody.

Done nothing to spite you. Yes, you did.

She a ugly little old girl, too.

That little punk nose.

I hope she grow out of it.

You need to stop that.

You know that ain't right. Don't you think she look a little like Louis

the mouth?

I think she look a bit like you. Like me?

Yeah, so you need to stop talking about it.

Let me look at her again then, real good.

She do look a little bit like me.

She a pretty little thing.

I guess I can't put up with the name Shaquan.

God, where I put my Bible?

You know I need my Bible.

I think I left it in the bathroom.

Why is Lewis late?

Boy gets elected to Congress.

And he ain't been on time getting us to church ever since.

I can't believe you still fussing. He's going to be late to his own funeral.

You still fussing about Lewis. Yeah, he's going to be here for us.

Go ahead and call.

I ain't calling Lewis.

I'm going to get my purse.

What do you say, Isaiah?

You got this.

Mark here.

Hmm?

I'm gonna fall on myself.

Baby, you need to move that to the other side.

Babe.

Hmm?

Louie!

Lewis, come on down.

Come down.

And CNN can now project that Barack Obama, 47 years old, will become the

president -elect of the United States.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that

America is a place where... All things are possible.

Who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time?

Who still questions the power of our democracy?

Tonight is your answer.

To the eye.

See what it is they want.

See what it is they need.

Tear me.

Make a smile to the...

Mr. Gaines.

Remember Hoshone, the chief usher.

Nice to meet you.

Pleasure's all mine, sir.

I just wanted to tell you what an honor it is to meet you, sir.

The honor is mine.

President Phil, excited to meet with you.

It's just fine, isn't it?

Don't take it away.

I know it away.

A part of the question is whether all Americans are to be afforded equal

and equal opportunities.

It is the effort of American Negroes to secure for themselves

the full blessings of American life.

We will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people.

Yes, we can.

Heaven sends a song through its doors

Just as if it seems to know

exclusively yours knowing this

I feel but one way you will understand

it too in these words that I say

I'll close

To a new love affair.

Then I'll close my eyes.

To everything.

That day.

If you.

lovely day and

through the years of those moments

when we