Original subtitles

Tonight, we present a landmark in television entertainment.

Roots, the true story Alex Haley uncovered in his 12-year search across

the seven generations of his ancestry.

After two years of production, we present this incredible saga in an epic

motion picture.

Roots, the current number one best-selling novel, is the television

event of the year.

From primitive Africa to the old south.

Roots sweeps across the panorama of a young America, bursting with all the

dreams, all the joys, and all the hardships of a vibrant country and its

people through the years of slavery.

The Civil War.

Reconstruction.

And the struggle to survive.

A film spanning more than a hundred years, generation to generation,

continent to continent, slavery to freedom.

Hear me, oh African.

The flesh of your flesh has come to freedom.

We are free.

Roots, starring Ben Vereen, Edward Asner, Lorne Green, Cicely Tyson.

O.J. Simpson, Linda Day George, Chuck Connors, John Amos, Leslie Uggams, Lloyd

Bridges, Burl Ives, Louis Gossett Jr., Vic Morrow, George Stanford Brown, Ralph

Waite, and introducing LeVar Burton as Kunta Kinte.

Now, we are proud to present the triumph of an American family, Roots.

A very strong son.

Being born is hard work.

We will give him a very good life.

We've given him life, Binta.

Good or not good, that is for Allah to say.

We call him baby boy.

And we'll go on calling him that until his father decides on a name for him

eight days from today.

Peace

be

unto you. And unto you, brother.

You are the most important man in the village. Yes, that is true.

Well, tell me, which is best? You know about these things.

Should a child be named after a person or a thing?

Amoro, there are no rules.

Whether it is a person or a thing, the child will take on seven of the

characteristics of that name.

A person or a thing?

It shall be for you to choose.

I hope, Remus, I say, that a man of your great learning will not be offended if I

say that you've helped me a very small amount.

Amoro, tell me this.

Do you believe your wife, Binta, has been faithful to you?

Yes,

I know she has. You are truly the father of the child born to Binta?

Yes. If the child is truly yours, then so is the problem.

I have lessons I must teach.

Shit.

Behold... the only thing greater than yourself.

Three years at the helm of the merry road.

Very impressive, Captain Davies. Very impressive.

Thank you, Mr. Villers.

May I ask why you left the Mary Rose?

The vessel was sold to another owner, and that owner refused to honor my

contract, so I left.

As simple as that.

Either a man keeps his word to me or he does not. The owners of the Mary Rose

did not. There was nothing further to discuss.

Well, Captain, your credentials are fine ones. The best I've seen.

Good enough to lay any doubts to rest.

Captain Davies, your vessel, sir.

The Lord Ligonier? The same. She'll be seaworthy by the end of the month. And

her cargo will be?

Tobacco from here to the mother country.

Hardware of various sorts from England to the Gambian coast.

There to pick up any available spices.

What need of the hardware, may I ask?

Captain, our main...

Cargo will consist of slaves will be taking on slaves

I see

welcome aboard

Yes, Mother.

How does the she-goat look to you, Quinta?

Her belly grows every day.

She'll have the kids soon, I think.

Before the next moon.

Maybe twins.

If she dropped twins, you would find some way to take the credit.

My breakfast bowl is empty now.

There are goats to be fed?

Yes, Mother. Take care.

Yes, Father, I will.

He does a good job with our goats, you know.

I know.

You might tell him so.

He tells himself often enough.

He's 15 reins, Binta.

And all boys of 15 reins have a partnership with impatience. That will

pass. As quickly as yours passed, Umaru.

It is so. I know it is absolutely so. If you know, then, how are we taking the

manhood training?

A boy has a hood placed over his head.

Then he is taken away to the secret place of manhood.

When he returns, he knows all the things that men must know.

And his photo is like that of a man's.

His photo?

The Fotova man and the Fotova child are not the same, you know that.

But do you know how this difference gets done?

There is cutting and blood.

The she-goat.

I must do it.

Father? The she-goat?

Yes, Father.

There was a leopard.

You're not harmed?

No, I drove it off, but... Drove it off?

How? How did you drive it off? All you have is a slingshot.

That's what I used.

There is much you have to learn, Kunta.

Yes, my father.

Well, the first thing you must learn is that all men make mistakes.

I lost a goat to a lion when I was your age.

This I received from the lion.

And I learned.

Now you must learn from this thing that's happened to you.

Never run towards any dangerous animal.

Never!

Do you understand me?

Yes, Papa.

You said? Yes, Father.

Good.

Then that is all that needs to be said on this matter between you and me, eh?

Don't forget to bring firewood to your mother.

No, Father.

I will not forget.

We took on 250 pair of wrist shackles.

250, yes. Go on.

Same number neck rings, sir.

250 neck rings.

Chains and shackles to outfit properly.

Yes. Two dozen thumb screws.

Thumb screws.

Aye, sir.

Are those necessary, Mr. Slater?

They've an advantage to them, sir.

You're looking to punish a nigger, especially a young nigger bitch.

That's one way of doing it without marring the skin and knocking down the

purchase price.

Mr. Slater, have you ever seen a thumb that's been subjected to a thumbscrew?

Oh, yes, sir. Many a time.

But you see, Captain, a comely nigger bitch is rarely purchased for the way

her thumbs look.

Thumbscrew's two dozen.

Last item.

Two branding irons marked double L.

The Lord Ligonier.

All right, Captain. Necessary.

You weigh anchor tomorrow, Captain?

No.

We'll stay dockside for two more days.

I've always preferred to set sail on the Sabbath.

Seems the Christian thing to do.

All right, Captain. Whatever you say.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Slater.

Mother, do you know what Sattafa said today?

How would I know?

He said that some of the boys have heard the sound of axes and hammers in the

woods. He said some think it's the white toboggan. But do you know what I think?

I do not.

I think there is work being done in the secret place where boys are taken for

manhood training. That's what I think.

It's possible.

Do you think I'm right?

Kunta, women do not know of such things.

I do not believe women should even be speaking of such things.

Kunta.

Kunta.

You have been a very good boy.

I want you to know that.

A very good boy.

Our boy has just left and man will return.

Come.

Come.

What's up?

I am the Kintango.

Kintango!

As children must be careful not to anger their fathers.

You will be careful not to anger the Kintango.

As dry grass does not challenge the fire, you will never challenge the

Kintango. You will do everything I tell you to do. You will do it when I tell

you, and for as long as I tell you to do it.

I am the Kintango.

You have left Jufari village.

Men are to return.

You must erase your fears.

For a fearful person is a weak person.

And a weak person is a danger to his family, to his village, and to his

tribe.

If any are unable to become men, you will be treated forever as children

by your families, by all in the village.

You will never be allowed to marry.

For the offspring of such a marriage will be weak and unworthy of our people.

I will not permit you to be unworthy.

I think he's trying to make us afraid.

They do not have to try anymore.

I'm not afraid. What is your name?

Kunta Kinte.

Kunta Kinte?

Yes, sir.

Who can tell me if there was a tribal war and the men of the Mandinka had the

enemy surrounded on three sides, what should be the next thing done?

Men of the Mandinka will enclose the circle and surround the enemy. No.

The goal of war is not to kill. The goal of war is to win.

By surrounding the enemy, you would force him only to fight more

desperately. If you surround him on three sides and leave him an escape

route, he will leave your land and there will be less blood spilled on both

sides.

For a warrior of the Mandinka, courage is not enough.

But, sir, won't an enemy who escapes alive fight you again?

It is impossible to kill an enemy.

You may end a man's life, but his son is now your new enemy.

A warrior respects another warrior, even when he is his enemy.

A warrior kills only to protect his family or to keep from becoming a slave.

We believe not in death, but in life.

And there is no object more valuable than a man's life.

The way of the Mandinka is not easy, but it is best.

Everything all right, sir?

Yes, Mr. Slater.

Everything seems fine.

I was just checking to see if all is in readiness down here.

Everything's ready, sir.

Make no mistake about that.

How many men do you estimate will be able to fit in here?

Taking the captain's part, sir.

We're taking on women as well as men.

You see, women take up less space than the bucks.

What you have to estimate in the planning of it all is how many women as

well as how many men.

There's a certain mix that's the most efficient and profitable, you see, sir.

How many, Mr. Slater?

Now, 170 more or less, sir.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Tell me, Mr. Slater, how many voyages like this one

have you made?

Oh, my, sir, that's a poser now.

I'd say 18.

18?

That's 17 more than I've made.

So I'd be willing to admit, Mr. Slater, that below decks, let's say, you're the

expert.

That's very kind of you, Captain.

What are they like, the blacks?

Just a different kind of breed, sir.

You know, like a man would breed a dog for hunting and breed another sort of

dog for his wife and children to play with.

Black breeds kind of slow at thinking, but strong. They're suited to be slaves,

sir. Just as you're suited to be commander of this here vessel.

The natural order of things, you might say.

Yes.

Yes, I could understand that, I suppose.

Myself, I think it's good for them, us taking them like that.

They're the better off for it, sir.

I'm not quite sure I understand that part, Mr. Slater.

For one thing, there's Christianity, sir.

We're bringing them to a Christian land.

It's got to be better for them than that heathen Allah they got with them now.

That's the first thing. Second thing is...

We're probably saving them from being eaten by their own kind.

They do that, sir, you know.

Cannibals, all of them.

Well, as I said before, Mr. Slater, below decks,

you're the expert.

I'll get us there and home again.

Can't ask no more than that, sir.

I'll keep as many alive as can be kept alive.

Well, then.

We'll both be doing our job, Mr. Slater.

And surely that's as it should be.

Aye, aye, Captain.

You leave the cargo to me.

I speak their language, you might say.

Their language?

In a manner of speaking, sir. They have no proper language. No need of it. Just

grunts and groans.

The ability to wrestle with skill is the ability to uphold the honor of your

village.

It is a test of strength.

And the stronger you are, the more honor to your people.

You can learn to shoot a bull by watching.

You can learn to track in the forest by hearing the words of great hunters.

But there is only one way to learn to wrestle.

And that is to do it.

Who will be first?

Kunta Kinte.

Very well.

Who will be next?

And now, who will be next?

I

don't

think I'm strong or brave enough to be a man.

We're all strong enough.

We will all be men.

You will see.

Kunta Kinte!

Kunta Kinte, a panther has courage, so does a warthog.

Which kind of courage should a man have?

The best kind.

If it is for certain that you are not yet a man, and that is for certain, then

it is even more certain that you are not a philosopher.

The best kind is not an answer, Kunta Kinte.

Well, a warthog's courage, then. Why?

Well, a warthog never retreats. He never gives up.

And all the hunters admire that warthog's courage.

That's right.

They all say what a brave animal that warthog is.

That's right.

And all the hunters usually end up killing that warthog.

They all usually end up eating that brave warthog.

You think I should have given up today when we were wrestling?

We were not wrestling.

I was wrestling.

You were charging and flying and landing.

You were the warthog, Kunta Kinty.

Thank you for teaching me these things.

You may go.

Thank you.

You have already thanked me.

Yes, sir.

Kunta Kinty, I can teach you many things.

But I cannot teach you courage.

Not even a warthog's courage.

That is something you will take with you, wherever you go.

What did he say?

Oh,

he just wanted me to tell him a few things about wrestling.

Congratulations, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Slater.

Africa.

It is your task.

You are to leave this camp and catch a bird.

Not kill the bird, mind you, but catch it and return with it alive.

you

But, sir, I am a Mandingo warrior.

No, thank you, Mandingo warrior.

Not yet. Well, I'm in manhood training to become a Mandingo warrior, and I've

been assigned to... You were assigned to speak to your elders without first

giving your name?

No.

I am Kunta Kinte, a Mandingo from the village of Jujufare.

Ah, peace to you, Kunta. I am Katitere. I am traveling with my family to the

village of Kerawang.

Is it far?

Caditore, I have been assigned by my contango to catch a bird without the use

of a weapon. And that... And to knock over my midday meal and not bother to

put it back? Or apologize to my daughter?

No. I have been assigned to...

Cunicinte,

my daughter, Fanta.

Peace to you, Fanta.

Peace to you, Cunicinte.

My daughter, Fanta, that you were going to apologize to.

I apologize for not apologizing louder when you were hitting me.

And it's one day to care a lot.

Peace to you, Fanta.

Peace to you, Mandinka Warrior. I hope you catch your bird.

Kunta Kinte, are you to be a child forever?

Were you not sent to catch a bird? Did you forget the instructions given you?

I did not forget.

Then you decided it would be better to disobey those instructions and... I saw

white men.

What did you say?

I said I saw white men.

Most on six months. How are you?

Six months older, not a bit wiser, Mr. Gardner.

I'd like to meet Captain Davies.

Captain Davies, sir, this here is Mr. Gardner.

Did you bring any rum?

Yes.

Fine, let's talk.

Good to your health, Captain Davies.

Welcome to Africa, you understand.

Thank you, Mr. Gardner. Very kind of you.

Now then, Captain.

Can you give me some idea as to how many blacks your vessel will hold?

170, Mr. Gardner.

170?

You people seem to think this is the easiest thing in the world to do.

Well, it ain't.

There are ships slaving all up and down this coast.

Competition the likes of which you ain't never seen.

If I can't capture enough blacks, I gotta buy them from their own chiefs.

And they bring a tidy sum per head these days. Mr. Gardner, I have neither the

time nor the temperament to sit here through your price-raising maneuvers.

Monies will be discussed at a later date.

The question now is, can you capture or buy?

170 healthy blacks, and deliver them to the hold of the Lord Ligonier.

I'll capture some.

I'll buy some.

I'll fill your hold.

I'll deliver.

For the rest of your lives, even when you have come to be men, you must be on

guard against the white tubab and the black traders who help them.

These things I'm going to tell you now you must hear with more than your ears,

for not to do as I say can mean you're being stolen away to a place outside our

world, outside of us, forever.

Never be alone when you can help it.

Never be out at night when you can help it.

And day or night, if you are alone, keep away from any high weeds or bushes.

And if ever you see much smoke away from any village, It is probably the white

man's cooking fires, which are always too big.

And remember, when you are close to where he has been, his scent remains in

the air.

It is a smell like a wet chicken.

And most importantly, remember that Kunta Kinte saw the white man less than

two days' walk from where we are now.

The white man is here.

There now remains but one more test on the path to manhood.

It has to do with your photos.

You have seen that the photo of a man and the photo of a child are not the

same.

This difference will be brought about in our traditional way by cutting.

Hold out your photos!

This test will soon take away the feeling, and there will be less pain

when the time comes.

This thing to be done also was done to us, as to the forefathers before us.

so that you will also become all of us men together.

You will soon return as men to your homes and to your farms, and in time you

will marry, and life everlasting will spring from your loins.

Which of you will speak to be first?

I have your things all packed for you.

You are a man now, and a man must have his own heart.

You cannot stay with us anymore, you know that.

Of course I know that.

Your things are inside.

Here is your spoon, and your bowl, and cup, as well as your

sleeping bag.

Now that there's plenty of room in this corner, I will have your father build a

shelf where I can store my sewing needles and thread so that your little

brother will not lose what I need to keep.

Your father has built a hut for you.

It is next to that of Brimeses, eh?

I will find it.

And you will thank your father?

A woman should not tell a man what to do.

Have I your things?

You were a dirty bottomed baby when I first saw you. And when you forget that,

I'll come and remind you again.

You can grow as tall as a tree and I will still be your grandmother.

And you will still respect me. Do you hear me? I hear you, grandmother.

And do you understand that you do not know everything, cannot do everything,

and that Allah is still considered greater than you?

I understand that, yes.

That's good.

Now that you are a man, what will you do?

Sit under that tree with the other men and make important decisions?

Is that it?

I do not yet know.

Well, while you're waiting to see what your mind tells you, I believe there is

some good thing you can do for your mother.

There were tears when you were away at manhood painting.

Oh, there was sadness, couldn't there?

Well, she mentioned the building of a shelf, but she said she would ask my

father to do that.

What about Lamine, your baby brother?

Is there something that you can give to him? A gift for him would touch your

mother as well.

Do you think he would like a drum?

Oh, I know he would.

Good. Then I'll make a drum for my brother.

Tomorrow I will hunt for a log to make such a drum.

Get in there! Get in there!

A week or two more should do it, sir, unless you want to wait and carry an

even 200.

I expressed my wish, Mr. Slater.

Aye, that you did, sir.

It's all a matter of philosophy.

Philosophy? Aye, sir.

It's a question of loose pack or tight pack.

Now, if we was using tight pack, we'd pack them in laying on their sides.

Like they was silver spoons, you might say.

That way we get 14-inch shelf space to a nigger and we can carry 200 of them.

And, um...

How many will we have left alive by your reckoning?

That's hard to say, sir.

More of them die off. But then again, we start with more, sir.

Well,

it's my responsibility, Mr. Slater.

170 will be enough.

Aye, sir.

There's them that would agree with you. Loose pack has its point.

Better chance of bringing more through the passage.

Mr. Slater.

Is there another cask of rum about?

Aye, sir, I'm sure there is. I'll see to it right now.

I was under the impression you didn't drink, sir.

There are a number of things I've done in connection with this voyage, Mr.

Slater, that I've never done before.

Gunter Kinte.

Omaro! My son.

Your family?

My family is well. I know they are.

Your family is well?

They'll be coming after us.

I know they will be.

You were the only one taken.

It was nighttime.

But I'm sure my father fought them off.

You saw my father.

He's a very great man.

A very great warrior.

Were there many who raided your camp?

Yes.

Did you hear your father cry out?

Did he call your name?

Did he just cry out?

He just cried out

You still have two sons, Vinton.

But now one is forever outside your embrace.

Forever outside of us all.

the Lord.

Kunta. Kunta Kinte.

Wrestler.

Will they come after us, our warriors?

No. We're too far away. The canoe house has traveled for three days now.

Our warriors will follow.

There is no trail in the water. No trail to follow.

And we are alone.

Oh, there are other Mandinka men. I heard a shout, but I don't know...

Listen to me.

Listen to me.

There are other tribes. I've heard their words.

The Woolof, the Fulani, the Suriri, and some I do not know.

But I'm not alone.

Vessler, when the big canoe moved, my stomach came up into my mouth and

spilled.

I am shamed.

Do not be ashamed.

It happened to me.

Yeah.

Now... When my stomach comes up, there is nothing.

Only bitter spit.

Wrestler, I am a man, a warrior.

Kunta, we have been chained in the white man's canoe house for many days now.

Alassine, he understands.

He knows you are a man.

He knows.

Eighth day of July, year of our Lord, 1767.

3,265 elephant teeth.

3,700 pounds of beeswax.

800 pounds raw cotton.

32 ounces of gold.

140 Negroes.

138, sir.

How was that, Mr. Slater?

There was that buck that went over the side during the boarding. If the black

was not loaded, why was he on the manifest?

It is a custom, sir.

The seller takes the risk till the merchandise is delivered to the beach.

Then it's on our books.

And the other?

We found him dead in the dog watch. God save us. Only eight days at sea.

Is there anything else, Mr. Slater?

Aye, sir.

It's time to get him above hatches and dance him, sir.

Gotta have exercise, keep him in condition.

Gives us a chance to muck out the hold.

The stench of them, sir. A bile-puking smell down there.

Besides, we can cull out them what ain't worth feedin'. Yes, yes, yes.

And look over the wenches.

I'm a Christian man and I command a Christian

ship. Aye, Captain. I will not lead any man into sin.

Sin?

Fornication.

Begging your pardon, Captain.

You ain't never sailed a slaven ship before.

What are you getting at?

Captain, you gotta give the men their ease when they're off duty.

Don't hurt the cargo none.

Point of fact, it's good for them.

And this is how we bring heathen souls to Christ.

Captain, sir, if I was you, with all respect, I'd leave Christ's gospel to

private prayer and meditation.

Oh, and Sunday meetings, of course.

Very well, Mr. Slater, that will be all.

Aye, aye, Captain.

You won't be wanting a belly warmer, then?

That will be all, Mr. Slater!

Aye, aye, Captain.

Allah, the merciful.

Allah, the all-powerful.

Allah, the compassionate.

Please, hear my prayers.

Allah.

Allah, please.

Peace.

There's no riverbank.

Wrestler, where's the riverbank?

Where's the earth?

The earth is gone.

Hurry along. Come on, boys.

Come on over here.

I don't blame you for standing in the windward, sir.

They stink something fierce.

First batch on deck, sir.

Don't you want to look them over?

I do not.

Here are likely cargo, sir.

We'll lose some to the bloody flux.

Mr. Slater.

Aye, sir.

Let's get them clean, please.

Aye, sir. I believe in clean cargo.

Cleanliness is next to godliness.

It pays off in pounds, shillings, and pence. Mr. Slater. Yes, sir?

On your feet!

Come on, you dirty hens! Move it! Let's go!

Carry on with your duties.

Aye, sir.

Heave away, bosun!

What is it that they're saying there, Mr. Slater?

How would a white man know that, sir?

African mumbo-jumbo is what it is, more than likely.

No, Mr. Slater, I don't understand a syllable of their language, but I

believe I can guess what they're saying down there.

What might that be, sir?

They're telling us to sleep lightly, Mr. Slater.

But then I've not slept well since this voyage began.

I know the wherefore of that, I believe, sir.

Possibly, Mr. Slicker. Possibly you do.

It's my fifth time down here this week.

Count that.

Kunta. Kunta Kenti.

Do not eat?

When I eat the white man food, my stomach comes up.

So does mine.

But eat the food, Kunta.

Listen to me.

Listen carefully.

You are a warrior.

And a warrior must eat because he must be strong to kill his enemy.

So eat the white man's food.

Live, Kunta.

Live and be strong.

Be strong to kill the white man.

12-2.

100 guineas to the sharks.

Dearest Elizabeth, if only

you could know

how much I regret having taken this command.

Not only because it forces me to be apart from you and the children, but

because it...

Yes,

who is it?

Mr. Slater, sir. Come with something for your chill.

Come in, Mr. Slater.

Here you are, Captain.

Mr. Slater,

I've told you my views on fornication.

Yes, sir, you did right enough.

Just brought her as a belly warmer, sir.

A little flesh to take the chill off them cold sheets.

Didn't figure it'd be any problem for a highborn Christian white man like you,

sir.

I'll be by fetching in the morning, Captain.

Sleep well.

My name is Thomas.

That's my Christian name.

What should I call you?

Of course.

You don't understand anything I say, do you?

wrestler i was dreaming i dreamed i was hunting running

faster than i ever ran before spear in my hand going to listen to me i was

hunting a great huge bird whose wings stretched from one riverbank to the

other it turned and flew towards me and i saw

it was all white all white

Its great flapping wings swallowed me up and choked me.

They choked me.

I opened my eyes and I was here in

the belly of that terrible bird.

We will kill the white man, and we will go home.

It's in Allah's hands.

It is in our hands.

Allah made us warriors.

Mandinka warriors.

When we were up in the sun, I counted the white man.

I saw 20 with the long knives and the killing sticks that make smoke and fire.

Ten more are in the long poles, pulling the ropes in great cloths. And the chief

who stands and watches.

There are 40 of us who are taken up out of here together.

I have listened.

Three more times, the wolf beats the drums.

That means there are 160 people.

Some are women.

But at least 100 are men.

And with 100 warriors, the chief could raid a large village and carry off all

the cattle.

With chains on their feet.

You have seen the piece of iron?

They put it in a hole and turn, and the anchor lines open.

One of them wears it around his neck.

I could get it.

If we had a plan.

If we had a signal when we could all move.

But we're different men.

We can't even talk to each other. We're different tribes.

Men chained together are brothers.

We are all one village.

Who cannot speak the same words?

Who is Mandinka?

Who speaks the language of the Mandinka?

I am Okiu, the wrestler, from the village of Jehutzwa. Who is Mandinka?

I am Mandinka. I am Buwayo, from the village of Kufure.

Malilu, from Uboa.

Otibu, from the Futabe village.

Listen, Mandinka.

Those who speak other words, words of the Wuluf, of the Suriri.

The Fulani.

Talk to the man chained to you.

Teach him your words.

Learn his.

We will be one village.

We will destroy our enemies, and we will be one village!

We will kill!

Next on Roots.

We will

see each other again,

Fanta. We will.

So,

your name, sir? John Reynolds, Pennsylvania County, Virginia.

Mr. Reynolds owns you.

Fiddler is going to teach you.

But sooner or later, nigger, you're mine.

Change ain't right for nigger fiddler.

I'm going to never forget you.

I'm going to be free.

You're going to learn to answer to your name.

What's your name?

What's your name?

i mean