All language subtitles for Showing Roots (2016) 1080p

♪ Born in Kansas ♪

♪ Whispering grass ♪

♪ Brought up an orphan ♪

♪ She was brought up fast ♪

♪ Seventeen years old ♪

♪ She's married today ♪

♪ Heartbreak and trouble ♪

♪ Keeps her on a short chain♪

♪ Sweet orphan lady ♪

♪ She fell from heaven ♪

♪ When she was seven ♪

♪ Sweet orphan lady ♪

♪ brings me down ♪

♪ Really brings me down ♪

♪ Now somwbody has stolen ♪

♪ the flowers from her heart ♪

- Ow, that's my head Pearl,

not a pin cushion.

I wish she'd cover up her head

if she not gonna straighten it.

- Mhmm.

- Hold on.

Here comes Christopher Columbus.

- Excuse me, do you
know how I could

get to the construction
site of the Whynot Bridge?

- Yeah, you drive.

- So...

♪ Sweet orphan lady ♪

♪ She fell from heaven ♪

And now,
please welcome our host,

the Riddler of the
Gulf Coast himself,

D.P. Stubanks.

- Lord, I wish I could reduce.

- Memaw, you're not fat.

- Well, I am too.

Selmadine Hart can
eat all she wants

and never push 205.

Me, I just look at
a jar of mayonnaise,

it goes straight to my ass.

A big day for you, huh?

- Yes ma'am, deposit
these 72 today, I'm done.

- Woo, my God.

- Can you believe it, Memaw?

I made 196 dollars off
bottle deposits.

Lucky for me, people litter.

Gonna buy myself a chair,

become a beauty professional.

After I pass my
hair shaping test.

Oh, Memaw,

gonna buy you some
livers and kidneys,

all the apple
jelly you can eat...

Memaw?

You all right?

I wish you would let
me get you a walker.

- Oh shit, I am too
old for something new.

People just don't die
like they used to.

Hang around and
languish and drool.

- Memaw.

- Honey, honey, pull that blind.

I can't see my game show.

- Mhmm.

- Ladies and gentlemen,
thank you very much

for joining us, and
now I'm your host,

and you at home
remember to play along

with your scorecard.

♪ Wanted for murder ♪

♪ They said "who killed this
child" ♪

♪ Sweet orphan lady ♪

♪ She fell from heaven ♪

♪ When she was seven ♪

♪Sweet orphan lady brings me
down ♪

♪ Really brings me down ♪

♪ Oh I feel it today ♪

♪ Sweet orphan lady ♪

♪ She fell from heaven ♪

♪ When she was seven ♪

♪ Sweet orphan lady
brings me down ♪

- No!

Are you okay?

- Don't you even look
where you're going?

- I'm so sorry.

- I was 72 bottles away
from buying my beauty chair.

You just ruined it,
you just ruined it.

Sale ends on Friday.

Thanks a bunch.

- Look, I'm really
sorry, sunshine.

I tell you what,
why don't I pay you

when I get my next paycheck?

- Just go.

The damage is done.

- But we know
there is a God,

and we are going all
the way down to Sheba,

southwest Arabia,
and get on inside,

and this sweet king...

- Now, you stop
that foolish talk.

I'm not gonna
close up your shop.

You'll make the rent
once that bridge is done.

You're late.

- I'm sorry.

- Why do you let
Lottie Strickland

fill your head
with such nonsense?

That woman could screw
up a two car funeral.

- Ma'am?

- What is it angel?

- I just wanted to make sure

that you thought this
color would fit in

alright with your decor?

- I'm on the telephone.

- Yes ma'am.

I just wondered if you
might give me an advance

on my monthly check?

See the sale ends on Friday.

And I was...

- We can talk about it later.

- Yes ma'am.

See, this guy he just
busted up all my bottles.

- Aw, that's rich.

- Well, I was thinkin'
that I could pay you back

with interest.

- No, of course not.

- Does that mean you'll do it?

You'll give me the loan?

- I told you this over and over.

- About the loan, is that a yes?

- It's a no.

- The saga begins
with Kunta Kinte,

an African youth
captured by slave raiders

then brought to America
in chains, 1767.

Powerful story of
Kunta's odyssey

in the new world,
and his ancestor's

journey to freedom.

Hmm, they turned that
book into a story.

No wait, that there's
my work station.

- Careful, I can't get that
deposit money if it's chipped.

- Now who bust your balloon?

- Don't wanna talk about it.

- Fine then.

Bye.

- Listen to this.

Last year's model on clearance.

Supple pleather
that's easy to clean,

never cracks or breaks.

Soft to the touch.

- Shirley ain't gonna let
you ever touch nothin'.

'Cept that mop bucket.

- No, she told me.

I buy myself a chair and
pass the hair shaping test,

I can go pro.

Legit.

- Shirley ask you to jump,
you gonna say how high?

How far?

Ain't got no backbone.

Shoot.

You gonna stay right as
you is, Shirley's mule.

- Hush up.

- No, I don't take
orders from you.

- Yes.

Yoo hoo.

I gotta go, my ten
o'clock just walked in.

Bye.

Talk the hair off a coconut.

Darlin', let's start our lesson.

- Yes ma'am.

- Note, the downward
angle of my comb.

This is called...

- Back-combing, yes ma'am.

- Now, see how my scissors

go upward.

This is called...

- Feather edge.

Yes ma'am.

- When are you gonna
show me your hair ideas?

Final exam's comin'
up on Monday.

Needs to meet with my approval.

- As soon as I get my nerve up.

- Oh honey, why are you nervous?

We're all family here.

You can't let anybody think
you're hungry for somethin'.

Let them always
think you're full.

Mabel, are you as
parched as I am?

- Growin' hair on my tongue.

- Violet, run over to the
diner and grab us a Crush.

And ask Dee to nuke me a Goober.

When you come back,

we'll talk about that
beauty chair, kay?

- Kay.

- Nobody believes in
you like I do, peanut.

- Ain't none of Washington's
stinkin' business who I hire.

This is a Louisiana bridge.

- Yeah, but it's
federally funded

and man you know what's up.

You don't hire 'em,
you lose your job.

I'm not a racist.

You know I love coons when
they know their place.

And every time I put
on a cotton shirt,

I say, "Thank you
Lord for the Negros

"that picked this cotton."

- Listen, I'm not
lookin' for trouble, OK.

I'm just here to enforce the
law and finish the bridge.

Hey, I would appreciate
a proper introduction

with your workers before you go.

- You're gonna need all the
introducin' you can get.

Men ain't gonna take
kindly to your getup.

- Hey Jimmie, get those
pipes up on the deck.

Hey cupcake, you need
me to loan you a dollar

for a haircut?

- I don't know man.

I wouldn't say
anything if I was you.

Looks like you got a little
hair issues of your own.

- I'll say whatever I want.

- Bud Henry, your
new supervisor.

- Smitty?

What happened?

- Thumb suckers in Washington

had to put in their two cents.

Brought in a real expert
for hirin' Negros.

- Alright, thank you.

- What the?

- 'Preciate you
given us these jobs.

Oh, my pleasure.

- They can't work here.

- Oh no, don£t mind this gimp.

I can swing a hammer
just as good as any man.

- Oh that ain't it.

You're black.

- Oh crap, you're black?

I thought this was
a skin condition.

Just a little joke.

Anyways, OK,

now that we've established
what color we all are,

let's get to work, huh?

Take one of these.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Alright.

- Look I don't want to
cause you any problem

but if it's alright
by you, we'll just go.

- What? No, no, no, no.

- You can't treat 'em
like they're equal, boss.

That ain't how we flow here.

- How we supposed to treat 'em?

- You don't hire 'em.

You go by our rules.

Or that bridge won't get done.

- Look, I assure you
that bridge will get done

so why don't you
just help me out

or I'm gonna find
some folks who will?

- The
1977 new Chevrolet...

- One nuked Goober and a Crush.

No bottles in the
trash today, hon.

- Ms. Dee?

- Eugene, honey?

If I wasn't working,

you would not be safe.

- Acting like she don't see me

when I know she did.

- Mhmm.

- Roots, the event
of the year, premiers Sunday.

- Watch your step.

Got cat eyes?

I can't see in the dark.

Oh I see another one.

Yeah.

- You ever think about mama?

Where she is?

- I try hard not to.

- Maybe she's in jail.

And maybe,

she got run over by a trucker.

- And maybe she
ran off with one.

I warned her, a man
is like a blizzard.

- How's a man like a blizzard?

- You never know
when he's gonna come

or how long he'll last,

or there's one other thing,

but it's been so long
since I've seen a Peter.

She'd be real proud of ya.

A certified beautician.

Real proud.

- What if Shirley
doesn't like my designs?

- Oh, Shirley ain't Moses.

Now you have a gift for hair.

Don't you let her
tell you otherwise.

- Does that mean you'll
let me take your wig off

and give you a foxy look?

- Well I'll tell you what.

You let me get rid of
some of this weight,

and that'll be my reward.

- Sweet Jesus, I love it.

- Dial down the color
before you blind somebody.

- This isn't what
Violet ordered.

A person works her way
up to a chair like this.

- Well, lady said since
it was you Ms. Shirley,

she gave Violet an upgrade.

- Oh, well, I...

I don't know how that's
gonna look to people.

You havin' a better
chair than me.

And the pump on mine's
not even pumpin'.

But, don't you worry about me.

I'll just bend over.

- Oh.

- Perhaps I could use your
chair just until mine's fixed?

You haven't even passed the
hair shapin' test yet anyway.

- I'd be honored if
you'd use my chair.

- Joe, take that old
chair to the dump.

- Until Monday.

- Why are you
always so obedient?

Are you a house
pet or something?

- I get my chair
back after the test.

- Mmmhmm.

- I will.

- Well, good luck
to you, Ms. Violet.

- Thank you.

- Time to lock up
now, sweet pea.

- Oh, I just want
to look at my chair

a wee bit longer.

- You just take
your time, darlin'.

Look at your new
chair all you want.

That's long enough.

- Seat patrons how?

- Comfortably.

- And then?

- Wash and sanitize hands.

- When is
pre-softening required?

- When hair is
resistant to color.

- Bingo.

- Let us all rise for
the call and response.

Page 291 in your hymnals,

led today by our Lottie
Moon chair, Shirley Weaver.

- Holy, holy, holy,

the Lord God is with us.

Let us
give thanks and praise.

- What common
diseases would prevent

a cosmetologist from working?

- The Earth is
full of his glory.

Thanks be to God.

- TB, ringworm,
scabies, and head lice.

- Let us lift up our hearts.

We
lift them up Lord.

- What two things must
the cosmetologist avoid?

- And be thankful for his grace.

- Bad breath and body odor!

- Amen.

Amen.

- Darlin', you are ready to
advance to the hair cuttin'.

- You're it.

- Roots is on!

Roots is on!

- Now this one sits pretty
good when I add the phone book.

- It better.

You know, Roots gonna be on
for eight straight nights.

Lord, I never seen
so many black people

on TV at one time.

- Tonight,
we present a landmark

in television entertainment.

Roots, the true story
Alex Haley uncovered

in his search across
the seven generations

of his ancestry.

From primitive Africa
to the old South.

- I seen Africa in
the encyclopedia

they was givin' away with
a five dollar purchase,

but I took the
gravy boat instead.

- Now, we
are proud to present

the triumph of an
American family, Roots.

- Where in hell's Baretta?

- Up all night.

Couldn't sleep.

I ain't never seen nothin'
like that on TV before.

I mean, I read about
it in the book,

but still when you see
that thing in color,

shhh, whole 'nother story.

You know they pack
them folk up in there

like they was hogs on
their way to the slaughter

in the belly of that ship?

Felt so real, I
felt like I could

smell them bodies.

Felt so real, I felt like
I could smell that misery

on that ship.

- Do you have any idea
what those pigeons

are doin' to Jesus?

Poopin' all over him.

We're meeting at the Parsonage

to discuss what to do about it.

I'll be back in an hour.

Then, we'll head on over
to Baton Rouge, the exam.

- Every time I turn around
it's like they bleachin'

out Jesus white.

- You gotta problem with that?

- Ma'am?

- Have you got any hard
candy or chewin' gum?

- No ma'am.

Before you go, could you
approve my hair sketch?

- Oh Violet, I'd love to.

Violet, I never asked you this

because I'd assumed
you'd read this.

His son bled and died for you.

Don't you think he sees this?

Don't you think he's saddened?

No, sickened by this.

- I'm sorry.

I really never meant to offend.

- I think it look good.

- Is that my good glass?

Get you one of those jelly jars.

- You know my ancestors were
African kings and queens?

Now royalty don't drink
out of jelly jars.

- Your mama was jacked
up on Thunderbird.

She was certified crazy.

- Yeah no wonder she went crazy

'cause she was a queen who
was given a push broom.

- We will continue
this black and angry

conversation when
you're off the clock.

Now, put my good glass back.

Remember, you work
at my pleasure.

When you do the job I
think you should do,

then you get to keep that job.

Violet, this won't do.

I will be back in an hour.

- No, now don't you let
that wind bag rattle you.

That hairdo, that's sexy.

Even Helen Keller
could see that.

- No, no, she's certified.

She's the expert.

- Well I might not got no PhD

behind my name, but I
know what an artist is,

and Violet, you is an artist.

- Pullin' my leg?

Please don't be pullin' my leg.

- I don't pull legs.

You need some swagger.

A little self belief.

Talk to me about
some good glass.

What the hell about good glass?

Hairstyle all crazy.

- Hey, do you know where
I could find the Sheriff?

- Do you see that big gold
sign down by the Town Hall

that say Sheriff?

- Yes, the big sign.

- And why you got
Dutch boy shoes on?

- They're clogs.

- Oh.

Well they funny.

- Thank you.

- Not haha funny.

- Oh.

I'm Bud by the way.

- And where you from, Bud?

- I am from Boston.

Do I look out of
place or somethin'?

- Well you clearly
aren't from around here.

Shit, your shirt's
so past this time

even for this two bit town,

and everything here
about ten years behind.

- Okay.

Ahh!

- Oh, you hurt?

- No, I'm fine, I'm cool.

Thanks sunshine.

I use this hand a lot.

Not like that.

No, no, no, God no.

Not like that.

I mean I do.

I do, everyone does,

because it's natural.

Women do it too.

It makes you feel like
you're giving a little

present to yourself.

I am not saying that
you do though, so...

I should probably book.

Need
directions for the door?

- No, thank you.

- Ms. Clara?

- Where's Shirley?

- Over at the church discussin'
the bird droppins on Jesus.

- Shit.

Shit.

You know those home
permanent kits?

The ones with Cheryl
Tiegs on the cover?

- Mhmm.

- Glory hallelujah.

- When's she back?

- She's gonna be
back in an hour.

- What?

- In an hour.

- Fuzzy is takin' me
on vacation to Biloxi.

You gotta do somethin'
before he sees me.

Now!

- Don't you worry, Ms. Clara.

I'll get her.

You ready
for some sausage?

Oh yeah.
- Ohh.

- I know you ain't used
to somethin' like this,

but it look good.

She been to that beauty college.

She know what she doin...

- Violet, please.

You gotta save my hair.

- What?

No, I couldn't.

Not without
Shirley's permission.

- Then, I'll do it myself.

- What is wrong with you?

Spin those trainin'
wheels off now.

- Watch the door.

- Yeah.

You in good hands.

♪ Cying every night baby ♪

♪ Why do you do me this way ♪

♪ I'm tossing and turning
thinking ♪

♪ 'bout how you up
and gone away ♪

♪ That man belongs to me ♪

♪ I'm gonna wait
here patiently ♪

♪ But every now and then just
give ma a sign ♪

♪ That one day you're gonna
be all mine ♪
- I usually dry over there.

- Taaaaa daaa.

What do you think?

- Uh, Jesus I don't
know what to think.

It's just so new.

- That's 100%
improvement already.

- Fix it.

Fix it, Shirley,
before Fuzzy sees me.

- Don't you worry, Clara.

I'm gon' save you
like I always do.

- Alright, I got the liquor.

Let's hit that ro...

- Fuzzy, I can explain.

- Jesus.

Goodbye Betty Ford.

Hello Angie Dickinson.

Bye now, thank you.

- I look forward to
seein' our replacements.

- They'll be lined
up out the door.

- Can I have my chair back?

- Possession is
nine-tenths of the law.

- What is it honey?

- Memaw, I let you down.

- You forgot my Kools?

- No, I got f-f-f...

- You did not.

- I did so.

- What in Sam Hill happened?

- Clara, she came
into the shop all...

- Yeah.

- And so I went to
get Ms. Shirley,

and she and the Sheriff were...

- Shit.

- And I did Ms.
Clara's hair myself.

And then I got fired.

- Thank you Jesus.

Free at last.

- What?

- This is opportunity knockin'.

Bloom where planted.

You start your own shop.

- Like with flowers on the walls

and my own customized
beauty box.

- Yes, yes.

- Where I can do my own stylish

and exotic kind of hairdos.

That's crazy talk.

- Well, maybe it is
and maybe it ain't.

But don't lie down like a baby.

You are a flower Violet.

Now you bloom.

Tell you what,

I'm gonna let you do my hair.

- You will?

- Yeah, yes.

If I don't believe
in you, who will?

Yes indeedy.

Let me go take off
this nasty wig.

- My own shop.

That's a joke.

You were just funnin' with me,

weren't ya Memaw?

Aren't ya?

Memaw?

Memaw!

- After the eulogy,
hymns are optional,

but they do allow time for
the casket to be pushed.

- What's she doin' here?

I don't know what
that colored girl's doin' here.

- What am I gonna do?

What am gonna do
about Memaw's hair?

- I never knew Memaw
was so beautiful.

- My gosh her hair is so soft.

Oh, Shirley.

- Shirley.

- She looks so...

- So...

- So, it's your best work yet.

- I have never seen
anything like it.

How could somebody look
so much better all dead?

- Honey, it's time to go.

- I heard about your
loss, I'm sorry.

Real sorry.

- Thank you.

- You wanna share my lunch?

- I think I just
need to be solo.

My nerves are just shot.

- That's understandable.

Well if you need
someone to talk to,

I understand loss.

My parents are divorced

and I was in 'Nam, so...

It was good to see you.

- Could I ask you something?

- Are you tryin' to
give me a conniption?

- Sorry.

- And when the hell
you start smokin'?

- Oh, I haven't.

I just hold it in my mouth.

It's all I got left of Memaw.

I don't light it.

If I light it then
she'd be gone.

- What'd she smoke?

- Kools.

They kind of minty.

But, this one's
gettin' a little soggy.

It sticks to my lips.

- Damn.

You got it bad, kid.

- Do you believe in signs?

- Like no trespassin'
and boiled peanuts.

- No, no, I saw a hairdo.

In the clouds.

I think it was a
sign from Memaw.

- To do what?

- Custom-fitted hair.

Styled to the person
right in my own shop.

- Sweet baby Jesus and
cousin Beulah in heaven,

I was thinkin' the same thing.

- When are they gonna
show all the good stuff

we did for 'em.

- My great-great granddaddy
owned half this town.

He was a prominent
planter with a lovely

plantation, 120 slaves.

His slaves were happy.

He told me they would sing,

sing in the fields.

Yes, my family were always
kind to the coloreds.

Even after the loss.

- Where does this go?

- Shirley, before you tease,

I have a request.

Let's see, where did I put it?

Here it is.

I snuck back in after
the viewing to take this.

In my humble opinion,
it is by far,

hands down your biggest triumph.

Can you do the exact same on me?

- Oh really?

You like this?

I call this my casket spray.

This hairstyle is only
reserved for the dead.

- Oyster inside the clam shell.

And at $45 a month.

- How many times
I gotta tell 'em,

it's cracker with a C.

- What do you think?

- Crazy fool, I wouldn't work
in this broke down place.

There's five coats of
paint on the window.

We gonna see a woman on the moon

before we ever see the sun.

- We could do some scrubbin'.

- You and who?

- Have a sign outside.

With both of our names.

- Alright.

Now how you see me fittin' in?

- What could you do?

- Well.

I mean ain't no artist like you,

but I can boss.

And I got a business sense.

An expertise, which
you are sorely lacking.

Think of it like, where would
Elvis be without the Colonel?

- What else you got?

- Where'd you get all this?

- Washin' clothes
for white folk.

Savin' up to go to college.

Law school so I can
become a lawyer.

- A lawyer?

- Yeah, like the
black Perry Mason.

- What?

You think scrubbin'
white folk's bloomers

was my dream?

What you got?

Girl, that's it?

- Smilie, would you
take seven-fifty?

OK, I understand.

- No, don't move.

Smilie, seven-fifty
gonna get us how long?

- 'Bout five days.

- Here's what, we gonna
charge four-fifty a head,

and that'll take us ten
hairdos to make the $45.

- Plenty of bad
hair in this town.

- Don't I know it.

But if we fail, and I
lose my Ironside money...

Smilie, what's your verdict?

- I'l take your seven-fifty,

but come Monday, you gotta have

the 45 in full.

- What are we all
standin' around for?

♪ Better days are coming ♪

♪ No more sad
romantic slumming ♪

♪ No more, punching someone
else's clock ♪

♪ Call and I'll come
runnin' ♪

♪ I got better things to do
I have♪

♪ No time left for you ♪

♪ It's time to ♪

♪ Raise the roof let's
take a chance ♪

♪ Raise yourself,
don't need a man ♪

♪ Gonna rise up and
make a stand ♪

♪ Gonna take everything
you can ♪

♪ Raise the roof, we
gonna raise the roof ♪

♪ No more whats
for dinner baby ♪

- Oh my goodness.

Oughta get me some paint.

And give him a suntan.

♪ See, I've got better
things to do ♪

♪ I've got no time for stuff
with you ♪

♪ It's time to raise the roof ♪

♪ Let's take a chance ♪

♪ Raise yourself ♪

♪ Don't need a man ♪

♪ Gonna rise up and
make a stand ♪

♪ Gonna take everything
you can ♪

- Enough's enough.

You're welcome to join us.

- I'd as soon nurse a dog.

- Suit yourself.

- Where you goin'?

- Home to watch Roots.

See what's goin' on
with soul brotha, Kunta.

- Make sure you hurry back,

we gotta decorate before
the grand openin' tomorrow.

- Don't give me orders, Casper.

Hey.

- Oh.
- Oh.

- I didn't mean to scare ya.

- Thank you.

- What's goin' on?

- Well Pearl and I are
openin' up a shop to fix hair.

- Really?

- Yeah.

- Far out.

Do you need any help?

- No.

- Come on.

Let me paint somethin'.

- Alright.

♪ oooohhhh ♪

♪ Cause I'm free ♪

♪ And whatever it is ♪

♪ A shining light ♪

♪ getting me through
the morning ♪

♪ And I'm free ♪

♪ as I'll ever be ♪

♪ Open wide until I hear the
calling ♪

♪ Calling baby ♪

♪ Dark as nignt
those years go by ♪

♪ with you ♪

♪ I didn't know we'd make it ♪

♪ We're unbreakable ♪

♪ we let it go every minute ♪

♪ Kept the faith every day ♪

♪ We were dreaming but I
didn't know ♪

♪ we would make it ♪

♪ But we did and i know
it's impossible ♪

♪ I climbed this mountain
with you ♪

♪ Step by step ♪

♪ I clinbed this mountain
with you ♪

♪ Step by step ♪

♪ I clinbed this mountain
with you ♪

So that was her, huh?

- Yep.

She could down a whole
hot dog in one bite.

Before she passed.

- But what about your mom?

- Don't talk about her.

- That's cool, we all have our...

- She skipped out.

Just didn't say goodbye.

Just gone.

- Ouch.

- It's alright.

People leave things.

Socks get left in the dryer bin.

Puppies get left.

Jesus was left.

- And your dad?

- I never met him.

But, mama probably ran
off to be with him.

Your parents are divorced?

- Mhmm.

Thought they had a
happy marriage, but eh.

One day my dad started
looking like the Hunch back,

and then my mom would ask him

to straighten up and he would,

and 15 minutes later,
he'd be back to hunchin'.

And then she started
chain smoking,

and she shaved her head

and she moved in with
her friend Carol.

It's cool, I don't know.

- You got any pets?

- Not anymore.

- Not even a little
fish or a guinea pig?

- No, I move around a lot so...

- Did you ever think
about stayin' in one place

and puttin' down roots?

- I don't know, why?

- So you can get a guinea pig.

- Oh.

- I gotta get back to work.

- Hey, it's gettin' really late.

Don't you want to go home?

- I don't like to go
back to the trailer

since Memaw died.

It's just so quiet.

- Well, if you need anything,

any time, I'm your man.

Can I ask you something?

Why are you wearin' a scarf?

- Oh.

I hadn't decided which
direction to take my hair in.

- It's a big decision.

- Last on Roots.

- I didn't own any slaves.

You own any slaves?

Conscience clear.

- Don't have no knowledge
of him as a man.

Determine he's no
better than the mule.

- When the
Master gives you somethin',

you take it.

He gave you a name.

I want to hear you say it.

Your name is Toby.

What's your name?

- Kunta.

Kunta Kinte.

- What's your name?

- Toby.

My name is Toby.

- That's a good nigger.

- Ms. Hattie?

Were you a slave.

- No baby, but my
grandmother Shorty was.

She belonged to Herbert
Woods over in Shelton.

- Psst, Pearl.

Break is over.

We got work to do.

Picture frame?

Booster seat?

Trash sure idn't
what it used to be.

- What you complainin' about?

You ever been
shackled in chains?

- Jesus Pearl.

You mad about somethin'?

- Oh let's see.

Why would I be mad?

Maybe it's 'cuz you
crossed over the Atlantic

on the Mayflower
and not down below

on a slave ship, livin'
a life of privilege.

- Privilege?

Oh boy, now I've heard it all.

I'm like that Just
Hang in There poster

with the little kitten
hangin' from a tree branch.

- Oh please.

All white folk is privileged.

You folk think things
has changed for us?

We still livin' in shacks.

Half starve to death,

slavin' over push-broom jobs

ain't none of y'all
white folk want.

My friend that cat
has got it good.

- Do you think I'm a
racist like Shirley?

- And half this cornball town.

No.

- Then why are we fightin'?

Memaw used to say,

"Success is a house a man built

"out of the rocks that
other people throw at him."

- Who in the hell builds
a house out of rocks?

- That's the part I
could never figure out.

Pearl, I think you're
probably my best friend.

- Ditto.

Give me some skin.

Damn. Peanut gallery
needs to calm down.

- OK.

But we got a shop to decorate.

Shine your light right there.

Watch, they're gonna arrest me,

I just know it.

- Stop persecutin' yourself.

And Shirley doesn't have
any supporting documents.

Aerial photos.

The judge will refuse an arrest

if the offense is
civil in nature

and the statute does
not constitute a crime,

therefore, the case
would be expunged,

i.e., erased.

- Are you makin' this up?

- Mm-mm-uh.

- Let me get this straight.

You took her chair,

and then she came and
took back her chair,

and now you want me to...

- Arrest her.

- Be reasonable angel.

I am the law, but
I'm not above it.

- Since when?

Come on now.

You're not afraid of a little
competition now are you?

'Cause we all know,

it ain't the chair.

Just who does the pumpin'.

- Gosh I wish Memaw
was here to see this.

- Fluff them flowers.

And light Memaw's candle.

Stack them towels
over by the slop sink.

This is our chance to
cultivate somethin',

harness our dreams,
become somebody.

- How much time we
got to do all that.

- A count of three.

One.

Two.

Ready?

♪ And sugar to make it sweet ♪

♪ No ifs and buts about it ♪

- Wait.

Could you teach me
how to do black hair?

- I can teach you corn
rowin' and plaitin',

but I don't know a
single, black sista

who's gonna let a
snowball do her hair.

Man.

- You won't believe what she
tried to tell me this time.

- Ladies, step right
up to the beauty chair

where anything is possible.

Who's first?

- Ohhh.

- Line up.

Line up.

- Run a hot comb
through my wig-hat baby.

Get the kinks out and just
dress it up a little bit for me.

But Pearl be careful.

The last time you burned
a chink in my bang

and this stuff ain't grass.

- Well, now that you payin',

I was thinkin' maybe we might go

in another direction.

Find somethin' different,

but it all cost the same, $4.50.

- Well, well wait a minute.

You gonna charge me
to run a hot comb

through my wig when
you been doin' it

all these years for free?

- Well yes, see we
payin' rent now,

but imagine all
the possibilities

of your real hair.

- Wait, what kind of
hell bullstuff is this?

That's my day's wage.

- Wait, wait, wait, wait.

OK, $3.50?

$2.50?

A buck-fifty and a lollipop?

- What flavor?

- Ladies, ladies, bid
adieu to your wiglets,

throw that honkey
hair in the trash,

and for a buck-fifty
and a lollipop,

you can return to your roots.

- Roots?

What roots?

What the hell is she talk 'bout?

- Say hello to the
Aretha Franklin.

To the Miles Davis.

To the Stevie Wonder of hair.

- I just remembered
I was double parked.

- Wait, you ain't gotta car.

- That child's as white
as Pat Boone's shoes.

- So, we's in changin' times.

- Ain't no sister
gonna let a white girl

touch her hair.

What kind of relaxer
you been sniffin'?

- But you see what she does?

The girl is gifted.

- Not with this hair she ain't.

- Well here's the news bulletin.

Your head is covered by a wig

that shines like plastic.

Now, you ladies
ever thought about

keepin' your hair natural?

Like Marvin Gaye say,

"Ain't nothin' like
the real thing, baby."

- Real?

I got to survive.

In this white man's town.

Now that's the real thing, baby.

- Well fine then.

Next.

And the chair waits.

- Pearl I thought it
was real beautiful

what you said about me
and Aretha Franklin...

- Oh shut up Styrofoam peanut.

This might be the
stupidest thing

I ever done.

- Pearl?

Pearl?

Are you insinuatin'
this is my fault?

- Insinuatin"?

Hell, I told you
this wouldn't work.

- You don't think
I'm hurtin' here?

You don't think I'm scared?

I'm livin' off
mustard sandwiches

without the bread!

- Oh cry me a river.

Did Kunta Kinte complain
when they stole him

from his mama?

When they stripped him?

Threw him in that
germ infested ship?

Did he get on the pity pot?

Ohhh, to have your problems.

- Pearl?

- Don't call me Pearl no 'mo.

Pearl my slave name.

I'm changin' my
name to Babatunde.

- Sorry.

- Don't worry.

I only saw everything.

That one's a beaut.

- Yep.

That's the Sydney Harbour.

It's the world's tallest
steel arc bridge.

Six million hand-driven rivets.

- What's that one?

- That's the
Longfellow in Boston.

It's got these pylons
made of granite

in the belt courses
that will make you

spontaneously weep.

I would love to build a
really, really important

bridge like that one there.

Mine are more functionary.

- What about that one?

- That's a bridge
we blew up in 'Nam.

We cut off access to
an entire village.

You know I've been
doing all the gabbing.

What about you?

Why do you fix hair?

- I see hairdos in my head.

I look at someone and I
just see inside their skin,

what hairdo would suit 'em.

It's weird.

- Hey, weird's good.

What do you see
when you look at me?

- I think I would layer the top.

And long, loose sweeps.

Nothin' in place.

- I like that.

Keep goin'.

- I would cut so it'd taper

just a little above.

How come you never
put down roots?

- Well I found
the road suits me.

I don't have to
belong, you know.

I just like to keep it loose.

- No moss on you.

- Hey, you wanna make a bet?

You make rent,

I get to take that
scarf off your hair.

What's wrong?

- Only everything.

Rent's due in three days.

And Pearl's yellin' at me.

And Shirley's poisonin' the town

with her racist brainwashin',

and I'm too white for the blacks

and I'm too black
for the whites,

and sometimes I feel like
I'm just gonna pckoww!

- Hey.

- You know?

- You and Pearl, you're
gutsy, you're brave.

- Or stupid.

- In the words of the
great prophet Captain Kirk,

you're boldly going where
no man has gone before.

No woman either.

It's awesome.

You guys are shakin' things up.

- When are you leavin'?

- Um...

- Tomorrow?

Next week?

Next year?

- Soon as the last pylon's in,

about three days.

- Can't stay on a while longer?

- I got offered a
bridge in Jersey.

That's a big step forward.

- Good for you.

I should a...

- Hey, where you goin'?

- I should be quarantined.

- Why?

- I got a leavin' disease.

- A leaving disease?

- Yeah.

So...

Just gonna go.

- You ain't heard?

People say the police is lookin'

for the colored men.

Everybody know that.

The description says...

- You're not gonna
leave me, are you?

- Leave you?

What you talkin' 'bout?

- Just that I keep tryin' not
to care when people leave.

You're lucky.

You got a family.

- Yeah, they alright.

- Bud's leavin' soon.

- Hmmh, well I would be too

if I still had my
Negro college fund.

I'm stuck in this
bassackwards town,

and these tigers ain't
changin' their stripes.

- Then what are we
gonna do to make rent?

We could give up.

Ask Shirley to take us back.

- Oh, Lord.

I ain't gonna be no washer.

That ain't no life.

- Maybe now would be a good time

for the hug department to open?

- No I don't like hugs.

- Come on, we'll feel better.

- No, I don't like hugs.

Ooh, ooh.

Hey!

- Violet?

- Take your hands off her.

You hear what I,

I said get your hands off her.

- What in Hellmann's
Mayonnaise, grandma?

Your arteries gone hard?

It's Violet.

- This old pole cat stole
your Ironside money.

- No, grandma.

She ain't no pole cat.

She's my partner.

She come over to watch Roots.

Her TV on the blink.

I told her it'd be alright.

- Good evening, Ms. Hattie.

I'm whitelet.

Violet.

Be happy to fit you in at
the Salt and Pepper any time.

- Why would I want
to spend money

to get my hair did
when I can wear a wig?

- You sure got yourself a deal.

- You be quiet.

- Come on.

They ain't gonna throw
watermelons at you.

- No, no.

Mama!

No, no, no, mama.

Mama! Mama!

- Where you goin'?

- Leave me.

- Grandma?

Where you goin'?

- I said leave me be.

- Hattie?

- What you doin' grandma?

Grandma, please.

Just talk to me.

Grandma, where you goin'?

Grandma, don't you let
the devil taunt you.

- All my life I been
ashamed of my kinky hair

and black skin.

I'm tired of hidin' my
light under a bushel basket.

I want to celebrate my roots.

Not hide 'em.

- Well I think I got just
what the doctor ordered.

- You doin' me right?

Not her.

- What happened to all
that bushel basket talk?

Now didn't you say you
wanted to celebrate

your roots, not hide from 'em?

- Yes I did.

But did I say that I was
ready for a white woman

to do my hair?

Not while these
four eyes can see.

Nigger move.

I can't see.

- No, this way it'll
be more of a surprise.

Now, how many fingers I got up?

- Five?

- Cool.

Let's get started.

- My God.

You snuck one in on me.

Shame on you.

But damn I look good.

I'm gonna tell all my neighbors.

This floor is gonna be stomped.

Thank you baby.

And you, thank you.

- Oh.

- What?

- I can't pay you with no money.

But these are a reminder

of what our people
made out of this land.

Day after day in
the scorchin' sun.

They would pick
somethin' so simple

and make a meal.

Grab your coats.

- Why Ms. Hattie?

- We gonna have
us a hair parade.

Throw back, head up.

Ain't nobody lookin' at us.

- No ma'am.

- Let's try it again.

Only this time,
let's jive ass walk

right down the
middle of the street.

- What's a jive ass walk?

- Oh.

- Show her grandma.

- Alright, you gotta
take in the world

like you own it.

Alright?

Take it in.

Take in the world
like you own it.

- Yes ma'am.

Get it.

Uh oh, uh oh.

Get up,
show she's best.

What's that?

- It's a jive ass.

- That ain't no jive ass walk.

Notch up your attitude.

Do it again.

- Yes ma'am.

- Violet, what are y'all doin'?

- We're havin' us a parade.

- What kind of parade?

- A hair parade.

- Where's your wig, Hattie?

- My wig in the river.

Does honkey hair sink?

- Hattie, remember your place.

- Mabel, I'm in my place.

♪ Since you've been gone ♪

♪ I've been running around ♪

♪ I have'nt done nothing babe ♪

♪ except going to town ♪

♪ True love and affection ♪

♪ put brand new life in me ♪

♪ Take me baby ♪

♪ and stop this mysery ♪

♪ Why don't you take me baby ♪

♪ Take me baby ♪

♪ Take me Hallelujah ♪

♪ For writing your prediction ♪

♪ The only thing thats
close to your love ♪

♪ is fantasy and pitching ♪

♪ Take me in your arms ♪

♪ surround me with your love ♪

♪ if you do ♪

♪ you know I thank the stars
above ♪

♪ Why don't you take ma baby ♪

♪ Take me baby ♪

- Well, we made a fortune

in collards.

Are you ready?

Yeah.

You
sure you're ready?

Yeah, I'm ready.

- Are you ready?

Are you ready?

- Oh yeah.

- Good.

Then you march over there,

and you do somethin'
about that association,

because until you do,

there will be no nookie
from this cookie.

♪ Baby what's your name? ♪

♪ Whooooo ♪

♪ I don't swing my hips when I
walk ♪

♪ and I don't bie my tongue
when I talk ♪

♪ I don't move when you
want me to move ♪

♪ and I don't groove when you
tell me to groove ♪

♪ Cause I'm a queen and always
will be ♪

♪ ohhh oh oh oh ♪

♪ You got to do it, try me ♪

♪ Try me ♪

♪ I am the queen ♪

When you said you saw Roots,

I thought you meant your hair,

not that darn TV show.

Oh well, no goin' back now.

Scoot on under the dryer,

you can turn yourself
on, can't you?

- Not a snowball's
chance in hell.

They're all a
little blacker now.

- I wasn't worried
for one second.

- You gonna show me
a little gratitude?

- Well alright,
but just my hand.

- Ooh.

- Wait.

- Thank you.

- Can I see you before I go?

- No.

It could've been you and me.

But you're not
gonna see this hand

until you rectify your mistake.

- Oh honey.

Come on baby.

- Oh yeah, right
there, right there.

Ooh.

- Hmmh.

- Who would want this hole?

This property was condemned
before we got here.

Who is offerin' you more money?

- I'm not at liberty to say.

- It's Shirley.

- What's happenin'?

- Shirley made Smilie an
offer to rent this hole

for $75 startin' on Tuesday.

They tryin' to undercut us.

- You only paid for five days.

- We have to come up with $75?

- Yes.

It's a total scam.

- I'm sorry sweetness.

i thought it'd be romantic
to have the top down.

Didn't think.

Worked fine 'til Slidell.

- I'll be right there.

- Where's the girl?

Thank you.

- Pray for a miracle
and here she comes.

Ooh, money bags is here.

Look, get out here.

Get ready to do your magic.

- Welcome back.

- Hi, Fuzzy got
the top stuck down.

I have seen more hail than Satan

and more rain than Noah.

You gotta squeeze me in
while he's fixin' the top.

- Since you lookin' to get
the works done on your hair,

75 ain't too much?

- You want to charge me what?

- 75.

- No, uh-uh.

I would never pay that.

- Well alright, that's fine.

You wanna walk around this town

lookin' like a snow monkey.

It's your life.

- Oh for cryin' out loud.

How's 70?

- Plus tip?

- Don't push it.

- Out of the way, folks.

Payin' customer comin' through.

- My shoes are dirty,
I'm gonna just wait out

on the doorstep.

Why don't you just fix
my hair at my house?

I've got the cutest little
pink sink and salad sprayer.

- We got a wash sink.

- Yes.

But, there's black
people in there.

So?

- So, those scissors
have touched

a black person's hair.

That comb has touched
a black person's hair.

- Oh.

Excuse us.

- What's she got
against black folk?

- What are we gonna do?

I'm scared.

You got any other
job possibilities

'cause we're gonna
lose the shop?

- That ignoramus needs
to march her troll ass

in here just like
everybody else,

and stop insultin' the air
with her racist mouthin'.

- I apologize.

But you need to march your troll

ass in here like everybody else

and stop mouthin' the air
with your racist insultin'.

Her words, not mine.

- Shit.

It was so much easier
before we mixed.

- Tell that banana eater fine,

she can stay right where she is.

The choice is hers.

- For cryin' out loud,

I'm offerin' you good money.

- Not if she was handin'
out million dollar bills.

- Get off it.

She ain't gonna budge.

- If you want to
go changin' things,

why don't you run
for public office?

This is a durn beauty
parlor for cripes sake.

We gotta save this place.

- Fine.

You live by your code of ethics.

And I'll live by mine.

- Pearl?

If you want me to do your hair,

I'll do it.

In our shop with
the same scissors

and the same comb
as everybody else,

and that is the
way it has to be.

- Oh yeah?

Well, up yours.

Up yours.

- Did the right thang.

Business ain't worth
throwin' out your principles.

- Yep, guess this is it.

This is the end.

- Yeah.

- Anybody want any magazines?

Collard greens?

- Just sneaking in the back.

Then nobody'll see me...

- No, no, you've gotta
come in the same door

as everybody else.

That's just the
way it has to be.

- Jesus, I hope you're happy.

- I'd be happy if
you pay up front.

- You go girl.

Yes Lord, Amen.

- I feel the spirit.

It's like bein' in church.

- Y'all catch the spirit
in white folk church?

- By ladies.

Soak it in.

I'm the Rosa Parks of Whynot.

- I thought you only
reserved the casket spray

for dead people.

- Huh?

That's what you wanted?

Well, I could do
that in five minutes.

- Do it.

Do it right now.

- Right now?

Why I can't right now.

I've got an appointment.

- Violet might could fit you in.

In a month.

- We did it.

We did it.

- Oh for once I feel
like I'm somebody,

like my family's somebody,

like my people is somebody.

- I'm a hair stylist.

I am a beauty professional!

- And now, the
dramatic conclusion of Roots.

- Tom Harvey!

Get yourself out here boy

or we're gonna
burn your kinfolk.

- The first slave in this family

was my granddaddy, Kunta Kinte.

'Fore he was a slave,
he was a free man

in another country, Africa.

And then the slavers,
they catch him.

And they brung him to America.

But Kunta Kinte,

he never forget
where he come from.

And 'fore he die, he'd
give that dream of freedom

to his daughter,

Kizzy, my mama,

and 'fore she died, she
gave that dream to me.

- Hear
me ol' African.

We is free!

- We are free.

And ain't nobody or nothin'

gonna keep us down.

- Goodnight.

- What happened to
that bet we had?

- I can't take off my scarf.

And I'd have to do my hair.

- You're kidding me, right?

- I know I got all these
exotic and sexy hairdos

for everyone else, but
when it comes to me,

I'm just not fully formed.

- Violet, you're an original.

You shouldn't cover that up.

- Let me do you first.

♪ until you come around again ♪

♪ and make my heart go crazy ♪

♪ Touch me once more ♪

♪ like you did before ♪

♪ all the pain just melts away ♪

♪ You make my life
worth living ♪

♪ when you look at...♪

- You feelin' OK?

- Yeah.

You?

- I feel,

I don't even know if
there's a word for it.

- Weird?

- No.

- Stomach bile in your throat?

- No.

I feel like...

- Open up in there.

- Oh my gosh.

We gotta get your stuff.

We gotta get you out the back.

- Why?

What are you ashamed
to be seen with me?

- Sorry, you don't
know this town.

People talk.

- Well, who gives a flyin' flip

what these people say?

You know, you could
lose a lot of your life

answering to that.

- Lord, I have seen it all.

- She put the "b" in brazen.

- What's all this?

- You heard about the vandalism?

- Vandalism?

- Somebody got a wild hair

and painted Jesus
chocolate brown.

Pearl here?

I need to have a word with her.

- Pearl, what, no.

What makes y'all think
Pearl had anything

to do with this?

- You heard her
runnin' her mouth.

Jesus was not a Negro.

And there's not a thing
Pearl can do about that.

- Pearl didn't touch Jesus.

- Hush up.

This whole cockamamie mess

is all your fault.

- My fault?

- Encouragin' the coloreds,

gettin' them all riled
up with those hairdos.

- You can't treat
coloreds that way, Violet.

Makin' 'em think they're
better than they are.

- They got rights.

Just like you.

- Gonna have rights
when their men rob you?

- What?

- When they rape you.

- That's prejudice.

- Who's she callin' prejudice

with her mad dog bangs?

- You don't own Jesus

and you don't own me.

- Did I say that I owned you?

That's the reason you
people can't get ahead.

You're stuck in the past.

- I'm stuck?

That's what you say.

I'm stuck.

- You don't like the
way it is around here?

Go on back to Africa.

- Alright, that's enough.

Let's break up this
little prayer meeting...

- You better stop
waving your finger.

I said cracker jack,

you better stop
waving your finger.

- Don't you threaten me.

I'll put finger where I please.

You are not in
charge of my finger.

- Now you listen to me.

You skinny little toothpick body

with your Q-tip hair.

Slavery is over.

Jesus was beggin' me
to paint him brown!

- That's it Pearl.

You under arrest for vandalism.

- What?

- Come on, let's go.

- This is a
miscarriage of justice.

Article 19.

You better wait to
hear what Jimmy Carter

has to say about this.

Violet, get me Jimmy
Carter's phone number.

- She didn't do it, I did!

- What?

- You heard me.

- Well then I'll
arrest you both.

- Violet and Pearl
did no such thang.

I did it.

- Ms. Hattie, why you lyin'?

Sheriff, I'm your man.

- Do you believe this crock?

All of 'em lyin' bastards.

- What?

- Lyin'?

I saw you and Sheriff
Raybur pressed together

like rye bread and ham.

- OK everybody, get on home

before somebody gets hurt.

- Yeah you.

- You little Judas.

- Ahhhh!

What I say?

Stop it with that flick...

What did I?

Don't put that
finger in my face.

- My doctor says I cannot
get upset like this.

- Shit.

- Get her Shirley, get her!

Get her! Get her, Shirley!

- Somebody call the
fire department.

- Get the cash.

Where's the cash box?

- Alright, alright.

It's time to go.

- My chair.

- God bless America.

Crazy headed fool,

this is all my fault.

- This town was far too dull.

Gave us somethin' to talk about.

- Don't try.

I gotta get as far
away from this place

as I can get.

- You can't quit.

- Somethin's changed inside me.

Kunta, Kizzy, Chicken George.

They are passin' on a torch,

and I gotta answer the call.

- What are you
talkin' about a call?

This is our call.

We can rebuild our dream.

- No, Violet.

This shop, that's your dream.

You gotta see that
dream through.

My dream is country where Jesus

ain't got no color.

Where a wash woman is valued

just as much as the
rich lady customer.

And where the President
of the United States

could be a black woman.

That's my dream.

Might of got a
little carried away

on that last bit.

- Wait, back up.

I don't understand.

- Instead of knockin'
my head in Whynot,

I'm gonna thumb my
way to Washington,

and knock me down some doors.

They got plenty of colleges.

Set up a wash pot.

Put myself through school.

Keep this.

To quote my man Marshall,

"Sometimes history takes
things into his own hands."

I want you to know
that you askin' me

to be a partner with you,

that meant the world to me.

Say something.

Tell me you ain't mad.

You know me and you,

we did good.

Hey.

- No it isn't?

- Sweet Jesus.

- It can't be.

Take it.

- No.

- Take it with you.

- But this is all
the money you got.

- It was your money too.

Besides, get you started
on your law books.

- Let's get outta here.

We can just go.

- Stop!

That thing you did for Clara.

You can do that for me?

- Ms. Shirley's open tomorrow.

- She can't do what you do.

- I'm real sorry.

My shop is gone.

There's nothin' left.

I'm done.

- You still have your chair.

Bloom where planted.

- My gosh.

Memaw used to say that.

OK.

One last haircut.

- Violet, hold up.

Do me, do me.

- Wait a minute.

I need a touch up.

- Violet, can you give
me a fro like Hattie?

- Flush that idea
outta your head,

'cuz I'm one of a kind, hon.

I'm one of a kind.

I got the only fro,
don't you understand?

- Ms. Rosadel, what happened?

♪ It s a beautiful day ♪

♪ I got my fire♪

♪ got my reason to be♪

♪ its been burning for a long
time ♪

♪ aint nothing gonna stop me
now you know ♪

♪ now you know ♪

♪ cant walk away ♪

♪ cant give up now ♪

♪ just getting started
things about to change ♪

♪ Listen ♪

♪ Listen to the beat
that is your heart ♪

♪ It s calling you
It ll never go away ♪

♪ Listen ♪

♪ Listen to the song
that s in your heart ♪

♪ it wont lie to you
loves here to stay ♪

♪ It s a beautiful day ♪

♪ I got my truth ♪

♪ and you cant take that away ♪

♪ deny your own ♪

♪ but mine is real ♪