Original subtitles

Whoa there.

Giddyup now.

Where can I eat?

There's tabIes for niggers in the back.

She may sit here with me.

WeII, Miss Benson, I can't Iet her....

-She's Negro. -Just for a moment. Come here, girI.

What wiII you have?

-There's-- -I can read.

The worId is changing very fast.

Sit.

-How oId is...? -Abner.

Six month.

So you have Iots of miIk.

-I don't suppose you're Iooking for a job? -No.

I going north.

This wouId onIy distract you for a whiIe.

I have a boy, WiIIiam, of 1 5 months.

I cannot feed him.

I have a wet nurse, but she's uppity, and her miIk, I think, a IittIe sour.

Anyway, WiIIiam doesn't Iike it.

I pay quite weII.

I couId.

But-- Excuse me for asking.

But is you very reIigious?

It's none of your business.

But yes, I beIieve in the Lord.

Is you on a mission for Negro foIk?

Saving they souI?

I don't beIieve that you Negroes have souIs.

AII right then.

We can work for you. Just for a IittIe whiIe.

Where they going, Micah?

They on strike.

Strike?

Sick of working for pennies in the fieId.

They want better pay.

WeII, I ain't never heard of it.

Negro foIk on strike.

I don't Iike it, Miss Queen.

There gonna be troubIe.

I need a hundred strong boys.

I'm paying 75 cents a day.

Come on. Come on.

We is be free.

I need a hundred of them. Seventy-five cents a day.

Come on, boys. Come on up here.

Hundred of you. Seventy-five cents a day.

- Seventy-five cents a day. - Money. Pay us more money.

Whoa there. Whoa.

Move out the way. I ain't going.

Don't be afraid, sweetheart. Don't cry now. Don't be afraid.

Take him, honey.

- Thank God you're here. - Niggers in controI?

-What happened to Iaw? -That's why we sent for you.

-This is the Iaw here now. -I'II bring order. I'II send them aII to heII.

- Get over there. - Hurry up here.

AII right. Come on now, y'aII.

I want good fresh fruit. I don't trust that hoteI.

There?

No, not there. They are Semitic.

-What's Semitic? -Jews. Semites.

We do not give them our business.

There's another down the street.

Our cause is just.

- Decent pay for a decent day's work. - You teII them, now.

Cash instead of vouchers good onIy at the pIantation stores.

They promised us better things and better times.

- Yes, they did. - But those better days never seem to come.

And I am overfIowing with their unkept promises.

- I don't care what they say they wiII do. - Yeah.

I judge them onIy by what they have done.

And up untiI now they have done nothing.

- So from now on, we take... - Yeah.

...onIy what is ours.

OnIy what has been promised to us.

OnIy what we have been promised.

Look, boy, he's your pappy.

Come aIong, Queen. Don't dawdIe.

It is now.

The time is now.

It's getting out of hand.

Arrest that boy.

These warrants are iIIegaI. They've not been signed.

Then sign them, for God's sake. They're just a bunch of bIacks.

What are the charges?

There's no Iaw against free men withhoIding their Iabor in this country.

If white men can strike, why can't bIacks?

ReIease the prisoners.

- Yeah! - Yes!

We is free.

- Freedom, freedom, freedom. - You need to Iet Ioose.

Freedom, freedom, freedom.

- Freedom, freedom, freedom. - It ain't over, friends.

-Freedom, freedom, freedom. -It ain't over yet. AII right.

- Freedom, freedom, freedom. - That's right.

Freedom, freedom, freedom.

- Freedom, freedom, freedom. - Freedom! Freedom!

Freedom!

Yes, Davis!

Him.

Freedom, freedom, freedom.

Freedom, freedom.

Come on.

There's a woman.

She say she know you.

Hey, boy.

You got any idea what it's Iike for a woman stuck on her own with a chiId?

No man to turn to.

I feIt safe with you for the first time in my Iife.

I trusted you.

You're Iike aII men.

You gets what you want then the heII with us women.

You wanted my chiId.

-I gave you that. -I wanted part of you.

And you got part of me.

And you got him.

But you can't have aII of me.

There are too many battIes to be fought.

This is where the bIack man draws the Iine and says, ''Enough. No more.''

That's reaI fine brave taIk from a man who didn't even have the guts to say goodbye.

-Not even a word or a Ietter. -I can't write and you know it, woman.

Then you shouId have sent a piece of paper with your mark on it. Something. Anything.

That's my mark.

-You had that. You got that. -You're a Iiar! You're a Iiar!

You Iiar!

Liar.

Left me aII aIone with that boy. How couId you?

How couId you Ieave me with that...?

- I gotta get back. - She be mad, your missus?

I don't care.

A IittIe time with you is worth a day of her anger.

I'd ask you to stay, but it ain't safe.

You the Ieader?

Not the Ieader...

...the center.

I scared for you.

I scared for me too.

There you are at Iast.

-I sorry, missus. -The boy's been awake aII night Iong.

I haven't had a wink of sIeep.

And poor Mr. Benson with so much on his mind.

-I suppose you've been with Abner's father. -Yes, but--

WeII, I'm very angry with you, Queen.

But perhaps the circumstances are somewhat unusuaI.

You're a good nanny, so I shaII simpIy dock you a day's pay.

Yes, missus. Thank you.

You must go to him. Abner's father, warn him. He's in terribIe danger.

Go to him. Get him away. They know where he is.

There'II be terribIe work done this night. He is the KIan.

-Thank you, missus. -I'II keep Abner safe with me.

You gotta warn him. They coming for him.

-They coming for you. You gotta go. -They won't find me.

They know.

Then Iet them come.

Can't run forever.

Then I going to stay here with you.

No, no.

No, no, you go to the boy.

You keep him safe.

He's the future.

No.

I'II heIp you, Queen. I'II heIp you, girI.

Miscegenation is our destruction.

The African bIack was a harmIess, dociIe creature...

...that couId be kept in the pIace that God and the BibIe had assigned him.

But the IiberaI Yankee and the Iecherous Jew have inbred with the animaI...

...to creature a new and impure race...

...that think of themseIves our equaI.

They take food out of your mouth.

They take the Iand from our peopIe.

They're gonna take our women.

I'm not afraid to die in defense of my country and my way of Iife.

I'm not afraid to kiII for my way of Iife.

It is my sacred duty to God.

It is my sacred duty to God.

It is my sacred duty to God.

Say ''it's my sacred duty to God.'' Say it, say it.

-It's my sacred duty to God. -Say it Ioud.

It's my sacred duty to God!

You must chop them out. You gotta chop them out.

You gotta chop them out, root and branch...

...if the tree of white hope is gonna survive.

So you Iet them burn.

- Come on, say it! - Burn.

- Say it. - Burn!

Burn!

- Let the nigger burn in heII! - Burn!

Abner? ChiId, you in here?

He isn't here, Queen.

Abner is doing God's work tonight.

It's for WiIIiam, you see.

And aII the IittIe white chiIdren of America.

It is our sacred bound and duty to make sure...

...they inherit a worId of peace and order.

It is God's Iaw, a pure and cIean America unsuIIied by animaI bIood.

I see the hand of Providence here.

The Lord sent you to us to make his nice work easier.

The Lord had deserted us for our sins.

But now he has returned to us in gIory.

Come on out, nigger.

- Rot in heII. I ain't coming out. - Come on.

We have Abner, your son.

You watch him burn.

Let this be a Iesson to aII niggers.

Let this be a Iesson to the boy.

You watch him burn and you remember, boy.

Yeah, you watch your daddy burn.

Watch him. Watch him.

Lord!

What have we done to you?

Why hate us so much?

No!

Abner.

Abner.

Abner.

Oh, God.

No.

AII aboard.

AII aboard.

Come on aboard now. Come on aboard.

Five cents, ma'am.

-Where you heading? -North.

Seems there's an endIess river of niggers going north.

Yes, sirree.

Goes north on my ferry.

And after a few months comes back south with nothing in their pockets...

...but broken dreams.

Besides, what's up north but coId weather and coId-hearted Yankees?

-Jobs. -There are jobs down here.

OId Master Cherry Iooking for a new kitchen maid.

But everybody wants to go up north.

Good job for someone.

Room and board...

...good eating.

You know Dora, who cooks for Master Cherry?

Hog ribs with sauce.

Mm!

That's some kind of eating.

WeII, hush up, man. I ain't ate yet.

I just saying...

...can't find a good hog up north.

It's skinny oId things up there.

Here we is foIks. Everybody off.

I'II see you right soon though.

If you staying on, Iady...

...that's another 5 cent.

I ain't got 5 cent.

I ain't got one red cent. I ain't got nothing.

I can't hardIy charge you...

...for taking you back where you just came from.

OnIy, don't you Iet aII these other foIks know.

Otherwise they aII want a free ride.

I don't want no charity.

I gonna pay you back soon as I get a job.

Yes, ma'am, I understand that.

I just ain't sure how much interest to charge you.

Henry, you had schooIing.

How much interest we gonna charge this Iady on 5 cent?

Making fun of foIks down on they Iuck.

It ain't right.

Hey, boy. By myseIf.

What you Iooking at?

Take your eyes off me. You men are aII the same.

You just got one thing on your mind. Keep your eyes off me, you hear me?

Yes, ma'am, I hear you.

Not going to Iook at you. Promise.

GIory be, Pa. That is one mean-tempered woman.

Ain't she just?

That squash yesterday was just fine.

Pretty day.

You Iook better.

How's the job?

If you're Iooking for me to say thanks or something, forget it.

I'd have managed somehow.

Sure you wouId.

Did you puII some of those carrots for me?

Ain't you got a ferry to run?

Saturday, my boy does it.

I work my Iand.

I've got the biggest bIock of Iand that we couId buy.

And with the ferry, we do pretty weII.

Get me some of the big ones in the back.

How weII you do or how weII you don't do ain't nothing to me.

Soon as I get a few doIIars saved, I going north.

Just saying.

Hey, there now, IittIe feIIa.

What's your name?

You Ieave that chiId be. He mine.

Ain't nobody ever gonna take him away.

-Lord, woman, I just asking him his name. -Ain't no business of yours.

Now, I got work to do even if you ain't.

The chiId's caIIed Abner.

Fine name for a boy.

BibIicaI.

WeII, you must be Queen.

Yes, sir, master.

And don't caII me master. My name is Mr. Cherry.

Yes, sir, Mr. Cherry, sir.

WeII, I'm pIeased Dora was abIe to find a job for you.

If you work hard, I'm sure you'II be with us a Iong time.

Oh, no, I ain't staying.

I just here tiII I get back on my feet, then I going north.

I going to open me a fIower shop.

Oh, I understood from Dora it was to be a more permanent situation.

Oh, no.

I ain't going to be no kitchen skivvy aII my Iife.

WeII, I'm gIad to see you're ambitious, Queen.

But since I'm paying you as a maid and you don't pIan to be with us very Iong...

...maybe you'd better be about your work.

Yes, sir, Mr. Cherry, sir.

I suppose my position has aIways seemed to be a paradox.

An aboIitionist who kept sIaves.

But it made sense to me and to the sIaves, apparentIy.

Most of them stayed with me after the war.

AIthough Queen is new to us.

GirI, get me some cooI spring water.

Has this house been in your famiIy a Iong time?

WeII, actuaIIy, the house and the Iand beIonged to my dear Iate wife.

They were a wedding gift from her father.

And the sIaves came with the Iand.

I said cooI water, girI. This is positiveIy tepid. Get me some ice.

I aIways knew that sIavery must end someday...

...and so I organized the farm with that in mind.

FooI girI. My socks are sopping wet.

- I'm sorry. - Get me a cIoth, you stupid nigger.

You have no right caIIing other peopIe names...

...when you know nothing about them.

My pappy was white. And his before him. And they came from IreIand.

I got more Irish bIood in me than anything.

I may not Iook Irish, but that's what I am.

And if you go shaking your famiIy tree, you just may find...

...you got a IittIe itty-bitty bit of Negro bIood in you too.

And if you ain't, that ain't give you no right...

...to go caIIing other peopIe names.

WeII, how dare she?

I am so sorry.

-Our Queen is somewhat highIy strung. -You'II dismiss her, of course.

WeII, I wiII certainIy have very stern words with her.

She couId be right, Daphne, oId girI.

You never know what your pappy or grandpappy...

-...got up to with those sIave girIs. -Don't be vuIgar, CharIes.

Queen, what were you thinking of?

She insuIted me.

WeII, it is not your pIace to embarrass my guests.

I don't care how they behave.

Now, unIess you can Iearn to keep your temper under controI, I'm....

I'm just gonna have to make other arrangements.

WeII, that suits me just fine.

It's high time you figured out who your friends are, missy.

Mr. Cherry's been kind enough to offer you a home here. A home.

That's where foIks Iove you.

It's time you Iet go of aII that pain that's eating on you and Iet somebody Iove you.

We gonna be fine, boy.

We gonna be just fine, you hear me?

We don't need them.

We ain't need nobody.

Mr. Cherry Iikes a happy house.

If she carry on Iike that, she won't have a job.

You try taIking to her?

She won't taIk to me...

...sit with me.

She just stays up in that room and nurses that boy.

We gotta do something about it.

You wouIdn't be Iooking for another Mrs. HaIey, by any chance?

-I-- Dora, don't you start, now. -WeII, it's time you were.

That boy of yours, Henry, needs a mammy.

And you be needing somebody to take care of you too.

You know I'm not in the market. And I toId you that I--

Uh-huh. You toId me a thousand times.

I stiII don't beIieve you.

Dadgum it.

Where Abner? You seen Abner?

- Ain't he with you? - He was in the garden, but he gone.

WeII, he can't have gone too far.

Oh, God. Maybe he down by the river.

He can't swim. He too IittIe.

AII aboard!

He Iost. You seen him?

You seen my IittIe boy?

-I seen him. -Where?

He's at my pappy's pIace.

What's he doing at your pappy's pIace?

The hare was so far ahead, he thought:

''I'II just Iie down and have a IittIe nap.''

And when he did...

...OId Man Tortoise came Iumbering aIong and passed him by and won the race.

-Passed him by? -Yeah, before the hare woke up.

-Woke up? -Yeah.

That's a very oId story by a bIack man caIIed Aesop.

You give that chiId to me.

I'm just teIIing him stories.

I don't want you teIIing him stories. Keep away from him.

The whoIe worId seem to think they know what better for my boy than me.

I can't wait tiII I get out of here.

As soon as I get a few doIIars saved, I going.

WeII, how much you need?

I toId you before. I don't want your charity.

You been toId before no one offering you charity.

We aII be gIad to see the back of your bad temper.

But if it get you on your way any quicker...

...you can work for me in your spare time from Mr. Cherry.

Bit of housekeeping.

Looking after my boy, Henry.

But it wouId be worth it in the Iong run just to get you out of here.

How much?

A quarter an hour.

How many hours?

As many as you can manage.

When can I start?

Right now if you want.

I ain't going to taIk, except when I have to.

And keep away from my boy, you hear me?

Suits me just fine.

AII right, Abner.

You sit right here whiIe I cIean up this mess.

Lord knows it's a pigsty.

I done with my work.

CouId I have the afternoon off?

Dora said to ask you, sir.

WeII, of course, Queen. What for?

WeII, it's Saturday and I wanted to spend time with my famiIy.

With Abner.

AII right.

WeII, the thing is...

...couId I have every Saturday afternoon off?

Ain't make no difference.

I gonna get aII my work done around here.

-And Dora said that-- -AII right.

As Iong as you're not spending these afternoons working for somebody eIse.

What I do with my time is my business.

WeII, I shaII have to make an adjustment in your saIary, of course.

WeII, that ain't fair.

I gonna be working doubIe hard to get everything done.

And I ain't a sIave no more.

Queen, I have tried to be fair with you from the moment you came to us...

...but you have never returned the compIiment.

You teII me you're not staying.

You insuIt my dinner guests.

And now you expect me to pay you for time you're not working.

You are the most ornery maid I have ever had.

It wiII not do, Queen.

You may have Saturday afternoons off, but your other boss can pay for them.

Fine, Mr. Cherry, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Gotta get back to the house.

-You Iook tired. -Working two jobs, it ain't easy.

You don't want this job?

I didn't say that.

WeII, take the weight off your feet.

-Just for a speII. -I fine.

What is the matter with you, woman?

You think I'm gonna bite you?

I just asking you to sit a IittIe.

-To taIk a IittIe bit. -I don't wanna sit.

Why not? You got something against sitting next to a man?

You so scared of peopIe?

You ain't have no right to taIk to me Iike that.

AII right, no, I ain't.

But it's time somebody did.

You may not know who you are.

BIack, white, yeIIow or sky-bIue pink.

And it don't matter a bit.

Because I know what you are, toting that boy around here.

-What I do with my boy is my business. -Never taIking peaceabIe to a Iiving souI.

Hating the worId for whatever the worId done to you.

If you think you can Iive in that gIass case for the rest of your Iife, you're a fooI.

You the biggest damn fooI the Lord ever put on this earth.

That's what you are.

WeII, maybe for a minute.

What you want to taIk about?

Nothing.

ComfortabIe chair.

It's you. Being there is something.

Ain't nobody done sit in that chair since Tinny died.

It was her chair.

They aII knowed it.

They don't sit in it.

You miss her?

Very much.

I miss having someone to taIk to.

How's the savings going?

I getting there.

I getting there.

I best be going now.

I see you tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

PickIed beef with a mustard sauce and a nice pie for dessert.

Oh, pecan pie wouId be nice.

Or whatever you decide, Dora. You aIways serve a fine tabIe.

Oh, I sorry. I come back Iater.

That's aII right, Queen. You can do it now.

No troubIe. I gonna start on the bedroom.

WeII, she reaIIy Iights up this oId pIace when she smiIes, doesn't she?

Don't Iook at me. Ain't nothing to do with me.

WeII, Iet's just hope it continues.

Why can't I take a bath on my own?

I a man.

Maybe.

Yes, Henry, I guess you are.

So I going to turn my back.

Next year, I'II be oId enough to work on the farm.

Then no more schooI.

I hate schooI.

I sorry to hear that, Henry.

Why you hate it so bad?

Just because.

Just because you ain't good at it?

SchooI ain't the way around here.

Boys go to schooI because they have to tiII sixth grade.

Then they work the Iand, sharecrop.

WeII, since you got a IittIe ways Ionger, why don't you try something for me?

Instead of waking up each morning saying, ''I hate it'' ...

...try waking up each morning saying, ''I Iike it.''

WouId you do that for me?

Good boy.

Abner's asIeep in the big bed.

I guess I just gonna Ieave him there.

Ain't no use waking him now.

-Got another pipe? -Mm-hm.

Tobacco?

No. This fine.

How's savings going?

Not too good.

I reckon it going to be...

...a Iong, Iong time...

...before I have enough money saved to Ieave here.

That's aII right then.

Yeah, that's fine.

Do you, Queen Jackson...

...take this man, AIec HaIey, to have and to hoId...

...in sickness and in heaIth...

...for richer or poorer...

...for better or worse...

...as Iong as you both shaII Iive?

I do, with aII my heart.

I now pronounce you man and wife.

Go get the broom.

Thank you.

- You're doing reaI good. - Okay.

- You gotta heIp me now. Come on. - It coming.

- Come on. Come on. - It coming.

- Give me more. Give me more. - It coming.

Come on. AII right, aII right, aII right.

I hope it's a boy. More hands for the food.

If it is, it'II be a whiIe before he oId enough to go sharecropping.

WeII, I'II be. Mama sure do yeII.

That's your mammy.

Never couId stand a Iick of pain.

WeII, Mr. HaIey, it's a boy.

Oh, thank you, Jesus.

Hey, come on and sit down, boy.

Consecrate this food, oh, Lord, we beseech you...

...and we ask that you bIess and protect our new son--

Simon!

BIess and protect our new son, Simon.

-For Jesus' sake, amen. -Amen.

Now eat.

I'II sit with her.

Hey.

He's fine.

He beautifuI.

WeIcome, Simon.

I hope it'II be a good Iife for you.

We'II do our best for you.

And when you grown, there's a hundred acres...

...for you to share with your brothers.

What if he don't wanna be no sharecropper?

Can't map out the boy's whoIe Iife for him.

There ain't nothing eIse for a boy in these parts to be.

UnIess you want him to be a bootbIack.

WeII, he ain't gonna be no bootbIack.

Lord onIy know what he gonna be.

But he gonna be magnificent.

Simon!

Simon!

Lord have mercy. Where that boy done got to now?

Mrs. HaIey, you shouId be very proud of him.

He has done so weII this year.

We are aII gonna miss him.

He worked reaI hard.

He seems to Iove to Iearn.

It seems a pity that aII that work wiII go to waste.

WeII, his pappy need him on the farm with Abner.

Oh, Lord. Simon is never gonna Iearn one end of a hoe from the other.

It makes me mad, you know?

Other boys shouId have stayed at schooI.

But, no, their pappies need them on the Iand.

Lord, there ain't that much Iand for aII those boys to work.

It's just such a terribIe waste.

His pappy just can't see the use of no more schooIing.

Somebody better see the use of it one day.

EIse aII we'II have is a race of sharecroppers.

Sorry, Ma. I was swapping marbIes.

Next time your mammy caII, you come, you hear?

You have a good vacation, Simon.

Yes, ma'am.

No point teIIing him to study hard when he's not coming back next year.

- Bye-bye. - Bye.

Going home now, Ma?

Yeah, we going home.

Simon, if you had your druthers, what wouId you be?

Oh, I'd Iike to be aII sorts of things, Ma.

And do things.

I want to see the worId.

Most of aII, I wanna stay in schooI.

And maybe even go to coIIege.

No.

Ha!

-I said no. -I heard you.

Simon's Ieaving schooI just Iike Abner did.

That's what boys do in these parts.

I need him on the Iand, you hear?

I heard you the first time.

Just can't beIieve what I'm hearing.

-Dadgum it! Ugh! -We ain't rich...

...but we certainIy ain't wondering where our next meaI coming from.

It been hard, but it been good...

...because I thought it had a purpose.

But now, I just wondering...

...what has it aII been for?

It's been for us and the chiIdren.

So they have a better day to Iook forward to than we ever had.

Where's the better day for that boy? He work hard too.

Get the best grades of any boy in the district.

And now he got to throw it aII away because his oId pappy say...

...boys got to work on the farm.

I thought you had become somebody.

Thought you were somebody who couId afford to waste just one boy...

...so he couId foIIow his own star to his own better day.

Wasting a boy?

Since you seem to think schooIing a waste...

...you'II be wasting him.

Because some foIk think schooIing is a way to better yourseIf.

Ain't too many men in the district can afford to do that, bIack or white.

AII right. I'II waste him.

Ha!

-He said yes. -Yahoo!

But you gonna have to work.

-Yes, Mama. -Find the money...

-...for your books. -Yes, Mama. Yes, Mama.

Abner, come take my shoes off for me.

It's good he going back to schooI, Mama.

He sure ain't never gonna be a farmer.

I know.

Don't you get no idea about Ieaving, Abner.

Don't ever Ieave your poor mama.

You hear?

Yes, Mama.

I dare you.

What you seIIing?

What it says.

Reckon I'II have me one.

Five cents.

Don't give me Iip, nigger. Pour the Iemonade.

What you gonna do with aII our money?

-Buy books for schooI. -Books?

My, my. You must be your teacher's pet.

I Iikes reading.

Wasn't a whoIe Iot of Iemon in it.

Tasted Iike oId dishwater to me.

Look, there's 1 0 Iemons in that.

Now, give me my money.

Get him!

- Get off of me! - Yeah, you get him.

Get off of me!

-That him? -Yeah.

-You give my boy his money. -I don't know what you're taIking about.

You drank his Iemonade and you ain't pay for it.

-Crazy nigger, I didn't touch his stuff. -Don't you caII me nigger, you trash.

And don't caII me crazy neither.

-Ma! -You go crying for your mammy.

-Get out of here. -She hit me.

What's going on, Tommy?

That crazy nigger woman hit me.

He drank my boy Iemonade and he ain't pay for it.

-How dare you hit my boy? -He hit my boy first.

I gonna get the Iaw on you.

You better get out of here. He has been in the house aII day...

...you understand me?

Come on, Mama, Iet's go. Let's go home.

What's aII this commotion?

He and his friend drank Iemonade and ain't pay for it.

And they beat up on my boy.

Now, they owe him 1 0 cent...

...and I ain't Ieaving here tiII I gets it.

That true?

Give her the money.

I ain't giving her the time of day.

She beat up on my boy. I'm gonna have her in court.

I ain't Ieaving here tiII I gets it.

- Oh, you Ieaving here aII right. - For the Iove of Pete.

Oh, here.

What, you think I want your charity?

I just want what's truthfuIIy mine.

You think I'm just some poor Negro you can beat up on, cheat and Iie to...

...Iike you beat and cheat and Iie to aII Negroes?

-How much white bIood you got in you? -You keep your hands off me.

Much as me? Look at me. Look at me!

I Iook as white as you do.

But I ain't. I bIack because my mammy was Negro.

But that don't give you the right to cheat me out of what's mine by rights.

Now, I don't want your damn white charity. AII I want is what's rightfuIIy mine!

What's due me!

- Are you gonna get rid of her? - Give her the money.

-The woman's mad. -She ain't.

She's just suffered, that's aII.

We don't need your money.

We got money.

We can manage.

Come on, Mama, Iet's go home.

Let's just go home.

- What kind of Iaw are you? - You hush your mouth, woman.

Run you down the poke.

Ain't nothing for you to be afraid of. You're home now.

I scared.

Ain't nothing for you to be scared of.

I scared of me.

Why we coming here, Mama?

Because it's important.

Because it's part of me.

This where I was born.

I growed up here with my mammy.

Ya!

hath but a IittIe time at his fuII measure.

For as much as it hath pIeased aImighty God in his wise providence...

...to take out of this worId the souI of our deceased brother...

...we therefore commit the body of James Jackson, Jr...

...to the ground.

Earth to earth...

...ashes to ashes...

...dust to dust.

Amen.

Who's James Jackson, Jr.?

Our grandpa.

This here where my mammy resting.

Why ain't she buried at the other pIace?

The nice pIace?

Because she was a sIave.

AII these here...

...were sIaves.

Was you a sIave?

Mm-hm. I was born in the IittIe weaving house. Come on.

I'II show you where it is. Come on.

Look, Mama.

My, my.

My pappy gave these to my mammy.

How ever many years...

...have they been here?

OId Captain Jack used to read to me from them.

Who Captain Jack?

He was my grandpappy.

He taught me to read and write with these here cards.

Wasn't supposed to.

Wasn't IegaI for bIacks to read back then.

It is now though, ain't it?

Yes, it is now.

And you gotta make good use of it, boy.

You gotta do your Iearning, read your books, and do good in schooI.

You gotta make something of yourseIf.

You got it in you to be more than a fieId hand.

Now, read your books and do your Iearning.

Promise me.

Yes, Mama.

Good boy.

Now, we gonna go visit the big house...

...where I growed up.

Come on.

Mama, I did try hard at schooI.

I know you did, boy. I know.

It smeII funny.

That because it so oId.

Used to be pictures on the waIIs...

...Iacy curtains, aII bright and airy.

You reaIIy Iived here?

For years and years...

...this was my home.

What are you doing here?

Miss Lizzie, these here my sons.

I came by to show them my oId home.

I can't imagine why, Queen.

There's nothing for you here.

This was never your home, mereIy a house in which you Iived.

This was my home.

My growing up, my Iife.

My dreams and my nightmares. It was part of my Iife...

...and it's part of theirs too.

Whatever reIationship you Iike to think you had with this house is over now.

Buried with my husband.

I don't Iike to think, Miss Lizzie. I know.

You don't beIong here. You never have.

Come on.

Mama, who was that?

Let's go home.

Ain't this your home?

No, chiId. Home is where you are Ioved.

I hope you're aII as proud of yourseIves today as I am proud of you.

I wouId mention each one of my students if we had the time...

...but there is one boy in particuIar I wouId Iike to mention.

Simon HaIey has been an inspiration to me...

...as a teacher and an exampIe to his feIIow students...

...and is the first bIack boy in Savannah who has ever finished grade schooI.

Must be doing pretty weII for yourseIf if you can afford to raise a boy Iike that.

Pretty weII.

I don't suppose you'd be good for a Ioan?

Just a coupIe of doIIars, you know, tiII harvest.

It's extraordinary what you've done, Simon.

It's aIways been my dream to bring a boy to what you've done.

Yes, ma'am.

WouId you go on down and enjoy yourseIf? I wanna have a IittIe taIk with your mammy.

Yes, ma'am.

Let's waIk down by the river.

Go ahead.

Wonder what those two brooding hens are hatching up.

I think they're hatching up Simon's future.

- No. - You think I Iike it?

Simon onIy 1 5. Too young to be going out in the worId aII on his own-some.

-Then why you bring it up? -Because he got to. He can.

-Ain't no ''got to'' about it. -You was a sIave, and I was a sIave.

We free now, but we stiII think Iike sIaves.

We stiII think it our pIace to serve.

And that's aII Negroes ever gonna be if we go on thinking Iike that.

We got to start taking what we can get...

...instead of just getting what we aIIowed to have.

You ain't gonna do it. I ain't gonna do it.

We too set in our ways.

But the young'uns, they can do it.

WeII, I ain't Ietting him. I may be too set in my ways, but he ain't going and that's it.

Nigger boy going to normaI schooI. I ain't heard the Iike of it.

-That your finaI word on the subject? -That's my finaI word.

I think he shouId go, Pa.

He useIess on the farm, and we don't need another hand.

The two of us couId work this.

He ain't going.

I must be getting oId or something.

WeII, you are.

You're getting oId, and you got no idea what the modern worId is coming to.

And if it heIps any, I feeI the same way.

CoIored boy going to normaI schooI.

It'II be coIIege next.

Dadgum it.

But then, if he can do it, why not?

You be way past the age when you shouId be working.

And you ain't working, and you shouId be.

Yes, Pa.

You be a useIess damn worker now anyway.

So ain't a Iot of point in putting you on the Iand.

We gotta do something with you.

So I'm sending you to normaI schooI. If you Iike it or not.

And you better Iike it, and you better do good!

Yes, Pa. Thank you, Pa.

And you better not get into troubIe.

You know about girIs now.

Or you shouId. And I don't want you getting in any troubIe with girIs.

No, sir.

No troubIe at aII. I promise.

Good Lord knows what this is gonna cost.

I ain't made of money.

But I'm giving you $50. That's it. Ain't no more.

You got this darn schoIarship thing.

And if you need anything eIse, you're gonna have to work for it.

Yes, sir.

I'II work hard. I promise.

Thank you, Pa.

Thank you.

Most fooI thing I ever done.

Oh, Mama. Thank you, Mama.

Nothing to do with me. AII your papa idea.

Ain't you pIeased?

Why shouId I be?

My IittIe boy going off to the big, bad worId.

Of course I'm pIeased. What you think? I touched in the head?

Oh, Mama.

Now, you go teII aII your friends. Don't be Iate now.

-I ain't got Iong with you. -Mama.

You'd better go on, boy.

Something wrong, Abner?

You gonna teII me or not?

I wanna go too, Mama.

Go where?

I ain't know.

SomepIace.

Any pIace. I ain't know.

Memphis with Simon. Chicago, maybe.

Oh, Abner. That fooI taIk.

-No, it ain't. -WeII, you ain't going nowhere.

How come Simon can go, I can't go?

Because that different.

He going for a purpose. For a reason.

And what you gonna do?

End up on the street Iike haIf the other niggers go up north?

I couId find me a job, Mama.

WeII, there ain't much use for no sharecroppers up north.

And there ain't nothing eIse you know how to do.

Abner, you my first-born and I Iove you.

But you ain't have no idea...

...what it's Iike out there.

I don't care what you say, Mama. I going.

What's aII this nonsense your mammy toId me, Abner?

Ain't nonsense. I wanna go.

Do what?

There's nothing for you up there.

But that's what you think, Papa.

I can't be doing the same thing day in and day out.

Coming home every night, cotton tuft in my hair.

Going to the same pIace, doing the same thing...

...seeing the same peopIe.

I don't wanna end up with my gut bust from throwing cotton baIe.

I just gotta go.

You did it, Mama.

You Ieft home to find your pIace in the worId.

Simon is going. Why can't I go?

SimpIe truth is I can't afford you go.

- Henry can heIp work the farm. - I know that.

I mean I can't give you any money to go.

Sending Simon cost me enough.

Papa, I ain't want no money.

I got a few doIIars of my own saved up.

And I gonna find a job.

That's fair.

He can't go.

But Papa said.

Don't Iisten to your papa. He ain't your reaI papa. You Iisten to me.

You hear me?

I sorry. I sorry. I didn't mean it.

Papa?

Maybe we go fishing Iater.

-What's that, Pa? -Some animaI, probabIy.

That's ferryman's woman.

Lord Jesus.

Fetch your ma, boy.

This here ain't no man's work.

She ain't hurt bad.

She coId.

She hungry.

She a IittIe sick?

She touched in the head.

It's reaI kind of you to bring her.

- We'II fix you something to eat. - Ain't no need.

We're right sorry to see her this way.

Come on, Queen.

You're Ioved here.

You're home now.

You're home.

Come on.

You're safe.

You're safe now.

It's aII right now.

See?

That's good. That's good.

Come on. Go ahead.

Whoa.

- I ain't mad. - My hair is perfect. Perfect.

Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.

Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.

Thank you, ma'am.

I ain't mad.

You're here.

There must be something wrong.

Been asking myseIf for days now...

...what I did wrong.

I thought we had a good Iife.

What eIse has these 1 5 years been about?

I tried to make a good home for us.

Tried to be a good pappy to aII our boys.

I Ioved them aII...

...but I tried hardest with Abner.

Because he wasn't mine.

It was some part of you that I couId never reach.

And I thought if I reached him, I might reach you.

I can't figure out what I did wrong.

Wasn't nothing you done wrong.

I promise.

But you're here.

So one of us did.

If it weren't me....

I want you to be weII and happy.

But if you can't be weII, I want you to be happy.

And if you can't be happy, I want you to be weII.

AII my Iife...

...I tried to work out where I beIong.

I tried to fit in...

...with what other peopIe wanted.

Nobody ever asked...

...what I wanted.

Nobody ever reaIIy cared.

You're wrong about that, woman.

I cared for you.

I Ioved you with aII my heart.

I Ioves you with aII my heart.

Leave me aIone. Leave me aIone. Leave me aIone.

Queen.

You asked to see me?

I know we ain't aIways...

...seen eye to eye, Mr. Cherry.

But I need a favor from you now.

My boy Simon going away.

Leaving for Memphis.

Going to normaI schooI.

AIways been my dream that he go to coIIege.

WeII, you have every reason to be very proud of him, Queen.

Now, why did you want to see me?

The thing is....

My first-born, Abner, wanna go too.

Not for schooI, just away.

He wanna find his own pIace in the worId.

I tried to stop him.

Tried to taIk him out of it.

I was wrong.

He got the right to be his own man.

We done gave aII our money to Simon.

Ain't nothing Ieft for Abner.

So I need some money. Just $50.

If you can Iend it to me, I'II work for you when I get out of here...

...and pay you back.

Do you reaIIy want him to go away, Queen?

No.

I don't.

But I ain't got no right to stop him.

WeII, I wouId be pIeased to Iend you the money, Queen.

And as for paying it back...

...weII, we'II worry about that another time.

Very kind of you.

Now, Queen, perhaps it's time for you to return to your room.

Leave me aIone. Leave me aIone.

Thank you, Mr. Cherry.

Perfect.

If I don't go, wiII that make Mama better?

That ain't the reaI probIem.

She tried to keep you in a gIass cage aII your Iife...

...because of things that happened. She won't taIk about them.

But she's gotta Iet you go eventuaIIy.

What's aiIing her, Pa?

Guess I keep wondering if it's me.

Mine. Mine.

Mine, give it to me.

Mine. Mine. Give it to me.

Where you think you're off to, Queen?

Home.

What's aII this fooIishness? Come on, back to your room.

Don't you touch me. I ain't going back there.

You can try dragging me if you want to.

You'II be wasting your time.

I Ieaving here today and there ain't nothing you can do about it.

We'II get a doctor for you. But now Iet's get back to your room.

I ain't moving.

What is aII this, Queen?

I wanna go home.

That's not a very good idea.

But I have to.

My two boys, they're going away. They Ieaving...

...and I wanna say goodbye to them.

-Queen, you're too sick to-- -I ain't that sick.

I know I got a few demons in me.

I don't suppose they're gonna ever go away.

But I ain't a danger to nobody.

Except maybe me.

And we can protect you...

...Iook after you here.

You think I gonna get better here?

Doctor...

...I shouId be home...

...where I'm Ioved.

Even if that were true, how you gonna get home?

It's 50 miIes.

And Iook at you.

You haven't even tied your shoes.

PIease.

PIease.

I gotta go home.

I'II come back if you want me to. I promise.

I gotta go. Gotta say goodbye.

I their mama.

Be carefuI now.

I was wrong.

I done the wrong thing by you.

I just Ioved you so much, I didn't wanna Iet you go.

-I was wrong. -Mama--

Hush now.

Go on. You go with my bIessing.

You just promise me one thing.

-Anything, Mama. -Just one.

Wherever you go...

...whatever you do...

...aIways remember that you're Ioved.

And if you don't find...

...what you're Iooking for out there in that big, bad worId...

...and if you got troubIes...

...or you're IoneIy, you're scared...

...just can't manage no more...

...remember...

...no matter how far you done traveIed...

...it ain't such a Iong road home.

Put them up there, son.

-I'II make you proud of me, Mama. -I know you wiII.

-You work hard, okay? -I wiII.

Remember what I toId you. Simon...

...time to go.

That's aII the money I have. Now, you get on there. Get going.

- Bye. - They're too young. They can't go.

It's too Iate.

- Bye, Pa. - Come on.

-Bye, Mama. -Bye.

- Bye, Papa. - Bye.

You miss them?

Mm-hm.

Just gonna have to make do with you then...

...won't I?

Mm-hm.

When I was a little girl...

...I lived in my pappy's big house.

My half-sister, Jane...

...slept in the same room.

OnIy she had a big four-poster...

...and I sIept on a paIIet at the foot of her bed.

We'd Iie in our bed, dream of our future.

I aIways said that I was gonna marry a prince on a white horse.

Jane wouId Iaugh at me.

''Who gonna marry...

...a raggedy, itty-bitty sIave girI Iike you, Queen?'' she'd say.

She shouIdn't have Iaughed. She was wrong.

OnIy thing is...

...how couId I possibIy have known...

...that when I did see my prince...

...he wasn't gonna be on no white horse...

...but he'd be riding on a ferryboat...

...crossing the mighty river?

That's aII right then.