All language subtitles for The.Best.of.Enemies.2019.720p.BluRay.x264-x0r

MAN: I think one of the most
emotional moments of my life

was the night that
I was initiated into the Klan.

I was led into
the Klavern hall,
which was dark.

The only light that
I could see was
a fiery cross.

And that put me
through the ceremony.

Purified me with water.
Laid his hand on my shoulder,
says,

"You're part
of the Invisible Empire,
United Klans of America."

And there was a tremendous
applause throughout
the auditorium.

And I came up off the floor
really in tears

because that's what
I'd been looking for
all my life.

An opportunity to be heard,
an opportunity
to be something.

WOMAN: I first told him,
"Hell no!"

(AUDIENCE LAUGHS)

I would never, ever.
But kill him,
that's all I want.

That was on my heart
to kill him.

And this is the kind of
reputation that I have
in Durham.

I'm not bragging about it,
but it is the truth.

You can call Durham,
and they will tell you.

No, I will not take no
for an answer.
I have to have the word "yes"

because all of our blood,
when it comes out,
is the same color.

I haven't seen any blood
different yet than
the color of mine.

And, I'm saying whatever
you believe in,
and I keep saying it,

stand on it, baby.
Stand on it.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)

(CROWD CLAMORING)

(CHANTING) Equal housing now!
Equal housing now!
Equal housing now!

WOMAN: They call this
Magic City, Mr. Atkins.

Ain't no magic here.

Abe Greenfeld ain't nothing
but a vile slumlord.

You know it,
and I know it.

And the black people
of East Durham have the same
rights as anybody else.

This girl, Mr. Atkins,

this young lady,
is a single mother
of three children.

And she wake up this morning
to an eviction notice.

But there's no hot water,
what, baby, for two weeks?

That's right, Miss A.

Two weeks, and you say,
what, no toilet?
No toilet.

No toilet.
And that ain't no way
for no human to live.

(STIFLED LAUGH)

Mr. Atkins,
we done writing
letters here.

We want to be heard
before tomorrow night's
ruling.

Miss Atwater,
you know our
agenda is tight,

and we simply cannot
allot time to everybody
that wants to speak.

(TELEPHONE RINGS)

Now, we thank you.
Show yourselves out.

Mr. Tucker, to what
do I owe this pleasure?

Sit down.
(ATKINS LAUGHS)

Well, and a mighty fine
afternoon to you, too.

Now, you listen to me,
Councilman! And you too,
Mr. Tucker!

We ain't going nowhere
until we get down
to the brass tacks.

You understand me?
Everything all right
here, Bill?

Mr. Oldham, now we have
been sitting here
for over half an hour,

and the Councilman, here,
ain't done nothing but...
Ann.

Ann. We're gonna give you
your chance to speak
tomorrow night.

Are we good now?

(CHUCKLES)

Not yet.

Come on.

(INSECTS BUZZING)

MAN: Samuel Grace. Ayes?

ALL: Aye.
Nays?

Okay, then.

Fred Eggert, Gene Waddle,
and Samuel Grace

are tentatively approved
as new citizens

of North Carolina Unit Nine
of the Invisible Empire,

United Klans of America.

Kligraph is directed
to certify the petitions

and prepare the oaths
for ceremony.

Roy, next week should be fine.

Final item.
Combat and firearms training

resumes this Saturday
from noon to 4:00

under the supervision
of second officer Floyd Kelly.

And I'll remind
the Youth Corps members

that this training
is mandatory.

Y'all hear me?
I'm talking to you.

Yeah.
(MEN CHUCKLING)

Let's bow our heads.

Heavenly Father,
give us strong minds,
great hearts,

true faith,
and ready hands.

Keep us unfettered
from the world that we might
fight the good fight

and be worthy
to claim the prize.

May we as brethren
and Klansmen be steadfast
and unremovable.

As we go hence from
this Klavern into the struggle
of the alien world,

let us not forget
the crowning glory
of a Klansman is to serve.

Non silba, sed anthar.

ALL: Not for self,
but for others!

Get him ready.
Mmm-hmm.

You can say
that again.
He was born ready.

Ready or not.

Mr. Ellis?

Oh, hey.

This is, uh, this is
the new boy I was
telling you about.

Oh, sure. Sure, sure.

Sure, Ben.
Come on in the office.

I'll see you fellows.

Have a seat.

What's your name, son?

(CLEARS THROAT)
Leonard, sir.

Don't be nervous, Leonard.

Ben here tells me
you'd like to be a part
of the Youth Corps.

Yes. Yes, sir.

Why do you want to be
in the Youth Corps, Leonard?

(CLEARS THROAT)
To help...

To help protect
the white race of America

from the communist niggers
and Jews who threaten us, sir.

That's a good boy.
(DESK DRAWER OPENS)

But that's not all.
(DRAWER SLIDES SHUT)

It's our rights,
our freedoms,

our way of life
that need protecting.

We're an endangered species,
Leonard.

You understand?

I do.

Let me show you something.

You see that?

One day, this will be
your most prized possession.

It will give you
everything you need
in your life.

Brotherhood, standing
in the community,
and a sense of pride

that you're part of something
bigger than yourself.

But, most importantly,
it will be a reminder
every day

that you will no longer
be an outsider.

(BOX SHUTS)

Welcome to the Youth Corps,
Leonard.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

We gonna take care
of that thing?

Yeah.

Ben, bring the car around,
out back.

(ENGINE SHUTS OFF)

Now what?

We wait.

(MAN CHUCKLING)

(MAN SINGING BALLAD ON RADIO)
(HUMMING ALONG)

(CAR DOOR OPENS)

(DOG HOWLS)

She got a nigger boyfriend.
(LIGHTER CLICKS)

The neighbors have been
complaining.

Stay here.

Wait for the light, Wiley.

(SCREAMS)

(TELEPHONES RINGING)
(TYPEWRITERS CLACKING)

(SIGHS)

Hey. Thank you.
Mmm-hmm.

Miss Dupree.

Miss Dupree...
Yes, I know,
Miss Dupree, but...

Hold on, Miss Dupree.

Miss Dupree says
she can't make it.
Her kids...

Oh, no, ma'am.
Come here.

Cissy, you better get your ass
down to City Hall tonight.

No, no, I don't want
to hear that.

I have been a single mother
ever since I was 16,

and that's a whole hell
of a lot longer than you.

(CHUCKLES)
Well, child, it's supposed
to be hard.

Are you gonna
be down there
tonight or what?

I better see your face
looking black and angry.

Mmm-hmm.

Who's next?

(BELL DINGS)

Hey, Jeb, I'll take this one.

JEB: Sure, Mr. Ellis.

Finish up that tire
for me, will you?
All right.

Can you fill
the place tonight?

You know I can, Carvie.
What's up?

We're ruling
on Greenfeld tonight.

Ann Atwater and all her
Operation Breakthrough niggers

are gonna make a scene.
I just need numbers.

Jesus. Greenfeld.
You gonna help that scum?

(CARVIE CHUCKLES)

You know, C. P.

Reelection here.
He got deep pockets.

I need to at least
appear supportive.

And you need to keep your
friends on the city council.

(CAR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

I know, Carvie.
We'll be there.

C. P. : Oh, you late. Yeah.

I guess that's what
they call Africa time.

(MEN LAUGH)

FEMALE CLERK: First item
on the docket.

In the matter
of the Edgemont
community housing,

the council will first hear
from Mr. Paulsen,

representing Mr. Greenfeld.

(SPECTATORS GROANING,
MURMURING)

Good evening.

As you know,
Mr. Greenfeld
prides himself

on providing
comfortable housing
at affordable rent

to a great many people
in Durham.

(MURMURING)
(GAVEL RAPS)

The council will hear
Mr. Paulsen.

As with any dwelling,
from time to time,

there undoubtedly
will be some wear and tear.

(LAUGHING, SCOFFING)
Mr. Greenfeld fully intends to
address any of these issues

that these folks
might have.

However, with
the recent inclement weather,

Mr. Greenfeld has had
insufficient time
to get to everyone.

That's a lie.
(GAVEL RAPS)

PAULSEN: We ask
that the council grant us

the 90-day extension
for these minor repairs.

Thank you.

Miss Atwater?

Uncomfortable housing
and unaffordable rent

are about the only
two things Abe Greenfeld
has ever given us.

(EXCLAIMING, APPLAUDING)

Now, I have here with me

79 written complaints from
the residents of Edgemont.

Each and every last one
of them is a code violation.

(EXCLAIMING, APPLAUDING)
(GAVEL RAPS)

I brought them here with me
'cause, obviously,

you ain't get them the first
couple times when they were
sent here.

(EXCLAIMING, APPLAUDING)

(GAVEL RAPS)
Order!

Now we are fed up
with this man

and his eviction notices
and his rent hikes.

He has absolutely no care
for his tenants'
living conditions.

We humans.
Humans shouldn't have
to live like this.

(CLAMORING)

(GAVEL RAPPING)

Thank you
for your comments,
Miss Atwater.

And I will personally

pass those complaints
on to the Housing Commission

for future review.

At this time, the council
will grant the requested
90-day extension.

Thank you all.

This council will now stand
in recess till next week.

Bye.

MARY: Put down
that paper, Claiborne.

Put it down.
All right. Okay, Mama.

Daddy.
Hmm?

Hey, it's time
to visit with your children.

Claiborne!
I'm visiting. I... I...

I'm visiting.

How's your marks, Tim?

MARY: Tim,
answer your father.

I'm getting
an "F" in math.

That's 'cause you're stupid.
Hey!

Well, I know
it ain't for a lack
of trying, son.

Maybe your teacher
can give you a little
extra time after school.

I don't think this teacher.

Why not?

She said I just ain't got
a head for numbers, Daddy.

She said that
don't matter, though.

She said I'll just work
in the gas station with you
when I grow up.

Yeah.

Maybe this teacher
ain't so smart.

I'm gonna stop in at Murdock
this morning before I go in,
see your brother.

Give him a kiss
for us, Daddy.
You bet.

I don't like that place.

That's 'cause it's full
of weirdos and retards.

Kenneth Wade!

Don't be calling
your brother that.

I wasn't talking about him.

He just ain't as lucky
as you is all.
That's right.

I'm sorry.

You be sorry
cleaning that table.

KENNETH: Yes, sir.

I better go. Give me
some sugar, sugar.

Bye, Daddy.

ANN: Let's go, girls.
Move your backsides.

Marilynn.

Marilynn! Girl,
you forgot your lunch.

You'd forget your head
if it wasn't attached to your
shoulders. Go on now.

NURSE: Hey, come on.
Help me out here.

Come on.

No. You gotta
help me out here.

Hey, buddy.

Hey, buddy.

It's Daddy.

How you doing, pumpkin?

You have breakfast yet?

Pancakes this morning.

Oh! Hey, buddy,
that's your favorite.

Thank you.

You got eggs
and maple syrup.

(HUMMING
OH, MY DARLING CLEMENTINE)

Supposed to cut this up
ahead of time.

He can't swallow all this.

There you go.

There you go.

So you must multiply
the three on this side by two.

But remember,
whatever you do
to the bottom,

you must do
to the top, right?

Good. So I want
you to go ahead,

work out the equations
that I gave you.

Let's do the next one.
Let's see what you
come up with.

All right?

(METALLIC CREAKING)

(ALARM BELL RINGING)

(CHILDREN SCREAMING, SHOUTING)

Go. Single file.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(COUGHING)

(SIRENS APPROACHING)

Over here. Come on.

(RINGS)

Ann Atwater.

Hey, baby.

MARILYNN: Mama!
Oh!

Thank God.
(EXHALES)

Are you okay?
I'm okay.

Okay, baby. You go
wait in the car.
I'll be right there.

Is anybody hurt?
Everyone's okay.
Just lots of smoke.

ANN: How did it start?

MAN: Most likely electrical,
the way they keep
this place up,

or it could've been
set on purpose.

No. Klan ain't
that stupid.

MAN: Why do you
say that?

When a black school burns,
then...

Then what?

Then the black kids
gotta find a new school.

(LAUGHTER)

Turns out,
he left the thing
in neutral.

It rolls right back
into the ravine.

They didn't find
that truck for two weeks.

Oh, are you talking about
how small your pecker
is again, Wiley?

(LAUGHTER)

That ain't funny,
Doreen.

Yeah, it ain't that kind
of funny. That's for sure.

(LAUGHING)

FLOYD: You... You wait.

The guy's got one arm.

C. P.

Garland. Garland Keith,
my friend. You're out late.

You wanna have a seat?
No, thank you. Gentlemen.

Well, something must be
awfully important for you
to lower yourself

to come to a dump
like this, Garland.
Floyd, come on now.

No, no, no. Mmm-mmm.

I like the White Citizens'
Council,

with their parade floats
and their fancy country club
meetings.

I'm always honored to mop up
after them, do the dirty work.

You'll have
to excuse Mr. Kelly.
It's been a long week.

Sorry to say
it's about to get
a bit longer.

There was a fire
out at East End Elementary
today.

So what? It's a black school.

The parents have
already filed a petition
to allow the students

to finish out the year
at Durham Elementary School.

There's an emergency
council meeting tomorrow.

Well... Ann Atwater?

I think so.

C. P. : This ain't no small
landlord dispute, Garland.

We're gonna need
everybody on this one.

Well, that's why
I'm here, C. P.

Were you scared?

A little.

(SIGHS)

It's gonna be all right, okay?

All right, baby?
You get some rest.

Try to go to sleep, okay?

You warming up?

Mmm-hmm.

(KISSES, CHUCKLES)

Mama?
Mmm-hmm?

Where are we gonna
go to school now?

Don't you worry
about a thing, okay?

Mama gonna find you
somewhere real nice to go.

Say your prayers.

MALE REPORTER:
The fire was strictly limited

to the building's facilities
and perhaps equipment.

I know your first appearance
here, you can't make an
opinion...

I'm not gonna have them kids
going to Tim's school.

Mmm.

Well, they gotta
put them somewhere.

Ain't gonna be
in Durham Elementary.

Tim having enough trouble
without more distractions.

Mmm-hmm.

May have to look into
one of them private schools
outside of town.

Oh, yeah. How we
gonna pay for that?
I'm working on it.

Ain't nothing gonna work until
you start selling gas to the
other half of Durham.

What's that
supposed to mean?

You know what it means.

That's not fair.
Oh, fair.

Hey.
Come on. It's not fair.
It's a fact.

It's not fair
'cause you know
I can't, Mama.

How's it gonna look
if the president of the Klan

is putting gasoline
in a nigger's car?

How's it gonna look
to my Klan folk?
Oh. Oh, I see.

I... I didn't know
that the Klan
paid your bills.

I didn't think so.
(GROANS) Here we go.

You spend all that time
at Klavern hall

jaw-jacking about
them niggers and them
commies and them Jews.

I don't sound like that.
Yeah, you do.

Give me some...
Ew!

Claiborne Ellis,
you smell like beer.

I'm not gonna have them kids
going to our school.

This emergency council meeting
was called late last night

after an apparent
electrical fire

destroyed nearly half
of East End Elementary School.

They've been in session
for nearly three hours now.

(SPECTATORS CHATTERING)

This council is facing
some difficult decisions.

Tonight, we've had to consider

how these decisions
will affect the students

of not one school but two.

We've heard testimony
from the marshal

that eight classrooms
and three common areas,

including the gymnasium,

were unaffected by the fire.

Unaffected?
Hey.

Have you been to the school?
She's breaking the rules.

No, no. Ain't nobody
talking to you, C. P.,
so shut your mouth.

Miss Atwater,
you've had your time.
I've seen the school.

And if that marshal
says that school is habitable
for children...

Miss Atwater, you've
had your time.

...then he's just lying,
or he just plain stupid!

C. P. : Why don't you shut up?
(CLAMORING)

Don't make no sense.

(GAVEL RAPS)
(CLAMORING CONTINUES)

MAN: Shut up!

We will have quiet
in the chamber!

(CLAMORING QUIETS)
Now what we talking
about is important,

and you're gonna damn well
listen to us, Mr. Steele.

CARVIE: Miss Atwater.

Miss Atwater.

Kindly take your seat
before I have a deputy
remove you.

Now then,

it is the opinion
of this council

that there remain
two basic questions.

One, is East End
a safe and habitable place

for its students to finish
their school year?

And two, would the students
of Durham Elementary

be unfairly burdened
by the sudden and massive
influx of new students?

Our answer to both
of these questions

is yes.

(SCATTERED APPLAUSE)

With the limited number
of classrooms that remain
at East End,

the students will be put
on a split-shift system.

One from 7:00 a.m. to noon,
the other from noon to 5:00.

CAMERAMAN:
We're good. Got it.

MAN: Miss Atwater?

Who the hell are you?

Miss Atwater,
we're from the NAACP.

MALE REPORTER:
WDNC news time, 9:00 a.m.

Recapping our top story,

the NAACP's legal action
is causing quite a stir

inside the county's
district court,

one source saying
he would not want to be

in Judge Les Hallford's shoes
this morning.

WOMAN: Good morning,
Your Honor.
(SIGHS)

(HALLFORD EXHALES)

Is that it?
Just arrived.

Full and immediate integration
of all Durham public schools.

(HALLFORD EXHALES)

Get Wilbur Hobby in here.

Yes, sir.

You've passed things
down before.

Ah, you know
I can't do that.

These idiots just sent
kids back into a school
that's still smoking.

I pass it down,
it's the same
as ruling against.

I know.
I just wanted to make
sure you knew that.

I asked you here
for your counsel, Wilbur,
not a lecture.

Sorry.

(EXHALES)

What if you held off,
delayed your ruling?

(SCOFFS)
Delaying the inevitable,
that's all that would be.

No. You delay to allow
the people of Durham
to reach their own decision.

I'm not following, Wilbur.

(EXHALES)

I know a guy.
(CHUCKLES) You know a guy?

Yes, I know a guy.

He runs a department
at Shaw University
down in Raleigh.

He does this thing.
He holds charrettes.

Cha-what?

They're kind of, uh, these
official community summits

with people from both sides
of the problem.

They're called charrettes.
He's had some pretty
good results.

Wilbur, get this guy
of yours up here.

(PHONE RINGS)

Bill? Wilbur Hobby's
on the phone.

Wilbur Hobby.

Why does this phone call
worry me?

(CHUCKLES) Well,
what a coincidence.

I was hoping
it would worry you.

(BILL LAUGHS)

How are you, Wilbur?

Looks like you're having
some trouble up there.

Well, nothing a heavy dose
of Bill Riddick can't solve.

Hello?

Look, Bill, I, uh...
I heard
York went well.

York, Pennsylvania,
isn't Durham,
North Carolina, Wilbur.

Well, all the more reason.
We need you.

Now, look, you're the only one
that does this.

Besides, it'll get you
out of the house.

Delores even said
you're driving her crazy.

(CHUCKLES)

We've been driving
each other crazy.

All right, Wilbur.

All right.
Great.

I'll see you in
a few hours, Bill.
A... A few hours?

(DIAL TONE)
Hello?

Now, I've asked
Bill Riddick here

to conduct a 10-day
community charrette

so that the citizens of Durham
can finally come
to a resolution

on the school integration
question.

Now, the city council
will abide this resolution

and enact the will
of the people.

That gutless fool.

"Abide"?

"Abide"?
It's not even defined.

He's making us
define it.

What are we gonna
say to the press?

Nothing.

At least not till
we get a legal opinion.

And, in the meantime,
what in good Christ
is a charrette?

(POP SONG PLAYING ON RADIO)

(BELL DINGS)

Uh, yeah,
we don't sell gasoline
to niggers here.

I'm not looking
for a fill-up.
Mr. Ellis?

My name
is Bill Riddick.

Yeah?

Uh...

Wilbur Hobby
suggested I...

Wilbur Hobby
sent you here?
Yeah.

He said I should
come see you, yeah.

He said you represent
a great many people
in this town.

He'd be right
about that.

Well, Mr. Ellis,
I've been asked
to organize a charrette.

I read the newspaper.

Oh. Well, so then you know...
Hold on.

Are you here to ask me
to come to your
integration meetings?

Well, for now,
just lunch.

Lunch?
Tomorrow,

with, uh, with me
and with Ann Atwater.

Come again?

Well, I was hoping
you'd come to lunch
with me and Ann Atwater.

Ann Atwater?
Ann Atwater.

(STIFLED LAUGH)

What did Wilbur Hobby
think I'd say to that?

Well, he thought
you would say no.

He'd be right about that, too.
Well, see here,
Mr. Ellis...

You're not from
around here, uh, Mister...
Riddick.

So I'll help you out.

Folks in this town,
and especially me,

want niggers to stay
in their own schools.

That's definitely
one of the options,
Mr. Ellis.

Right, um, I'm gonna
give you my card.

The local number
is on the back.

You change your mind...
Boy, you better
get on out of here.

(SPITS)

Go on, git.
Like I told you.

Mr. Ellis, I hope
you reconsider.

This charrette is happening.

So, uh, if you truly
represent your people,

represent them.

Have a good day.

CARVIE: We know
this makes you
uncomfortable, C. P.

But, God damn it,
it's the best thing that
could have happened.

"Uncomfortable" isn't
exactly the word
I'd use for it, Carvie.

C. P., what do you
think would happen

if a lily-white liberal was
in there instead of you?

Nothing good.

A liberal and Ann Atwater
will pass integration

faster than a hot knife
through butter.

That's what don't
make no sense.
STEELE: What don't?

This Riddick nigger wants
school integration, right?

So why me?
Why put that on himself?

I should've been
the last person on his list.

C. P., this judge...

Our hands may be tied.

But it won't matter
if we have a friend
on the inside.

And especially
if that friend
is C. P. Ellis.

Oh, Charlie, I...

He's about to hand you
the keys to school
integration,

and you're going
to lock the door.

(SOFTLY SINGING HYMN)

Hey! How you doing?
How your dad doing?
MAN: Good.

How late is he?

Twenty minutes.

C. P. coming to have lunch
with two niggers. (SCOFFS)

He'd just as soon
shoot us than do that.

Y'all northern folks
just don't get it.

I'm from North Carolina, Ann.

Oh, yeah? Where about?

Hertford County.
That still north of here.

He's here.

ANN: Here he go.

Would you look
at that crazy white man?

Just pacing
back and forth.

I ain't waiting for that
cracker. I'm hungry.

Mr. Ellis? Please,
come sit down.

Well, uh, okay.

Um, thank you
both for coming.

Hopefully, this is
a first step...

Hey, I... I'm not gonna
sit here one minute longer
than I have to, so...

ANN: Well, go on
and git, then.

That way, me and Bill
can have a civilized
conversation.

(SCOFFS)
Mr. Ellis,

um, I'm holding
a steering committee meeting
here on Saturday.

And I've invited people
who represent all types
of citizens in this community.

All types?
Only two types
in this town.

Well, whites, black,
liberals, conservatives.

For a charrette
to be successful,

we need to bring together
a large number
of diverse people.

(SCOFFS) The only folk
he gonna bring,

they're gonna
be wearing sheets
and hoods.

Ain't that right, C. P.?

(STAMMERS) Hold on...

If you already have
a meeting set,

what the hell am I doing,
sitting here?

Well, you're here,
both of you,

because I need two co-chairs
to lead the charrette.

(LAUGHS)

I'm gonna think
about it, you know,

'cause I wouldn't want
your type taking over this...
What'd you call it?

Charade? (LAUGHS)

I don't know what
you're up to either.

I don't like it.
You could use me
for my help. That's fine.

But I am not gonna
work with that cracker.

So you need to
look somewhere else.

This corn bread is good.

WOMAN: I would love it.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

Let me help you
clear this.

It was delicious.
Very nice of you.
Thank you.

You outdid yourself,
Mrs. Keith.

Oh, well, thank you.

Ten days is a long time
with them people, Garland.

It's also a long time
for them to be making
decisions on integration

without us having a voice.

That's not gonna
make it any easier
to sell to my people.

Well, you're their
president, C. P.

You just make
them understand.

Hell, it says so right there
in your Klan creed,

"Failure to know your enemy
gives them aid and comfort"
and all that.

I mean, the truth is,
C. P., we... We don't know
the enemy at all.

Do we?

All right, you're yanking
on the trigger
too hard.

Trick is to think of it as
pressing the trigger,
not pulling on it.

Ten-hut!

Y'all heed this man, now.

Mr. Kelly here's an expert.

He even knows that word
for when you breathe out
before you shoot.

What's that called again?

Respiratory pause.
(MEN LAUGH)

See? What'd I tell you?

All right, one more,
then next up.
MAN: All right.

You didn't care too much for
that conversation last night.

Well, when it's me
and you, it's fine.

I ain't much for talking
in mixed company.

Well, we do need
people there, Floyd.

And Carvie asked me
personally, so...

Yeah, I know it, C. P.
And I'll back you up on it.

But, uh, be careful.
Careful of what?

If you wrestle with a pig...
(GUN COCKS)

You're gonna get muddy.

BILL: Meeting these
benchmarks successfully
will depend entirely

on the dedication
and enthusiasm
of this steering committee.

And, uh, we haven't
got much time
to get organized,

so priority one
will be to get the word out

and to recruit as many
citizens as possible
to come and participate.

All right, before
we go any further,

we need to elect
our two co-chairs.

I nominate Ann Atwater

and C. P. Ellis.

But he's a Klansman.

And we're talking
about integration.

Uh, Mr. Riddick,
I already done told you
I won't work with that man.

(SCOFFS) That'd be
just fine with me.

Everybody know it would be
just fine with you, C. P.

Just hold on
a minute now, Ann.

I'd like to hear from C. P.
on this. Mr. Ellis.

Well, I'm not in the habit of
interviewing for a job that
I don't really want.

But you're asking,
so I'll tell you.

Everybody talking about
nigras want this,
nigras need that.

This whole thing started
'cause of what nigras
are demanding.

What about white folks?
What about what we want?

You already got
everything you want.
No, we don't.

And now the niggers
in this town are trying

to take away
everything we got left.

They don't want us
to play "Dixie"
at our schools.

That's our song.

They're angry when
we fly the Confederate flag
at ball games.

And why should one of our boys
have to play ball
under that flag?

That flag is our
proud Southern history.

Well, it might be your proud
Southern history, C. P.,

but it sure as hell
ain't ours.

C. P. : All right.

You know, integrated schools
have blacks-only assemblies,

blacks-only
Martin Luther King
this, that.

That ain't my history.

You wanna talk about schools?

Let's talk about schools,
Mr. Riddick.

My sons don't have it
easy in school.

Their teachers ain't even
teaching them half the time.

And you want to
throw them together
with a bunch of nigras?

It's only gonna
get worse for them.

You ask why I'm here.
To protect my boys.

So all the better
if she don't get in my way.

I'll sit with you,
Brother Ellis.

(MURMURING)

Howard, have you lost
your everlasting mind,

calling that man
your brother?

You're offering
to co-chair, Howard?

Uh, I am.

And that's an honest man
right there, Ann.

The only honest man
that's stood up today.

He hates me. (CHUCKLES)
And he told me why.

But then he opened up
his heart about his sons.

Why is he
agreeing with me?

I don't know.
That means
he's my brother.

(WHISPERS) Did that nigger
just call me "brother"?

(LAUGHS)

Y'all hear that?

I'll tell you
what you are,
Howard.

You one of them
"big niggers,"
ain't you?

You done went up north
and got your college degree,

your fancy cars,
and your fancy suits.

Meanwhile, we down here
on the ground, getting dirty.

Oh, no, no.
Wait a minute, Ann.

Now, the Black Solidarity
Committee has been working
within this community...

Oh, shut up, Howard!
You're late to the fight!

And you have no idea
what real black folk
go through.

You don't deserve a seat.
He don't deserve that chair.
He don't.

Calling that man
his brother.

So are you saying
you'll accept now,
Miss Atwater?

(SHUTTER CLICKS)

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

I'm going to continue to fight
for us white working men,

even if I have to sit
in a room with that awful
Ann Atwater to do it.

(CHEERING, APPLAUDING)

C. P. Ellis
don't scare me.

We're gonna beat school
segregation once and for all.

Well, she's living
in her own fantasy world.

Folks in this town
like things the way they are.

ALL: (SINGING) Happy birthday,
dear Larry

Happy birthday to you

(EXHALES)

WOMAN: Good morning,
Mr. Ellis.

Co-chair office
is just around
the corner.

Thank you.

All I'm saying
is our children
are way behind.

Almost a full year.

WOMAN: Well, just having
white teachers isn't gonna
help them catch up.

ANN: White teachers?

They already got
some white teachers.

It ain't that.
It's about the books.

Newer books don't account
for a whole year.

Newer ain't got
nothing to do with it.

Baby, what's your name?
In the red shirt.
What's your name?

Miles.
ANN: Miles.

What year did you
just finish, Miles?

My junior year.
Mmm-hmm.

And what year
were your books for?

The textbooks were
for the tenth-graders, ma'am.

(SCOFFS)

(MURMURING, APPLAUDING)

Well, how's that
gonna work?

How's what
gonna work, C. P.?

You're gonna put
a bunch of black kids
who are a year behind

with white kids
who aren't.

How are you gonna
teach that class?

You can't.
It just ain't possible.

So you go ahead
and get the right books,

but you can't
teach that class.
No way. No way.

(MURMURING)

Okay. So, tomorrow,
we'll break into
our smaller groups

and begin hammering out
the different
resolution points.

But we meet back here
each night for wrap-up.

Also, you've noticed
these two tables
up here on the stage.

Along with Mr. Ellis
and Miss Atwater,

10 more of you
will be chosen

to fill these seats
as part of our senate.

That senate will vote
on the resolutions on the
final night of the charrette.

Okay. Unless
there's anything else,

I think we could
all use some sleep.

Yes, Reverend?

Mr. Riddick, it's been
quite a tense day.

It may be wise if we have
some positive note
to end each session.

Something to lift our spirits.

I think that's a good idea,
Reverend.

What did you have in mind?

Well, I notice
we have a piano over here.

What if we all sing
gospel music at the end
of each night?

Okay.
MAN: Nigger music.

(CROWD MURMURS)

What did you say?

I believe he said
that's nigger music.

Gospel music
don't have nothing to do
with black or white.

It's about God.
Praise God,
but he... He's right.

Gospel music
is absolutely for
black folk.

I'm a bit surprised that
the reverend would suggest
something so one-sided.

I'm a little disappointed.
Okay.

I can appreciate that, C. P.

These people
would like gospel music.

So, uh, how would you like
to represent your people?

Well, I'd like to display
our Klan materials
here at the charrette.

(CROWD MURMURING)

Klan materials?

Mmm-hmm.

It's not the same thing.
I know that.

We can't let him do it.

That stuff's full of hate.
That's all it is.

He gave on the gospel.
I don't give a damn
what he gave on.

Well, he gave, so we give.

Bill Riddick, if that stuff
shows up here,
it's gonna be a riot.

And you can bet your ass
I'm gonna be the one
leading the charge.

Oh, you gonna get
all Roughhouse Annie
on me now, huh?

Yeah, I heard tell about you.
All talking and no listening.

We're here trying
to understand each other
for once and stop fighting.

I'll stop fighting
when there ain't nothing
left to fight for.

Then you're gonna be going
uphill the rest of your life,
Ann.

In the meantime,
I'm-a keep that man
here talking

as long as I possibly can.

BILL: C. P.

C. P.

This, um, display
you want to bring.

We're willing to go
along with it.

But there'll be folks not wild
about the sight of it.

So, uh, you're gonna need
to provide some security,

someone to watch over it.
I'm not gonna be
responsible for it.

(BLOWS)

This is my security.

That gun
don't belong here.

But I like to have it
close in case I need it
to do my talking for me.

This here does
the talking for me.

I have a Bible.
Oh, you do?
Have you read it?

Of course, I've read it.

Even go to church
on Sundays.
Hmm.

Well, then you
ought to know, C. P.

Know what?

Same God
made you made me.

That's everything,
Mr. Ellis.

Looks good, Ben.
Real good.

Thank you, Mr. Ellis.

Divided according to race.

Uh, six black, six white.

The senate members
will float in and out of
different working groups,

observing and participating.

On the final night
of the charrette,

you will vote to either
adopt or reject

the resolutions
presented to you.

So we're
the final word?

Final word, Howard.

Two-thirds majority
to pass each resolution.

Eight votes to pass?

Well, then we should be able
to handpick the other
four white members.

Well, then we might as well
go on home then.

C. P., that's not practical.
We need to be as fair
as possible.

Now, I'm gonna have to side
with my friend here.

I mean, we can surely
all agree that every Negro
in the building

is gonna vote yes
on school integration.

That's six automatic votes,
no matter what.

Same's not true
for every last
white person.

There's a bunch of liberals
sitting out there right now.

Look, there are four
prominent organizations

represented
in this room right here.

The Klan,
The White Citizens' Council,

Black Solidarity Committee,
and Operation Breakthrough.

You each get your votes.

You want fair?

We'll pick eight regular
members.

Regular. No black power
people, no Klan.

They're excluded.

Agreed?

None of her people?
BILL: No.

And none of your own.

Hey!

What do you think
you're doing, huh?

Leave that alone.

Boys need to be reading this
instead of ripping it up.

The Klan is giving you
a window to look through.

You need to read this stuff
and understand it.

That way,
you understand them.

Okay? You got
the upper hand.
Got it?

Get on out of here, Charles.
Give me that.

I should tell your daddy.
You know better.

(EXHALES)

Kids don't make
no sense. They...

"...professional experts
from in the community
and from outside

"will stand by listening,
learning."

(CONTINUES READING
INDISTINCTLY)

Ann? Ann?
What?

Where are you going?
I'm going home.

Look, I know
you're upset, Ann.
You don't know nothing!

I told you it was a damn
fool idea to let that man
bring that stuff in here.

Ain't no good
gonna come from it!

And I'll tell you
something else,
Bill Riddick.

You're an even bigger fool
if you think you're gonna
make any change

with this here meeting.

Is that right?
That's right!

'Cause as long
as the C. P. Ellises
of the world

keep getting their way,
ain't nothing gonna change.

Yeah, you talk
about Roughhouse Annie?

Keep Uncle-Tomming
that cracker

and you're gonna
see Roughhouse Annie.

Go on back up north
where you belong
'cause you don't know nothing.

Marion Wilson.

Okay.
The other bowl now.

GARLAND: Sam Watford.

Is that Scooter Watford's boy?
HORACE: Yeah.

You won't
have a problem there.

C. P. : You sure?
Pretty sure.

I remember he kept losing jobs
during them boycotts.

Still pretty sore about it.

I don't like that mustache,
tell you what.

All right. Earl Weeks.

(LAUGHS)

He's... He's with us.

GARLAND: How do you know?

He's been a deacon
at my church
since I was a kid.

He don't like nobody.

(LAUGHTER)

That's a good man.
Two for two.

Okay, we're gonna have
an issue with this gal,
Maddy Mays.

The blonde
over by the window.

GARLAND: Yeah, she's a nurse.

C. P. : Yeah, over at
Durham Clinic.

Real people person.
I think that's one
to worry about.

Last is Lee Trombley.

(GROANS) Trombley Hardware.

Off of Route Nine.

What do we know?

I don't know about him, C. P.
Might be a problem there.

He took over
after his daddy passed.

Family man, two kids, I think.

C. P. : And?

HORACE: Everybody that
works for him is a nigger.

Every one.

And they all
thick as thieves.

(TAPS NOTEBOOK)

All right, I guess it's time
we get acquainted
with Lee Trombley.

Can I help you, sir?

Uh...

Lee around?

No, sir.
He's not here right now.

But I'm the manager.
Something I can help you with?

Uh, no. Um...

I'll come back another time.

(DOOR OPENS)

(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(RAIN PATTERING)

Okay.

Any thoughts,
uh, insights?

You don't have
to raise your
hand, Maddy.

I think it's nice
to see people
talking for once.

That ain't talking.
It's yelling.

Well, okay, it's arguing.

But people are
listening to one another.
They really are.

They're arguing.
I've been listening
to it for days,

and still no one's
answered how integration's
gonna help my kids.

Well, it sure
can't hurt them.
It sure as hell can.

Well, I'd like to know how.
Well, for one,

I don't want my daughter
sitting next to a Negro boy
in class.

I don't want her
eating next to one,

and I don't want her being
at a school dance with one.

So you care
about your daughter?

And you don't want
to see her get hurt.

What's your point?

Well, my point is,
that is what we do
as parents.

When they're little,
we try to keep them

from touching the stove,
so they don't burn.

We teach them to take
small bites,
so they don't choke.

We worry about their first day
at school, the first time
they drive a car,

their very first job.

See, we want them
to avoid the pain
that we experienced.

(CHUCKLES)
All right. All right.

We all gonna sit around,
hold hands, sing "Kumbaya"?

We see what
you're doing, Howard.
And what is that, C. P.?

That there's no difference
between blacks and whites,
right?

'Cause we all worry
about our kids.

We're all the same, right?

Actually, no, C. P.

We're not.

See, I left some things out.

I left out that
black folks have

a whole different menu
of pain to worry about.

Our kids get spit on
for no reason.

Our kids have to move
on the sidewalk to let
white folks pass,

or they get beat.

Our kids aren't allowed
to sit where they want,

play where they want,
go to school where they want.

See, this is the pain
they experience every day

that we... We can't...
Can't spare them from.

And that is a...

It's a helpless feeling.

A more helpless feeling
than you could ever know.

I fell right
into that one.
Yeah.

Shit. You see
Trombley's face?
(CHUCKLES)

Did you get anywhere
with Trombley last night?

He wasn't there.

They were right, though.
He got a black manager.

Well, where are we
gonna get him, then?

Right now. We're gonna
crowd him at lunch.

Mmm.

BILL: Okay.
Everybody, listen up.

We're going to be trying
something different today.

There are name cards
at each seat in this
lunch room.

This will be your seat
for the rest of the charrette.

You may not move
your name card.

And you guessed it,
the person sitting next to you

will not be
the same color as you.

What?
And...

And no discussion of issues
during this hour.

Talk about something else.

C. P. : (GROANS) One more week.

(INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE)

(ANN SINGING SOFTLY)

(CLEARS THROAT)

I can't do it. Mmm-mmm.

Mmm-mmm!
Mmm-mmm-mmm.

These fish sticks
is dry.

Well, hmm,
if we can't change
anything else,

we can sure demand
better school lunches, huh?

We're not supposed
to talk about issues.

I guess you're right.

Howard...

Howard was wrong
in there, weren't he?

Wrong?

Mmm-hmm.

Well, I mean, he weren't
wrong about what black kids
go through,

but he was wrong about
you not knowing what
helpless is, weren't he?

What does that mean?

You got a boy
out at Murdock,
don't you, C. P.?

I don't wanna
talk about that.
I'm just trying...

Ann, don't talk
about my son.

Don't ever talk
about my son.
Okay.

We're willing to go
to summer school,

even nights, just to catch up
with the white students.

Good Lord never
intended for blacks
to have equal rights.

(INAUDIBLE SINGING)

(INAUDIBLE CONVERSATIONS)

Daddy!
What's wrong?
What's wrong, sugar?

It's Larry.

(BOY SCREAMING)

C. P. : What's going on?

Who is this?
Alvin.
He moved in Friday.

Hey, hey. Okay.
Shh, shh.
Shh, shh, shh.

(SCREAMING CONTINUES)

Hey, pumpkin.
(GRUNTING)

C. P. : Go! It's okay.
NURSE: Okay.

No monster.
No monster, son.
No monster.

I got your book.
I'm gonna read you...

Shh, shh, shh.
Shh, shh, shh.

VICKIE: It's Vickie.

Here. Read to him.
Okay.

Come here, pumpkin.
Read it to him.
I'll be right back.

Vickie's gonna read to you.
It's your sister, Vickie.

Get him out.

Hey, who's in charge here?

Can I help you,
Mr. Ellis?
No.

Is there someone else
I can talk to?

One moment.

Hey. He...

(BELL DINGING)

Hey. I need help.
NURSE: I'll be right there.

No, sir. No, sir.
I need help.

My son needs help.
Step outside that door.

I need to get my son
out of that room.
Yes, sir.

Step outside for a moment.

Now calm it down.
I need to get my son
out of that room.

Your son is gonna
be just fine.
He's scared.

He's not fine.
He needs to be moved
right away.

Or that other one
needs to be moved.

My son's scared.
Look. Look.

It's important that
our patients stay in
familiar surroundings

'cause if they're moved
too often,
they get agitated...

A private room then.
(STAMMERS) Give Larry
a private room, please.

We have regulations
here at Murdock.

I don't care
about your regulations.

Now you move him,
or I will. How's that?
No, you will not. Mr. Ellis!

Call security right now.

You calm yourself down.

(EXHALES)

God.

How much...
How much is it again?

A private room
is $75 more per week.

Now do you wanna
pay for that?

I got $16.
Mr. Ellis, listen to me.

Larry will get used to it,
all right?

You should've told me.

No one told me
that boy would be
in this room.

It was...
No one told me.

It was a last minute...
You should've told me.

(SLAPS COUNTER)

(MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

C. P. : I'm trying
to tell you now.

His roommate was wailing
and screaming and...

But they wouldn't
let me move him.

I wanna take him home.

He's better off with us.

He don't belong there.

He ain't like them others.

MARY: Yes, Claiborne,
he is.

I'm seeing him tomorrow.
I'm sure he's fine.

You okay?

Yeah, I'm just tired,
you know.

I'll see you at home.
I love you.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(MUFFLED GOSPEL SINGING)

(SINGING CONTINUES)
(PEOPLE CLAPPING HANDS
TO SONG)

(SINGING FADES)

Can I help you?

You can't,
but Bernadette can.

One moment.
Thank you.

Miss Atwater!
(CHUCKLES)

Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh.
How have you been?

Oh, baby, I've been good.
How about yourself?

I'm fine. I'm just fine.

Well, what can I
help you with?

Where's that Larry Ellis boy?

(MURMURING)

(SIGHS)

Bernadette.

Yes, Miss Atwater?
I'm gonna need a favor.

But that's not fair.
I know it's
not fair, honey.

But I went back and looked.
Not even half of them
are done yet.

But she never does
any of her charts.

She always expects us
to do them for her.

Well, you and I have to
go over all her work,
or it's gonna be on us.

(ALVIN HUMMING)

Hello?

Hello?

Where's Larry?
Where's my son?

He's not in his room.
What happened?

Nothing happened,
Miss Ellis.

He was moved.

(SONG PLAYING ON RADIO)

It's so nice.

Hey, baby.

It's your mama.

Hey, baby,
it's your mama.

Hi.
Hi.

Let's put on some music.

(VOLUME INCREASES)

(SONG FADES)

What?

No, no, it's good. It's...

It's just, uh...

All right,
I'll see you at home.

I want to talk to you.
Finally.

Look. What you, uh...

(SIGHS) I didn't... I...

I didn't ask for your help.

I can take care
of my own family, okay?

Okay.
Okay.

Okay. It's just
what I do, C. P.

Well, whatever it is you do,
don't do it for me.

I didn't do it for you.

(SIGHS)

Strike one!
Yeah, Chester,
bring the heat!

All right, shut your hole.
That ain't helping.

Well, don't pay him no mind,
boy. He ain't going nowhere
with two outs.

They'll hold them.
Be all right.

(BOTTLE OPENS)

I'll be right back.

(BAT HITS BALL)
(CHEERING)

Your boy playing today?
Oh!

Mr. Ellis.

Uh, no. My nephew.

You can call me C. P.
You want a beer?
Oh, thanks.

UMPIRE: Strike!

So how do you
think it's going?
The charrette.

Um...
(CHUCKLES)

It's interesting.

It's nice to hear
both sides, you know.

Yeah. Yeah.

We got some
decisions to make.

UMPIRE: Strike three!
You're out!

(SCATTERED CHEERING)

Say, that nigger fellow?
The one that comes, uh...

He runs your hardware store?

Yeah. About two years now.

His name's Emmett.

And you trust him
to... To run things?

Sorry, I... I'm just curious.

I don't think I could
trust one of them to run
my filling station.

Other than my wife,
he's the only person
I trust.

How's that?

Well, he and I, we...

We were
in Vietnam together.

Oh, you were in Vietnam?
Yeah.

Two tours.
Got out in '68.

You?

No. No, I...

No.

Yeah.

Well, look, Mr. Ellis,
I know who you are.

And I know what you
want from me.

But I just don't...
No, no, Lee.

Any man who served bravely
in this country's military

doesn't need to hear
anything more from me.

You vote how you want to.

I'll respect it.

Mr. Ellis?

Emmett served
this country, too.

And he was
a lot braver than me.

All right, folks.
For our last day,

I thought we'd go
on a little field trip.

Where to?
You gotta vote
Monday night.

I think it's important
we get a firsthand look

at what we've been
talking about
the past few weeks.

BILL: I know it's been
a long day, but this
is the last one.

Please be careful.
Watch your step.

ANN: Ain't no better
over here. This is a mess.

They gotta keep the doors open
because of the smell.

I imagine so.
It helps.

(CHILDREN CHATTERING)

That's a lot of kids
for summer school.

Uh, that ain't
summer school, C. P.

They still trying to finish up
from last year.

Yes, because of the
split shifts after the fire,

the students are really only
getting about three hours
of schooling per day.

So they're still catching up.

Hey, how you doing?
Did you get them shoes
I sent you?

Mama! (CHUCKLES)
Hey.

Oh, this your girl?

Hey.
Hi.

Marilynn, this here
is, uh, Mr. Ellis.

Oh.

Well, I better
get to class.

Okay.

(EXHALES)

She looked at me
like I was some kind
of monster.

What'd you expect?

I don't know.
I'm trying to do
right by us,

make it all better.

And how's this gonna
make it all better?

Hell, I'm...
(SCOFFS)

They wanted to integrate
restaurants. So we did.

Then came
buses and bathrooms
and playgrounds.

Look, I'm over
there right now,

supporting more funding
to make their schools better.

If they have nicer schools...
(KICKS CABINET)

...then they'll stop pushing
to integrate ours.

The one thing
we have left.

Then maybe
we'll all stop fighting.

Then what you gonna do?

What?

When everybody stops fighting,
who you gonna fight?

(DOORBELL RINGS)

ANN: Okay. Coming.

Can I help you?

Hi, Ann. Um...

I'm Mary Ellis.
Claiborne's wife.

Oh.

I'm sorry for just
dropping by. I, um...

I wanted to thank you
for, um, what you did

for our family,
for our son Larry.

Please, come in.

Thanks.
Go on in.

Hope you like sweet tea.
I do.

So Larry is doing
better, huh?

He is.

You know,
sometimes it's hard

to keep him calm.

Mmm.

Well, has, uh...
Has Larry always
been like that?

Yeah.

You know, when he was
little, it just...

He started not to be
able to do things.

(CHUCKLES)

Has C. P.
always been like that?

Oh.
(BOTH LAUGH)

Yes.

More or less.

You know, he used to be
a really good baseball player.

Really?
Showed a lot
of promise.

Colleges came and looked
at him, right over here,
Liberty Park.

Where we met, actually.

Came up to me.
He's so nervous.

Couldn't even talk.
So handsome.

Oh.
(LAUGHING)

What?

C. P. handsome?
Oh.

He was.

Okay.

Mmm-hmm.
Oh.

Thank you again.

You're welcome.

Ann.
Yes?

Claiborne is, uh...

He's doing the best
he can.

Bye.
Goodbye, Miss Ellis.

(GUNFIRE)

Give me a minute
with C. P., would you?

Sure thing, Floyd.

Hey. What do
you say, Floyd?

Got one of those?

See the paper?

Nothing I could do about that.
All part of the charrette
business.

It don't look right.

It don't matter what
it looks like, Floyd.
Matters what it is.

Oh, yeah?

Your wife making friends
with Ann Atwater what it is?

What?

Couple of the boys
saw them today.

How am I supposed
to explain that?

She did something
for Larry is all.

Mary was just
probably thanking her.

Niggers is doing you
favors now, C. P.?

Oh, stop with
the bullshit, Floyd.

Mary's always
gone her own way.

Has nothing to do with
how I do my business.
Never has.

Now you got something
to say, say it.

Look around you, C. P.

All these guys,
they look up to you.

They need you.

I don't know what
you're talking about.
I'm here, ain't I?

Are you?
I'm doing
everything I can.

Hey. Is Mr. Trombley in?

Uh, yes, sir. He's...
Can I help you?

Mr. Trombley.

We're from Durham Fire
and Life Safety Department.
Uh...

We've got a random
inspection order here.

On a Sunday?

We do them
when they come in.

We'll need access to your
breaker panels

and your hazardous materials
storage area.

Yeah, all right. Sure.

Uh, come on back.
Right this way.

So, Mr. Trombley,
it, uh, seems

your circuit breaker panels
are not up to code.

You need at least
30-inch clearance
on both sides,

and you've got
a little under two feet.

Oh... (STAMMERS)

They've been like that
for 20 years,
since I was a kid.

Nevertheless, that needs
to be rectified before
you can, uh, reopen.

Reopen?
Yeah.

We gotta shut you down
indefinitely.

What? Oh, no. I...
See, I can't shut down.

I got a business here.
The...

(CHUCKLES) What are they
supposed to do?

I'm gonna need them
boys out of here.

Now.

Like I said,

if you fix things,

you'll be open again
in no time.

You have a nice day,
Mr. Trombley.

My, my, my.

Aren't you
a pretty little thing?

Who are you?

What do you want?

Take it easy, Maddy.
We're just, uh,

(CHUCKLES)

friends.

Please don't.

Shh.

It's okay.

None of these pictures
have niggers in them.

We heard you might
be a friend of niggers.

But I don't see
none on this wall.

Just to be sure, though,
we're gonna need
to hear you say it.

Say it?

Yes.

Say it.

That you ain't
a friend of niggers.

(HESITATING) I am not
a friend of niggers.

Again.

(WHIMPERING) I'm not
a friend of niggers.

(SCOFFS)

Well, then.

We must've got
some bad information.

Guess there was no need
for the visit after all.

Thanks for the beer,
Maddy.

(COUNTRY MUSIC
PLAYING ON JUKEBOX)

Hey.
Beer, C. P.?

Yeah. Thanks, Doreen.

(BOTTLE OPENS)

(WILEY LAUGHING)

C. P.!

Hey, C. P.!

Hey. What do you say, boys?

Come on, sit down.

Nah.

Been a long week.

Just gonna have
one beer and go.

Oh, come on, C. P.
We celebrating.

Yeah. What... What are you
celebrating, Wiley?

We celebrating
you getting
your votes, C. P.

Well, little early for that,
don't you think?

(LAUGHS)
But have fun.

What do you know
about votes, Wiley?

(LAUGHING)

(DOOR OPENS)

You shut him down?

What are you
doing here, C. P.?

You shut him down?
What are you
talking about?

Lee Trombley.
Is that what
this is about?

You didn't have to
do that, Carvie.

You didn't have
to do that.

This is not a good time
to show up, C. P.

I got donors in there.
You haven't answered
my question.

We're just trying to
give you a leg up is all.

Call it insurance,
whatever you want.

You got a big vote
tomorrow.

That man served
his country, Carvie.

Two tours in Vietnam.
He's a working man
with a family.

Well...
"Protect the white
working man."

Isn't that what you
always said, what we
always talked about?

C. P., sometimes,
there are necessary evils.

Necessary evils
for the greater good.

And it's my job to make
those kind of decisions.

You're just gonna have
to trust me on this.

You should get back
to your party.

C. P.? Are we good?

Hey, Floyd called.
Said they want you
at Klavern.

Klavern?

Mmm.

Something about
a meeting at 8:30
or something.

What? You didn't know?

Oh.

You all right?

You look tired.

Yeah, I'm all right.

You all right?
(CHUCKLES) Yeah,
I'm all right.

(CROWD CHATTERING)

(CHATTERING STOPS)

(INDISTINCT WHISPERS)
He's here.

Come on up, C. P.

Hey.

What's going on?

Distinguished Klansmen,

every now and again,

extraordinary things
occur within our walls

that need to be addressed.

As your state leader,
it is my job to address them.

In our fight
against communism,

against integration,
against mongrelism,

we turn to those among us

who can lead us
into a pure,
white future.

We have one such man
here in North Carolina.

Your Exalted Cyclops,
C. P. Ellis.

(APPLAUSE, CHEERING)

So, in recognition
of this man's tireless effort,

for his forethought
and vision

in establishing
the UKA's first Youth Corps...

I guess I'll just read this.

It says,
"The United Klans of America

"hereby bestow upon
Mr. Claiborne Paul Ellis

"the honor of being named

"North Carolina's
Exalted Cyclops
of the Year, 1971."

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

What do you mean,
you're not the right person?

Baby, the vote is tonight.

Yeah, but there's gotta
be somebody else.
There's nobody else, Maddy.

You heard everything.
You've seen everything.

No one else
can take your seat.

What brought this on, Maddy?

What happened?

Nothing. I just...
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)

It's nothing. Um, it's fine.
If you'll just excuse me.

ANN: Mmm-hmm.

Maddy Mays
don't want to vote.

Just like that,
out of the blue.
(SNAPS FINGERS)

What'd you
do to that girl?
Now, Ann...

I saw the way she looked...
Don't you "Now, Ann" me.

You coward.

I ain't no coward.
Yeah, you a coward.

Couldn't do it in here.
Too many people with
they own thoughts.

You couldn't win in here,
so you went, and you
fixed it out there.

I don't have
to listen to this.
You're gonna listen today.

What you
so afraid of, C. P.?

I ain't afraid of nothing.
Yeah, you is.
You're afraid.

You afraid
you're gonna
lose control.

You afraid you're gonna lose
what you ain't even got, C. P.!

You're poor,
just like the rest of us!

You ain't got nothing
except problems.

Talking about you...
You in control.

You ain't no more in control
than the man in the moon!

You're a bigger coward
than I thought you was.

(FOOTSTEPS DEPART)

MALE REPORTER:
The five o'clock news hour.

With the highly anticipated
charrette vote just a few
hours away now,

we caught up with
WDNC's Ken Meadows,

who was with some students

gathered outside
the charrette site
earlier today.

MEADOWS: Do you think
it's gonna be okay?

CHILD 1: Well,
it might be all right.

CHILD 2: I think
the same thing, too.

CHILD 3: Uh-uh. I don't.
MEADOWS: Why not?

I don't. Because, see,
our first day
that I went out there

where we had to scramble,
you know.

But it was okay.

GIRL: It doesn't matter
what school you go to,
it's gonna be the same.

You get your education
just the same.

I'm fixing to enroll now,
and it'll be my school.

MEADOWS: Are you concerned
for your daughter,
or is she concerned?

WOMAN: Well,
I'm concerned for her,

and I think she's concerned
for her education.

MEADOWS: Laverne, I just
talked to your mother.

She said you're
a little concerned.
Are you?

LAVERNE: I'm very much
concerned.
MEADOWS: Why?

Oh, because I wanna...
I wanna be very sure
about this year,

and I want to really know
what they're doing,

and I think that it will
work out if everybody
cooperates together

because, I mean,
this is not the,
probably, first time...

(CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)

(BREATH QUAVERS)

(LOUD CHATTERING)

You did great work, Ann.
No.

The one thing those people
came here for,
we didn't get it for them.

Not true. Some of them
will be delighted.

You know, I never
really thought
you was an Uncle Tom.

Yes, you did.

(BOTH CHUCKLING)

"Roughhouse Annie," huh?

Don't you forget it.

Welcome, welcome.

(APPLAUSE)

Well, what a journey
it's been, folks.

You've all shown
such dedication
these past two weeks.

And regardless
of the outcome,
you should be proud.

(APPLAUSE)

The resolution you've put
before this senate is clear.

It is thoughtful,
and, above all,
it is brave.

This resolution
is in three parts.

After I read out each one,

I will call the senate members
up to cast their votes.

Each part requires
a two-thirds majority
to pass.

That's eight votes.

Part one.

Two students,
one black, one white,

to be appointed every year
to the Durham school board.

I vote yes.

Mr. Watford.

I'm a no.

I vote yes.
(APPLAUSE)

BILL: Part one
passes with eight votes.

Part two.

This calls the summer classes
be included in the school
board budget,

so the black students become
level with their white peers.

Mr. Weeks.

I vote no.
(SCATTERED APPLAUSE)

BILL: Mr. Cox.

COX: I vote yes.

I vote yes.

BILL: Part two passes
with eight votes.

(APPLAUSE)

Part three.

Public school integration.

In summary,

this calls for full
and immediate integration

starting in the fall semester
of this school year.

The resolution defines
full integration
by setting a race ratio

of no less than 25%
of any race at each school.

And further, that busing
be made available to students

to aid in the implementation
of this ratio.

We'll start the vote
on this side with Miss Wilson.

(PEOPLE WHISPERING)

I vote yes.

BILL: Mr. Watford?

I vote no.

(APPLAUSE)

BILL: Mr. Mose.

I vote yes.

(APPLAUSE)

BILL: Mr. Weeks.

I vote "hell no."

(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)

BILL: Mr. Cox?

I vote "hell yes."

(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)

Mr. Trombley.

Thank you, Mr. Riddick.

I believe
in school integration,
and I vote yes.

(APPLAUSE)

It's not gonna matter.

BILL: Reverend.

With the good Lord
as my guide,
I proudly vote yes.

BILL: Miss Mays.

Although I think it should be
considered in the future, I...

I don't believe right now
is the time for integration.

Respectfully, I vote no.

(APPLAUSE)
Hey.

(APPLAUSE QUIETS)

Mr. Clement.

I am honored to have
had the chance to get
to know most of you

these past few weeks,

to work on these
vital issues.

And while I fear
that my vote will be
in vain,

I'm still gonna vote.

And I vote yes
on school integration.

BILL: Mr. Keith.

No.

Miss Atwater.

Yes.

(APPLAUSE)

Looks like we finally
shut her up.

BILL: Mr. Ellis.

(APPLAUSE)
All right.

All right.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

(WHISTLING)

I... I... I...

Thank you.

Uh...
(APPLAUSE QUIETS)

I guess I'd first echo
what Mr. Clement said.

It was good to get to know
some of you, and I...

I know many of you
will be disappointed
with our outcome here.

I, uh...

You know, before I go on,
(CLEARS THROAT)

I'd like to show
you all something.

This is my Klan
membership card.

(SCATTERED LAUGHTER)

I was given this card
12 years ago.

It's been in my wallet
ever since.

In fact, I cried
when they gave me
this card.

And I grew up in a house
where I was taught
men don't cry.

But I cried anyway.

I cried because it was
the first time in my life
I didn't feel alone.

Sure, I was married
with a family.

That's not the kind of alone
I'm talking about.

As a man, you're expected
to take care of that family.

And I was having
a hard time doing that.

We were struggling, so...

There I was.
I was a part
of something now,

something much,
much bigger than me.

And then, when they
made me president, boy,
I was over the moon.

Poor old C. P. Ellis,
president of something.

Whoa. (CHUCKLES)

And it's
a real brotherhood.
It is.

In the Klan,
you look out
for one another.

Nobody is left behind.
Everybody does
for everybody else.

In fact, it says it
right here on this card.

It says, "Non silba,
sed anthar, "

which means,
"Not for oneself,
but for others."

That's our motto.

But, see,
now I got a problem.

There's a problem

'cause there's a lot of that
going around right here
in this room.

People doing for others.

Last two weeks have been
full of people just doing...

Doing for others.

And they're not
just white people.
There's a...

There's a lot of black folk
doing for others, too.

But I'm the president
of the Klan.

I'm supposed
to hate black folk.

I teach people
to hate black folk.

They're supposed
to be inferior to us.

Now, if I don't believe that,

then I have no business being
president of the Klan.

Well, I don't believe it.

So my problem is,

I don't have no need
for this anymore.

Mr. Riddick,
I vote yes.

Jesus!

(CHEERING)

(INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE)

I just don't believe it.

ANN: C. P.?

C. P.?

(PHONE RINGS)

Yeah?

JEB: Where's the key?

Jeb!
Where's the key?

Call the fire department!

Come on.
(BOTH STRAINING)

WOMAN: Thank you.

Next on the agenda
is delivery of the charrette
resolution.

The council recognizes
Miss Atwater.

(PHONE RINGS)

Yeah. Hello?

(LINE DISCONNECTS, DIAL TONE)

Okay, Mr. Ellis.

How many?

Well, you lost
about 650 gallons.

You're lucky
the thing didn't explode.

Yeah, okay.

You want to replace the loss?
I can have a truck here
tomorrow.

No. Let's see how
the rest of the month goes.

All right.

What's this?
Would you sign
both pages?

Thank you, Mr. Ellis.

Change your mind,
give us a call.

Mr. Ellis.
Mmm-hmm?

If you need to
let me go, it's okay.

You know, until
things pick up again.

I appreciate that, Jeb,
but we're not there yet, okay?

So for now, go ahead.
Take your lunch break.

Okay, Mr. Ellis.

All right.

(VEHICLE APPROACHES)
(BELL DINGS)

I hope you didn't come here
to ask me to co-chair
something else.

Nah. I just came
to say goodbye, is all.

Back to Raleigh, huh?
Back to Raleigh.

What trouble
you been causing?

Just organizing.
You know me.
(CHUCKLES)

It's what you do, right?
It's just what I do.

Well, I sure wish you could've
been there when we handed
in our resolution. Mmm.

Old Carvie Oldham
didn't even show up.

(SCOFFS)

Wish I'd seen that.

How are you
doing, C. P.?

Oh, had a little
trouble here.

Just trying to
put it back together.

Yeah, we heard.

I'm so sorry, C. P.

It's okay,
although not sure
it matters much.

Nobody stopping to buy gas
from me these days.

(HORNS HONKING IN DISTANCE)

Well, maybe things
will pick up for you.

What you smiling at?

(CHUCKLING)
(HONKING CONTINUES)

That's just
what I do, C. P.

You know that.
That's just what I do.

(BELL DINGS)
Hey, Jeb.
We got customers.

Gas? (CHUCKLES)

Gas?
JEB: All right, sir.

C. P. : You want gas?

JEB: Yeah, no problem.
C. P. : All right.

She can upset the world
with her mouth
if she wants to.

But everywhere I go,
every time I pick up
a newspaper,

Ann Atwater's been
before the city council,
the county commission,

or she was at some
shopping center boycotting,

or she was downtown
at Woolworths.

And he was woofing
and going on,

and the place
was packed with Klansmen.

This particular night,
C. P. was up raging
and ranting.

That's when I wanted
to cut his head off.

And after
that first meeting,

I actually went home saying,
"This is crazy.

"This is absolutely crazy.
I don't think I wanna do this.

"I mean,
I can make a living
easier than this."

The story was picked up
in The Washington Post.

"Black man
calls Klansman 'brother."'

And, of course, my father,
when he read the story
in The Washington Post,

he thought I had
lost my mind.

In becoming my friend,
C. P. has lost a lot.

Look, you do not make
those changes without
having to pay for them.

I mean, I know
damn well, you know.

You have to pay for it
eventually.

We bonded,
and we are still bonding

until I get mad
with him at times.

But we've made it
through these years,
together 30 years,

and we're still friends.

'Cause there are C. P. Ellises
and Ann Atwaters
in almost every community.

They just need
to be brought together

and experience what
we experienced in Durham
with that charrette.

(INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE)