All language subtitles for Roots-Part 8 1080p x264-x265 - Corrected

Corrections by Chuck

ALEX: Last on Roots...

This here my daddy, Massa Brent.
He a free man.

We got a law here, Mr. Free Man.

You stay in this state more than 60 days,

you get to be plain nigger again.

Then you want me to go?

I'm married to a free man, George Moore.

I ain't about to live
with no slave ever again.

Long live the Confederacy!
It's war, boys! It's war!

Are we gonna whup them Yankees?

(CROWD CHEERING)

Now, look at that rib poking out
right there. See that rib, Evan?

Hmm. Why don't you just
tuck it in for him, Jemmy?

(GRUNTS)

You's all my friends.

You's the only friends
I ever did know in all my life.

You's like my family.

I just want a little kiss.

(SOBBING) Tom.

Tom.

I do believe
you are looking for a whipping.

No.

You ain't gonna do nothing to me.

'Cause I ain't gonna let you, Jemmy Brent.

Now, Captain Brent's brother
has been missing for three days.

Any of you all seen Jemmy Brent, speak up.

You ain't seen the last of me, nigger.

Ha! Ha!

TELEGRAPHER: To all
commanders in the field,

from General Robert E. Lee.

"After four years of arduous service,

"marked by
unsurpassed courage and fortitude,

“the Army of Northern Virginia
has been compelled

"to yield to overwhelming numbers
and resources.

“I need not tell the brave survivors
of so many hard-fought battles,

"who have remained steadfast to the last,

“that I have consented to this result
from no mistrust of them,

"but feeling that valor and devotion

"could accomplish nothing
that could compensate for the loss

"that must attend
the continuance of the contest,

“I determined
to avoid the useless sacrifice

"of those whose past services
have endeared them to their countrymen.

"You will take with you
the satisfaction that proceeds

“from the consciousness
of duty faithfully performed.

(WOMAN SOBBING)

"And I earnestly pray
that a merciful God will extend to you.

"His blessing and protection.”

It's over, folks. The war is over.

God save the Confederacy.

(HOOVES CLACKING)

(DOG BARKS)

Freedom! Freedom!

We's free!

Freedom!

Freedom!

Freel We's free!

Freedom! Freedom! (LAUGHS)

Hey, we're free! We're free!

Freedom!

- Who that, Rufus?
- Young Lewis, from the Harveys' place.

- What was he bellowing?
- Something about we's free, sounded like.

Free? (SCOFFS)

- Nigger must be crazy.
- Yeah, must be.

Come on, mule. Come on! Come on!

(RATTLING)

Lewis, what you standing around for?

We's free.

- Who say that?
- It come over the telegraph.

The war is over. The Southland give up.

Slavery's no more!

Lewis, you be fooling with me, I'll...

Not fooling you about freedom,
big brother.

I's here to tell you.
It is the God's truth.

Free?

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)

(ALL CHEERING AND LAUGHING)

- Mama?
- Yes?

Why is you looking so sad?
This is supposed to be a celebration.

I guess I'm thinking about your daddy,
wishing he was here.

Don't you fret.

Chicken George be coming back soon enough
now that freedom's come. (CHUCKLES)

Come dance with me.

Come on, Mama,
instead of slaving behind this table.

- Come on, just one dance.
- (STAMMERS) I can't... Don't...

- Come on, come on.
- Don't...

Don't... I... I got to get... (LAUGHS)

(COUNTRY MUSIC CONTINUES)

(LAUGHTER AND CHEERING CONTINUES)

(HORSE NEIGHS)

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

(SHOUTING CEASES)

Well, uh...

I guess I don't have to ask
if you've heard the news.

I don't know what it means,
what it'll do to people's lives.

I guess no one does right now.

I'll try to hold on to the farm.
I'm not sure just how.

You all may want to go off on your own.

You can stay here if you want.

(STUTTERS) It's just that
I can't pay you anything.

Everything I have
is tied up in this year's crop.

Maybe you could farm some of the land

and share the crop with me.

We all have to think
about what we gonna do.

I don't...

I don't know what it means.

(CASH REGISTER DINGS)

Say hello to your mom for me, now, Piggy.

Uh, what'll it be, Harry?

Well, let's see now.

- Uh, I need--
- Mr. Brent.

I've been waiting a long time.

I'll take care of you when
I'm good and ready. Now, you get.

I was here first.

Now, look here, you no-account black--

(STUTTERS) It's all right, Evan.
I'll drop by a little later.

-No need for that now, Harry.
-Later.

(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)

Well?

Loaf of bread and a bag of grits.

(BANGS ON TABLE)

36 cents.

(EVAN SIGHS)

(COIN CLANKS)

(EVAN SIGHS AND MUMBLES)

(CASH REGISTER DINGS)

Hello, Evan.

Senator! Doggone, it's good to see you!
(CHUCKLES)

Just like old times.

Well, I thought you was still in England.

No, I've just returned.

Did you see that? Did you see it?

Senator, you won't believe

the way some of these niggers
are carrying on.

Hell, you can't even
call them niggers anymore.

At least, not to their faces.

Well, I wouldn't fret, Evan.

Let the niggras have their day.

What you mean by that?

The same thing as old Uncle Richard
told me when I was a boy.

Old Brer Rabbit,

when he can't get through one way,

he change his way,

and by and by, he get where he want to be.

(LAUGHS) I get you now, sir! I get you!

That's right.

We is free at last.

ALL: Yeah.

All right. We is free at last!

- Yeah! We's free!
- ALL: Free.

-Ain't got no more massas.
-VIRGIL: No.

- Ain't nobody gonna whup us again.
- ALL: No.

Ain't nobody gonna abuse our women folk.

WOMEN: No.

That's right.

Freedom sure tastes good, don't it?

- Yeah, I can taste it!
- Yeah, baby!

Well, maybe it taste good,

but it sure ain't gonna fill our bellies.

How is we gonna feed our children?

How is we gonna put a roof over our heads?

Now we is free, what's we gonna do?

I say we go somewheres
where the pickings is better.

WOMAN: Yeah, yeah.
I'm all right with that.

Go where? Do what?

Well, I...

I don't know right off. Must be someplace.

You is ignorant, Virgil.

- Bone ignorant.
- Here now, Tom.

It ain't your fault, Virgil.
We's all ignorant.

We is just what
the massas wanted us to be.

Ain't none of us been taught enough
to earn our keep in the white man's world.

We gonna leave here,

we better learn
how to do for ourselves first.

Well, what you say, Tom?

What you say we do?

I say

we stays here and farms,

just like we been doing all our lives.

But not just for Harvey.

It gonna be part
our own land for our own selves.

Our dirt we farms!

Well, now, hold on a moment, Tom.

All I knows,

all I ever seen in my whole life
is this here plantation,

and that little town of company shops.

I want to see some of the world, Tom.

What the good of freedom
if you can't go nowhere?

Of course you can go.

That the whole idea of freedom.

Lewis,

you wants to wander for a while,
ain't nobody gonna stop you.

Same for all of you.

But maybe we don't have to go.

Maybe now we can find
what we wants right here.

I say we got to give freedom a chance.

And here is as good a place
to start as any.

Besides,

what's our daddy gonna do

when he gets back and we's all gone?

(SCOFFS) How we know he come back?

All them years he been gone,
and ain't no word.

He coming back
because he say he gonna come back.

And your daddy, "Chicken" George Moore,

ain't never said nothing in his whole life
he don't mean.

You hear me, boy?

Just asking, Mama.

Now, I don't want to hear
no more about leaving.

'Cause ain't nobody going nowhere
till my man come back.

We is a family,

and we is gonna stay a family.

(SIGHS)

Tom,

Martha and me, we sure would like
to throw our lot in with you folks.

If you want us, of course.

Wants you?

You just try getting away, Ol' George,

and you'll hear hound dogs
baying at your heels before long.

(OL' GEORGE CHUCKLES)

- Come with me, wife.
- Where we going?

I's gonna spark you in moonlight.

(SNICKERS) Oh, yes, you is!

And that's gonna be some sparking

with these two young'uns
hanging on our arms.

Don't argue with me, woman.
Just come along.

Damned if I'm gonna give my niggers
any part of my farm.

Well, that land has been in my family
for over 100 years.

I'd as soon sell out
to some carpetbaggers.

I'm with you, Fred.

Them niggers is putting on
enough airs as it is

without making them land owners.

They can all own land,
far as I'm concerned.

- What you saying, Archie?
- Their graves.

They can own them all they want.

Now, boys, I respect your sentiments,
but we got to be realistic.

Somebody has to work our land,

and the niggers are done being slaves.

I don't like
breaking up my holding either,

but I got no cash to pay wages.

So, I got to parcel out shares.

I'll never owe nothing to a black
except a whipping.

- And I always pay my debts.
- (CHUCKLES)

Fred, you are living in the past.

You can't just go around whipping blacks.

The federal authorities
ain't gonna allow it.

He's talking sense, boys.

There's going to be a circuit judge
through here regular.

And the Army's here to back him up.

We ought to band together
and string up a few of them

just to set a proper example for the rest.

- Now you're talking.
- (MAN LAUGHS)

There's a lot more minus than plus
to that notion.

It might sound good, but--

I'll tell you about plus and minus, yeah.

Plus is what I come out of the war with.

I come out plus
a Yankee Minie ball in my knee.

Come out plus a limp that I'm gonna have
the rest of my natural days.

And I'm minus my brother, Sheriff.

And I'm telling you
no white man killed him.

No white man killed another
in the last month of war.

Niggers killed him!

Every step I take,

every time my leg twinges on me,

I recollect who's responsible

for all the pluses and minuses
that I got to live with now.

Uh, I recollect who done it to me.

Niggers!

Well, gentlemen,
I think I'd better leave now.

I'm bound to uphold the law.

Gave my solemn word to do that.

And it seems to me that upholding the law
just ain't what this meeting is all about.

Just a minute, Sheriff.

I'm going with you.

Senator.

These men respect you,
and surely you're not for violence.

I agree that misdirected violence
is dangerous, Mr. Jackson.

What do you have to say, Senator?
We ain't heard from you yet.

Yeah, what do you think
we ought to do about it, Senator?

It is my intention
to acquire property in this county.

A great deal of property.

If it was anybody but you, Senator,

I'd say, out of hand, you was plumb crazy.

All the land in Dixie
ain't worth a horse's apple

without slaves to work here.

Our niggra, under the misguided
new business arrangements,

is to receive a share
of the crops that he works.

But of course,
before that profit is paid,

his share of costs must be deducted.

Grains, tools, wagons,
mules, horses, feed.

And somehow he just never manages

to catch up on the costs,
ain't that right?

It doesn't matter who works the land.

What counts is who owns it.

Property is power.
It always has been, and always will be.

Whoever controls the land
controls the people on it.

I guess you know
what you're doing, Senator.

Be assured I do, sir.

By and by, old Brer Rabbit,
he gonna get where he want to be.

(CHUCKLES)

IRENE: Tom! Tom!

Woman, where have you been
with that water?

We got some powerful, thirsty mouths...

- Tom!
- Reeny?

(SOBBING)

What? What is it? What?

Rufus just came in from town.

Telegraph say

a white man killed
President Lincoln last night.

Shot him in the back of the head.

He's dead, Tom.

Still daylight left
and work that needs to be done.

Did you hear her, Tom?

Lincoln's dead!

I heard! I know he's dead!

But it won't be for nothing!

I won't let his dying be for nothing!

(ALL SINGING "HUSH"

(ALL HUMMING)

- (MAN SCREAMS)
- (DOGS BARKING)

Tom? What is it?

(DOGS CONTINUE BARKING)

(HOOVES CLACKING)

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

To your cabins, everybody. Quick!

(DOGS CONTINUE BARKING)

- Tom?
- I don't know.

(GUNS FIRING)

(SHOUTING CONTINUES)

(GUNSHOTS ECHOING)

(THUDS)

(GUNSHOTS RICOCHET)

(SHOUTING CONTINUES)

You keep out of this, Harvey!

(GLASS SHATTERS)

(SHOUTING AND GUNFIRE CONTINUES)

(DUCKS QUACKING)

Lewis! Tom! Come on, come on!

Let's get a line out here!
Get some water on this fire.

Jesse, come on, come on! Everybody!

- Hannah! Hannah! The barn's on fire!
- Hurry, before it spreads!

- Everybody move.
- Come on.

Come on! Hurry up.

Pass the bucket. Pass it.

Move it, move it, everybody.

Get the buckets! It's getting bigger!

Hurry, before it spreads.

- Let me get the bucket!
- Get back! Get back!

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

- Back! Watch out!
- Faster, faster!

MAN: Faster, Tom! Come on!

Free at last.

I don't understand it.

I just don't understand it.

We ain't gonna let them
get away with this, hear?

We sweated too hard
to raise our measly little crops.

Ain't nobody gonna just ride in here

and trample everything
we've got in this world.

We ought to get us some guns
and fight back!

Who we gonna fight?

Damn! I don't know.

Only thing I know is
we can't just let them get away with this.

The white folks
ain't gonna let us live here.

We should get out!

No!

We ain't gonna do no such thing.

We's staying
because we has a right to stay.

This don't change nothing.

It just means
that there's some few rebs around

still don't know the war is over.

They not gonna push us off our land.

We is free men.

Besides,

maybe they ain't gonna get away with this.

What do you mean, Tom?

Look here.

VIRGIL: / don't see nothing
except some old hoofmarks.

That's right.

-So, what's so special about hoofmarks?
-Nothing.

All hoofmarks are exactly the same.
But supposing they weren't?

Supposing every hoofmark
had a little something on it,

something that set it off from the others.

What you getting at, Tom?

I's getting at those nightriders,
that's what I's getting at.

Stands to reason

these nightriders
is some of our good neighbors, right?

And stands to reason

that most of them bring
their horses to me for shoeing, right?

Now supposing every horse
I shoes me from this day on,

I puts a little special mark on it.

Maybe here.

Then we'd have a way of knowing
what horse the shoe belonged to.

And if we know where the shoe fits...

May I ask why you're selling?

Well, the place got run down
during the war.

I thought I could hang on
by parceling out shares to the niggras,

but nightriders took care of that.

And you have no idea who they are?

No.

They've been rampaging
through the country, destroying crops,

scaring the niggras
half out of their wits.

Last week, they tore up
everything I planted.

I just don't have the heart
for farming anymore, Senator.

Well, I'm sorry to hear
about your troubles, Samuel.

Very sorry, indeed.

But business is business.

In anticipation of our discussion,
I had this contract drawn up.

$5,000 isn't much
for a man's lifework, Senator.

Well, I couldn't agree with you more.

Unhappily, that's quite beside the point.

Now, you yourself have indicated

that the place
isn't in the best of condition.

And in all good faith,

$5,000 is the best I can manage.

Well, you think about it.

I'll understand if you decide to wait
for a more satisfactory offer.

No, no, there won't be any better offers.
We both know that.

I'll accept.

Good. That's it, then.

There's just one other thing, Senator.

My niggras owe me for seed and the like,
it's a matter of a couple hundred dollars.

They worked hard for me over the years,
I'd like to wipe the slate clean with 'em.

Consider it done.

- Here's my hand on it.
- Thank you.

- Ain't you done yet, boy?
- (HAMMER CLANKS)

Yes, sir, Mr. Drake. I's trying, sir.

Gots to fix it just right.

(HORSE WHINNIES)

Well, I guess that's about it.
Much obliged, boys.

Lila.

It's time, Lila.

Lila...

Oh, Sam, how can we? All those years.

I know, honey.
There's nothing we can do about it.

(HORSE WHINNIES)

Well, I'm gonna miss this place,
and you folks.

Sorry I had to sell,
but I really didn't have much choice.

The new owner should be out
in a few days to talk to you.

Meantime, I suggest you go on
putting in your new crops.

I'm sure you'll find Senator Justin
a decent man to work for.

He's agreed to wipe out your debts
so you can start from fresh.

Mrs. Harvey and I wanna thank you

for all of your kindness
and your help over the years.

Goodbye and good luck to you.

Goodbye, Mr. Harvey.

Mrs. Harvey.

Now, what's the matter with y'all?

Where's your manners?

Say goodbye to the Harveys
and wish them well.

- Bye, Massa Harvey.
- Bye, Massa.

- Bye, Massa Harvey.
- Bye, Massa Harvey.

You was better than some, Massa.

(HORSE NEIGHING)

Now that we know who they is,
I say let's kill them!

No.

Why not?

I didn't know you was so particular
about killing whites.

There will be no killing.

We go to the law.

White man's law?

That's right.

I'm sorry I'm late.
I had to help Martha with some chores.

- Now, what we got to do--
- What's that white man doing in here?

What white man?

They's only one white man in here
as I can see.

Ol' George?

When the killing starts,
like holds to like.

You got no call to talk like that.

He can't help that he white.

I don't care. I wants him out.

You does, does you?

And who is you
to be giving orders around here?

I ain't the only one around here
feels that way!

Well, I ain't listening to nobody
say a word against Ol' George!

No, Tom. Tom, it's all right.

All right.
I ain't one to tarry where I ain't wanted.

Ol' George--

Now, I say we ain't going to no law!

I say we even up our own tally!

Lewis, you best sit down
and shut your mouth.

'Cause you said enough for one day.

And you're lucky that Mama
weren't here to hear you say that.

I said, sit down, little brother.

(SNORTS)

I ain't finished with you
about Ol' George yet.

We gots to go to the law, don't you see?

Ain't supposed to be no white man's law.

Only supposed to be one law.

- The law!
- You daft, Tom?

Hmm?

You try to set the law on whites folks,

they gonna lynch you, brother.

TOM: Maybe, maybe not.

But we got to find out, don't we?

If we don't give the law a chance,
freedom ain't worth a damn!

(CLICKS TONGUE)

Now, who going into town with me
to see the sheriff?

You is a plumb stubborn fool.

-Damn you!
-What are you so all fired up about?

Why you got to be the one to step forward?

You ain't even the oldest.

Why you got to be the big man every time?

'Cause I wants to look my daddy
in the eye when next we meet.

'Cause I want our children
growing up in freedom.

'Cause too many suffered
to bring us this far,

now ain't the time to go back.

'Cause somebody got to stand up, Irene.

That so?

Well, somebody got to mind
his wife and babies, too.

Now who gonna do that
after they shoots you or hangs you up?

-Irene--
-(SOBBING) Oh!

- Don't go!
- Irene. Irene.

- Oh, please. Please.
- I gots to.

Oh, Tom, I'm so scared.

Tom...

I don't want them to hurt you.

I ain't nothing without you, Tom.

Hmm... I's scared, too.

But I just can't not go.

I hate you for doing this.

I'd give anything, say anything,
do anything to make you stay.

But I's proud of you, Tom Harvey.

(CLICKS TONGUE)

Oh, I's terrible proud of you.

(IRENE SOBS GENTLY)

- Now...
- What?

There's only one thing.

I am going
into the company shops with you.

No, woman. You's talking crazy.
There's no telling what's gonna--

- I am going with you.
- Woman, you is... You is...

Yes, Tom?

Is one fine woman.

That's what you is.

You is one fine woman.

(GASPS)

Well, well, well.

You are one smart man, Tom Harvey.

(SCOFFS) Fancy you figuring out
something like this.

There's no doubt about it.

You got them dead to rights.

You did good coming to me, though.

Had you told anybody else about this?

Just my Kin.

What you gonna do about it, Sheriff?

(STAMMERS) Well,
I'm gonna get after them, Tom.

But I got to handle this careful.

I mean, this is not just locking up
some Saturday night drunk.

I got to study.

I got to figure out how to handle this.

But I tell you what I want you to do.

Uh, you go on home
and just go on about your business.

It's best that folks don't know you got
anything to do with this just right yet.

Yes, sir.

You take care of it, then?

Well, I guess I got to, Tom.

I guess I got to.

IRENE: Tom?

I think we done right.

I think the law is the law.

What happened?

He heard me out, and he going after them,
that's what happened.

What you two doing here?

Well, you one crazy fool.

But you still our brother.

- You sure?
- He going after them, honey. Don't worry.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Yeah?

Can I come in?

Sure.

You all right?

Ol' George, I sorry about what happened.

You knows how we feel about you.

Yeah, I guess I do.
After last night, I guess I do.

Don't go on like that.
Lewis got no more sense than a bumblebee

when his blood's up.

Don't mean nothing.

If Lewis didn't mean what he said,
then why ain't he here instead of you?

He come around, Martha.

He just needs more time
to collect hisself.

Well, Tom.

I guess, maybe I need some time, too.

Well, sure you do.

George?

What?

Maybe we been here long enough.

Maybe we best be thinking
of striking out for ourselves

while we still young enough.

Now, I'm sure you've all been concerned
about what's going to happen

now that Mr. Harvey has left.

Well, let me reassure you
that nothing is going to change.

Mr. Harvey's agreement with you
will be honored.

You'll receive a fair percentage
of the crops you raise.

Well, what do you say to that?

It's very kind of you, sir.

But if Mr. Brent gonna be in charge,
I don't think my people wants to stay on.

Well...

You're free, uh, to go, of course.

Just as soon as you pay up your debt.

What debt?

According to the farm's ledger,
you was advanced

$235 worth of seed, grain
and other supplies against future crops.

But Mr. Harvey said he fixed that.
Told us we was free and clear.

Hmm. That's peculiar.

The agreement's on file
at the county clerk's office.

And I don't recall seeing that
in the deed of sale.

Now, you work hard and your share,
it'll reduce your debt considerably.

$235 ain't all that much.

But in the meantime,
don't nobody try leaving here.

This here is a legal matter
and we can get the sheriff to lock you up.

Senator, sir?

Is this what you wants?

I thought I made it clear, boy.

Mr. Brent speaks for me.

Ah, Mr. Johnson.

We're wondering what your plans are,
now that Mr. Harvey's left.

Well, I ain't got no special plans, sir.

I'll just go and work on my share,
I guess.

I'm afraid that won't do, George.

You see, me and the Senator,
we got certain feelings

about the whites folks
sharecropping alongside niggers.

Why should a smart young fella like you
wanna work like a common field hand

when there are other opportunities
to consider, huh?

EVAN: We need someone
to keep his eye on things for us,

to make sure the work gets done.

The job's yours, if you want it.

Uh, I don't know, Mr. Brent,
I ain't much about overseeing.

EVAN: I'll pay you a good wage.

And if things work out,

maybe someday you and your family
can move into the main house here, huh?

Now, that's fair, ain't it?

(EXHALES)

All right. I'll do it.

Good boy, Georgie. Good boy.

Uh, we'll settle the details later.
Senator?

I think that's everything for now, Evan.

I'm looking forward
to a long and happy association.

You'll find me a fair man to work for

if you're willing to meet me halfway.

Next time I'm back here, George,

I expect to see all these darkies
out in the fields where they belong.

I want you in town
reporting to me regular.

I do hope
you're gonna behave yourself, boy.

I surely do.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Oh, howdy, Sheriff. Come on in.

Howdy, Evan.

You know, Evan,
we've been friends for a long time.

I want you to know that.

Sure I know that, Charlie.
What's got into you?

And, uh, I'm on your side.

You understand that, don't you?

- Sheriff, you been drinking?
- (SNICKERS)

No, I... I don't think
I could get drunk tonight.

No. Why? Why can't you get drunk?

‘Cause I know who every single one of them
nightriders is, Evan.

I got proof.

Proof I'm gonna turn over
to the Federal Circuit Court judge

when he comes riding through here
next weekend.

You got what?

You heard me, Evan. I got proof.

Tom Harvey gave it to me.

Now, I don't want the proof.

And I don't want to know what I know.
But I know it for a real fact.

Unless somebody does something.

Then I'm sworn to do something
that'll make me a hated man in this county

for the rest of my natural life.

Unless somebody does something
to Tom Harvey

to make him pull back his evidence.

Uh, do something like what?

Evan, I'm sick enough as it is!

At myself, for letting it go this far.

Now, do I have to lay out
the whole plan for you, too?

No.

No need for that.

You've done enough, Sheriff.
You've done enough.

Uh, I guess I'll just
have to see if I can--

Evan, I don't wanna know another word.

Now, I'm an officer of the law.

And sometimes an officer of the law, well,

he just ain't got no choice
in some things.

You understand what I mean?

Hmm.

Won't nobody misunderstand, Sheriff.

I'll see to that.

Well, thank you, Evan. I...
I'm much obliged to you.

Good night, Evan.

Hmm.

(HORSE NEIGHS)

EVAN: Tom Harvey!

We want you, nigger!

Tom. Tom!

Get yourself out here, boy.

Or we're gonna burn your kinfolk.

IRENE: Tom.

(HORSE SNORTING)

Move.

Now!

George.

They's six of them, Martha. Six!

Anyway, why should 1?

Like holds to like.
That's what they told me, ain't it?

Ain't it?

EVAN: Thought you was pretty smart going
to the sheriff, didn't you, boy, huh?

This here's a bad nigger!

He spend his time talking about the law

instead of doing his work,
paying his debts.

So, we're gonna teach him
how to be a good nigger!

And it's best you all study hard
what's gonna happen

so you won't make any mistakes.

Because you ain't never gonna leave here!

Never!

All right! Get on with it!

- (WHIP CRACKS)
- (GROANING)

(WHIP CONTINUES CRACKING)

God!

Damn it! Now you leave my nigger be!

EVAN: Johnson, you stay out of this.

This boy is spoiling for a lesson.

Yeah? What's he done?

He's fixing to set the law on us.

All right, well, then he's got it coming!

But you put me in charge here
and nobody whips my niggers but me!

Let him do it.

-(WHIP CRACKING)
(SCREAMING)

(GASPS)

- What you stopping for?
- It ain't no use. He's senseless!

EVAN: That don't matter none.

He'll remember every stroke
when he wakes up.

If he wakes up. Now, get on with it.

(WHIP CRACKING)

EVAN: Looks like you're
on top of that man, Ol' George!

You make sure you teach him
how to be a nigger now!

(WHIP CONTINUES CRACKING)

(OL' GEORGE GRUNTING)

Tom!

IRENE: Tom! Tom! Tom!

God, let him be alive!

- IRENE: Oh, God, let him be alive!
- (OL' GEORGE PANTING)

Please. Help him.

Let him be alive.

Irene? Irene. I'm sorry, Irene.
I was just trying to

make them think
I was doing their job for them.

Well, you ain't got nothing
to be sorry about, Ol' George Johnson.

You just saved my man's life!

You just saved my man's life.

I'm sorry, Ol' George.

I was wrong. Dead wrong.

- Let's get him inside.
- Oh, he's gonna be all right.

- He's gonna be all right.
- Easy. Easy.

Careful now. Be careful.

- Easy.
- Oh, Tom.

(TOM GROANS SLOWLY)

What we gonna do?

- What we gonna do?
- Ain't nothing we can do.

We ain't gonna never get away from here.

Never!

At least not alive, anyway.

All my fault.

I should've let y'all go when you wanted.

- Instead of--
- IRENE: Now, you just hush, Mama.

Don't you go blaming yourself.

We stayed here because we wanted to.

VIRGIL: Tom? What we gonna do?

Get my boy out of here.

I don't want him to see me like this.

Martha.

Lewis?

Yeah, Tom?

Take that shovel and dig up the floor

under Bud's bed.

- What you want me to do that for, Tom?
- Do it!

Bud, you mustn't worry about your daddy.
He's gonna be fine.

He's a strong man.

Ain't none stronger.

He'll be up and around in no time.
You'll see.

I'm gonna kill those white men someday.

Bud.

You oughtn't to talk like that.

I'm gonna kill them.

Bible says
it ain't right to kill people, Bud.

Do Bible say it was right for them
to whip my daddy?

No.

It don't say that neither.

Then I'm bound to get them.

Which ones, Bud?

Couldn't see their faces.

I'll find a way
to get the ones who done it.

Suppose you make a mistake?

Suppose you hurt some white folks
that ain't done your daddy no harm?

I'll do what I got to do.

(SIGHS)

Then I guess you might as well
start with me, Bud.

I didn't mean you.

Well, I sure am white.

I'm white as a cotton ball.

And if you starts hurting whites
for being white,

then sooner or later, you'll get ‘round
to me and Ol' George.

I don't want to kill you.

Well, that's what happens
when you starts hurting folks

for the color of their skin.

You won't be any better
than those men who hurt your daddy.

I hate 'em! Hate 'em!

Hate 'em for what they done.

Not because they is white.

Me and mine is white.

But we love you.

Just like our own.

If you let us love you.

Bud.

Oh, my poor little Bud.

This here's a cavalry officer's pistol.

It got "J.B." carved in the handle here.

Lord God.

It be Jemmy Brent's. Put it away.

Give it to me.

Husband, what is you thinking of?

When they catch you with that gun,
they gonna kill you for sure.

I only knows one thing.

Ain't nobody ever gonna whip me again.

- (DOG BARKING)
- Ever.

Someone's coming!

Blow out the candles.

(HORSE WHINNIES)

(WHINNYING AND BARKING CONTINUES)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Open the door slow, whoever you is.

Or I'll blows you apart.

Now, you don't wanna do that, son.

Not unless you gonna make yourself
an orphan child.

Daddy?

(LAUGHS)

My man.

BUD: Grandpa.

IRENE: Chicken George.

LEWIS: Boom! Daddy.

- Yes, baby!
- (CONTINUES LAUGHING)

- Hey, wake up, man!
- What's this?

Hold it. I got news for you, man.

The old chicken-fighter
has come home to roost!

Look at you. (LAUGHS)

MATHILDA: Good thing you come home
after dark, George.

Why you say that?

'Cause I so old and ugly,
I might scare you to death...

- ...in God's proper light.
- (LAUGHS)

I don't see you with my eyes, honey.

I sees you with my heart.

- So, lis old and ugly?
- Oh, what you talking about?

Was a time when you used to look at me
with your eyes.

(CHUCKLES)

All right, I'll look at you now.

Come on. Oh, I said come around here.
Come here.

(SIGHS)

You still is beautiful, Tildy.

You still my beautiful woman.

Oh.

Sure, time has left a few tracks
in its passing, like it's done me.

But you got a sprinkling
of moonbeam in your hair. Look.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

And your eyes...

Your eyes still have that
little girl looking out of them.

I feel like a little girl tonight, George.

Been so long.

Just like the very first time.

- Tildy.
- Hmm?

What's going on here?

Tom whipped,
and this Evan Brent in charge.

Nothing that won't keep till morning.

- Yeah, but--
- Hush now.

Brent and his like
done stole most our lives away.

Let's keep this one night for ourselves.

My sweet, sweet mama.

- (ROOSTER CROWING)
- Yes, indeed.

The family sure owes a lot
to these two birds.

With the money they won me,
I bought us some land in Tennessee.

Land so rich and black, you can plant
a pig's tail and a hog will grow!

(LAUGHS)

Daddy?

Ain't you heard a word we said?

We can't go to Tennessee.

Can't go nowhere.

Well, you mean Brent and his bunch?

Oh! I wouldn't worry about that none.
(LAUGHS)

I been in worse situations in the war.

TOM: Daddy.

What you getting at?

All right.

Let's look at it
like it was a military operation. Huh?

Here we are, surrounded by the enemy,

outnumbered, out-gunned,

and half our troops
are women and children.

Now, on the face of it, looks pretty bad.

Look like we in a hopeless position.

And that's our one strong point.

Don't hardly sound like
no strong point to me, Daddy.

Way I figure it,

Brent and this Senator must be
feeling mighty smug riding through here.

Feel like they got us
right where they want us.

Toeing the line, scared to death.

Well, from now on,

we gonna do everything we can do

to make sure they go
right on feeling that way.

- (PEOPLE LAUGHING)
- OL' GEORGE: Clumsy fool!

Here, look after Mrs. Randall.

I wanna see what's going on out there.

(RAUCOUS LAUGHTER CONTINUES)

OL' GEORGE: You dumb, black boy.

Now, can't I trust you
to do nothing right?

I want every grain of that
back in the sack!

TOM: I's trying.

(LAUGHTER CONTINUES)

I's trying, Mr. Johnson. I's trying.

You ain't trying hard enough.
I don't want no sack full of dirt.

- You do it careful.
- Yes, Sir.

Those darkies.

They was bad enough under slavery,
now they's just downright useless.

I's done, sir.

Oh. What are you waiting on, boy?

Get the rest of the sacks out of there!

Yes, sir.

Would you move your black backside?
Move it! Move it!

(ALL LAUGHING)

- Well, George.
- Oh, Mr. Brent.

I see you've learned a thing or two.

Well, I wasn't too sure
about taking this job

overseeing them darkies, as you well know,

but I wanna tell you,
it beats farming all to hell. (CHUCKLES)

- I wanna thank you.
- That's all right, son.

Just don't you let up, you hear?

Oh, don't you worry.
I keeps on them all the time.

You'll do, Georgie, you'll do.

Oh, please, sir.

Please.

We don't want no more trouble.

If'n my man goes up in front of the judge,

they'll kill him for sure.

I got two little babies, sir.

(SNIFFLES) Now, what we gonna do
if they kills my man?

Oh, please, sir.

You mean Tom wants to
forget this whole thing

and drop the charges?

Sheriff, sir, I swears to God
you ain't never gonna hear from him again.

Well, you seem like a good girl.

So, I'm gonna do something
that I hadn't ought to do.

This is your husband's property.

You do with it what you want to do.

(GASPS)

God bless you, sir.

I think that's about everything
he asked for.

Thank you, sir.

Just a minute there, boy.

I ain't done with you yet.

- Yes, sir?
- Fetch me a dipper of water, nigger.

(HORSE WHINNYING)

Yes, sir.

Ah.

Yeah, I do believe
that's the sweetest water I ever tasted.

Yes, sir.

Fetch you some more, sir?

No.

But I sure did appreciate it.

You're shaping up into a good boy, Tom.
Good boy.

Thank you, sir. I's trying, sir.

Oh, you can run along now.

You see that uppity Tom Harvey fetch me
a dipper of water nice and polite?

- Yes, I did.
- Did my heart good.

Charlie tells me that Tom's wife was in
begging to have them charges dropped.

I think we can rest easy
about the Harvey place from now on.

Yes, it looks that way.

Something troubling you, Senator?

Well, it's been my experience
that one should not depend

on an unbroken series of fortunate events.

All this idyllic behavior is either
a concealment of some furtive activity

or a tribute to Mr. George Johnson's
ability to work a miracle.

Johnson does seem
to have things well in hand.

I do not reject the miracle.

I simply think
it should be put to the test.

Have you been out to the farm yourself?

Uh, no, no. No, not recently.
I've been kinda busy over at the store.

A little drive out there, unannounced,
might teach us something we ought to know.

(HORSE SNORTING)

OL' GEORGE: All right,
now stop the lollygagging

and put your backs into it!

What do you think this is?
Some kind of picnic?

Tom and Virgil,
I got my eye on both of you.

Now, you either put your black backsides
into it, or I'll do it for you!

Oh.

Good day, Senator. Mr. Brent.

Hello, young man.

Just thought we'll drop by
and see how you're getting on, George.

Well, I got to admit,

ain't far long with
the planting as I'd like to be.

We's still cleaning up some
what them nightriders done,

but things is coming along,
they is coming along.

- Massa Johnson? Massa Johnson?
- Yeah, Lewis, what is it now?

We sure would like for you to
come over and take look at the fence

we's fixing around the pig sty.

See if it all right?

All right, you go on back there, Lewis,
keep working, and I'll be there directly.

Yeah.

Thank you, sir.

Go on, now.

The blacks, they just like little kiddies.

Can't do nothing on their own. (LAUGHS)

Well, I guess we ought to get
started back to town.

Seems like Mr. Johnson's
got his work in order.

Be seeing you, George.

You keep after them, now, you hear?

- Don't you worry none, Mr. Brent.
- (KISSING NOISE)

Good day, Senator.

OL' GEORGE: Oh, Mr. Brent! Mr. Brent!

Mr. Brent! Oh.

You know, them mules of Mr. Harvey's
is on their last legs.

And they ain't hardly pulling
worth their feed now.

It's up to you, of course.

But if I could have me six young mules,

I know I could plant
at least another 100 acres.

Senator?

Well, I think Mr. Johnson's enterprise
ought to be encouraged.

I'll get them out to you as soon as I can.

Anything else you need?

Uh, no, sir, I think I got
everything I need right now, sir.

I'll get them six mules out
first thing tomorrow.

I'm much obliged.

(WHISTLES)

(CHUCKLES SLOWLY)

Mr. Brent!

You got to come out to the farm.
It's Georgie!

He... He... (CRYING)

All right, now, missy, all right now.
Just calm down, tell me what happened.

Georgie had an accident.
I think his leg is broke.

We better go get Doc Farrell.

I went to the doctor first.
He's on his way.

But my husband want you to come out there.

He's afraid the darkies might
take advantage and just run off.

Oh, Mr. Brent, you got to come.

All right, now, girl. All right, now.
Calm down.

Everything's gonna be all right.
Now, you get back to your husband, huh.

I'll ride out as soon as I can.

Get, get, get, you hear!

MARTHA: Over here, Mr. Brent!

(GRUNTS)

How's he doing, Doc?

Oh, he all right, Mr. Brent.

But you ain't.

What you think you about, boy?
Put that gun down.

We getting out of this county, Mr. Brent.

And we just want to make sure
that you ain't gonna stop us.

(LAUGHS) You been bamboozled, Mr. Brent!

Why, you dirty nigger lover!

Mr. Brent.

It ain't I loves niggers so much,
it's just I don't like you at all.

You're not as smart as you think, Johnson.

No, that ain't the point, Mr. Brent. Sir.

The point is,
we ain't as dumb as you think we is.

Because if we's that dumb,
just what's that make you right now?

We're taking charge. Now, drop that gun.

You really think I was crazy enough
to ride out here alone?

(EVAN SCOFFS)

I didn't live through no war to walk
into an ambush with my eyes wide open.

Boy, if you got any skin left
on that black carcass of yours,

you're about to lose it.

Now, where's the rest of them
no-account niggers?

(MARTHA SCREAMS)

I believe I asked you a question.

- Did you hear me?
- No! Please! They're in the barn.

(MARTHA SOBBING)

(GRUNTS)

Come on out of there!

I know you're in there.

I'll give you a fair warning.

It's gonna go hard on you
if I have to come in and get you.

Break that door down.

(ROOSTERS CLUCKING)

Hold it right there, boss.

(GEORGE CHUCKLES)

Now, I'd, uh, drop them guns,

kind of nice and easy like.

(GEORGE LAUGHS)

Pick up the pop pistols.

Umm-hmm. Now, what if...

This is the way my captain, old captain,
used to teach us to think.

He said, "What if the enemy figures out
your first plan?

"Then what you gonna do?

(LAUGHING)

"Get yourself another plan!"

Who the hell are you?

Oh.

I'm the daddy of these boys, Mr. Brent.

Don't you remember me?

You chased me out of the county once.

Now, all I wants to do
is leave the county peaceably.

Tie 'em up, boys.

Tom, he all yours now.

(TOM GRUNTS)

How do it feel, Mr. Brent?

To be tied up like a hog for slaughter

waiting for your flesh to turn to jelly?

What do you feel like, Mr. Brent,
to be on the other side of the lash?

No, Tom.

Please. Tom.

Tom.

- (GRUNTS)
- (WHIMPERS)

(GASPS)

(CHUCKLES SLOWLY)

Time to go.

Go on.

Get moving.

Get the children back there.
You all sit down.

Maria Jane! Come on up, Bud.

OL' GEORGE: Got your young'uns, Tom?

My boy Tom has a good heart.

And, uh, I admire his thinking.

If you bother me or mine ever again,

I'll kill you.

Hold it, there.

- Let's go.
- No.

Not yet.

Tildy, I know you's sorry to be leaving.

But we got to be moving.

I been sitting here, trying to remember.

Been living here maybe 14, 15 years.

I lost count.

I helped Irene
birth all the grandchildren.

Seen them grow.

I held her second baby in my arms
when she died.

We buried that sweet lamb
at the end of the cabin row by the willow.

I knows every chink in every wall
the winter wind blow through.

I know, it hard, old woman, leaving.

Hard?

(LAUGHING)

Chicken George, you is a foolish old man.

There ain't nothing hard
about being happy.

This ain't never been our home.

Never belong to us no way.

This here is Massa Harvey's
nigger quarters.

When we ride out of here,
I ain't never gonna think of it again.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Go on there, mule!

Ain't nothing gonna stop me now.

- Let's move on!
- Whoo-hoo!

Hey, Mr. Brent! You be sure to thank
the Senator for these new mules.

We never could've made it without them!
(LAUGHS)

Yippee!

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

GEORGE: We's here!

This here our land! (LAUGHS)

Go on, mule, go on!

Hold up there.

Where you going? Oh!

Easy, Tildy. Easy, honey.

Here's home!

Bud.

GEORGE: The first slave in this family
was my granddaddy.

Kunta Kinte.

But he weren't always a slave.

Before he was a slave
he was a free man in another country.

A country called Africa.

But then the slavers, they catch him,

when he went to find some wood
to make a drum,

and they brung him to America.

A place called Annapolis.

But Kunta Kinte,

he never forget where he come from.

He never forget Africa.

He never forget
the words he spoke as a child.

How ko mean a fiddle

and Kamby Bolongo mean a river.

And he never stop fighting against
his chains trying to be free once more.

Not even after they cut off half his foot
to keep him from running away.

And before he die,

he give that dream of freedom

to his daughter.

Kizzy.

My mama.

And before she die,

she give that dream to me.

And I've tried to keep that dream alive
in all you children,

till that day come.

Hear me, O African,

the flesh of your flesh

has come to freedom.

You is free at last.

We is free!

ALEX: The family did settle
in Henning, Tennessee.

Mathilda passed away
before Chicken George.

And he enjoyed life among
his children and his grandchildren

until he died at the ripe old age of 83.

The blacksmith, Tom,
and his talented Irene prospered.

Their youngest daughter, Cynthia,

grew up and married a tall, quiet
black man named Will Palmer,

who came to own the town's lumber mill.

The Palmers had a daughter named Bertha
who attended Lane College,

where she met and married
Simon Alexander Haley.

In 1921, the Haleys welcomed a son,

the seventh generation descendant
of Kunta Kinte.

That boy was me, Alex Haley.

And I never forgot those stories
which my grandmother Cynthia told me.

And in 1963, after I had retired from
a career in the U.S. Coast Guard,

I became obsessed with a desire
to know more about our family,

more about its history.

It was a search that would take me,
finally, 12 years to complete.

And those things that I learned,
I wrote in a book called Roots.

Found & Corrected
by Chuck W/Subtitle Edit

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