"Out of there." "We wanna swim." "We do the wash, sir." "There's soap in the water." "Don't bother me none." "I couId use a bath." "You hear me?" "Out of there." "Get them out of there." "Mary." "Jesse." "Come on." "Need a little encouragement." "They're scared, sir." "They can't move." "well, they better learn quick." "Come on, Negress!" "Swim for it!" "Oh, Lord." "Mary, Jesse, come on." "What's going on here?" "Just teaching your niggers some manners." "That's not your place." "You harm them and you'II pay for them." "Come on, Jesse." "For God's sake, Jackson, it was only sport." "We don't make sport with our slaves." "No, you love your niggers." "wesley, I will make you sorry if you ever bother one of our slaves again." " Nigger lover." " Look out, master." "Get up." "Get up, Wes." "Now, come on." "Take it, son." "That's how it is with nigger lovers." "That's right." "I wasn't ready for the others." "Suppose I should've been." "Why, you whipped them good lots of times, master." "That boy just ain't never gonna learn, that's all." "A wedding, she says." "Nothing but a charade and a fiasco." "Just so a couple of Negroes can jump over the broom." "I feel faint just thinking about it." "To think that the president's daughter-in-Iaw could do such a thing." "well, that's Yankees for you." "Sarah's hardly a Yankee." "well, she might as well be." "Mixing slaves and white folk at a social event." "Can you imagine?" " Good afternoon, ladies." " Is that your son, James?" "Yes." "well, he's a fine young man." "Best keep him out of my Lizzie's sight." "She's got her eye out for a beau." "Your brother's so handsome." "Last time I saw him he was all gangly and spotty." "Why doesn't he come talk to us?" "Oh, he's probably been in a fight." "Happens a Iot." "He likes to pretend we don't know so Easter cleans him up and mends his clothes." "Easter?" "slave girl." "She does all the weaving." "Oh, is that all?" "Whoa." "See to the horses." "Yes, sir." "Easter?" "My shirt needs mending." " You hurt bad?" " only my pride." "I couldn't win against all of them." "Thank you, master, for what you done." "How's Jesse?" "She gonna be fine." "ShouIdn't have even been on our land." "You tell them next time, Easter." "They ain't never gonna pay no never mind to a slave." "Why?" "I have to if I want to stop you chattering" " Oh, ow!" "For pity's sake." "They'd whoop me or worse." "They sell me from here like they did my mammy." "That won't ever happen." "You won't ever be sold." "This is your home." "It always will be." "Besides, whatever would I do without you?" "That all very fine, master, but I still don't get to go to no wedding." "What wedding?" "Master James is taking the family to nashville next month, Parson Dick, for a wedding." "Yes, sir." "I know, sir." "And you're not going." "Now, how would you know that?" "Everybody knows it, sir." "The president's slave, alfred, is marrying Miss Gracie." "Now, why is it when anything happens in this country all the slaves know all about it eons before we do?" "jungle drums, perhaps, master?" "well, that's exactly right." "Voodoo." "That's what it is." "Sheer voodoo." "Whites and Negroes at the same wedding." "DisgracefuI, ma'am." "I agree." "You see?" "Even the Negroes are against it." "Lizzie, you look lovely." "Tush." "Just thinking about these Negro nuptiaIs makes me glow." "Poor Mama's in a terrible pother." "Aren't you going?" "Of course we're going." "If only to see Miss Sarah make a fool of herself." "girl?" "My shawl." "Everyone's going." " I don't know if I am." " Such a pity." "I would have saved you a place on my dance card." " fool girl." " Sorry, miss." "That's the best French chiffon." " please don't do that." " well, she's just a cIumsy" "We don't treat our slaves that way." "Why, I declare." "Are you a Negro lover?" "It's a wonder you ain't going to nashville." "Our old friend, alfred, is getting married at last, Captain Jack." "Yes, sir." "So I hear, sir." "well, you should be going to nashville as Master James' valet." "But there's more." "Oh, I can't read, sir." "Now, you know it ain't legal." "He can damn sure read as well as you and I can." "Very well, then." "The president writes that alfred would Iike you to be his best man." "And of course, you have my permission." "That's wonderful news, sir." " will you write to tell him I accept?" " I already have." "Thank you, Captain Jack." "What is it?" "It's my daughter, Easter, sir." "You know." "Annie's girl." "She wants to go to that wedding more than anything, sir." "It would mean the world to her." "well, of course." "She can tend the ladies." "Is that all?" "Yes, sir." "Thank you very much, sir." "James, will you wait a moment?" "I remember my own father, God rest his dear soul when he colored me with such a talk before I Ieft for the New world." "It's never easy for me to discuss personal matters with you, James." "But now, I must be even and direct." "It is time you were married." "Yes, sir." "Good then." "We've" " That is, I've prepared a list of eligible heiresses for your consideration." "Daughters of planters, all of them." "The Perkins girl is my first choice." "Her family's quite agreeable to it all." "And you seem quite taken with her self as well." "Liz is" "Liz is charming, but she's" "I don't know if I Iove her." "Where do you get these wretched ideas?" "Love has nothing to do with it." "It's for sons, Jamie." "Heirs to inherit all that I've created here." "Love can come later, if you're fortunate." "You know, the first time I saw your mother I thought she was the most beautiful creature I'd ever seen." "And I wanted her at that very moment." "But I didn't love her then at that very moment." "I didn't know her." "I'd not even spoken to her." "Love came later with knowledge." "The more I came to know her, the more I Ioved her until now I cannot bear to be apart from her." "But we were married for different reasons." "We married for mutual benefit." "We married for family." "And it's high time you did the same, Jamie." "Now then, this Perkins girl would bring a fine dowry." "And her breeding is grand as well." "So if there's no one else on the list, I suggest you put your mind to it." "No, sir." "What?" "No, sir." "There's no one else." "There's a good lad." "Come along, we'II have a drink on it, then." "Yes, sir." "Now, I don't-- Don't hear any hesitation on that score." "Boo!" "Ah!" "It is gonna be a wonderful wedding." "The talk of the South." "I certainly am looking forward to it." "well, I hope you have a nice time, then, sir, with that Miss Lizzie." "Don't be mean, Easter, just because she slapped you." "I told her off." "And couldn't take your eye off her." "well, Miss Lizzie's very charming." "I sure am looking forward to seeing her again." "And who you gonna dance with?" "At the wedding." "Yes, you can go." "You can go as my sister's maid." "We wouldn't have missed it, Sarah." "You know my husband, Andrew Jackson, Jr." "It's my pleasure, sir." "will your father come?" "No, sadly, no." "The affairs of state keep him in Washington." "Our daughter, elizabeth." "I ain't never seen such dresses." "Now, you simmer down, missy." "And you mind your manners." "There's important people here." "well, this is quite a fuss you've stirred up." "I'm so glad you're here." "well, of course." "You know, we weren't sure if anyone would come." "Sarah, my father's the president." "Now, who would turn you down?" "James." "Mrs." "Jackson." "James." "Mr." "Jackson, how do you do?" "alfred." "Jack!" "You old buzzard, you." "This here is Gracie, Jack." "Oh my, ain't you the prettiest thing." "I don't understand." "Now, how did this old grizzly bear catch something as lovely as you." "Now, speaking of pretty things." "Oh, this here be Easter." "Me and Annie's girl." "well, little sweetheart, you just make sure you have the best time here." "Yes, sir." "Oh, you done fine, Jack." "Just fine." "well, the hell with it." "We can't let the niggers have all the fun." "Sarah." " Oh, my God." " She touched him." "Sorry, master." "Does anyone own this girl?" "Come along, Easter." "I expect you have work to do." "Somebody should flog that bitch." "Where's the music?" "What am I paying you fellas for?" "Hush, Easter." "It was an accident." "No one's gonna blame you." "They all do." "There you are, James." "I have found a place for you on my dance card." "Look after her, Captain Jack." "child." "No strenuous activity of any kind." "Leave it all to your son." "He's quite capable." "How long might I have?" "That's impossible to predict." "I'm sorry, James." "suddenly, everything seems so very urgent." "Yes, master?" "I want to thank you for the many years you've been with me, Captain Jack." "No one could have served me better." "Thank you, master." "When you first came to me, you know, I didn't hold with slavery in this land." "But it was the custom here." "So I promised you that if you worked for me willingly and well I would give you your freedom one day." "Here is that freedom now." "A little later than it should have been." "No." "No, thank you, master." "Don't do this to me." "A long time ago, when I wanted to marry Annie I asked you for my freedom and you told me no." "Wasn't time." "But I needed you then." "You broke your promise to me." "And you let my Annie be sold away." "So, what good is freedom to me now?" "I'm old." "What would I do?" "Where would I go?" "What's left of my Iife is here with Easter." "But you can stay here." "Free." "Yes, sir." "I'II stay." "And I'II work for you until the end of my days." "But every time you see me, every time you look at me you'II remember what you did to my Annie." "And the promise that you broke to me." "When I was a young man in ireland I fought against the British." "That was a cause I believed in because they had enslaved us." "And I would have given my Iife for that cause." "When I was a young man, I didn't believe in slavery." "Then I came here and I got rich." "And I forgot what I believed in." "I broke my promise to a man who was my most loyal friend." "What are you doing here, Easter?" "Ain't no law against it." "There is because I say so." "Now, clear off." "Because you buck-naked?" "Don't you talk that way, Easter." "Bet you gonna let Miss Perkins watch you." "Don't you talk that way about Miss Perkins." "It's Miss Perkins this and Miss Perkins that all the time these days." "What's become of plain old Lizzie?" "You wouldn't understand, Easter." "Oh, I understand, all right." "You got the fever for Miss Lizzie." "You hush up." "That's vile talk." "well, you can just cool off that fever in the cold water a little more longer." "Hey." "Easter." "You come back here with my clothes." "I'II whip your hide, I swear I will." "Come on and whoop me then." "Oh, come on, Easter, this is beyond a joke." "Promise me you gonna come and see me more often." "I'm not going to promise you." "You're a slave." "Get your tail out of here." "Do what I tell you." "Get dressed, young master." "There is God." "Yes, Father." "We all believe in God." "There is God in everyone." "It was my pleasure to serve your daddy as overseer, sir." "And it wouId be my pleasure to serve you." "Thank you, Henderson." "Our sincere condolences, sir." "We are all at your disposal." "Thank you." "I so sorry." "You have to make a decision about Lizzie." "I mean, it's been months." "We can't have her dangling like this." "I know." "I know." "Of course if there's someone else...." "No, Lizzie's the one." "I just" "well, then what are you waiting for?" "James?" "Love, I suppose." "Love can come later." "Duty must come first." "Look at that." "See that?" "Mercy." "Some people say it means the end of the world." "And some folk say it the star that guide the Wise Men to bethlehem." "I with child." "And you got nothing to say?" "Say?" "It's another damn mouth to feed." "They say it hurts, you know?" "And you never could stand a lick of pain." "We've known each other so long." "You must think I'm an awful slow coach." "But everyone's always said that we make a splendid couple." "So why don't we prove them right?" "will you marry me?" "Oh, James, I thought you'd never ask." "I'II try to be a good wife." "Give you fine sons." "Oh, it's a girl, Easter." "Yeah, you got yourself a fine baby girl." "What a wedding it'II be." "The South in all its glory, and not a Negro invited." "Are you still smarting about that?" "But it was a disgrace." "blacks in such proximity to white women." "We must be constantly on guard." "Miscegenation will be the downfall of the South." "Why, I've seen plantation children you could swear were white." "We all have." "And in that cesspool New orleans." "We ladies should retire." "Excuse me, master." "SIave-chiId just been born." "That's good news, Captain Jack." "Give the mother our congratulations." "Yes, ma'am, I surely will, ma'am." "And Easter's doing just fine." "Easter?" "She does the weaving." "suddenly I" " I don't feel well." "The wine, heat." "Excuse me." "She gets sick headaches." "Lizzie, dear." "I won't marry him." "Yes, you will." "This is the richest union that you could ever make." "You will have a Iong engagement." "And you will become used to the idea and grateful for it." "Why, if it were not for the slave girls we women would have to submit to our husbands whenever they feel healthy." "Papa too?" "AII men are the same, dear." "AII Iecherous brutes." "little princess." "And white as cotton." "Her life will not be easy." "She looks as white as you or I." "Does she have a name?" "Captain Jack calls her Princess." "You men and the havoc you cause." "Princess." "Princess." "Princess." "hello, Queen." "Was it bad?" "Popped out easy." "Liar." "I couId hear you all the way at the big house." "while I was proposing to Lizzie." "It good you took a wife." "You need a son." "But I have the best of you." "Let me give you a fresh glass, ma'am." "well, congratulations, I thought you'd never get around to it." "well, you know me, Sam." "I Iike to be sure." "This child is adorable." "Who's is she?" "Guess." "Oh, you rascal, you." "Did I tell you I'm gonna be lecturing at Harvard next year?" "I must say she is a lovely child." "She's a darling." "She'II make a splendid companion to any daughters Lizzie might have." "Such a sensible arrangement." "Though it's taken Lizzie a while to get used to the idea." "I don't know what I'd do without our slave girls." "Mr. Perkins is a regular demon, you know?" "Yes." "The place is looking splendid, James." "Your father would be proud." "I think we're doing well." "SaIting some away for a rainy day, I hope." "There are some storm clouds out there." "Hope nothing serious, surely." "These aboIitionists are becoming quite strident." "These new northern politicians may take up their cause." "The end of slavery wouldn't be the end." "It'd be the end of the South." "Without cheap Iabor" "We'd diversify." "I don't see you getting out of cotton, James." "well, here she is." "And looking so beautiful." "Thank you, Papa." "I need to steal my groom for a minute, please." "Oh, James." "My, aren't you the pretty little thing." "Who's little girl are you?" "Oh, I think you need a nap." "Come on, darling." "Come on." "I know, I know." "Why, she's just as white as cotton." "Shh." "How was I supposed to know she's Negro?" "This field nearly planted, Henderson?" "Yes, sir." "Niggers are working hard today." "We should be done by this evening." "Very good." "Master says y'aII working pretty good today." "But if you Iike to eat, you'II work a little harder." "You like them sweet potato things?" "Move it!" "You hear me?" "What's that one?" "Cat." "Right." "Stop that." "Anybody find out you learning her to read, we all get whooped." "Or worse." "well, she got to Iearn, ain't she?" "E is for "ephaIump."" "No, child." "That's elephant." "elephant." "elephant." "Right." "What's elephant?" "well, see, an elephant is a great big old animal with a Iong, long nose." "He live in Africa." "That's where my mammy and pappy came from and all your family." "My mammy Cherokee." "I ain't never been to Africa." "well, Africa is a beautiful country." "A long, long way from here, though." "Is that where my pappy is?" "You hear that?" "No, child." "But your daddy is a very important man." "So you got to Iearn good, work hard." "You know, make him proud of you." "Stop that." "Queen, don't you ever think about your pappy." "He don't matter to you." "You stop to put fancy ideas in her head." "Reading and stuff." "She a slave and always gonna be one." "slaves gonna be free one day." "Everybody talking about it." "I tell you the day is coming" "Us ain't going to be around." "well, maybe and maybe not." "But Queen sure will be." "And when that better day come, we got to be ready for it." "Ain't no use in having freedom if you can't use it." "If you ain't got learning, you know, to better ourselves." "AII I do is dream of that better day for her." "well, you go on and dream." "But you let that child be." "That day will come." "You'II see." "That day will come." " She ain't white." " I am too." "Look at me." "Look at me." "I am" "You're just like us." "You're a nigger, just like us." " Look at me." "Look at me." " You ain't got no pappy." "I do too." "You ain't got no pappy." "You ain't got no pappy." "Go on!" "Go on!" "Get out of here." "Get out of here, you little brats." "There, there, there, don't cry." "There's no need now." "But they called me names." "well." "people called me names too when I was little." "Why do they do that?" "Because I different." "Because I Iook white." "Because I can read." "Queen." "Don't ever tell anyone that you can read." "Some people wouldn't like it." "They might try to hurt you." "But my pappy would've stopped them." "Like you stopped those." "Captain Jack, take this child to the kitchen." "Get her a sweet." "She been trouble, master?" "No." "No trouble at all." "Sarah Jane got some cookies in that kitchen for you." "How about some ice-coId milk too?" "What you look for?" "Nothing." "What are these?" "Nothing." "What's that?" "Nothing." "Mm." "This soup is delicious." "Why is everyone so glum?" "politics." "Something women shouldn't bother their pretty heads about." "Don't be patronizing, dear." "Of course it bothers us." "AII that Yankee talk about the abolition of slavery." "Whatever would we do?" "And that dreadful business with Nat Turner killing white women and children." "We could all be murdered in our beds." "And my baby." "What baby?" "My baby." "congratulations." "That's wonderful, Lizzie." "Of course I'm hoping for a boy." "A boy, girl, I don't care." "Just the thought of a baby." "Thank you, Lizzie." "You did have something to do with it, James." "We'II have to fix the nursery." "And find a good Nanny." "And of course the child will need a slave." "What?" "There's plenty of time for that." "well, there's no harm in looking." "We'II need the best." "unless, well, Queen could come and live here and be a companion for him." "Or her." "And they could grow up as friends." " No." " And she could help out around the house." "Do you really think that's a wise idea?" "I think it's an excellent idea, Mother." "Lizzie, I am so pleased." "When will it be?" "No." "She'II be raised with my children." "She'II have all the advantages." "But she all I have." "She'II still be yours." "I want this, Easter." "It's best for her." "Why does master come see you every night?" "He my pappy?" "You hush up about your pappy, Queen." "Before I take a switch to you." "He ain't here and that's all there is about it." "You just know that your mammy love you." "And your master will love you too, just like he was your pappy." "You should have used the back door." "You may go." "I still going to see her again, missy?" "Of course you will." "This is another house, not another county." "But you should know this is the master's decision." "I do not approve of it." "But since it is to be, the child will be given every advantage." "She will be trained as a lady's maid with all the necessary etiquette." "So when you see her keep your distance." "I don't want her learning your Negro ways." "I only want the best for her, missy." "What you want has nothing to do with it." "We own her." "Now, say goodbye and go." "You gonna be a fine lady, Queen." "You gonna live in a big old house just like I always told you." "Now, you be good." "You do as you told." "You hear me?" "Just like...." "Just like you have a new mammy." "I am her mistress." "Not her mammy." "Come along, Queen." "I don't want to." "Queen." "Queen?" "Aren't you ever gonna be ready?" " Queen?" " I sorry, Miss Jane." "I coming." "What kept you so long?" "CouIdn't make up my mind which bonnet to wear." "well, come on." "Papa's going mad." "There you are at last." "Miss Jane." "Miss Queen." "Young ladies do not run." " Sorry, Papa." " You both look lovely." "Now, come on." "The shops will be closed before we get there." "AII right, all you red-bIooded, God-fearing young men." "That's one opportunity for travel and promotion." "Good pay." "You'II start at $ 1 1 per month." "You'II make great companions." "You'II have the best of arms." "You'II have...." "You know, uncle Sam is planning to wage slaves like all those people in northern...." "One." "One." "One, two, one." "One." "One." "One, two, one." " Is there gonna be a war, Papa?" " No." "Of course not." "Why would Americans want to fight Americans?" " Because of slavery?" " Speak when you're spoken to, Queen." "Looks like war." "AII those soldiers." "It's just a Iot of fuss and bother about nothing." "Jane, you can go window shopping, but be careful." "Don't talk to any strange men." "Oh, everyone knows us here, Mama." "I know." "There are a Iot of strangers in town." "Queen, keep her company." "You have money for a cool drink?" "Yes, Mama." " How dare they." " I don't mind it." " Afternoon, ladies." "Sure is a pretty day." " AII around the square." "We don't speak to strange men." "Oh, we're not strange." "Just strangers." "And we just wanna be your friends." "Pay no attention to them." "Oh, now, then, don't be so heartless." "We've come to enlist for the war and you just might be the Iast pretty ladies we talk to in years." "We might even die." "So how about it?" "Come on, just one little bitty kiss for a soldier on his way to glory?" "Leave me alone." " That didn't hurt a bit, did it?" " How dare you kiss my slave?" "I'm surprised at you." "I thought you were a gentleman." "Come on, Iet's go." "How the hell was I supposed to know?" "The bitch looks white." "Keep her off the streets." "Put a sign on her or something." "Are you all right, Queen?" "I was scared." "They're just poor white trash." "I don't want no war." "And I hate them soldiers." "I must say, he's quite a catch." "Never thought I'd nab me a real live overseer." "Some more tea, Mrs. Henderson?" "Why, thank you." "No, Miss Jackson." "I have had an elegant sufficiency." "I am so sorry." "The time just slipped away." "Is this your bride?" "Miss PaImer." "It was, sir." "Of charleston." "Aren't you the sly one, keeping your pretty wife a secret." "well, it happened so fast, sir." "On my leave." "I took one look at him and I said to myseIf" "I said, "Leticia, that is the man for you."" "Young ladies do not listen at doors." "Upstairs at once." "The pair of you." "And my dear mother's heart is broken, of course that I'm living so far away from home." "And my poor father." "AII this talk of war, and me getting wed." "His only comfort these days is the gin." "Isn't she awful?" "Why did he marry her?" "Don't wanna end up an old maid, I guess." "He can't keep his eyes off her." "That's enough." "Men are so funny when they're in love." "Harry Peters says he loves me all the time." "And he gets all sweaty every time he says it." "But he wants to be a preacher, and I don't think that would be fun." "I wanna marry a prince on a white horse." "Oh, Queen, don't be silly." "You're just a raggedy itty-bitty slave girl." "Who's gonna marry you?" "Somebody will." "One day." "Now I lay me down to sleep, Pray the Lord my soul to keep." "And please, don't let Harry become a preacher." "And send a nice slave for Queen." "Amen." "Good night, Queen." "Good night, Miss Jane." "I suppose it wouldn't be too bad being a preacher's wife." "But I'd rather he was something dashing." "Another game?" "I'm going to bed." "Are you coming up?" "In a little while." "I might get some air." "Don't be too long." "No, of course." "sleep well, my love." "Is there gonna be a war, James?" "Oh, maybe." "But I doubt it." "It's probably just hot air." "You know how these things are." "The politicians will huff and puff until the Iast moment and then everyone will back down and find a sensible solution." "Pray God you're right." "It frightens me so." "Such a pretty night." "What's wrong?" "Abraham lincoln has been declared president-eIect." "Southern states are up in arms about it." "Mississippi's already talking about seceding from the Union." "So is South carolina." "There's gonna be a war, Easter." "Because of slavery?" "Yes." "Oh, they'II say it's for the South." "States' rights." "Can't have a bunch of Yankees in Washington telling us how to run our affairs." "You gonna fight?" "Yes." "For slavery?" "No." "well, what then?" "For the land." "For honor." "For everything my father worked for." "To hold on to what's ours." "To keep us safe." "I promise you, I'II come home." "But if anything does happen to me know that I will have loved you until the moment that I died." "Have we been good to you?" "Yes, missus." " You've been very good to me." " I've tried." "I hope you're happy." "Yes, ma'am." "You'd say that even if you weren't." "You're such a pretty child." "You remind me of those portraits that I've seen of the Empress Josephine." "Ma'am?" "She was this lovely French girl from the island of Martinique." "She came to Paris and captured the heart of the emperor, napoleon." "And their court was the grandest of all Europe." "And they had a vision of a great empire." "That was my husband's dream." "To conquer the wilderness." "To make a new society." "And here we are at war with one another." "Brother pitched against brother." "And all that work undone." "Mammy, he dressed up like a soldier going for war." "I don't want him to die." "There, there now, Queen." "He come home safe." "You can't know that." "I ain't never tell you no lie." "Not even about my pappy?" "You always told me that he left us and went away." "But the other slaves laugh at me." "talk about me behind my back." "They tell me that the master my pappy." "Is he?" "Is that true?" "Don't listen to them, Queen." "It don't matter." "It does matter." "It matters to me." "It like half of me missing." "I Iove you, Mammy." "The black me." "But who the other side of me?" "The white me?" "Where she came from?" "From love, child." "I swear before God, from love." "Daddy, no." "It's all right, Jane." "Jane, it's all right." "I'II be home soon." "I hate to see you go." "I hate to have to go." "Be brave." "Do your duty." "I can't bear it." "I Iove you." "Don't go, please." "I must." "No, please, God." "No, please, God." " Go, master, quick." " Oh, God." "Take care of them, Queen." "Forward, ho." "Pray for him, Queen." "He your pappy." "Some of you will have heard that this war is being fought for and against slavery." "That is not true." "The South is fighting for the right to protect its own way of Iife." "The alternative is too dreadful to imagine." "Now, you've all heard the stories of what happens to your people up north." "Hunger, sickness, poverty." "This is not our way." "When you are sick, we tend you." "When you are hungry, we feed you." "When you are old, we care for you." "And when you die, we bury you." "That is our Christian duty." "And now I ask that you all kneel and pray with me." "Oh, heavenly Father, our creator and provider." "We pray to you now in this, our hour of need." "We beg for peace, oh, Lord, and an end to this war." "Fire!" "And we beg that in your infinite wisdom you spare lives that would needlessly be lost in battle." "And we humbly ask that in your mercy you bless and protect our beloved son, James." "Keep him safe from harm and bring him home again to the bosom of his family." "But if his time on earth is done we beseech you to receive him in paradise and attend him with angels." "Amen." "Get some hot water." "Hurry." "Lieutenant, they're coming in, it's more than we can handle." "We set up another tent there." " Yes, sir." " Get to it." "Yes, sir." "Hang on, son." "I need some" "He's gone." "hold him down." "hold him down." "Gonna get you another man." " I'm scared." " Don't be, son." "It's easy." "Be mindful of God's mercy." "What--?" "What mercy?" "hold him down." " AII right, bring those three in." " Hang on, son, hang on." "My buddy!" "I need a table." "I need a table." "Cover him up." " AII right, son." " How is it, James?" "bloody dreadful." "How is it?" "Same." "It's gonna hurt, Iike it or not." "tell me." "tell me true, cousin." "Am I dying?" "well, James, you'II live." "We're working our guts out to keep you with us." "Did we win?" "Oh, yeah, we won." "bull Run is ours, cousin." "Then God be thanked." "I wouldn't have wanted to die for nothing." "We need a hand here." "She's slipping away." "I know it." "Do something." "Get the doctor." "Can't do nothing, Miss Lizzie." "It's the diphtheria." "You hear what he say?" "Oh, Lord, Jane." "Let me do that." "Let me help you." "You think I'd leave her here with you?" "You don't care about Jane." "AII you care about is your brat, Queen." "Haven't you had enough from me?" "You want my child dead too?" "I'II have you whipped." "I'II have you sold away." "Get the overseer." "There ain't no overseer." "It's just us womens now." "We gotta help each other." "I'm sorry." "I'm so sorry, Easter." "I didn't mean it." "I didn't mean it." "There now, Miss Lizzie." "Ain't no harm done." "It's just your pain talking." "That look real good there, Parson Dick." "How your back doing?" "It ain't doing so good." "Quit bothering me." "I know you ain't used to being out here and ain't happy about it." "But we're gonna be all right." "I get you some water, all right?" " And what y'aII laughing at?" " Queen?" "If y'aII was working, Parson Dick wouldn't have to be out here." "Miss sally, what you doing out here?" "This ain't no place for you." "A letter from the master." "I can't read it." "My eyes." "But Miss Lizzie can read." "You think I want her to know my business?" "Here." "I can't do it." "I know you can." "It against the Iaw." "What does it matter now?" "Who's gonna whip you now?" "Here, read it." "Read it." "AII right, Miss sally." ""My dearest Mother I hope this letter finds you well."" "The master's been wounded." "He's coming home." "He's been discharged." "He's coming home." "Be a poor homecoming." "What is wrong with you?" "I's fine." "Just making some broth for Miss Lizzie." "No, you're not fine." "I'm gonna help you." "What you gonna do?" "Go out in the field like some Negro slave?" "You're too old, Miss sally." "You're just too plum old to break your back picking cotton, husking corn." "None of us would be here if it wasn't for you." "Now it's your time to rest." "I used to be pretty good at picking cotton." "We used to put our hands to all sorts of things." "Back in the early days." "Oh, Lord, my back." "Ain't fitting, the mistress planting cotton." "I can't do it anymore." "We have to." "I can't." "We gotta get this field done by sunset." "Come on." "What is this?" "Miss Jackson, what are you doing out in the field planting cotton?" "Queen needed me." "So Queen is in charge now?" "Queen can order the mistress of the house out into the field like some common nigger?" "Somebody had to, Miss Henderson." "There ain't enough of us niggers left." "Don't you sass me, girl." "Don't you ever sass me." "Or you will regret it till the end of your days." "I do need a rest, Queen." "You come with me, Miss Jackson." "Come on." "There's some water over here." "Oh, pray God." "Let it be." "James." "Oh, God." "Miss Lizzie, we ain't done yet." "It's Master James." "Oh, my love." "Oh, James." "My love." "I'm sorry, ma'am." "I haven't seen him." "There was a horrible epidemic." "There was nothing we could do." "Nothing." "Dear God." "No." "Now, don't you argue with me." "You're going to bed." "I be fine, missy." "Run and fetch Queen now." "Run as fast as you can." "Mammy!" "Mammy!" "Come now, we have to find a winding-sheet." "Come, child." "My love." "Sorry I ain't come yesterday, Mammy." "But I had a Iot to do." "Hope you didn't miss me too bad." "Things ain't too good around here, Mammy." "half the slaves gone up north." "Some of them said they gonna fight." "I do the cooking now, and the cleaning for Parson Dick." "And Miss sally, she too old." "And Miss Lizzie, always sick." "Captain Jack, he ain't right in his head." "Keep saying freedom gonna come for all of us." "Like he always knew it wouId." "Say we can all leave here." "Go soon." "But I don't know where I gonna go, Mammy." "This here my home." "These are here my family." "I miss you." "I sorry, master." "It's all right, Queen." "I come see her most every day when I can." "I've been watching you, Queen." "You work hard." "I'm sorry we're not more help to you." "Ain't your place, master." "Sometimes I wonder where my place is." "Don't hate yourself so much, master." "I" "We love you." "I'm going back." "I'm going to form a regiment of my own." "I'm going back to fight." "No, master." "would you mind, Queen, for a little while?" "It's not right, James." "You fought." "You were wounded." "That's enough." " What if the Yankees come?" " They'II never get this far south." "They might." "And it's my job to try and stop them." " Sergeant, lead them out." " Forward, ho!" "Yes." "HaIIeIujah." "Yes." " The Yankees." " What?" "The Yankees coming." "The Yankees coming." "They done burned up florence." " old lincoln, and they killing everybody." " Praise be!" "Good morning, captain." "We are, as you can see, a depleted family." "There are no men folk here, apart from these few slaves." "I trust you mean no harm to us." "We mean no harm to anyone, ma'am, who is loyal to the Union." "I cannot swear allegiance to your flag, sir." "I believe in a different cause." "well, you believe in any cause you Iike." "As long as you do not try to fight us." "I don't think that you would win." "We are your prisoners and we'II do as we are bid." "We're taking no prisoners." "You're free to go about your peaceful business." "However, there are some other things." "My men are hungry." "We have very little." "You will be given a voucher to the value of what we take." "And as your local militia destroyed the bridge to delay our advance we have orders to seize cotton to pay for its repairs." "That is our only income." "It's of no value to you now." "This area's under federal jurisdiction." "Your local cotton mills will be destroyed." "You will not harm us, but you will bankrupt us?" "I have my orders, ma'am." "Sir, you will kindly arrange an escort for me." "Ma'am?" "If you are going to destroy our only means of livelihood I intend to be there to watch." "It would be an honor for me, ma'am, to escort you myself." "Steady the horses." "Whoa, whoa!" "Steady." "hold steady." "How would you have us live now?" "I lost two brothers in this war." "killed by Johnny Reb." "I don't care how you live." "Or if you live." "AII right, gentlemen, Iet's hurry it up." " Easy." " help me." " Leave us something." " The lady wants us to leave her something." "I'II leave her something." "I always wanted a fine Southern lady." "Leave me." "You going with the slaves, little girl?" "Leave me alone!" "Ever try a real man?" "She wants to play." "I know a game she can play." "Don't tell them." "Don't you ever tell them." "Your black slave come to protect you?" "Come on, old man." "Get inside!" "What are you gonna do about it?" "Get down, sir." " Stay down, old man." " No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "Captain Jack, no!" "Leave him alone!" "Leave him be!" "Leave him be!" "Her turn now?" "No, she's just white trash." "Leave her alone." "Captain Jack." "Come on, please." "As far as help from me, I'II be there as soon as I can." "Can't you keep out of trouble, cousin?" "I don't think I can save that arm." "I'II be discharged again." "Not this time, James." "colonel's don't need two good arms." "But we do need every man we can get." "He say he dying." "I can't talk him out of it." "Captain Jack?" "Captain Jack." "The Lord is calling me, Mrs. sally." "I'm sure he would wait a while." "No, Lord, it's been my time." "But I wanna die free." "But you are free." "And you have been for a Iong time." "I have your paper here." "Yeah." "Master gave it to me years ago." "He said one day that you'd be asking for it." "Now, you stop all this talk about dying, you hear?" "We've been together for a Iong time." "I mean, we have done some things." "Now, didn't we?" "You knew old Master James before I did." "You remember how we set him up?" "I told you where he went riding and you was there nursing your baby by you first late husband." "Showed much more of myself than I should." "One look at you and he was gone." "Oh, we've had some times" " Yes" "Oh." "Oh." "Queen?" "This here be Annie's grandchild." "Don't ever let her be sold away from here." "please." "Oh, I couldn't do that." "Soon she'II be free." "AII the slaves will be free." "AII the slaves be free?" "Very soon." "Oh, sweet Jesus." "Then this must be...." "Then this must be that better day." "He gone." "well, maybe now he see the promised land." "What you doing?" "I'm leaving." "I'm going to Virginia to see if I can find my brothers and my sisters." "Then maybe on up north." "But this here where you belong." "No." "No, Queen." "Not anymore." "I am free." "I don't belong to no man, and neither do you." "If I was you, I'd get as far away from this plantation as I couId." "But these here my family." "colonel Jackson, he my pappy." "What you expect your pappy to do?" "Take you into the bosom of his family tell the whole world that "this little Negro girl here is my daughter"?" "No." "Queen, gonna be some hard times coming for everybody." "White folks gonna stick together like glue." "They ain't about to admit that these muIattos and quadroons, an octoroons running around this plantation is their kin." "And as for you, you don't mean nothing to them." "They won't even admit that you exist." "Ain't true." "Ain't true." "They love me." "I'm glad he died free." "Thank you." "You're free too." "Free to go where you will, do what you will." "Thank you." "Where will you go?" "I serve you." "Work for you." "We have no place for you here." "But this my home." "Listen to me very carefully." "The world as we knew it has gone." "And it can only get worse." "We cannot feed the family even now." "And after the war, I don't know what we'II do." "well, I'II help you." "I'II cook, I'II clean, I'II tend the garden, I'II do everything." "We love you and we have tried to do right by you." "But you are a Negro and you are a slave." "And times will be hard and your best place will be with your own people." "My pappy won't let you turn me away." "You must never think of colonel James as your father." "You're a child of the plantation." "Just like a thousand others." "That's all." "You my people." "This my family." "Miss sally." "Miss sally." "You're my family." "Mammy." "help me, Mammy." "God, help me." "What I gonna do?" "Where I gonna go?" "help me." "help me." "help me."