"I was born in this time to never be free" "born in this time to never be free wait all my time for freedom now it's too far up a hill for me" "now, you know, my feeling is all I ever owned yeah you know, my feeling, now is all I ever owned" "well, you know, ah, happiness is one thing mmm" "I have never known" "yeah, I don't understand and I don't know who to blame" "well-well, I don't understand and I don't know who to blame" "yeah, and I just keep on livin'" "I just keep on livin' the same" "I am so tired but I can't take my rest" "yeah, and I'm so tired but I can't take my rest" "yeah, you know, my back is so worn and I ain't feel that strong" "dear lord in heaven can you hear my lonesome prayer?" "oh, dear lord in heaven can you hear my lonesome prayer?" "oh, save me from trouble mmm trouble an' despair" "I was born in this time to never be free" "well, I was born in this time mmm to never be free" "well, you know, my time for freedom way up-way up there with a halo on me" "way on-way up there where heaven be" "way, way, way up there where heaven be" "How much for this wench and sucker?" "She ought to be worth 650." "That's too much." "I can't get more than seven for them in new orleans." "Shuck down your pants." "Bend over." "You're wasting time." "He ain't got hemorrhoids." "You alter some of them?" "My pa never altered a nigger," "Nor have I." "On this plantation, there's no altered horse nor nigger." "When the bucks run a-scared of that," "I wouldn't be blaming them." "This buck's cicero, a runner." "Talks a lot." "Talks, preaches." "Stops the others from doing." "Else, he's a prime worker." "Make a deal on him." "Go fetch." "Ah." "He moves fast." "A sound buck." "Good for the sugar cane." "Yeah." "He might last 7, 8 years." "1,500 for the 3 of them." "That's this one here and them two." "2,500." "Done." "Don't want to see another batch?" "No, that's enough for now." "All right, mem," "Send them back to quarters." "See that those three bucks" "Is chained in the barn tonight." "Yes, master maxwell, sir." "Back to quarters, everybody." "Papa!" "Papa." "Brownlee is the correct cognomen," "Is it not, sir?" "That is, sir." "Ham, this here's mr." "Brownlee." "Right charmed by the honor of your company." "Well, I'm right charmed my own self." "Mr. Brownlee is a trader." "Well, you gonna have slaves," "You got to have traders." "That's right." "You can't eat them," "And you can't plow them under." "Papa." "Papa, doc redfield come about big pearl." "Well, you know..." "If she has vomit or temperature," "She got to be isolated." "No, doc redfield, nothing like that." "Well, let's see." "All right, now, pearl, breathe deep." "Git!" "Git!" "What ails her, doc?" "Doc redfield's the best veterinarian anywhere around here." "She a virgin?" "Oh." "Well, I reckon." "But you can't never be sure" "About a black wench." "lucy?" "She pure." "I've been saving her" "Like master maxwell tell me." "She a mandingo wench." "You don't let just any buck get to her." "Hmm." "Big pearl, you the only one" "Who can tell us most certain." "Mm-hmm." "Well..." "Nothing ailing the wench" "Except she craving'" "In the bud of heat." "She's hipped, plum hipped." "Old doc redfield" "Nothing he don't know" "About nigger nature, nigger symptoms." "Hammond, son..." "You pleasure her, she'll get better." "You don't..." "She'll fall off." "I too black, master, sir." "I not fitting for you." "Master's duty" "To pleasure the wenches first time," "You know that." "Oh." "Pure mandingo." "You got bucks, too?" "I'd give s3,000 for a mandingo buck." "Need one to breed her." "When I was your age, hammond," "There wasn't no 14-year-old virgins" "Around falconhurst." "Hammond craves the bright-skinned ones." "Why ever you don't hanker for big pearl." "I do hanker, papa, it's..." "She's powerful musky is all." "No need for musk to bother you." "Just soak them good" "In manganade and potash water." "I need some more milk." "Yes, sir, master." "Agamemnon, you black scoundrel," "Get in here, help lucrezia borgia." "Tell them how many suckers you brung us, lucrezia borgia." "24, master." "24." "These twins..." "Are two of them." "She bred out now" "Too old." "Yes, sir, massa." "I'm calling you, mem." "I'm begging you to step face." "Papa, don't get yourself riled now." "It ain't good for your rheumatism." "I'll get master hammond" "To take a piece of your hide off of you." "Oh, no, massa, don't hide me." "Please, sir." "I-I be spry." "Do you have any religion" "For your niggers, mr." "Maxwell?" "Hell, no." "More religions they gets, the ornerier they gets." "Harder to drive." "Don't worry none about their immortal souls?" "They ain't got no immortal souls." "They gets to thinking they has souls." "They gets to thinking" "They's as good as white folk." "Mem, you reckon you got a soul?" "Well, a lazy, no-account," "Stupid, god-forsaken nigger like me" "Can't have a soul, massa." "Well, some folks think they got souls" "And go to heaven, too." "Them abolitionists up north done say they's good as whites." "Damn sons of bitches." "Slavery was ordained by god" "By god hisself." "Niggers are right happy eating, working," "Fornicating..." "Abolitionists!" "Cracks and loonies!" "Papa, papa." "Interfering in other folks' business!" "Papa, your rheumatism." "I don't give a damn about my rheumatism!" "Don't do this, don't do that!" "Gets worse, whatever I do or quit doing!" "Uh, sleeping..." "With one of them naked mexican dogs..." "They say it drains the rheumatism" "Right out of the man" "And into the dog." "Yes?" "A nigger just as good." "One of them drain off the rheumatism good as any naked dog." "'course, you'd have to have that nigger" "Sort of curled up around your feet," "And then you got to press hard" "And kindly force the rheumatism right out the soles." "That's right interesting." "Hmm." "Papa, I'm going." "Lucrezia borgia," "You tell lucy to get big pearl ready." "Right glad to hear that, son." "Good boy." "He look like he be a right vigorous stud." "He's..." "Shy about his leg." "When he was 6 years old, a year after his ma died," "A pony threw him off," "Stepped on his knee." "Now, just do everything he say." "Everything." "And don't let no farts," "No difference how you feel." "And don't forget to say thank you," "Whether he gives you nothing or not." "You supposed to reckon it's a prideful hour" "White master taking your first." "This stuff smells awful, mama." "Smells good to white noses." "You know, I..." "Heard doc redfield talking..." "Say a magnated wench stay sweet smelling for two days." "I be smelling like this for two days?" "Hush up, now." "I told you not to let on you're sick." "Go on, meg, go on!" "All right." "Lucy..." "Lucrezia borgia, you can go." "You act like I told you, now." "Yes, mama." "You gonna have to help me with my boots." "You glad about this, big pearl?" "Big pearl?" "Sure, master hammond." "Why mama say..." "I..." "What'd she say?" "She say..." "She say it'd be right joyful." "She right?" "Toby, you get out of here." "How you all feel" "Laying here chained" "While the white man walk about," "Doing his pleasure with a black girl?" "May actually don't have no feelings at all" "Like that peckerwood say." "Feelings like some old dumb animal" "That don't count no how." "Y'all hear me?" "In africa," "Our people born free." "That's right." "Free men..." "Not slaves." "Masters of our own selves." "And of the forest" "And the rivers and the mountains." "Y'all think that deep down," "That peckerwood don't know" "We's as human as he is?" "What for, you reckon," "He keep us from learning" "And religion" "And reading?" "'cause they know." "They's a-feared that deep down we is human." "Mem..." "You brung that copy-out page?" "Yeah, I got it." "Show these brethren how to read." ""oh, lord..." ""our god..." ""others, lord..." ""beside thee..." ""have..." "Had..."" "Dumerdo?" "Doe." "Dominion." ""dominion..." ""over us..." ""but by thee..." ""only..." "Will we make..."" "March-men" "Men." "Men-shun." "Mention." "Men-chun." "Be meaning "to speak of."" ""mention..." ""of..." "Thy name."" "What are you doing here, mem?" "Let me see what you got there." "Give it to me, mem." "Give it to me!" "Damn." "You can read, can't you?" "And write." "Who learned you, mem?" "It was you, huh, cicero?" "Damn!" "Get out of here!" "My papa done well to sell you." "Reading!" "You know what you can get for reading?" "Go on!" "There we go." "Ahh." "There." "O.K." "You got to keep your feet" "Pressed hard on his belly now," "So the rheumatism drains right out from the sole, all right?" "Yes." "Yes, doctor." "All right." "Hammond." "Doc." "Well, good night all." "I'll do that, lucrezia." "You stay curled up there, boy." "Good night, doc." "Good night." "Papa, I got to peel mem's rump." "What's he done?" "Well, he" "He's just been getting too uppity is all." "You protecting him again?" "What'd he do now?" "Papa, I catch mem reading." "He can read." "Reading!" "That dumb-ass, broke-head, nigger read" "I don't want to see!" "You know what old sam tucks do with reading' niggers?" "Puts out an eye." "Cures them good." "One eye, not two." "Blind, there's no damn use," "But one eyes work as hard" "Don't give no more trouble." "No, papa, no." "I'll just whup him a bit is all." "'taint enough." "That's all, papa." "A larruping will do it." "Then whup him fierce." "Hammond, you got to cut deep, 'cause a nigger don't feel physical punishment soon as a white man." "And you rub in the pimentade after." "Hurts like hell," "But heals the scars right clean." "And tell lucrezia borgia to use fresh red pepper in the pimentade," "Fresh lemon, and plenty of salt." "Yes, sir." "Good night, papa." "Plenty of salt, I say." "Yes, sir." "Reading." "You pray for memnon tonight, massa?" "Ain't no use me praying for you," "Seeing as how" "You can do it for your own self." "May after tomorrow" "After you been whupped." "Now, git." "Yes, sir, massa." "Master, sir?" "What you want, dite?" "Master, I knocked up." "Oh, I been looking for that." "Master, when my sucker come," "Can'st I keep it?" "It's for your own good, dite." "So you won't feel bad if'n we go to sell it." "Now, I lay me down to sleep," "I pray the lord my soul to keep." "If I should die before I wake," "Pray the lord my soul to take." "Haul him up, pokey." "Please." "Don't want a beating." "Master hammond, please." "No, please!" "No, please, stop!" "Please." "Please, massa hammond." "Go on, meg." "You sure look a-funny hanging there." "Shut your mouth, meg." "Now..." "Stand off from him" "So like" "And aim for his bottom." "You get him in the legs it don't hurt him none," "But don't you slam his back." "Yes, sir, master." "Go ahead." "You ain't doing that right." "Give me that." "Now, this is how you do it." "Who the hell are you to touch my niggers?" "Why, cousin hammond." "Don't you recognize me?" "We was little ones." "I'm charles." "Major woodford's son from crowfoot plantation." "Cousin charles." "Come up to the house." "Oh." "Master's misery drain right through my belly." "You lie, little buck." "I still feel my rheumatism." "Here." "I hurt awful." "Get down there." "Ahh." "Where's charles?" "He's a-stuffin' himself" "With lucrezia borgia's vittles." "Uh-huh." "Major woodford" "Charles' pa" "Is bad pressed." "Charles come with a letter from him" "Asking to borrow money." "Do you have a mind to?" "May help." "If'n you take to charles' little sister," "Cousin blanche." "Oh, papa, are you starting that again?" "It's time for us to be a-thinkin'" "Of an heir for falconhurst." "You need a white lady to give you a son with human blood" "Not them suckers of yours through wenches." "Pa, I wouldn't know what to do," "Not with no white lady." "And you can't have no more wenches if'n you marry." "Of course." "Have them just the same." "You doesn't talk about them in front of your wife," "But she knows you have them." "She wants you should have them." "Saves her from having to submit." "When she do submit, though," "You keep on your shirt and drawers." "Plagues a white lady almost to death to see a man naked." "Not in new orleans." "Huh?" "Them white ladies there, I hear..." "They strip it all off." "Every bit." "Ham..." "You just go take a look at cousin blanche." "If she ain't to your taste," "We can look around at other white ladies." "Major woodford" "Ha ha ha" "Don't get the money." "Hello, sir." "My name's hammond maxwell." "I'm warren maxwell's son." "Hammond maxwell, well, if it ain't." "How's your pa?" "Oh, he's all crippled up with the rheumatism." "Oh, that's too bad." "And this here is charles woodford," "Major woodford's son from crowfoot." "Pleased to meet you." "The pleasure's all mine, sir." "Make yourself welcome, mr." "Woodford." "Y'all come on in." "Thank you much." "Tell me, does warren still have" "That wench and that child?" "Thank you, sir." "Little one ought to be big enough to breed by now." "Well, that's what I come here for, sir." "You got an old mandingo buck." "My papa craves to borrow him that buck to breed them two wenches." "But I haven't got that buck anymore." "He dead." "Bull gored him about three months ago," "And old zucks, he died." "Damn." "I'm sorry to hear that, sir." "My papa laid store in him." "Warren maxwell and his mandingos." "They make the best fighting niggers," "Mandingos." "I crave one for my own self." "A fine one." "One that can whup anybody." "This is katie and ellen." "I hope they'll be to your likin'." "Suit me fine." "Good night, then." "Thank you." "Good night." "You a virgin?" "This one ain't, huh, katie?" "Cousin hammond, you take the virgin." "I don't care for hard work." "Cousin charles, what the hell you doing" "Kissing her on the mouth?" "What are you doing that for?" "Why, it makes a man feel good." "She likes it, too, don't you, pretty wench?" "Yes, master." "You don't like what charles is doing?" "No, master." "I don't like it, neither." "Damn, it makes me sick." "Why are you looking odd-like at me?" "Sneaky-like?" "What for?" "You tell me now, no fibbing." "You tell me, is it my leg?" "No, master." "J-just you strange for a white man." "How do you mean strange?" "Caring what a white man do to a wench." "Can you help me off with these boots?" "Yes, sir." "What happened to your leg, master?" "No one's ever asked that straight out honest." "You know, they're always pretending they don't see." "Ha." "I do walk bad." "I thinks you walks just fine, master." "Raise your head." "Raise your head." "Now you're looking away from me." "I can't see you." "Put your eyes on me." "Look at me straight into my eyes." "I can't, master." "I craves you to do it, ellen." "Niggers don't" "Don't what?" "Look a white man in the eyes?" "If you're told to do it..." "If asked to do it," "You can do it." "Ellen?" "Don't you be afeard." "If you don't like me, you don't have to stay." "I like you, sir." "I want to please you." "Here we have a capital woman and her three children." "All in good health." "What will you say for them?" "Give me an offer." "I'll put the whole lot up for $850." "$850. 850." "900!" "$900!" "They ain't worth it." "Come on, let's get out of here." "610 to the gentleman in green." "Do I hear 615?" "Look at this lovely wench, gentlemen." "I got a mandingo." "Pure-bred mandingo." "I want to see." "This is what I was looking for, ja." "Ooh!" "Playful as a kitten," "Strong as a bull elephant." "Good lord, ma'am." "I don't buy the pig in the poke." "Ha ha ha ha!" "Ha ha ha ha!" "She carry on like a man." "Is she buys him," "He's going to find out tonight she ain't no man." "Hey, you mean that lady will pleasure with that nigger?" "That's a german widow," "And german ladies can never pleasure without them." "How much?" "3,500." "I give you 3,000." "I'll pay the price you're asking." "You're no gentleman," "Trying to take the nigger from the poor widow woman." "If you should crave the make of him, ma'am." "I ain't letting you get him." "4,000." "I'll pay more, 500 more." "Schweinhund!" "Ha ha ha ha!" "Ha ha ha ha!" "Done!" "You got a good boy." "Trustworthy, obedient, whip smart." "I sure hate to sell him." "What do you call him?" "Mede, or galamede." "I'll come fetch him in two, three days." "Hey, I got me a fighting nigger!" "Never been beaten up." "The mandingo my papa's craved all his life." "Yes, sir, ain't he something." "Hee hee." "Mede, huh?" "Mede." "That's a good name, mede." "Mede, huh?" "Damn." "Beatrix, my dear," "Ain't cousin hammond the image of uncle theopolis?" "Uncle theopolis weren't that handsome," "And uncle theopolis never looked at blanche like that." "Blanche, do you think cousin hammond is handsome?" "It don't matter if'n blanche thinks he's handsome." "What matters is cousin hammond thinking blanche is pretty." "You see, you don't get the money" "If'n she ain't to his taste and he don't wed her." "Oh, charles." "I heard your pa." "Oh, my god!" "Oh, that's all right." "You ain't a wedding that hammond." "Oh, yes, I am." "I'll be a wedding him." "He's a fine catch." "Good-looking," "Rich," "Romantic," "Been to new orleans." "Come from far away." "I'll tell him." "I'll tell him what we done." "He won't believe you," "And papa would throw you out." "Charles, I'm gettin' out of this house..." "And this family." "Cousin blanche." "Cousin blanche, wait." "You come to buy me?" "Take a good look at me, like I was a wench." "Now, cousin blanche, don't" "Am I to your taste?" "You crave I undress?" "Cousin blanche, I'm- I'm terrible sorry." "Well..." "I do believe you are." "Can I carry you to church, cousin blanche?" "Oh." "A gentleman carries a young lady to church," "Everyone reckons they's gonna get married." "May hap we is." "Is what?" "May hap we is gonna get married." "How you like to?" "You got a nice plantation?" "A big house?" "Well, the house ain't fine like crowfoot." "It's good enough for just papa and me, but..." "But I can build a house." "I just been waitin' till I get married to build a house," "A-a fine house." "Well, now," "I ain't, uh," "I ain't really thought about gettin' married much." "Papa, he say I got to get married and sire me a son." "Is you all proposing'?" "Yes, ma'am, I reckon so." "I-I don't know no other way to do it." "How you like to?" "Don't kiss me yet," "Unless it's just a cousin kiss." "Ha!" "Well, do you think the yellow" "Or the pink is more prettier" "On the new mrs." "Maxwell?" "Oh, ham, I'm so happy." "Oh, and my ring..." "I loves it." "It's much prettier than mama's." "Ha ha ha ha." "Oh." "You like it when you kiss me?" "Oh, I do." "I do." "I crave you to do it." "Hammond..." "What we do now?" "Well, I don't rightly know." "I mean, with a wench I'd know," "But with a white lady..." "Ha ha." "I reckon we got to take off some clothing." "Not everything, of course." "Ha ha ha ha." "All right." "What?" "Let's see..." "Well, undo this." "Oh, yeah, I see." "Ha ha." "What for you get up?" "I can't sleep seeing, like, when I'm thinkin'." "What you thinkin' about?" "I'm thinkin'," "I'm wonderin'..." "What man you had before me." "Hammond, where'd you get that zany notion from?" "You thinkin' I don't know a virgin when I sleeps with one" "And pleasures?" "I was, too, a virgin." "You was once, but not last night." "Oh!" "Oh, how can you think such a thing?" "There was nobody!" "I was pure..." "Till you." "You might as well tell me who he is." "I kill the son of a bitch!" "Now, you tell me who pleasured you before me!" "You-you're accusing' me..." "You accusing' me of somethin' I never done." "I never done it!" "I never, never, never done it!" "I never, never, never" "You disgust me!" "Oh!" "Hammond!" "Ah, chéri, all is well?" "Very well, madame caroline." "Bon." "Bring two." "Your father has been unfaithful to me." "He was one of my best customers," "Till a couple of years ago." "I told you your pa was a hell-raiser." "Yeah." "Ha ha." "For warren maxwell's charming son," "Tonight is compliments of the house." "Ha ha." "Thank you, ma'am." "Thank you." "You lucky bastard." "I never got it free in my whole life." "Never will, either, probably." "Ha ha." "Hell, I don't care." "If I don't have it for six months, it's one more than your widow." "I'm gonna spend my money-ohh!" "Look at this gal." "That's it, walk all over me, honey." "You'll get a cramp now." "Why, I've been serving pleasure to old men all day." "But I've been watching your baby face ever since you came in," "Wondering how I was going to get to you." "I ain't feeling good, lady." "Oh, well, I can fix that, honey," "All over." "Mmm!" "Hey, you do that all over stuff?" "Oh, for somebody like him, mmm!" "I reckon not, lady." "I..." "I'm on my honeymoon." "Oh, well, that's when a gentleman needs good lovin' the most." "He's got the prettiest little peach for a bride" "Back at the hotel, just waitin' there, layin' there." "Oh, but I can show him things" "His bride don't dream they do it on mars" "Where they got creatures with... 6 arms and 12 mouths." "I reckon not, lady." "Maybe another time, all right." "Well, if he ain't goin' with you, I am." "Oh, come on." "What you doin' in here?" "Master hammond told me to wait here for him." "Niggers aren't allowed inside." "You a nigger." "I'm madame caroline's slave, and I'm telling you to get out." "I'm master hammond's slave, and I'm staying." "I said get out." "I said I'm staying." "I said get out!" "Aah!" "Stop it, armand!" "I have you whipped to death!" "Stop them!" "Stop them!" "Mede!" "Mede, stop that, I tell you!" "Stop it!" "No, no, let them fight." "$1,000 to the owner of the winner." "Ohh!" "Ohh!" "$1,000 for you, madame caroline," "If your man wins." "500. 500, I bet." "Get up!" "Get up!" "Get up!" "I proclaim mede the victor." "God damn, mede!" "Damn!" "Good boy!" "That was damn pretty." "Hey, you hurtin'?" "I'm fine, master." "Just fine." "Come on, come on over here." "Wash your face off, sit down." "Come on." "Monsieur." "Your winnings, monsieur." "Ha ha ha ha." "Whatever you paid for him," "I'll double it." "Hell, I paid $4,500 for him." "9." "9,000." "No, sir." "No, sir, he ain't for sale." "Come on." "Then he must fight my man-topaz." "In two months, perhaps three." "Here." "All right." "Whoa." "Whoa." "What for are we stoppin' here?" "The horse be tired." "Mede, you get him some water." "Yes, sir." "Mr. Brownlee come by." "Got a nigger he only wants to sell me-cicero." "Oh, yes, sir." "He's a troublemaker, sir." "I don't mind that kind." "I like to tame them." "Too many nigger risings are happening." "Virginia, the carolinas," "Especially georgia." "Folks still talk about that nat turner" "And abolitionist comin' down here" "With that liberator newspaper, I guess," "Is putting' ideas in their head." "Ellen!" "Ellen!" "Yeah, I'm talkin' to you." "Come here!" "Mr. Hammond craves to buy you." "You want to go with him?" "Get your bundle." "Who's the wench?" "Slave I bought some time back." "She for the mandingo?" "She ain't." "Here's falconhurst." "This it?" "This is it." "Oh, now, my papa, we mustn't tell him nothin'." "O.K., hammond, I swear I won't." "You hear me?" "He never got to know you weren't pure." "Bust his heart." "Bust it right open" "Thinkin' of falconhurst going to a son of a" "Hell, we all married." "Ain't nothin' we can do about it." "Whoa!" "Whoa!" "Hello." "And this is the new missus." "Oh, well, ain't she pretty?" "Oh." "Oh." "You know..." "Ha ha ha." "You know, ever since your ma died," "I've been wantin' another pretty white mistress," "And-and-and now I got me one." "Papa, this is cousin blanche." "She's your daughter now, papa." "We're married and everything." "Welcome home to falconhurst, my dear." "It ain't fine ahead like crowfoot," "But it's right comforting'." "Come inside." "joshua, come hold this horse." "Mandingo." "You brought home a mandingo." "Later, papa." "You can see him later." "Ha." "A bride and a mandingo." "Ha." "What are you doing?" "Don't touch that." "Leave that alone." "Go unpack the dresses." "Where's she sleeping'?" "Wherever you like, with a bed." "Oh, no, not in here." "We ain't gonna do nothin' this evening." "Ain't you sleepin' here?" "You content to have your wife cryin' all night long?" "What's your papa gonna think?" "He and ma had separate rooms." "Won't make him think we ain't happy together." "Well, I'll tell him." "Tense!" "You step outside for a second." "Go on, go on!" "What you gonna tell him?" "That you had someone 'fore me?" "You decides to say who pleasured you 'fore me," "I just might treat you a bit better." "I might." "You goin' to that wench of yours-ellen?" "What you doin' in here?" "What you doin'?" "You just get out, you hear me?" "I don't want you sleepin' in here." "Oooee!" "Heaven be praised." "You sure he pure?" "I don't want no half." "Oh, yes, sir." "I got the papers right here." "Mede." "What happened to him?" "Oh, he fought..." "And won." "I'm going to fight him again as soon as I get him trained." "He look ruined." "His testicles, they ain't been teared out?" "No, sir, he's fine." "He's so big, he'd tear the wenches." "Little bacon rind gonna fix that." "Lucrezia borgia." "You saved for big pearl." "Might as well put 'em together right away." "But, pa." "Uh, no, pa." "But, now..." "Mede's still tired out." "He's hurtin'." "I ain't tired, massa." "I'm ready." "He say you tired, you tired." "Don't dispute." "Lucrezia borgia, you take him in the kitchen" "And fill him up right good." "And make him swallow down about half a dozen raw eggs." "Oh, I'll make him swallow those eggs." "They'll choke him silly." "Pa?" "Papa?" "This worries me." "Oh." "I see what's botherin' you." "The papers say this mede's the brother of big pearl's." "Lucy's his ma." "They don't know nothin'." "Mede was a sucker when he was sold." "Papa, that'll be incest." "Works supperin' with animals, works fine with niggers." "Yeah, but what you gonna do then" "If the sucker turn out to be some kind of monster?" "Snuff it out." "You got to get certain ideas out of your head." "How much you pay for her?" "Oh. 1,500." "1,500 for a wench." "Not bad." "She was there, and I boughten her." "She's gonna be my bed wench." "Blanche ain't gonna like that." "Well, now, you said yourself" "White ladies don't like too much pestering'." "White ladies don't like their husband gettin' tender" "With a wench, neither." "Go on, in you get." "Come on, chuck down those pants." "Get in there." "Ahh!" "Sss!" "It hot, massa." "Get down in there!" "Come on!" "Papa, that rind awful hot." "Got to be to toughen his hide." "You reckon you could soften him instead?" "It's all right." "Just so it ain't burning' or scalding'." "Them old romans always salted their fighting' slaves." "Can't stand it, massa hammond!" "It hurt!" "You stay there!" "You got skin like a sucker." "Any champeen buck'd tear you up." "Damn." "Aah!" "Uhh!" "Get him on his back!" "Come on!" "Get him on his back!" "Come on, kick him again!" "Come on, mede!" "Get on top of him!" "Man!" "Come on!" "Get him!" "Get him!" "Turn his head, mede!" "Get your arms around him!" "Pull him down!" "Come on, flip him over!" "Go ahead, man, throw the water." "Come on." "Hurry up." "Aah!" "Aah!" "Damn, you a lucky buck, able to fight like that." "Go on, get out of here!" "Go on!" "That right pretty, mede." "You comin' along good." "Thank you, sir." "That's right." "You're gonna make a good fighter." "Yes, sir." "Thank you, sir." "You wipe him off and tell lucy and lucrezia borgia" "To rub him down good." "Yes, sir, master hammond." "Yes, sir." "Yeah, you're gettin' good, mede." "You're gettin' to be a better 'n' better white man's fightin' animal." "When they gonna teach you how to growl, grunt, 'n' maul?" "Whoop!" "Whoop!" "Uh!" "When you gonna learn the color of your skin, mede?" "Just as soon..." "As you stop puttin' on your smilin' nigger face..." "For massa hammond." "You drink them toddies like an old drunk." "Blanche ain't settled down here yet," "And you ain't helping' her ignoring' her." "And I thank you, papa warren." "Now, how that fightin' buck do?" "Hell, papa, he'd have broke that bonking's neck." "He flipped him so high- is that all you can talk about?" "Your niggers!" "That's all you ever talk about!" "Well, I'm gonna tell you somethin'." "My pa" "Hell, your pa's bust!" "Go after her, hammond." "She your wife." "Go on, I say." "Ohhh..." "My head." "My head's spinnin' around..." "And around." "Just drunk." "No." "Hammond..." "The reason..." "The reason I took that toddy..." "Was to get up the courage to say to you..." "What I'm a-sayin'..." "What I'm a-feelin'..." "You ain't touched me..." "You want to be with me?" "Huh?" "You ain't touched me." "I want you to touch me." "Please, hammond." "I need you." "Huh?" "Touch me." "Oh, please touch me!" "Uhh!" "You sure are a strange kind of white lady." "Time I was a little 'un..." "Lucrezia borgia used to fan me to sleep." "Lucrezia borgia say I knocked." "She say I been missin' my time of month." "Hell, what she know?" "She got 24 suckers." "They kinda itch, like, and ache a little." "Mayhaps, she is right." "Now you won't be wantin' me no more." "You'll be sellin' me again." "Oh, ellen, honey, now, I ain't never gonna sell you." "You're mine." "You ain't mad." "No." "This how mad I be." "You be gonna sell our sucker?" "No, I ain't." "No, I won't do that neither, ellen." "But you're gonna sell dotty's sucker." "Now, now, that's different." "Our sucker, we..." "We keep him," "Raise him right here at falconhurst." "Ha ha." "That make you glad?" "Ha ha." "Good." "Hammond..." "Hammond, can I ask you somethin'?" "Mm-hmm." "When our sucker growed up, can he go free?" "Can you give him his freedom?" "You crazy to be free?" "Is you crazy to be free?" "No." "Well, then what for you want the sucker to go free?" "'cause for a buck..." "For a boy child," "A lot of misery don't happen to him." "He don't get whupped when the master wants to whup him." "He don't get penned on a patch of land like a pig..." "Can't never go nowhere or do nothin'." "Can't learn to read or write lessen he get beat or killed." "Hammond." "Uhh!" "Forget about it." "I damn right gonna forget about it." "Ellen." "It mean that much to you..." "Oh, ellen, honey, all right." "All right, honey." "The sucker can go free." "I promise you." "The sucker can go free." "Nigger-risin', maxwell!" "That nigger of yours- cicero-stole a gun from me and run off." "Got some others to join." "We ain't seen them here, birch." "We done catched two of them." "I'd like to help you get 'em, mr." "Wallace." "Well, come on, then." "Mede, you come with me." "Mr. Wallace!" "Mr. Wallace!" "They're in the south quarter!" "Ha ha ha ha!" "Hyah!" "They in there!" "They wounded four of us!" "Four!" "It's cicero!" "I'll get cicero!" "Come on!" "Come on, boys!" "I'll get him!" "Come on!" "Aah!" "Uhh!" "Mede!" "Get him!" "Yahh!" "You hold me for a peckerwood?" "Peckerwood'll kill me!" "Be like you killin' me!" "You be puttin' the rope around my neck yourself." "What you think you is, a hound dog?" "Peckerwood say go fetch, you fetch." "You see me hang, you're gonna know..." "You're gonna know you kill a black brother!" "Uhh!" "Cicero." "Uhh!" "O.K., stiles, ought to at least check that rope." "Mayhaps I could've got away, or be for you catchin' me." "You 'member that." "You 'member that all day." "You killed me." "You 'member that." "You killed me." "Because, like, you just proved what the peckerwood say" "We're just beasts, willing' to do anything," "Kill each other." "No mind." "No feelin'." "Shut up, nigger!" "Uhh!" "Leastwise, I ain't gonna die like you gonna die" "Like a slave!" "I ain't givin' no lifetime of misery and sweat" "To this peckerwood!" "I'd rather die than be a slave!" "You peckerwood!" "That's right!" "You peckerwood was oppressed in your own land!" "We was free, and you brought us here..." "In chain." "Well, now we're here..." "And you just better know" "This is just as much our land as it is yourn." "And after you hang me..." "Kiss my ass." "Hyah!" "Hoo!" "Hyah!" "Orleans a long way to go to see a fight." "This one gonna be worth it." "I'm trustin' falconhurst to you while we gone." "Take care of everything." "You got him trained real good?" "Well, I reckon he could use another two weeks." "I fine, massa." "Whups anybody you want." "Ha ha!" "Ha ha!" "get in, mede." "Hyah!" "Bye, mede!" "Bye, mede!" "Goodbye, mede!" "Good luck!" "Bye, mede!" "Good luck, mede!" "Mede, good luck!" "Tense?" "Tense..." "Bring me that wench ellen!" "Bring her to me!" "You heard me!" "Fetch her!" "Uhh!" "Get in this room." "Now..." "You're gonna take all your clothes off." "Get 'em off!" "Miss blanche." "You hear me?" "Ellen knocked." "You knocked?" "you knocked?" "I'm gonna whup that sucker right outta you." "Pig!" "Filthy!" "Dirty!" "Dirty, dirty, pig!" "Aah!" "You hear me?" "You're a pig!" "A whore!" "A goddamn whore!" "Ohh!" "A pig of pigs!" "Aah!" "You..." "Dumb animal!" "Dumb!" "Fornicator!" "Fornicatin' animal!" "Oh, god!" "Miss blanche!" "Oh, no, miss blanche!" "Please!" "Oh, no, miss blanche!" "Get away from me!" "Please!" "No, you can't, miss blanche!" "Aah!" "Miss blanche!" "Aah!" "Aah!" "Leave her alone!" "Uhh!" "Messieurs!" "Messieurs et mesdames, your attention, please!" "This evening," "Through the kindness and gracious hospitality" "Of new orleans' preeminent" "Patroness of all manly and recreational sports..." "I am alluding to madame caroline..." "This evening..." "This evening we are privileged to witness" "An epic battle" "Between mr." "Hammond maxwell's slave mede..." "Yay!" "Hooray!" "Hooray!" "Hooray!" "And the slave" "Belonging to marquis bena deveve" "Topaz!" "Hooray!" "Yay!" "Yay!" "Hooray!" "Champion of the island of jamaica!" "It is a fight to the finish" "With no holds barred!" "Yay!" "Yay!" "Yay!" "Very well, gentlemen!" "Let them fight!" "Oh!" "Come on, mede!" "Hit him back!" "God damn, that topaz is a seasoned fighter, doc!" "God damn!" "Mede's whupped!" "He can't whup him noways!" "Come on, fight." "Unhh!" "Aaahhh..." "Aaahhh..." "Uhhhhh..." "Uhhhh..." "Uhh!" "Uhh!" "Come on!" "Come on, mede!" "Aaaahhhh!" "Aah!" "Aaahhh!" "Uhh!" "Fight!" "Come on!" "Oh!" "Oh!" "I yield!" "I yield the fight!" "I'll pay the match!" "Stop it!" "Stop it!" "I yield the fight!" "I yield the fight!" "Oomph!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Oh, no!" "No, god, no!" "Aaahhh!" "Let him go!" "Aaahhh!" "Mede, get up!" "Aaahhh!" "Aaahhh!" "Aaaahhhh!" "Aaahhh!" "Come on, mede!" "Aaaahhhh!" "Go, mede!" "Hit him, man!" "Hit him!" "Come on, mede!" "Aaahhh!" "Come on!" "Yeah!" "Yeah!" "Yeah!" "Get up!" "Get him up!" "Get him up!" "Hey." "Aah!" "Aah!" "Oh!" "We won!" "Papa, we won!" "We killed him!" "Stand back!" "Mede!" "Mede, we won!" "Stand back!" "Stand back!" "Mede, do you hear me?" "Do you hear me?" "We won!" "Mede!" "Do you hear me, boy?" "Oh, god damn!" "We killed him!" "We won, my boy!" "You did it!" "I'll offer you $10,000 for him." "No, sir." "I ain't a-gonna sell him," "Not to make him fight again." "He said $10,000, ham." "God damn it, papa!" "You always wanted a mandingo." "Now you encourage me to sell him!" "$10,000!" "That's more than the purse." "No, sir!" "I ain't a-gonna sell him." "As you wish." "We won some fancy money." "Folks everywhere's gonna hear about falconhurst." "Ain't nothin' worth all this fighting'..." "And killing." "You're letting him say that?" "I reckon I is." "You can rile me sometimes." "I reckon you ought to bring your wife a present." "Rubies." "White ladies fond of them." "Come on, boys!" "Whoo!" "Hyah!" "Yee-hoo!" "Ha ha!" "Whoo!" "Whoa." "Hah!" "We won!" "Killed that topaz just like that!" "Bit him in the neck!" "Blood spurtin' like a fountain." "Ahh." "I'll be here within, lucrezia borgia." "Fine, massa." "Come on, mede." "Get out of here." "Yes, sir, massa." "Uhh..." "Hey, men." "Help mede out of here" "And over to lucy's cabin, will you?" "Yes, massa hammond, sir." "Heh." "Come on, doc." "Congratulations, mede." "Not every black man get a chance to kill another black man." "Kilt you a few more, mayhap your skin turn white." "But you don't understand, mem." "That topaz..." "He out to kill me." "I see two niggers tearing' at each other like crazy dogs." "Miss blanche..." "She was tipsy." "She sent for ellen, and she whup her." "And she whup her good!" "And ellen..." "She slip her sucker." "Where is she?" "In the kitchen." "Master hammond ain't a-gonna see this." "Can't see you naked." "You tell him you're ailing', understand?" "You tell master hammond you slipped the sucker" "Because you fell on the stairs." "Don't say nothin' about miss blanche." "If'n you say anythin'..." "I'll sell you." "I says nothin', master." "ellen." "Ellen." "Ellen slipped her sucker." "Fell, she did." "On the stairs." "Oh, ellen." "Lucky she ain't ruined." "Ellen, honey, you all right?" "Lucrezia borgia, come with me." "Oh, ellen, it's all right, it's all right." "It don't matter." "Here, ellen." "I brought you somethin' from the city." "Somethin' to make you pretty." "Go ahead." "Not that you need prettifyin'." "For me?" "They're pretty enough for a white lady." "You're actin' zany!" "Zany!" "You behave like a georgia bitch!" "And look at yourself in the mirror!" "Ain't you got no pride?" "You lookin' like this," "Anyone should attract a man more than you!" "Comb up your hair!" "Comb up your hair, I say!" "That's better." "Hammond!" "Hammond!" "Get in here!" "It's hammond's fault." "It ain't hammond." "It's those toddies you're so fond of." "No." "He prefer the wenches." "A man craves to pleasure his wife, time to time." "Well, they do dirty things." "They ain't got no shame." "Then you're gonna do dirty things," "Just so you get him in your bed and keep him there." "Why for you two don't act like real husband and wife, I don't know." "But you gonna start!" "I ain't leavin' this life" "Till I see my..." "Own flesh and blood" "Here in falconhurst to take over." "I want a grandson!" "You got that gift you fetched her?" "Ohh..." "You brung me a gift?" "You two are gonna get down to business now." "I'm a-lockin' you in," "And I ain't letting' you out" "Until you..." "Done pleasuring'." "Ohh..." "Ham..." "Ohh..." "Hammond!" "Ohh!" "It's beautiful!" "Ohh!" "It's just beautiful!" "Ohh, hammond!" "Now..." "Everyone's gonna know." "Everyone gonna know who your wife." "Ohh!" "Ohh, hammond." "Oh, when we build the new house," "We're gonna hold parties," "And we're gonna have the very best of folks from hereabouts." "The very best." "They gonna have to travel miles to get to falconhurst." "Oh, distance ain't no problem," "Not when the party is elegant" "And the hosts are..." "Are of fine quality." "This house gonna cost a passel of niggers." "Ham, tomorrow we gonna make a list" "Of who we sellin' in natchez." "ohh, natchez!" "Oh, yes, ham!" "We can get some fine, fine furnishings in natchez." "My mama used to go there all the ti" "The earrings, ham." "That were a stupid thing to do." "That slut!" "That wench of yourn." "You brung her those earrings." "Otherwise, how else she get 'em?" "You might as well brand your name on her face!" "And on mine!" "Yes, brand 'em in real good," "So everyone knows..." "We's the women of hammond maxwell." "Well..." "I'm not your whore, just to be marked off." "You like that black meat!" "You'd rather pleasure with a..." "Baboon!" "I'll tell you something" "Your papa, he want a grandson..." "To get a son, you have to be a whole lot better at pleasuring'!" "And that man you had before me," "Was he a whole lot better at pleasuring'?" "Well, since you want to know, yes, he was!" "Who was he?" "You tell me who it was!" "Well, you know who he was!" "You're just afraid to ask!" "It was charles, wasn't it?" "Yes!" "Yes, it was!" "Hammond..." "Wait." "Wait, hammond." "I was 13." "We only did it once." "Once." "Two or three bucks on this here list of mine" "I ain't seen this mornin'." "Uh..." "Ramilee..." "You seen ramilee?" "Oh, there he is, massa." "That's him sittin' down." "Master wouldn't sell me to no mean man." "Why he ain't gone selling' me?" "We ain't never gonna see each other again, james." "Dottie, get movin'." "Get movin'." "Papa, we ain't gonna sell dottie's sucker." "You tetched?" "We sold all other suckers of yourn." "You take your sucker." "You can keep it." "Don't you touch!" "Leave that sucker alone!" "Dottie, you take that sucker!" "You get out of here quick!" "Go on!" "You're a fool, hammond." "Mayhap." "Just..." "Just how I feel." "Ellen." "Ellen, get in the carriage." "Oh, no, ellen." "Ellen, honey, I ain't gonna sell you." "I crave you come with me." "I don't understand you." "Goodbye, papa." "All right, everybody." "We're going." "mm-mm-mmm mm-mmm" "mm-mm-mm-mmm mm-mm-mmm" "mmm" "Don't take him away from me!" "Please!" "Come back!" "I was born in this time can never be free" "yeah, I was born in this time can never be free" "well, my time is a-seethin' way up on a hill" "mm-hmm-mm mm-mm" "ohh-ho, mm-mmm mm-hmm-hmm" "mmm..." "Get in here." "Wait." "Now, I want you to do somethin' for me." "I want you to go fetch mede." "You hear me?" "Go fetch him." "Bring him through the door..." "And up the stairs," "Real quiet-like." "Now..." "Go on." "No, mede, no." "Come in here, mede." "I'm a-tellin' you to come in here." "I want you to listen... 'cause I'm gonna tell you a story." "I want you to listen good." "Sit down over there." "Do you hear me?" "Sit down!" "Good." "See..." "One day..." "I was a-walkin' alone..." "In the woods." "I was just a-walkin'..." "Just walkin' nice..." "By myself." "And then..." "You came up to me." "You were real sweet-like..." "Real sweet-like." "And..." "All of a sudden..." "You attacked me." "Miss blanche..." "I never" "Hush your mouth." "This is my story." "You attacked me." "You raped me." "Now..." "When master hammond comes home..." "Well, I gotta tell him." "I gotta tell him what you done." "What you think he gonna do?" "Whup you?" "Sell you?" "Oh, no, mede." "He's a-gonna kill you." "He won't believe you, miss blanche." "He'll believe me." "He won't believe a nigger." "So, now..." "Less'n you do what I want..." "I'm gonna tell him." "I'm gonna tell him everything'..." "Just like I said." "Everythin'." "Mede..." "Ain't you ever craved a white lady before?" "Ohh!" "Unhh!" "Ahh!" "Ahh!" "Mmm!" "Ahh..." "Master." "Master hammond!" "Whoa." "Whoa." "Big pearl done have her little buck." "Oh, my god." "Why, that's wonderful." "Hold these, ellen, will you?" "I'll be right back." "My, baby, you sure feel fine." "Oh, the boy, he fine." "Mede." "Where you going?" "You all right, big pearl?" "I'm fine, master, sir." "It just pop out like a seed out of a peach." "Why for you want tell that lie?" "He sure is a big varmint." "Oh, he's a champeen, just like his pa." "Mede!" "Mede!" "What's the matter with you, mede?" "Ain't you glad what a fine sucker you give big pearl?" "Has my papa seen him yet?" "No, sir." "I crave to show it to him." "Mede, you come with me." "Ha ha ha." "I seen them others," "Ain't no more than black worms at first." "But this mandingo..." "Purity mandingo." "Papa, he's a ringtail snorter." "He's sound, too." "Look at his arms." "You see, hammond," "It weren't no harm" "Big pearl and mede." "Yeah, I..." "I reckon, papa." "Husband hammond..." "Welcome home." "You see mede's sucker here?" "Ohh." "Ohh, it right purty." "Two silver dollars for you, mede." "You deserve 'em." "Take 'em." "I reckon mede's just too proud to take that money, pa," "Ain't you?" "Here, mede." "Take him back to big pearl." "You tell big pearl, give him lots of milk." "The way she tittied out," "She got enough milk for a dozen suckers." "We can sell that sucker" "For $2, 3,000, I reckon, hammond." "Yeah." "Papa warren." "Hammond..." "You crave a toddy?" "Thank you." "Thank you very much." "Behavin' most ladylike, blanche." "Well..." "I'm with child." "hee hee hee!" "That the reason you..." "You actin' so nice?" "Ellen." "Hold these, mede." "Ellen." "Why you turn and walk away from me like that?" "What for?" "You afeard 'cause blanche gonna have a sucker?" "Now, that's no reason, ellen." "It won't change us none." "We'll still be the same." "If'n that's what's worrying you, it's wrong." "You always gonna be mine." "Ain't nobody never, white or black, gonna take your place." "I'm just scared, hammond." "Just scared." "I'll see you tonight." "now, push." "Push as hard as you can." "Now..." "Now again." "Push." "That's it." "There." "That's it." "Now push." "Yeah, yeah." "It's coming!" "It's coming, it's coming!" "Yes!" "There." "Now..." "Now push hard." "Don't you fret now, hammond." "My wife'll bring her through safe and sound." "She's gifted that way." "Redfield!" "In here, help me a second." "Well, excuse me." "It seems I'll be needed." "Did it come yet?" "It come." "It come." "And it ain't white." "What are we gonna do?" "Well, what we'll do is we'll just..." "Untie the cord and let it bleed to death." "Put it in the crib." "Stand off." "That be it." "It's done." "Uh..." "No..." "No..." "No..." "Don't upset yourself." "Oh, no," "It's all right." "Please!" "Lucrezia," "Please say it's not black." "Please say..." "Please say it's not black!" "Please, please, lucrezia." "Well, it come." "Dead." "It a boy?" "Damn." "Not yet, ham." "It all messed up." "You don't want to see it now." "No..." "Ohh..." "That poison father used, doc," "To kill old niggers can't work no more..." "You got some?" "In my carriage." "Get it." "Lucrezia borgia?" "Lucrezia borgia?" "yes, massa." "Get down here." "Lucrezia borgia, you've known about this" "And not telling?" "I don't mindin' no white folks doin' it," "But that white lady know what she crave." "Miss blanche never craved that black ape." "Then what for she sent for him" "The second and third time?" "You're lyin', damn it, you liar!" "Four times in all, while you was away." "You get." "You stay in the house." "Keep that jabbering' mouth" "Of yours shut." "Do you suppose she could be lyin'?" "Most likely were rape." "She is scared to tell..." "Here, you sit up, all right?" "There you are." "Mrs. Redfield." "She done taken the baby away." "Here, drink this." "Hammond," "I only done it 'cause of you and ellen." "Good." "Hammond..." "Here, you rest now." "You just lie there and rest." "Hammond." "Hammond!" "Hammond, don't do it." "Ain't no other way." "Hammond!" "If you kill him, are you gonna be satisfied?" "I don't know." "He didn't mean nothin' bad." "Please, hammond, don't do it!" "Don't you tell me what to do." "Don't you think you get in my bed," "You anything but a nigger." "Now get out of my way." "You fill a big kettle with water" "And strike a fire under it." "That's enough." "Get in." "Get in!" "No, massa." "God damn!" "Get in there!" "Massa hammond..." "You can't know..." "Don't know what happened." "You-you know" "I never do nothin' against you, massa." "I always respect you." "I done think" "You was somehow better than a white man." "Uhh..." "But you is..." "Just white." "Gaa!" "Ahh..." "Ahh!" "Ahh!" "No!" "No, master, no!" "You're a goddamned fool, mem." "Hammond!" "Put it down, mem." "No, massa, no." "No, massa..." "No, don't come any further, massa, don't..." "Put it down!" "Don't come any closer, massa," "Please!" "You crazy nigger!" "Drop that gun," "You loony black bastard!" "Papa!" "Papa!" "Papa!" "lord, have mercy on me" "I don't understand and I don't know the plan" "well, I don't understand" "I don't know the plan well, I just keep on livin'" "I just keep on livin' in the shade" "I was born in this time to never be free well, I was born in this time to never be free" "well, all my time for freedom now is way up in heaven"