"(CHORUS SINGS QUIET, SOMBER MELODY)" "(THUNDER RUMBLES IN DISTANCE)" " (CROPS CRACKING) - (MAN GRUNTING)" "(CROPS CRACKING, HORSE WHINNYING)" " GET UP!" " UP!" "GET UP!" "COME ON, YOU LAZY NAG!" "STOP A MOMENT!" "(CROP CRACKS, HORSE WHINNIES)" "GO ON!" "GO ON!" "(GROANING)" "WILBER" "WILBER, YOU'RE NOT WELL ENOUGH." "MAN:" "GO ON, YOU LAZY DRAGGARD!" "FOR ONCE, LET IT PASS." "(MAN GRUNTING, CROP CRACKING)" "(HORSE NEIGHING)" "IF YOU LEAVE YOUR HORSE ALONE FOR AN HOUR," "HE MIGHT RECOVER." "AND WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?" "HEY." "I'VE SEEN HIM SPEAK IN LONDON." "THAT'S WILLIAM WILBERFORCE." "(THUNDER RUMBLES IN DISTANCE)" "(HORSE NEIGHING)" "NOW WHAT?" "LEAVE IT." "(HORSE NEIGHING)" "WELCOME HOME, SIR." "YOU'RE SO LATE!" "(CHUCKLES)" "THE MUD STOLE HALF A DAY." "BUT, MARIANNE, LOOK." "I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU." "I HOPE A PLEASANT ONE." "MARIANNE:" "WILBER!" "WILBER, IS THAT YOU?" "AH, IT IS." "HALF OF ME." "MY IDIOTIC BODY'S PLAYING GAMES WITH ME AGAIN." "I PROMISED WE'D MAKE HIM WELL." "YOU MUST COME AND EAT SOMETHING." "A BREAKFAST, PERHAPS." "NOT TOO EARLY." "I'M ON HOLIDAY." "ISN'T THAT RIGHT, COUSIN HENRY?" "(CHUCKLES)" "DON'T YOU BOYS TALK TO EACH OTHER?" "HAVEN'T YOU TOLD HIM HE'S KILLING HIMSELF?" "NOW HE'S WITH US." "HE'LL BE FINE." "(THUNDER RUMBLES IN DISTANCE)" "(CROWD LAUGHS RAUCOUSLY)" "(LAUGHTER)" "(KNOCKING AT DOOR)" " (KNOCKING CONTINUES) - (THUNDER RUMBLING)" "(DOOR OPENS)" "WHAT TIME IS IT?" "THIS IS YOUR 3:00 A.M. DOSE." "SO, COUSIN, YOU'RE WAKING ME UP" "TO GIVE ME MEDICINE TO HELP ME SLEEP." "AH." "NOW YOU'RE TAKING ON THE MEDICAL PROFESSION," "AS WELL AS EVERYONE ELSE." "DID YOU SLEEP?" "SLEEP IS MORE EXHAUSTING THAN BEING AWAKE." "THE LAUDANUM WILL SHARPEN YOUR DREAMS." "IT REPLAYS MY LIFE TO MOCK ME" "AND SHOWS ME THINGS I SHOULD HAVE DONE, BUT DIDN'T." "WILBER, PARLIAMENT DOESN'T DESERVE YOU." "YOUR LAST BILL WAS DEFEATED" "BECAUSE FOUR OF YOUR LOYAL SUPPORTERS TOOK FREE TICKETS" "TO A COMIC OPERA RATHER THAN STAY TO VOTE." "IN MY DREAMS, I TURNED OVER THEIR TABLES." "BUT YOU KNOW THE WORST THING?" "I CAN'T SING ANYMORE." "YOU REMEMBER HOW WELL I USED TO SING?" "MARIANNE AND I WILL FIND A WAY TO RESTORE YOUR VOICE." "(ENTHUSIASTIC CONVERSATION)" "(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)" "THE ROMANS BELIEVED THIS WATER WOULD RESTORE THE DEAD TO LIFE." "MOST PUMP WATER I'VE INVESTIGATED" "WORKS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION." "SO..." "WHAT WAS SO URGENT?" "DID I SAY IT WAS URGENT?" "MARIANNE, ARE YOU EXPECTING SOMEONE ELSE?" "INSIDE THIS BUILDING, YOU WILL FIND" "THE SECRET OF HEALTH AND HAPPY LIFE." "IN A GLASS OF WATER?" "YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, WILBER," "SINCE I MARRIED MARIANNE, I HAVE BEEN A PICTURE OF HEALTH." "I'M VERY HAPPY FOR YOU." "IT IS, UH" " IT IS ALMOST A SCIENTIFIC FACT" "MARRIAGE AND HEALTH ARE TWINS." "INSEPARABLE." "SINGLE MEN WITHER AWAY AND DIE" "IN ROOMS THAT SMELL OF FEET AND ARMPITS." "HENRY, WHAT ARE YOU BABBLING ON ABOUT?" "LOVE, WILBERFORCE." "COME." "COME, WE'RE LATE." "THE WATER HAS BEEN HERE A MILLION YEARS." "HOW CAN WE BE LATE?" "SO WHAT SHALL WE DISCUSS NEXT?" "I DON'T KNOW." "THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE." "HOW ABOUT THAT?" "MARIANNE, IF I'D KNOWN YOU WERE SO STARVED" "OF POLITICAL CONVERSATION, I'D HAVE WRAPPED UP A TORY" "AND SENT HIM TO YOUR HOME BY MAIL FOR YOU TO SHOUT AT." "(CHUCKLES)" "AH!" "NOW, LOOK AT THAT!" "HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF DISCUSSING THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE," "AND IN WALKS MY HUSBAND WITH WILLIAM WILBERFORCE HIMSELF," "THE MOST COMMITTED ABOLITIONIST IN ENGLAND" "AND ALSO, OF COURSE, THE MOST UNMARRIED." "OH." "LOOK OVER THERE." "IT'S MARIANNE." "AND WHO'S THE CHARMING-LOOKING WOMAN WITH HER?" "MARIANNE'S HERE?" "NEVER MIND ABOUT HER." "LOOK AT THE WOMAN SHE'S WITH" " BARBARA SPOONER." "VERY COMMITTED TO VERY MANY GOOD CAUSES." "AND ALSO, ENTIRELY UNMARRIED." "MARIANNE, YOU'RE OUTRAGEOUS!" "(THUNDER RUMBLES)" "I DO NOT NEED YOU OR ANYONE ELSE TO FIND A WIFE FOR ME!" "(THUNDER RUMBLES)" "CARRIAGE!" "CARRIAGE OVER HERE!" "I'LL NEVER FORGIVE HIM." "I'LL NEVER FORGIVE HER." "HOWEVER, MR. WILBERFORCE," "IF WE HAD MET IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES," "I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU HOW DEEPLY I ADMIRE YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS" "TO FORCE OUR RIDICULOUS PARLIAMENT TO ABOLISH THE SLAVE TRADE." "AND IF YOU HAD, I WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE SUBJECT AND TALKED ABOUT BOTANY." "BOTANY?" "WHY BOTANY?" "ANYTHING BUT POLITICS." "I'M IN BATH TO BE CURED OF POLITICS." "WELL, I WOULD HAVE BEEN BORED BY BOTANY." "SO, EVEN IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER." "GOOD DAY TO YOU." "GOOD DAY TO YOU." "(CHAINS RATTLING)" "(FIRE CRACKLING)" "WILBERFORCE:" "SOME SIMPLE TRUTHS ABOUT THIS HORRENDOUS WAR" "NEED TO BE RESTATED FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY HONORABLE FRIENDS." " (CROWD MURMURING, CLAPPING)" " SIMPLE FACT." "WE HAVE THE REBELS ON THE ANVIL AND A HAMMER IN OUR HANDS." "(CHEERING)" "THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT OUR MILITARY FORCE" "IS FAR SUPERIOR TO THAT OF THE AMERICANS." "BUT WE MUST DISTINGUISH BETWEEN" "FORCE AND JUSTICE." "WHERE DID THIS LITTLE BLOODY TERRIER SPRING FROM?" "I BELIEVE HE'S A YORKSHIRE TERRIER, MY LORD." "WILBERFORCE: ..." "MADMEN RATHER THAN ABLE STATESMEN." "SURELY IT IS TIME FOR THE FAT FELLOW AND HIS FRIENDS OPPOSITE" " (LAUGHTER)" " TO MAKE WAY FOR OTHERS," "WHO CONSIDER THE GOOD OF THEIR COUNTRY" "OF GREATER MOMENT THAN THEIR OWN PERSONAL INTERESTS." "(CHEERING)" "DOESN'T HE KNOW WHAT DANGERS AWAIT ANYONE" "WHO TALKS SENSE IN THIS PLACE?" "OH, I THINK HE'S EQUAL TO THE DANGERS." "MMM." "CLARENCE:" "MY HONORABLE FRIEND SUGGESTS WE SURRENDER" "TO THE REVOLUTIONARIES." "REVOLUTION IS LIKE A POX" "IT SPREADS FROM PERSON TO PERSON." "(MURMURS OF AGREEMENT)" "I BOW TO MY HONORABLE FRIEND'S SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE" "AND EXPERIENCE IN ALL MATTERS REGARDING THE POX." "(LAUGHTER, STOMPING AND TAPPING)" "WHY WOULD WE WITHDRAW FROM AMERICA" "WHEN HALF OF THE AMERICANS ARE LOYAL TO THE CROWN?" "LESS THAN ONE IN FOUR AMERICANS ARE LOYAL." "IF HE CALLS THAT HALF," "I'D HATE TO BE HIS WIFE AND SHARE HALF HIS BED." "(LAUGHTER, STOMPING AND TAPPING)" "MODERATOR:" "MR. FOREIGN SECRETARY." "PERHAPS MY HONORABLE AND YOUNG FRIEND SHOULD EXPLAIN TO THE HOUSE" "THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPEASEMENT AND SURRENDER." " (CROWD MURMURING)" " HEAR!" "HEAR!" "THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPEASEMENT AND SURRENDER" "IS MERELY A MATTER OF TIME," "AND PERHAPS 10,000 MORE YOUNG LIVES WASTED" "FOR NO REASON." "(CROWD MURMURING)" "TWO GUINEAS." "AH, SWEET PROSPERO, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?" "AH." "BRAVE IN THE HOUSE, BUT AT THE TABLE, A MOUSE." "CAMDEN:" "YOUR GRACE," "YOU KNOW THESE MERCHANT BOYS ARE RICHER THAN WE ARE." "CLARENCE:" "AYE." "I HAVE 10 GUINEAS LEFT." "SO 10 IT IS." "IN OR OUT, WILBERFORCE?" "A PENCIL AND PAPER." "NO, NO, NO." "BROOK'S CLUB HOUSE RULES-- NO I.O.U.s." "AMONGST GENTLEMEN, PERHAPS." "BUT WILBERFORCE IS A TRADESMAN." "YOU GAMBLE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE WITH YOU." "WILBERFORCE, WILL YOU TAKE MY I.O.U.?" "WE SPLIT THE POT AND CALL IT EVENS." "TO HELL WITH THAT." "PAYMENT IN KIND." "THERE'S NOTHING YOU HAVE I'D WANT, YOUR GRACE." "TARLETON, FETCH MY NIGGER." "MY COACH DRIVER-- GO WAKE HIM UP" "AND BRING HIM IN NOW!" "I BOUGHT A NIGGER IN PORT OF SPAIN." "HE EATS BETTER THAN I DO, SO HE'S STRONG AS AN OX." "HE'D FETCH AT LEAST 25 GUINEAS AT THE WEST INDIA DOCK." "THE GAME IS OVER." "WHAT'S WRONG, WILBERFORCE?" "IF I HADN'T BROUGHT THE BOY TO LONDON," "HE'D HAVE BEEN WORKED TO DEATH IN A SUGAR CANE FIELD BY NOW." "I SAVED HIS MISERABLE LIFE." "THERE." "I RAISE THE STAKES." "WILBERFORCE." "IN THE GAME OR OUT?" "(GOBLET CLINKS ON TABLE)" "PITT:" "EVENING." "(INDISTINCT, DISTANT CONVERSATIONS)" "(CRICKETS CHIRPING)" "YOU ACT AS IF YOU'D NEVER SEEN SLAVERY BEFORE." "FOR ME IT'S LIKE ARSENIC." "EACH NEW TINY DOSE DOUBLES THE EFFECT." "YOU'RE NOT AFRAID OF CLARENCE?" "BECAUSE HE'S THE SON OF THE KING?" "SO..." "YOU WANT "BLOODY NOSES AND CRACKED CROWNS"?" "SHAKESPEARE, HENRY THE FOURTH." "A PLAY ABOUT ENGLAND CHANGING." "AS IT WILL SOON CHANGE." "ONLY IF WE CHANGE IT." "YOU DON'T BELIEVE YOU AND I COULD CHANGE THINGS?" "I WOULD CHANGE MYSELF FIRST." "(GROUP OF MEN SINGING BOISTEROUSLY IN DISTANCE)" "(LAUGHTER IN DISTANCE)" "(SINGING GROWS LOUDER)" "(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)" "DO YOU REMEMBER, BILLY, AT CAMBRIDGE" "I HAD A REPUTATION AS SOMETHING OF A SINGER?" "I DO REMEMBER." "SO I THINK I'M GOING TO GO AND SING THEM A SONG." "(SINGING CONTINUES)" "SILENCE!" "(SINGING CONTINUES)" "(YELLING):" "SILENCE!" " (GLASS SHATTERS) - (SINGING STOPS)" "YOU SOUND LIKE A CHORUS OF BLOODY TOMCATS." " (SCATTERED LAUGHTER)" " NOW..." "LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO SOMEBODY WHO DOES IT PROPERLY." "(LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE)" "I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS SONG TO MY HONORABLE FRIEND," "HIS GRACE, THE DUKE OF CLARENCE." "(LAUGHTER)" "IT WAS WRITTEN BY MY OLD PREACHER." "HE WAS CAPTAIN OF A SLAVE SHIP FOR 20 YEARS." "HE REPENTED HIS SINS, AND THEN HE WROTE THIS SONG." "(CROWD MURMURING)" "?" "AMAZING GRACE ?" "MAN:" "TIMES ARE HARD FOR THE MILITANT BOYS." " (LAUGHTER) - ?" "HOW SWEET THE SOUND ?" " HOW SWEET THE SOUND, MY ARSE!" " ?" "THAT SAVED ?" "?" "A WRETCH LIKE ME ?" "(HECKLING CEASES)" "?" "I ONCE WAS LOST ?" "?" "BUT NOW AM FOUND ?" "?" "WAS BLIND ?" "?" "BUT NOW I SEE ?" "(SONG ENDS, BLENDING INTO BIRDS CHIRPING)" "DEAR GOD..." "I KNOW THIS IS UTTERLY ABSURD," "BUT I FEEL I HAVE TO MEET YOU IN SECRET." "(MAN COUGHING)" "BUTLER:" "SORRY TO INTERRUPT, SIR." "THERE IS A BEGGAR AT THE KITCHEN DOOR." "UH, I WOULD TURN HIM AWAY, SIR," "BUT YOU INSISTED I ALWAYS CHECK." "UH, JUST GIVE HIM BREAKFAST." "VERY GOOD, SIR." "RICHARD?" "SIR?" "I KNOW THAT LYING DOWN ON THE WET GRASS" "IS NOT A NORMAL THING TO DO." "NONE OF MY BUSINESS, SIR." "TRUTH IS, UH" "I'VE BEEN EVEN MORE STRANGE THAN USUAL LATELY, HAVEN'T I?" "UH" "IT'S GOD." "I HAVE 10,000 ENGAGEMENTS OF STATE TODAY," "BUT I WOULD PREFER TO SPEND THE DAY OUT HERE" "GETTING A WET ARSE, STUDYING DANDELIONS" "AND MARVELING AT..." "BLOODY SPIDERS' WEBS." "YOU FOUND GOD, SIR?" "I THINK HE FOUND ME." "YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW INCONVENIENT THAT IS?" "HOW IDIOTIC IT WILL SOUND?" "I HAVE A POLITICAL CAREER GLITTERING AHEAD OF ME," "AND IN MY HEART I WANT SPIDERS' WEBS." ""IT IS A SAD FATE FOR A MAN TO DIE" ""TOO WELL KNOWN TO EVERYBODY ELSE" "AND STILL UNKNOWN TO HIMSELF."" "FRANCIS BACON." "I DON'T JUST DUST YOUR BOOKS, SIR." "WHEN I WAS 15, I ALMOST RAN AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS." "THEY SAID I COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACROBAT." "(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)" " GOOD MORNING, MR. PITT." " MORNING." " (INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)" " EXCUSE ME, SIR." "YOU READ MY LETTER." "THE MAN WHO WROTE THAT LETTER WAS NOT YOU." "IT WAS WRITTEN BY SOME WILD PREACHER-MAN THAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOUR HEAD." " NO." " (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)" "SO..." "DID HE REPLY?" "WHO?" "GOD." "YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO ASK GOD WHETHER YOU SHOULD TAKE UP POLITICS OR RELIGION." "YOU'RE ALWAYS TOO DIRECT, BILLY." "I URGENTLY NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOUR HEART LIES, WILBER." "WHAT'S URGENT?" "I" "I'M PLANNING TO BECOME PRIME MINISTER." "OH, SOME DAY." "NO." "I MEAN SOON." "VERY SOON." "THANKS TO YOUR PERFORMANCES IN THE HOUSE," "FOX AND NORTH WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO RESIGN." "WHEN THEY DO, LORD BROCKINGHAM WILL BECOME PRIME MINISTER." "LORD BROCKINGHAM'S HEALTH IS NOT GOOD." "WHEN HE DIES, I WILL MAKE MY MOVE." "YOU'VE WORKED IT ALL OUT." "I WANT YOU BESIDE ME, WILBER, ALL THE WAY." "YOU READ MY LETTER, BUT YOU'VE NOT TAKEN IN A WORD OF IT." "I WOULD HAVE YOU IN MY GOVERNMENT IN WHICHEVER CAPACITY YOU CHOOSE." "(SIGHS)" "BILLY, NO ONE OF OUR AGE HAS EVER TAKEN POWER." "WHICH IS WHY WE'RE TOO YOUNG TO REALIZE THAT CERTAIN THINGS ARE IMPOSSIBLE." "SO WE WILL DO THEM ANYWAY." "I NEED AN ANSWER, WILBER." "DO YOU INTEND TO USE YOUR BEAUTIFUL VOICE" "TO PRAISE THE LORD..." "OR CHANGE THE WORLD?" "(CLACKING, POUNDING)" "I CAN'T." "I'VE GOT TOO MUCH TO DO!" "YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM." " HAVE YOU GOT ANY MORE FLOUR?" " OH, I CAN'T." " (CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE) - (SIGHING)" "MARJORIE, MR. WILBERFORCE ON HIS WAY DOWN." "(VARIOUS CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE)" "(CLUCKING)" "MARJORIE, UH, I'M EXPECTING SOME PEOPLE FOR DINNER." "(WEEPING)" "MARJORIE?" "MARJORIE." "SHE'S BEEN RUN OFF HER FEET, SIR." " HOW SO?" " WELL, TAKE TODAY, FOR EXAMPLE." " YOU HAVE 25 GUESTS FOR LUNCH." " DO I?" "(INDISTINCT, OVERLAPPING CONVERSATIONS)" "(BABY CRYING)" "IF YOU REMEMBER, YOU DECIDED TO REWARD VARIOUS VOLUNTEERS" "WHO WORKED FOR SOME QUITE PRECARIOUSLY FINANCED CHARITIES." "(CAT SCREECHES)" "SOME BROUGHT DESERVING CHILDREN FROM THE POORHOUSE." "OTHERS BROUGHT LESS DESERVING RELATIVES." "WELL, I REALLY SHOULD GET SOME SORT OF" "DIARY, SIR." "YES." "OR MORE COOKS." " (CARRIAGE RATTLING) - (DRIVER SHOUTING)" "(HORSES NEIGHING IN DISTANCE)" "IS THAT THE APPETIZER?" "NO, THAT'S HIS GRACE, THE DUKE OF CLARENCE." "(SNICKERS)" " (DOG WHIMPERING)" " WILBERFORCE." "THE REVEREND JOHN RAMSAY." " REVEREND." " MM-HMM." " EDWARD HOPE." " MR. HOPE." "AND MICHAEL SHAW." "BOTH FRIENDS." "THIS IS OLAUDAH EQUIANO." "MR. EQUIANO." "PLEASE." "YOU'VE TRAVELED FAR TO BE HERE?" "NO DISTANCE WOULD BE TOO GREAT." "PITT:" "AND THIS IS HANNAH MOORE." " GOOD EVENING." " MR. WILBERFORCE." "WHO HAS TRAVELED ALL THE WAY FROM CLAPHAM." "FINALLY, LET ME INTRODUCE MR. THOMAS CLARKSON." "BEAUTIFUL HOUSE." "SWEET LITTLE RABBIT." " IT'S A HARE, ACTUALLY." " AH." "PLEASE." "SO, COME ON-- WHO ARE THEY?" "WHY DON'T YOU ASK THEM?" "(QUIETLY):" "AMEN." "WELL..." "I HOPE THE GOOSE IS TENDER." "SHE WAS RATHER OLD." "I FIND THE OLDER I GET, THE MORE TENDER I BECOME." "(LAUGHING)" "(BIRD SQUAWKS)" "SO, MISS MOORE..." "YOU LIVE IN CLAPHAM." "I HEAR IT'S VERY TRANQUIL THERE." "WHEN CERTAIN ISSUES ARE RAISED AMONGST MY FRIENDS AND I," "IT IS ANYTHING BUT TRANQUIL." "AH." "AND, UH, WHICH ISSUES ARE THOSE?" "ISSUES REGARDING THE MAKING OF A BETTER WORLD." "BETTER IN WHICH WAY?" "RAMSAY:" "IF YOU MAKE THE WORLD BETTER IN ONE WAY," "IT BECOMES BETTER IN EVERY WAY." "DON'T YOU THINK?" "MR. EQUIANO, WHAT BUSINESS BRINGS YOU TO LONDON?" "MY BUSINESS IN LONDON IS YOU, MR. WILBERFORCE." "WHAT?" "YOU WISH TO DISCUSS SOMETHING WITH ME?" "NO." "WE DO NOT WANT TO TALK" "BECAUSE WE HEAR THAT YOU ARE A MAN WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE" "WHAT HE HEARS UNTIL HE SEES IT" "WITH HIS OWN EYES." "(CLANKING, RATTLING)" "(HEAVY CLATTERING)" "THESE ARE FOR THE LEGS." "THESE FOR THE ARMS." "THIS IS FOR THE NECK." "(CLICKS)" "WORKS LIKE SO." "WHEN THE SLAVES LEAVE PORT IN AFRICA," "THEY'RE LOCKED INTO A SPACE FOUR FOOT BY 18 INCHES." "THEY HAVE NO SANITATION," "VERY LITTLE FOOD, STAGNANT WATER." "THEIR WASTE AND BLOOD FILLS THE HOLDS WITHIN THREE DAYS" "AND IS NEVER EMPTIED." "THESE IRONS AND CHAINS" "ARE TO KEEP THEM FROM THROWING THEMSELVES OVERBOARD." "THE CHAINS ARE NOT UNLOCKED" "UNTIL YOU REACH THE PLANTATION" "IN JAMAICA." "AROUND HALF OF THE SLAVES DEAD ALREADY." "IN THE MARKETS," "THEY STUFF KNOTTED ROPE INTO THE ANUSES" "OF THOSE WHO ARE SICK TO DISGUISE THE DYSENTERY." "WHEN YOU REACH THE PLANTATION," "THEY PUT IRONS TO THE FIRE..." "AND DO THIS." "TO LET YOU KNOW" "THAT YOU NO LONGER BELONG TO GOD, BUT TO A MAN." "CLARKSON:" "MR. WILBERFORCE," "WE UNDERSTAND" "YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS CHOOSING WHETHER TO DO THE WORK OF GOD" "OR THE WORK OF A POLITICAL ACTIVIST." "WE HUMBLY SUGGEST THAT YOU CAN DO BOTH." "(CRICKETS CHIRPING)" "(BIRD CALLING IN DISTANCE)" "YOU PLANNED THIS." "I'VE SEEN THE LITERATURE YOU'VE BEEN READING." "YOU'VE STOOPED TO SEARCHING THROUGH MY DESK?" "SIR WILLIAM DOLBEN TOLD ME" "YOU'D ASKED TO BE SHOWN AROUND THE EAST INDIA DOCKS." "SO..." "YOU WOULD USE MY PRIVATE CONCERNS" "FOR YOUR OWN POLITICAL ENDS." "YES, EXACTLY THAT." "SURELY THE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIANITY LEAD TO ACTION AS WELL AS MEDITATION." "OH, EXCELLENT POINT." "ALLOW ME TO MEDITATE ON IT BEFORE I DECIDE ON ANY ACTION." "JUST THINK ABOUT THIS, WILBER." "THE SLAVE TRADE" "HAS 300 M.P.s IN ITS POCKET." "IT WOULD BE JUST YOU AGAINST THEM." "BUT YOU COULD DO IT." "YOU WOULD DO IT." "(INDISTINCT CHATTER, CARRIAGE RATTLING)" " (HORSE NEIGHS)" " DRIVER:" "WHOA." "(INDISTINCT CHATTER CONTINUES)" "OH, STOP MOANING." "EXCUSE ME, SIR?" "DO YOU HAVE A PENNY FOR A BOY THAT WENT TO FIGHT THE YANKS" "AND CAME BACK HALF A MAN?" "(COINS CLINKING)" "(SIGHS)" "HELLO, MR. NEWTON." "IT'S ME, WILLIAM." "HELLO, JOHN." "HOW ARE YOU?" "(HORSE NEIGHS)" "(GENTLER TONE):" "HELLO, JOHN." "IT'S ME, WILBER." "I'M HERE TO SEEK YOUR" "THE BEGGAR AT THE DOOR ASSURES ME THAT I'M NOW OLD ENOUGH TO CALL YOU JOHN." "(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)" "YOU'RE..." "DRESSING VERY SIMPLY THESE DAYS." "I'M A SIMPLE MAN." "I TRY TO PRETEND I AM A MONK, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE WILLPOWER." "I'M A MONK MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS" "YOU KNOW, WHEN I READ YOUR NAME IN THE PAPERS," "DOING THESE GREAT THINGS," "I STILL SEE A TINY BOY WITH HIS HAIR A MESS," "AND INK ON HIS FINGERS." "SO, WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH YOUR OLD PREACHER?" "I'M HERE TO SEEK YOUR ADVICE." "WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, YOU USED TO ASK GOD FOR ADVICE." "THEN I GREW UP." "AND GREW FOOLISH." "AND NOW?" "NOW..." "SLOWLY, MY FAITH IS RETURNING." "HOW SLOWLY?" "(SIGHING):" "NO BOLTS OF LIGHTNING." "YEAH." "GOD SOMETIMES DOES HIS WORK..." "WITH GENTLE DRIZZLE, NOT STORMS." "DRIP," "DRIP, DRIP." "MY FRIEND WILLIAM PITT HAS DECLARED AN INTEREST IN ME." "WILLIAM WHO?" "HE'S OFFERING ME A PLACE IN THE WORLD." "JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN THE WORLD," "NOT OF THE WORLD." "THERE WOULD BE NO ESCAPE FROM POWER" "ONCE I HAVE IT." "(SIGHS):" "I WOULD HAVE TO SEE THINGS THROUGH." "SO WHY WOULDN'T YOU?" "ARE YOU CONTEMPLATING A LIFE OF SOLITUDE?" "WILBER," "YOU HAVE WORK TO DO." "BESIDES," "PEOPLE LIKE YOU TOO MUCH" "TO LET YOU LIVE A LIFE OF SOLITUDE." "HAVEN'T YOU CHOSEN SOLITUDE?" "YOU, OF ALL PEOPLE, SHOULD KNOW" "I CAN NEVER BE ALONE." "THERE NOW." "THERE NOW, WHAT?" "THE OTHER REASON I CAME." "YOU TOLD ME THAT YOU LIVE IN THE COMPANY OF 20,000 GHOSTS," "THE GHOSTS OF SLAVES." "I WAS EXPLAINING TO A CHILD" "WHY A GROWN MAN" "COWERS IN A DARK CORNER." "I NEED YOU TO TELL ME ABOUT THEM." "I'M NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HEAR MY OWN CONFESSION." "I THOUGHT TIME MIGHT HAVE CHANGED YOU." "IT HAS" " I'M OLDER." "PITT HAS ASKED ME TO TAKE THEM ON." "THE SLAVERS." "I'M THE LAST PERSON YOU SHOULD COME TO FOR ADVICE." "I CAN'T EVEN SAY THE NAME OF ANY OF MY SHIPS" "WITHOUT BEING BACK ONBOARD THEM IN MY HEAD." "ALL I KNOW IS, 20,000 SLAVES LIVE WITH ME IN THIS LITTLE CHURCH." "THERE'S STILL BLOOD ON MY HANDS." "WILL YOU HELP ME, JOHN?" "I CAN'T HELP YOU." "BUT DO IT, WILBER." "DO IT." "TAKE THEM ON." "BLOW THEIR DIRTY, FILTHY SHIPS OUT OF THE WATER." "THE PLANTERS, SUGAR BARONS," "ALDERMAN SUGARCANE, THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON," "LIVERPOOL, BOSTON, BRISTOL, NEW YORK" "ALL THEIR STREETS RUNNING WITH BLOOD, DYSENTERY, PUKE!" "YOU WON'T COME AWAY FROM THOSE STREETS CLEAN, WILBER." "YOU'LL GET FILTHY WITH IT, YOU'LL DREAM IT," "SEE IT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT" "BUT DO IT..." "FOR GOD'S SAKE." "BUTLER (VOICE-OVER):" "SIR, I HAVE" "MR. THOMAS CLARKSON." "FORGIVE ME." "MR. WILBERFORCE WAS HERE A MOMENT AGO." "I BETTER GO AND FIND HIM." "(DOG WHIMPERS)" "(BANGING)" "(DOG BARKING)" "GOOD AFTERNOON." "SORRY IF I ALARMED YOU." "I HAD THIS BOX MADE UP IN THE EXACT DIMENSIONS OF A SLAVE BERTH." "I THOUGHT YOU COULD USE IT IN YOUR PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATIONS." "WHY DID YOU WAIT UNTIL YOUR BUTLER HAD LEFT BEFORE YOU... (CHUCKLES):" "GOT OUT OF THE BOX?" "THEY ALL THINK I'M MAD ALREADY." "AS WILL MOST PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS" "WHEN I PRESENT MY BILL." "JAMES (VOICE-OVER):" ""WILBERFORCE," ""CONDITIONS IN JAMAICA ARE FAR MORE BRUTAL" ""THAN I COULD HAVE IMAGINED." " "MANY CHILDREN..." " (SHRIEKING)" ""ARE SCALDED TO DEATH BY THE MOLTEN LAVA." ""OTHERS DIE OF EXHAUSTION" ""OR ROLL INTO THE FIRES IN THEIR SLEEP." "(COUGHING)" ""THE RESULT IN THE MORNING IS A FEW POUNDS OF PURE, REFINED SUGAR."" "(POUNDING ON DOOR)" "(WILBERFORCE MOANING)" "WILBERFORCE, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?" " SIT UP FOR ME." " (GROANS)" "HERE, DRINK THIS." "WHAT HAPPENED?" "I READ JAMES'S LETTER FROM JAMAICA." "WHEN I FELL ASLEEP, IT WAS AS IF I WERE LIVING INSIDE IT." "PERHAPS THE LAUDANUM THE DOCTOR GAVE YOU IS BADLY MIXED." "I KNOW THE EFFECTS OF OPIUM, HENRY." "THIS ISN'T THE MEDICATION." "WHAT THEN?" "I WAS CHOSEN FOR THIS TASK, AND I FAILED." "AND SOME PART OF ME DOES NOT ACCEPT THE IDEA" "THAT I'VE GIVEN UP." "I'LL DILUTE THIS." "CAN YOU DILUTE WHAT I FEEL?" "YOU'VE GIVEN YOUR YOUTH AND YOUR HEALTH" "FOR THIS CAUSE." "IT'S TIME TO LET SOMEONE ELSE TRY." "(UTENSILS CLINKING)" "SO..." "MR. WILBERFORCE..." "I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN BOTANY." "BOTANY, MISS SPOONER?" "WHATEVER GIVES YOU THE IDEA THAT I MIGHT BE INTERESTED" "IN SOMETHING AS TEDIOUS AS BOTANY?" "(SNICKERING)" "(BARBARA COUGHING)" "(CLEARS THROAT)" "SORRY." "IT'S A..." "PRIVATE JOKE." "NOW, WILBER," "I KNOW YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN BOTANY," "BUT THERE'S A PARTICULARLY FASCINATING CREEPING IVY" "OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT" " AT THE FAR END OF THE GARDEN." "BARBARA, YOU REALLY MUST GO AND SEE IT, TOO." "GO ON." "TO IRRITATE THEM, LET'S PRETEND TO ARGUE." " WHAT ABOUT?" " SOMETHING WE DISAGREE ON." "THINK OF SOMETHING." "THE WAR WITH FRANCE." "I THINK WE SHOULD SETTLE WITH NAPOLEON RIGHT NOW." "SO DO I." "SCHOOLS." "I'M A MEMBER OF YOUR MOVEMENT FOR FREE EDUCATION." "I AGREED WITH EVERY WORD YOU SAID ON THE DALES FACTORY DEBATE." "YOU READ EVERY WORD?" "NO." " NEITHER DID I. - (CHUCKLES)" "GIN." "REPLACE IT IN THE CITIES WITH BEER." "ABSOLUTELY." "(BIRDS CHIRPING)" "WELL, I'M DEFINITELY ALONE IN MY OPINIONS ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS." "NO." "I JOINED YOUR SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY." "WELL, I'M EXTREME." "I HAVE A PET FOX, A PET RAT AND A CROW THAT CAN'T FLY." "I USED TO HAVE A PET HARE, BUT IT DIED OF KINDNESS." "(LAUGHS)" "AMERICA." "WE MUST REASSESS THE POWER OF THE COLLECTIVE POLITICAL PROCESS." "AGREED." "OH, AND OF COURSE WE ARE AGREED ON SLAVERY." "I'M AGAINST FLOWERS IN CHURCH." "WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?" "I AM FOR THEM." "AS AM I." "I SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT THE SLAVE TRADE?" "I'VE SPENT SO MANY YEARS TALKING ABOUT IT." "SO WHAT ARE A FEW MORE MINUTES?" "I REMEMBER WHEN MR. PITT FIRST BECAME PRIME MINISTER." "THE TWO OF YOU WERE LIKE METEORITES" "SHOOTING THROUGH OUR IMAGINATION." " WHOSE IMAGINATIONS?" " (CHUCKLES)" "GIRLS MY AGE." "YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE WHO STOPPED TAKING SUGAR IN YOUR TEA?" "AND I WORE AN ABOLITION BADGE MADE BY JOSIAH WEDGWOOD." "HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND TO US." "AND I TRAVELED 30 MILES IN THE RAIN" "TO HEAR THOMAS CLARKSON SPEAK." "DID HE DEAFEN YOU?" "HE OPENED MY EYES." " I MET THE AFRICAN." " EQUIANO." "HE CAME TO TOWN WITH A HUNDRED COPIES OF HIS BOOK." "THEY SOLD IN AN HOUR." " YOU SIGNED OUR PETITIONS." " A HUNDRED TIMES." "A HUNDRED TIMES." "THREE MILLION NAMES, A MILLION CANDLES TO READ THEM BY." "MUST HAVE BEEN SO EXCITING." "EXCITING?" "SEEMED THAT EVERY SPRING, THE DAFFODILS CAME OUT;" "EVERY SUMMER, THE CHERRIES RIPENED;" "AND EVERY AUTUMN," "WILLIAM WILBERFORCE WOULD PRESENT HIS BILL TO THE HOUSE." " AND STILL" " AND STILL?" "AND STILL, AFTER ALL THE BADGES," "THE PETITIONS, ALL THE SPEECHES AND THE BILLS," "SHIPS FULL OF HUMAN SOULS IN CHAINS" "SAIL AROUND THE WORLD AS CARGO!" "I'M SORRY." "THIS IS WHY I REALLY SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT IT." "I THINK YOU SHOULD." "THERE." "WE'VE FOUND SOMETHING WE DISAGREE ON." ""AM I NOT A MAN..." ""WHOSE SOUL IS DRAWN TO HEAVEN," "LIKE WATER FROM THE DARK WELL OF AFRICA?"" "FROM EQUIANO'S BOOK." "(SIGHS) HE WAS A MAN LIKE NO OTHER." "PLEASE, TELL ME ABOUT HIM." "IT SEEMS TO ME" "THAT IF THERE IS A BAD TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH," "YOU SPIT IT OUT." "YOU DON'T CONSTANTLY SWALLOW IT BACK." "WILBERFORCE (VOICE-OVER):" "NOT LONG AFTER I FIRST MET HIM," "HE ASKED ME TO COME TO THE EAST INDIA DOCK." "HE SAID THERE WAS A SHIP I SHOULD SEE." "A SHIP HE KNEW WELL." "MR. EQUIANO." "(GRUNTS SOFTLY)" "THIS WAY." "(HORSE NEIGHING)" "(BELL RINGING)" "THANK YOU, SIR." "(GOATS BLEATING)" "THEY MAKE YOU LIE IN THIS SPACE." "THE SHACKLES DISLOCATE YOUR HIP OR YOUR SHOULDER." "YOU ARE IN PAIN ALL THE WAY AROUND THE WORLD." "(WATER DRIPPING)" "HOW LONG IS THE JOURNEY?" "THREE WEEKS, IF THE WEATHER IS GOOD." "FOR AMUSEMENT, THEY SOMETIMES" "HANG THE WOMEN FROM THESE," "BY THE ANKLES, TO RAPE THEM." "IN STORMY WEATHER, THEY TAKE THE VERY SICKEST" "AND THROW THEM INTO THE SEA TO LIGHTEN THE SHIP'S LOAD." "HOW DID YOU SURVIVE?" "YOUR LIFE IS A THREAD." "IT BREAKS OR IT DOESN'T BREAK." "BEFORE I TRAVELED IN A SHIP LIKE THIS," "I WAS A PRINCE." "IN MANY WAYS, NOT UNLIKE YOU." "IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY LIKE NO OTHER," "THE LAST DAY I SAW MY HOME IN AFRICA." "WILBERFORCE (VOICE-OVER):" "IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART" "THAT I BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THIS HOUSE" "A TRADE WHICH DEGRADES MEN TO THE LEVEL OF BRUTES" "AND INSULTS THE HIGHEST QUALITIES" "OF OUR COMMON NATURE." "I AM SPEAKING OF THE SLAVE TRADE." "(M.P.s CLAMORING)" "I KNOW THAT MANY OF MY HONORABLE FRIENDS" "IN THIS HOUSE HAVE INTERESTS IN THE INDIES." "(M.P.s MURMURING)" "OTHERS HAVE INVESTMENTS IN PLANTATIONS." " SIT DOWN, WILBERFORCE!" " OTHERS ARE SHIP OWNERS." "AND I BELIEVE THEM TO BE MEN OF HUMANITY." "(CLAMORING CONTINUES)" "I BELIEVE YOU ALL TO BE MEN OF HUMANITY." "(SHOUTING):" "AND IF THE WRETCHEDNESS OF ANY ONE OF THE MANY HUNDREDS..." "OF SLAVES STOWED IN THEIR SHIPS COULD BE BROUGHT TO VIEW," "THERE IS NO ONE AMONG THEM WHOSE HEART COULD BEAR IT!" "(CLAMORING CONTINUES)" "ORDER!" "ORDER!" "I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE MY EARS." "WE CAN HARDLY BELIEVE YOUR MOUTH!" "(LAUGHTER)" "IT SEEMS MY YOUNG FRIEND OPPOSITE" "HAS A LONG-TERM STRATEGY" "TO DESTROY THE VERY NATION THAT SPAWNED HIM." "(MURMURS OF AGREEMENT)" "WHILE I WAS IN VIRGINIA" "LOSING MY FINGERS IN BATTLE WITH THE AMERICANS," "HE WAS BUSY APPEASING THEM." "(LAUGHTER, MURMURING)" "NOW HE WOULD HAND OVER THE RICHES" "OF THE INDIES TO THE BLOODY FRENCH!" "(CLAMORING, TAPPING AND STOMPING)" "IF" "IF WE DIDN'T HAVE SLAVES," "THERE WOULD BE NO PLANTATIONS." "AND WITH NO PLANTATIONS," "HOW WOULD WE FILL THE COFFERS OF THE KING?" "(SHOUTING, TAPPING AND STOMPING)" "NOW, DOES..." "MY HONORABLE FRIEND" "REALLY BELIEVE" "THAT IF WE LEFT OFF THE TRADE, THE FRENCH WOULDN'T IMMEDIATELY" "STEP INTO OUR PLACE AND REAP THE REWARDS?" "(SHOUTING, TAPPING AND STOMPING)" "(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)" "ALL THIS FOOD." "THERE'S ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE IN THERE." "HE'S AN OPTIMIST." "FULLY INCURABLE." "WILBERFORCE:" "OUR DEFEAT IN THE HOUSE TODAY WAS NOT UNEXPECTED." "BUT OUR INTENTION WAS TO FLUSH OUT THE OPPOSITION" "AND DISCOVER HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE WOULD SUPPORT US." "YES, WELL, WE CERTAINLY FOUND OUT WHO OUR FRIENDS ARE." "ALL 16 OF THEM." "I SENT A NOTE OF THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR US." "OH, HOW SWEET OF YOU." "SOME OF US KNOW HOW TO TAKE DEFEAT GRACIOUSLY." "SOMETHING WITH BREEDING, IS IT?" "ON THIS OCCASION, IT PROBABLY IS, YES." "GENTLEMEN, EVERYTHING THAT IS SAID AT THIS MEETING" "IS BEING TAKEN DOWN FOR OUR RECORDS." "MY GOOD FRIEND JAMES STEPHEN HAS AGREED TO BE OUR SECRETARY." "YOU WERE SAYING, GENTLEMEN?" "AS YOU CAN SEE, NOT MANY M.P.s" "HAVE RESPONDED TO OUR INVITATION." "INDEED, OUTSIDE MY OWN FAMILY," "THERE IS ONLY ONE-- SIR WILLIAM DOLBEN." "SIR WILLIAM, WHAT BRINGS YOU TO THIS GATHERING?" "I RECENTLY TOOK PASSAGE FROM SIERRA LEONE" "ABOARD A SLAVE SHIP." "WHAT I SAW DURING THOSE 15 DAYS" "BUT I-I BELIEVE THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHERS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS" "WHO SHARE YOUR FEELINGS, WILBERFORCE." "THEY'RE JUST AFRAID TO SHOW IT." "SHAME ON THEM!" "NO SHAME." "NO SHAME." "WERE I THE REPRESENTATIVE OF A PORT CITY," "HOW COULD I TELL THOSE WHOM I REPRESENT" "THAT I'M VOTING TO END THEIR LIVELIHOOD?" "EXACTLY SO." "(INDISTINCT ARGUING)" "IT IS EXACTLY THIS PURSUIT OF LOFTY" "THERE IS NOTHING LOFTY ABOUT SIMPLE HUMANITY!" "PLEASE!" "PERHAPS WE SHOULD BEGIN THIS JOURNEY WITH THE FIRST STEP." "WE ARE TALKING ABOUT" "THE TRUTH." "SO WE SHOULD HAND IT OUT TO PEOPLE." "DROP IT FROM CHURCH ROOFS." "PAINT PICTURES OF IT, WRITE SONGS ABOUT IT," "MAKE BLOODY PIES OUT OF IT." "GO ON." "THERE IS A SLAVE SHIP AT DOCK IN TILBURY" "WITH TWICE THE SLAVE BERTHS IT IS INSURED FOR." "I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT." "BUT HOW DO WE PROVE IT?" "WILBER." " DEAR GOD." " WELL, ALMOST." "I SPENT 18 MONTHS BEING TORN APART BY YOU" "IN THE HOUSE, MR. WILBERFORCE." "I THOUGHT I'D FIND OUT WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE ON YOUR SIDE." "I SEE YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF FOOD." "ANY OF YOU SAINTS DRINK?" "WELL, THIS ONE BLOODY DOES." "THANK YOU VERY MUCH." "(DOGS BARKING)" "(STRAINING)" "(SCREAMING)" "(GROANS)" " (BOTH PANTING)" " NOT FAIR!" "NOT FAIR." "(BOTH PANTING)" "I'M NOT WELL." "MY BELLY." "(CHUCKLES):" "WHAT'S" " WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR BELLY?" "(GROANING)" "BESIDES, YOU'RE PRIME MINISTER." "IT IS MY MINISTERIAL DUTY TO LET YOU WIN." "(LAUGHS)" "SO WHAT WILL WE DO WITH FOX?" "PUT HIM IN A BOX?" "LET HIM THROW THE HEAVY ROCKS." "PROVIDE THE SHOCKS." "PUT LORD TARLETON IN THE STOCKS." "(CHUCKLES)" "(SIGHS)" "(SIGHS) IF THE HOUSE OF LORDS COULD HEAR THE IDIOTIC WAY WE CARRY ON," "THEY'D BAN ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 30" "FROM HOLDING HIGH OFFICE EVER AGAIN." "AT LEAST WITH FOX ON BOARD, THE WORLD WILL KNOW WE MEAN BUSINESS." "THE WORLD DOESN'T KNOW YET." "NOR WILL IT." "NOT UNTIL WE'RE READY." "YOU WERE BORN FOR THIS, WILBER." "SOMETIMES I GET GIDDY." "WHY IS IT YOU ONLY FEEL THE THORNS IN YOUR FEET WHEN YOU STOP RUNNING?" "IS THAT SOME SORT OF HEAVY-HANDED METAPHORICAL ADVICE FOR ME, MR. PITT?" "YES." "SUPPOSE IT IS." "YOU MUST KEEP GOING." " KEEP GOING FAST." " HEY." "(DOGS BARKING)" "(BELL RINGING)" "(PEOPLE CHATTERING)" "(VIOLINS PLAYING CLASSICAL MUSIC, GOATS BLEATING)" "(PLAYING LIVELY MUSIC)" "(CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY)" "THANK YOU VERY MUCH." "(BELL RINGING, PEOPLE CHATTERING)" "GENTLEMEN, WOULD YOU STOP THE MUSIC, PLEASE?" " (MUSIC STOPS)" " THANK YOU." "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED OUR LITTLE TOUR OF THE ESTUARY." "(MURMURS OF AGREEMENT)" "BUT NOW, OUR SOJOURN IS ALMOST OVER," "I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE." "THIS TRIP WASN'T PURELY ARRANGED TO REWARD THOSE M.P.s" "WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME IN THE PAST YEAR." "NOR AM I THE ONLY SPONSOR." "WHAT'S HE DOING UP THERE?" "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS A SLAVE SHIP." "THEMADAGASCAR." "IT HAS JUST RETURNED FROM THE INDIES," "WHERE IT DELIVERED 200 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN" "TO JAMAICA." "WHEN IT LEFT AFRICA," "THERE WERE 600 ON BOARD." "THE REST DIED OF DISEASE OR DESPAIR." "(PEOPLE SNIFFING, GASPING)" "THAT SMELL..." "IS THE SMELL OF DEATH." "SLOW, PAINFUL DEATH." "(WOMEN SOBBING SOFTLY)" "BREATHE IT IN." "BREATHE IT DEEPLY." "TAKE THOSE HANDKERCHIEFS AWAY FROM YOUR NOSES." "THERE NOW." "REMEMBER THAT SMELL." "REMEMBER THEMADAGASCAR." "REMEMBER THAT GOD MADE MEN EQUAL." "WILBERFORCE (VOICE-OVER):" "ALL THAT WINTER, WE SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY" "GATHERING EVIDENCE FOR PARLIAMENT." "THOMAS RODE TO BRISTOL, LIVERPOOL, PLYMOUTH," "TALKING TO MEN WHO'D WORKED THE SLAVE SHIPS," "SHIPS' DOCTORS WHO'D TREATED THEM," "SLAVES THEMSELVES WHO'D BEEN WHIPPED AND BRANDED." "EQUIANO PUBLISHED HIS ACCOUNT OF HIS YEARS AS A SLAVE." "(PEOPLE CHATTERING EXCITEDLY)" "HE SOLD 50,000 COPIES IN TWO MONTHS." "SPARE A COIN, SIR?" "WILBERFORCE (VOICE-OVER):" "OUR SUPPORTERS BEGAN" "TO ONLY BUY SUGAR PRODUCED WITHOUT SLAVES IN INDIA." "OR THEY STOPPED USING SUGAR ALTOGETHER." "IT SEEMED OUR MESSAGE WAS EVERYWHERE." "AT LEAST NOW THERE WAS HOPE." "REAL HOPE." "WE HAD A YEAR TO COLLECT ENOUGH EVIDENCE" "TO CONVINCE PARLIAMENT OF OUR CASE." "THE PLANTERS AND THE SHIP OWNERS BEGAN TO SPREAD RUMORS ABOUT US." "THEY CALLED US SEDITIOUS," "SECRETLY WORKING TO BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT." "CLARKSON SAT IN A COACH TO BIRMINGHAM" "AND OVERHEARD SOMEONE CLAIM THAT I'D SECRETLY MARRIED A SLAVE WOMAN." "BUT THE WEIGHT OF OUR HOPE" "MADE IT ALL SEEM LIKE GLORIOUS INFAMY." "HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TAKING LAUDANUM?" "I RECOGNIZE ITS PRESENCE." "MY ILLNESS AND MY CRUSADE" "WERE BORN AROUND THE SAME TIME." "WHAT IS YOUR ILLNESS?" "THE DOCTORS TELL ME IT'S CALLED COLITIS." "THEY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND IT." "BUT I DO." "YOU SEE, SOMETIMES MY STOMACH" "GETS BORED OF BEING A STOMACH AND DECIDES IT'S A SAILING SHIP." " (CHUCKLES)" " AND MY HEART GETS JEALOUS" "AND DECIDES IT WANTS TO BE A SEESAW." "AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, MY LUNGS ARE ARGUING WITH ONE ANOTHER" "WHETHER TO BE LUNGS OR SPONGES FULL OF SEAWATER." "(CHUCKLES)" "WELL, AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I TELL MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS." "MARIANNE TELLS ME YOU LIKE CHILDREN." "MY POOR FATHER ALMOST WENT MAD" "WHEN I TOLD HIM I'D STOPPED TAKING SUGAR IN MY TEA." "I WAS 14." "READING YOUR NAME IN THE PAPERS, WILLING YOU TO WIN." "I TOLD MY FRIENDS" "THERE WAS ACTUAL SLAVE BLOOD IN EVERY LUMP OF SUGAR." "HAS THIS BEEN SO PAINFUL TO TALK ABOUT?" "IT'S ONLY PAINFUL TO TALK ABOUT" "BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T CHANGED ANYTHING." "BUT UNLIKE THE SLAVES, I HAVE OPIUM FOR MY PAIN." "BEGGING YOUR PARDON, SIR." "I THOUGHT EVERYONE WAS IN BED." "SHE BRINGS THE BREAKFASTS." "WHAT TIME IS IT?" "DOES IT MATTER?" "THAT YEAR, WE SHOULD HAVE WON." "WITH THE EVIDENCE WE HAD COLLECTED," "BY NATURAL JUSTICE WE SHOULD HAVE WON." "HARRISON:" "WINDS BLOW SHIPS FROM AFRICA" "TO THE INDIES NATURALLY," "AS IF THE ROUTE WERE BLESSED BY GOD." "(CROWD MURMURING)" "ANOTHER ARGUMENT IN DEFENSE OF THE TRADE" "IS THAT THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHING INDUSTRY" "IS KEPT AFLOAT" "BY THE FACT THAT" "SLAVES IN THE WEST INDIES" "CONSUME THAT PART OF THE FISH" "WHICH IS FIT FOR NO OTHER CONSUMPTION." "(CROWD CLAMORING)" "I DO FEEL THAT IF MY HONORABLE FRIEND CONTINUES TO SCRAPE" "THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL FOR OBJECTIONS," "HE IS IN DANGER OF GETTING SPLINTERS UNDER HIS FINGERNAILS." "(LAUGHTER)" "NOW, IF I MAY CONTINUE WITH MY ARGUMENT" "AS REPRESENTATIVE" "OF THE GREAT AND FLOURISHING COMMERCIAL TOWN OF LIVERPOOL," "I MUST ONCE AGAIN REMIND THE HOUSE" "THAT WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE" "THAT THE AFRICANS THEMSELVES HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE TRADE." "(CROWD CLAMORING)" "TARLETON:" "I HAVE HERE AN ACCOUNT" "WRITTEN BY A..." "MR. CLUTTERBUCK... (LAUGHTER)" "WHICH STATES THAT MOST SLAVES IN THE INDIES" "HAVE A SNUG LITTLE GARDEN WITH PLENTY OF PIGS AND POULTRY." "(CROWD CLAMORING, SNORTING)" "THERE ARE MANY POOR FAMILIES IN LIVERPOOL" "WHO DO NOT HAVE AS MUCH." "(CROWD CLAMORING)" "WHICH" " WHICH IS WHY," "APART FROM A FEW MENDICANT PHYSICIANS" "AND ITINERANT CLERGYMEN," "THE ORDINARY PEOPLE OF BRITAIN ARE NOT AT ALL EXERCISED" "BY THE WHOLE ISSUE OF SLAVERY!" "(CROWD CLAMORING)" "WILBERFORCE:" "MY HONORABLE FRIEND, THE MEMBER FOR LIVERPOOL," "SEEKS EVIDENCE OF PEOPLE'S CONCERN." "IN THE PAST YEAR, I AND MY ITINERANT CLERGYMEN FRIENDS" "HAVE BEEN GATHERING JUST SUCH EVIDENCE." "WE HAVE TAKEN A PETITION" "CALLING FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE" "TO ALL THE GREAT CITIES OF THIS COUNTRY." "IT HAS BEEN SIGNED" "BY OVER 390,000 PEOPLE." "(CROWD MURMURING)" "HOWEVER," "THIS PETITION IS NOT YET COMPLETE." "THERE IS ONE MORE PERSON WHO WISHES TO ADD HIS NAME." " TRAITOR!" " SIT DOWN, SIR!" " (CROWD GASPING, CLAMORING)" " SIT DOWN, SIR!" "DO SOMETHING." "MR. SPEAKER," "I HUMBLY REQUEST A SUSPENSION WHILE WE TAKE TIME" "TO EXAMINE THE SIGNATURES ON THIS DOCUMENT." "(CLAMORING, APPLAUSE)" "THERE IS SOMETHING VERY PROVOKING" "IN THE DRIED, CALM WAY MY HONORABLE FRIEND SEEKS DELAY." "MR. SPEAKER, WILL HE NOT GIVE WAY?" "IS THE DESOLATION OF AFRICA SUSPENDED?" "PLEASE, GENTLEMEN!" "IS THE WORK OF DEATH SUSPENDED?" "YOU BRING PETITIONS INTO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS." "MR. SPEAKER, WE CANNOT INSULT THE FOREBEARERS OF HEAVEN!" "AS IF THIS COUNTRY CAN BE MOVED BY THE RULE OF THE MOB RATHER THAN ITS NATURAL RULERS!" " (CROWD CLAMORING)" " ORDER!" "THAT ROLL OF PAPER REEKS OF REBELLION!" "NO MATTER HOW LOUD YOU SHOUT, YOU WILL NOT DROWN OUT THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE!" "THE PEOPLE?" "SPEAKER:" "THIS SESSION WILL BE SUSPENDED" "WHILE THE PETITION IS EXAMINED." "(CROWD CLAMORING)" "WILBER." "(PEOPLE CHATTERING)" "(PEOPLE CHATTERING)" "MY SPIES TELL ME THAT TARLETON AND COCONUT CLARENCE" "HAVE GONE TO SEE THE HOME SECRETARY." "HMM." "WHAT WOULD THEY WANT WITH LORD DUNDAS?" " HE'S ONE OF OURS, ISN'T HE?" " HMM." "JAMES." "JAMES." "WHERE DOES LORD DUNDAS STAND?" "PROBABLE." "I THINK." "WE HAVE HIM DOWN AS A PROBABLE." "LAST YEAR, HE STOPPED THE DEPORTATION OF A JAMAICAN SLAVE FROM SCOTLAND." "SO HIS HEART'S IN THE RIGHT PLACE." "BE WARY OF DUNDAS." "IF HE'S CAPABLE OF COMPASSION ONCE, WHY NOT TWICE?" "WHAT DAMAGE COULD HE DO IF HE'S TURNED?" "HE CONTROLS THE SCOTTISH VOTE-- 34 M.P.s." "JUST HAVE TO HAVE FAITH IN HIS INTEGRITY." "INTEGRITY?" "WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" "TO LOOK UP THE WORD "INTEGRITY" IN DR. JOHNSON'S DICTIONARY." " (KNOCKING)" " COME." "PRIME MINISTER, LORD CHARLES FOX TO SEE YOU." "YOU ALWAYS LOOK MORE AT HOME WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING DEVIOUS." "PRIME MINISTER, YOUR FRIEND WILBERFORCE" "DOESN'T PLAY CARDS ANYMORE." "NO." "HE RESIGNED FROM ALL FIVE CARD CLUBS WHEN HE SAW THE LIGHT." "PITY" " HE WAS GOOD." "WELL, I THINK THERE'S A HAND YOU SHOULD PLAY FOR HIM." "AGAINST WHOM?" "SOMEONE WHO STANDS IN HIS WAY." "SO NAME HIM." "(LAUGHTER, CHATTERING)" " DUNDAS." " GOOD EVENING, LORD ORME." "BILLY, DID I NOT WIN ENOUGH MONEY FROM YOU ON SATURDAY EVENING?" "REALLY, I HAVE NO TIME FOR CARDS." "I HAVE URGENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE." "(GROANS)" "AS PRIME MINISTER, IDLE GOSSIP COLLECTS AROUND YOU" "LIKE SCUM IN SLACK WATER." "WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD?" "LORD TARLETON'S THROWING EAST INDIA COMPANY MONEY" "AT PEOPLE WHO ARE SPEAKING AGAINST ABOLITION TONIGHT." "OF COURSE, NO TRUE FRIEND OF MINE WOULD ACCEPT SUCH AN OFFER." "I APPEAR TO HAVE THREE JACKS." "I'VE ALWAYS INSURED" "THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DEALT A FAVORABLE HAND." "ARE YOU THREATENING ME?" "YOU ARE THREATENING OUR FRIENDSHIP." "IT ISN'T MONEY THAT HAS MADE ME DECIDE TO OPPOSE WILBERFORCE." "HIS ENEMY IS MY ENEMY." "BILLY, YOU ARE SLEEPWALKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH A BLOODY REBEL." "WILBERFORCE FOLLOWS NO LEADER" "BUT THE PREACHER IN HIS HEAD." "HOW MUCH WERE YOU OFFERED?" "KEEP YOUR JACKS." "THE PLANTERS STILL HAVE THE KING," "AND I, AT LEAST, AM STILL LOYAL TO HIM." "DON'T FORCE ME TO PUT A PISTOL TO YOUR HEAD." "IF YOU DO, THERE WILL BE TWO PISTOLS" "ONE FROM EACH SIDE." "PERHAPS IF I DUCK," "YOU'LL SHOOT EACH OTHER." "(PEOPLE CHATTERING)" "SPEAKER:" "ORDER." "ORDER." "(CROWD QUIETS)" "FIRST, LET ME BE CLEAR" "AFTER LONG CONSIDERATION AND MUCH CONSULTATION," "I AM IN FAVOR OF THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE." "(CROWD CLAMORING)" "THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND" "THAT THIS TRADE IN HUMAN BEINGS" "IS AN ALMIGHTY CALUMNY" "AND IS A DISGRACE TO THIS NATION." "(CROWD MURMURING)" "HOWEVER," "I ALSO TAKE THE POINT OF MY HONORABLE FRIEND," "THE MEMBER FOR LIVERPOOL." "IF WE WERE TO OUTLAW THE TRADE TOMORROW," "THIS WOULD BRING FINANCIAL DISASTER" "TO MANY OF THE GREAT CITIES AND INDUSTRIES OF THIS COUNTRY." "(CROWD CLAMORING)" "I THEREFORE SUGGEST..." "A PERIOD OF REFLECTION." "AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF OF PRIVY COUNCIL INVESTIGATIONS," "WHAT GOOD WOULD IT DO TO DELAY THE INEVITABLE?" "INEVITABLE?" "IS MY HONORABLE FRIEND ALREADY COUNTING THE VOTES BEFORE THEY ARE CAST?" "(LAUGHTER)" "I DIDN'T MEAN THAT." "MAN:" "SIT DOWN, YOU!" "IF THE TRADE WERE TO BE ABOLISHED, I SUGGEST" "THAT WE DO SO GRADUALLY." "(CROWD MURMURING)" "VIOLENT STORMS SINK SHIPS." "THIS GREAT SHIP OF STATE" "MUST NOT BE SUNK BY A WAVE OF GOOD INTENTIONS." "(CROWD CLAMORING)" "(DOGS BARKING)" "(CHURCH BELL RINGING)" "THEY ARE CLEVERER THAN US, THOMAS." "AND YET," "OUTSIDE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, THE MOOD IS WITH US." "AND WHAT GOOD IS THAT?" "I HAVE FRIENDS IN FRANCE." "OUR COUNTERPARTS." "MEN OF PRINCIPLE, LIKE YOU AND I." "THEY BRING ME ONLY GOOD NEWS." "NEWS OF WHAT?" "REVOLUTION." "THEY'RE CERTAIN IT'S COMING." "IN PARIS, THEY SPEAK OPENLY IN THE STREETS" "OF EMANCIPATION, FREEDOM FOR ALL MEN, AND WOMEN, TOO." "THE AMERICANS PULLED THE CORK OUT OF THE BOTTLE, WILBERFORCE." "NOW THE FRENCH SHARE THE WINE." "YOU TALK ABOUT REVOLUTION AS IF IT WERE A SAFE THING." "IT'S JUST A WORD." "EVERY DAY WE CHANGE THINGS BY DEGREES-- EDUCATION, FACTORIES" "BY DEGREES." "YOU SOUND LIKE DUNDAS!" ""GRADUALLY."" "AN IMPERFECT ORDER'S BETTER THAN NO ORDER AT ALL." "NO!" "WE MUST FIGHT FOR A PERFECT ORDER!" "I'VE PLEDGED AN ALLEGIANCE TO THE KING." "YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO..." "THE KING IS INSANE." "HE SHAKES HANDS WITH OAK TREES" "AND CLAIMS HE CAN SEE GERMANY THROUGH HIS TELESCOPE." "I KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR LOYALTIES, WILBERFORCE." "BUT UNDERNEATH IT, YOU'RE MORE RADICAL THAN ANY OF US." "YOU SEE, YOU NEVER DOUBT YOU'RE RIGHT." "WHAT WE SAY OF THE SLAVE IS TRUE OF THE WORKER IN THE FIELD," "THE WEAVER, THE MINER." "SHOULDN'T THEY BE FREE TO PROSPER, TOO?" "INSTEAD OF THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABORS" "GOING TO MEN LIKE TARLETON?" "MEN WHO SPEND THEIR MONEY ON WHORES" "AND COMIC OPERAS." "YOUNG GIRLS DEBAUCHED." "SOLDIERS FORCED TO BEG." "IT'S A NATURAL WAVE" "THAT'S FLOWING, WILBER." "FIRST BOSTON..." "THEN PARIS." "NEXT, LONDON." "THOMAS," "YOU MUST NEVER SPEAK OF REVOLUTION IN MY PRESENCE EVER AGAIN." "I'M GOING TO PARIS TO SEE FOR MYSELF." "WHY DON'T YOU COME WITH ME?" "DRINK SOME OF THAT WINE." "(DOOR CLOSES)" "AFRICA, YOUR SUFFERINGS" "HAVE BEEN A THEME THAT HAS ENGAGED" "AND ARRESTED MY HEART." "YOUR SUFFERINGS..." "NO TONGUE CAN EXPRESS," "NO LANGUAGE IMPART." "(GASPS)" "(GROANS)" "GOD HAS SET BEFORE ME TWO GREAT OBJECTS." "THE SUPPRESSION OF THE SLAVE TRADE" "AND THE REFORMATION OF SOCIETY." "(GROANS)" "(WILBERFORCE SCREAMS)" "OH, MY GOD." "(GROANING)" "SIR!" "MARJORIE." "TROUBLE IS, DOCTOR, HE DOESN'T BELIEVE HE HAS A BODY." "UTTERLY CARELESS OF IT." "HE, UM-- (CLEARS THROAT)" "(WHISPERING):" "HE THINKS HE'S A DISEMBODIED SPIRIT." "PERHAPS YOU SHOULD SPEND SOME TIME AWAY FROM LONDON." "(SIGHS) WHAT'S THIS?" "LAUDANUM FOR THE PAIN." "AN OPIATE?" "NO, NO, NO." "I NEED MY MIND SHARP." "NO, YOU NEED TO REST." "MY BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE IN THREE WEEKS." "WOULD YOU LEAVE US A MOMENT, DOCTOR?" "YES, PRIME MINISTER." "IT'S NOW FIVE YEARS SINCE YOU FIRST BROUGHT THIS BILL TO THE HOUSE." "AND EACH TIME, WE GET A LITTLE CLOSER." "WILBERFORCE, THERE ARE OTHER M.P.s" "WHO COULD CARRY THE DEBATE." "WHO?" "NAME ONE." "THE ONLY MAN I WOULD TRUST IS YOU." "WELL?" "YOU KNOW I CAN'T BE SEEN TO OPENLY OPPOSE THE KING" "WHEN THE STREETS OF PARIS ARE RUNNING WITH BLOOD." "YOU'VE READ TOO MANY LURID NEWSPAPER ARTICLES." "THE FRENCH REPUBLIC PLANS TO DECLARE WAR WITHIN THE YEAR." "ON WHO?" "ON WHO?" "YOU'RE LOCKED INSIDE YOUR OWN HEAD, MAN." "ON US, ON GREAT BRITAIN, ON EVERYTHING WE STAND FOR!" "CONSIDERING THE SITUATION, YOU MIX WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE." " WHO DO I MIX WITH?" " CLARKSON, FOR ONE." "REMIND ME WHO INTRODUCED ME TO CLARKSON." "IN DIFFERENT TIMES." "THEY SAY IN THE CAFEÉÉS THAT CLARKSON'S A FRENCH SPY." "AND EQUIANO," "THEY SAY HE WAS BORN IN CAROLINA," "AND AS AN AMERICAN, THEREFORE MUST BE A REVOLUTIONARY." "OTHERS SAY THEY'VE SEEN WITH THEIR OWN EYES" "LETTERS ADDRESSED TO YOU FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON." "ON MATTERS TO DO WITH ABOLITION." " WAR CHANGES EVERYTHING." " EVEN FRIENDSHIPS?" "YES, ESPECIALLY THOSE!" "SO YOU WILL KEEP YOUR PRECIOUS CONSCIENCE INTACT" "AND LET THE REST OF US DO THE WAR'S DIRTY WORK." "CONSCIENCE IS INDEED PRECIOUS." "I AM WARNING YOU AS YOUR PRIME MINISTER THAT WHEN WAR COMES," "OPPOSITION WILL SOON BE CALLED SEDITION!" "BY WHO?" "BY YOU?" "RAMSAY (VOICE-OVER):" "THIS EVENING," "I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO THE THEME OF ABOLITION." "IN THESE DANGEROUS TIMES," "IT IS EASY TO PUT ASIDE" "OUR CONCERNS FOR THOSE IN NEED" "SIMPLY TO CONFIRM OUR LOYALTY TO THE NATION." "BUT THE ISSUES OF WAR AND THE ISSUES OF SLAVERY" " WE'RE LEAVING." " MUST NOT BE CONFUSED." "OUR FEAR OF AN UNKNOWN ENEMY MUST NOT BE ALLOWED" "TO ERODE OUR LONG-CHERISHED LIBERTIES." "IF THIS IS TO HAPPEN, HOW BITTER WILL OUR HISTORY BE?" " (GRUMBLING AND SHOUTING)" " MAN:" "SHAME!" " (JEERING)" " SHAME, YOU TRAITOR!" "WE MUST NOT PROHIBIT ALL POLITICAL DISCUSSION" "OF POLITICAL SUBJECTS." "THE ISSUE OF SLAVERY IS NOT MADE ANY LESS IMPORTANT" "BY THE UNRELATED ISSUES OF WAR!" "SIT DOWN!" "IN WAR OR IN PEACE," "THE BUYING AND SELLING OF HUMAN BEINGS IS EQUALLY ABHORRENT!" "MAN:" "SIT DOWN!" "SIT DOWN!" "THIS IS NOT A SEDITIOUS STATEMENT!" " TRAITOR." " TRAITOR." "(BIRDS TWITTERING)" "(GRUNTS)" "WHERE IS YOUR LAUDANUM?" "I'LL PREPARE IT FOR YOU." "NO, NO." "I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW IT ENDS." "I ALREADY KNOW." "YOUR BILLS WERE EASILY DEFEATED." "EQUIANO..." "DIED IN HIS BED." "THOMAS CLARKSON FOUND A COTTAGE IN THE HILLS TO HIDE AWAY IN." "CHARLES FOX..." "WATCHED AND WAITED." "THE QUAKERS STILL SENT THEIR LETTERS." "NO ONE REPLIED." "IS THAT THE END OF YOUR STORY?" " YOU THINK NOT?" " NO." "WHY NOT?" "BECAUSE AFTER NIGHT COMES DAY." "THE PEOPLE AREN'T SO AFRAID," "NOW THE WAR WITH FRANCE IS BEING WON." "AND WHEN THEY STOP BEING AFRAID," "THEY REDISCOVER THEIR COMPASSION." "SO THE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR COMPASSION BACK." "AND YOU STILL HAVE PASSION." "THAT MATTERS MORE." " HENRY:" "GOOD MORNING, WILBER." " MORNING." " GET MUCH SLEEP?" " NOT MUCH." "WHAT TIME DID BARBARA LEAVE?" "LATE." "I MEAN, EARLY." "I'M AFRAID I'M GOING BACK TO LONDON." " (SILVERWARE CLINKING)" " SO SOON?" "YES." "I THINK THE WATERS HAVE WORKED THEIR MAGIC ON ME." "BUT BEFORE I LEAVE, I NEED TO SEND A LETTER TO JAMES STEPHEN." " I'M GOING TO ASK HIM TO COME BACK TO ENGLAND." " FOR WHAT REASON?" "WE NEED TO PUT HIS EVIDENCE BEFORE A SELECT COMMITTEE." "ALSO, BARBARA AND I HAVE DISCOVERED" "THAT WE'RE BOTH IMPATIENT AND PRONE" "TO RASH DECISIONS." "BUT SHE WANTS TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT HERSELF." "(BACH'S "JESU, JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING" PLAYS ON PIPE ORGAN)" "(MOUTHING)" "(MUSIC ENDS)" "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN," "BEFORE WE BEGIN," "WE WILL SING THE HYMN REQUESTED BY THE BRIDE." "(ORGAN PLAYING INTRO TO "AMAZING GRACE")" "?" "AMAZING GRACE ?" "?" "HOW SWEET THE SOUND ?" "?" "THAT SAVED A WRETCH ?" "?" "LIKE ME ?" "?" "I ONCE WAS LOST ?" "?" "BUT NOW AM FOUND ?" "?" "WAS BLIND ?" "?" "BUT NOW I SEE... ?" "(DOG WHINING)" "?" "?" "'TWAS GRACE THAT BROUGHT... ?" " DELIGHTFUL SERVICE." " THANK YOU VERY MUCH." " THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING." " CONGRATULATIONS." " THANK YOU." " CHEERS." "HOW ARE YOU COPING WITH THE NEW KITCHEN?" ""GREAT CHANGES ARE EASIER THAN SMALL ONES."" " FRANCIS BACON." " WELL DONE." " (INDISTINCT VOICES) - (HARPSICHORD PLAYS)" "WOMAN:" "OH, WONDERFUL!" " HAVE YOU FORGIVEN US YET?" " NEVER." "IT'LL BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU BOTH LIVING SO NEAR." " SIR." " THANK YOU." "I DO HOPE YOU DIDN'T COME TO CLAPHAM FOR THE TRANQUILLITY." "I'M AFRAID WE'RE VERY NOISY NEIGHBORS." "I'M COUNTING ON IT." "WOMAN (FAINTLY): ..." "ANY CHANCE AT ALL YOU MIGHT JOIN US?" "BARBARA." "YOU HAVE MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES." "THANK YOU SO MUCH." "BUT PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU, DO THIS FOR ME." "MAKE HIM EAT SOME OF HIS PETS." " OH, I RATHER LIKE THEM." " I LIKE THEM, TOO." "IN BRANDY SAUCE." "(SNORTS)" " (MUSIC STOPS) - (APPLAUSE)" "WELL, IF YOU GENTLEMEN WILL EXCUSE ME." "THERE'S NO NEED, BARBARA." "YOU'RE DISCUSSING POLITICS WITH YOUR EYES." "YOU MAY AS WELL DO IT WITH YOUR MOUTHS." "(CLEARING THROAT)" "I, UH, DIDN'T THINK YOU'D INVITE ME." "I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D COME." "YOU WELL?" "MY MIND'S WELL." "THE REST OF ME IS FRAYING AT THE EDGES." "(DOG BARKING)" "BILLY, I'M GOING TO TRY AGAIN." "WELL?" "IT'S YOUR WEDDING DAY;" "I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAY." "I NEVER CHANGED." "I DON'T CHANGE." "WELL, HURRAH FOR YOU." "THE MOOD MAY EVEN BE SWINGING BACK IN YOUR FAVOR." "HOW CAN WE LIVE IN HOUSES LIKE THIS WHEN OTHERS ARE LIVING IN BOXES?" "IS THAT STILL SEDITION?" "(CHUCKLES)" "AS YOUR PRIME MINISTER, I URGE CAUTION." "AND AS MY FRIEND?" "OH, TO HELL WITH CAUTION." "NEWTON:" "WHEN THE SLAVES ARE FLOGGED ON THE WHARFS," "THEIR ARMS ARE TIED" "TO A HOOK ON A CRANE" "AND WEIGHTS OF 56 POUNDS" "APPLIED TO THEIR FEET." "THE CRANE IS RAISED" "SO THAT THEIR FEET" "BARELY TOUCH THE GROUND." "THE SLAVES ARE THEN WHIPPED WITH EBONY BUSHES, COMMA." "TO LET OUT THE CONGEALING BLOOD." "I DON'T HEAR THE NIB SCRATCHING THE PAGE." "WE HAVE COMPANY, SIR." "JOHN, IT'S ME, WILBER." "LEAVE IT." "THEY ONLY TOLD ME YOUR SIGHT WAS FADING." "WELL, NOW IT'S FADED ALTOGETHER." "I NEVER DID THINGS BY HALVES." "GOD DECIDED I'D SEEN ENOUGH." "SO IT'S TRUE." "WHAT'S TRUE?" " YOU'RE WRITING YOUR ACCOUNT." " UH-HUH." "I WISH I COULD SEE YOUR FACE." " HOW ARE YOU LOOKING?" " THE SAME." "STILL TOO THIN." "A LITTLE FATTER LATELY." "OH, SHE FEEDS YOU WELL THEN, THIS WIFE OF YOURS?" "SHE'S GIVEN ME AN APPETITE." "AN APPETITE TO CHANGE THINGS?" "(SIGHS)" "THIS IS MY CONFESSION." "YOU MUST USE IT." "NAMES," "SHIPS' RECORDS," "PORTS, PEOPLE." "EVERYTHING I REMEMBER IS IN HERE." "ALTHOUGH MY MEMORY IS FADING," "I REMEMBER TWO THINGS VERY CLEARLY." "I'M A GREAT SINNER, AND CHRIST IS A GREAT SAVIOR." "YOU MUST PUBLISH IT." "BLOW A HOLE IN THEIR BOAT WITH IT." "DAMN THEM WITH IT!" "I WISH I COULD REMEMBER ALL THEIR NAMES." "MY 20,000 GHOSTS..." "THEY ALL HAD NAMES." "BEAUTIFUL AFRICAN NAMES." "WE CALLED THEM WITH JUST GRUNTS." "NOISES." "WE WERE APES." "THEY WERE HUMAN." "(SOBBING)" "I'M WEEPING." "I COULDN'T WEEP UNTIL I WROTE THIS." "(SIGHS)" ""I ONCE WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE."" "DIDN'T I WRITE THAT, TOO?" "YES, YOU DID." "WELL, NOW AT LAST IT'S TRUE." "NOW GO, WILBER." "GO!" "WE HAVE LOTS OF WORK TO DO, YOU AND I." "CLARKSON:" "STRANGE TREASURES IN THIS FAIR WORLD APPEAR..." "STRANGE ALL..." "AND NEW TO ME." "THAT IS A POEM BY THOMAS TRAHERNE," "AND I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT IT'S ABOUT." "BUT WHEN I WAS SMALL, I WAS MADE TO LEARN IT BY HEART," "SO I DON'T SEE WHY YOU SHOULDN'T SUFFER, TOO." "CLARKSON!" "CLARKSON!" "GOOD GOD, HE'S GOT HIS VOICE BACK." "WE NEED YOU BACK IN LONDON STRAIGHTAWAY!" "OH." "(FUSSING)" "(MUTTERS):" "BOLLOCKS." " (CLAMORING VOICES)" " HURRY UP, COME ON." "WILBER!" " (GRUNTS)" " YOU LOOK FINE, FINE." "AH, I LOOK WET AND FEEBLE." "YOU, HOWEVER, LOOK DISGUSTINGLY" "LIKE A LUSTY ADVENTURER FROM A STORYBOOK." "(CHUCKLES)" "COME ON." "I'VE GOT A COACH." "THE OTHERS ARE WAITING FOR US AT PALACE YARD." " DON'T I GET TO WASH OR SLEEP?" " SLEEP?" "YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED AT ALL, WILLIAM." "(HORSE WHINNIES)" "(BELL CLANGS)" "(THUNDER RUMBLES)" "WILBERFORCE:" "I CALLED THIS MEETING TO WELCOME BACK" "OUR GOOD FRIEND JAMES STEPHEN FROM THE INDIES." "BUT, UH, HE SHOULD SPEAK FOR HIMSELF." "I HAVE HERE DIAGRAMS," "FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS AND TRANSCRIPTS OF TRIALS" "WHERE INNOCENT AFRICANS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED" "OF CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT, AND WERE THEN BURNT ALIVE." "THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES AND PAGES" "OF FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS AND FIGURES AND STATISTICS." "ON EVERY ISLAND NOW, THERE ARE REBELLIONS." "HAITI IS IN THE HANDS OF SLAVES." "THE SLAVES ARE ANXIOUS, THEY'RE IMPATIENT FOR THEIR FREEDOM." "THEY HEAR ABOUT YOUR WORK HERE." "I, UH" "I SAW A WOMAN AND HER CHILD BEING BEATEN..." "IN A COFFEE FIELD." "AND AFTERWARDS, I HEARD THE WOMAN TELL HER DAUGHTER" "THAT SOMEONE WAS COMING ACROSS THE SEA TO SAVE THEM." "SHE SAID IT WAS KING WILBERFORCE." "SO THIS TIME, GENTLEMEN, WE MUST NOT FAIL THEM." "(THUNDER RUMBLES)" "(RAIN PATTERING)" "WHAT IS IT, JAMES?" " THIS IS NOT A GAME TO THEM." " WE KNOW THAT." "WHAT I MEAN IS, IT'S NOT ENOUGH." "IF WE GO TO PARLIAMENT WITH THIS EVIDENCE," "THERE'LL BE SYMPATHY, THERE'LL BE CONCERN," "BUT IT'LL BE JUST THE SAME AS EVERY OTHER TIME." "HAVE YOU COME BACK TO PREACH HOPELESSNESS?" "NO." "NO, I'VE" " I'VE HAD AN IDEA." "IN MY LAW BOOKS, I THINK I MIGHT'VE STUMBLED ACROSS SOMETHING," "AND I WANT TO PROPOSE IT AS A STRATEGY." "NOSUS DECIPIO." "IT'S LATIN." "LOOSELY TRANSLATED, IT MEANS..." ""WE CHEAT."" "(HORSE WHINNIES)" "(HOOFBEATS APPROACHING)" "(HORSE SNORTS)" "(WHISPERS):" "OH, GOD." "I DON'T CARE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS." "I'LL FINISH MY SHOT." "(CLEARS THROAT)" "OH, FOR GOD'S SAKES, WHAT IS IT?" " WE'VE DECIDED" " WE THINK WE'VE" "(WILBERFORCE SIGHS)" "BILLY, WE'VE DECIDED NOT TO BRING FORWARD AN ABOLITION BILL THIS YEAR." " NO?" " CLARKSON:" "INDEED, NOT." "WILBERFORCE:" "INSTEAD WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS OURSELVES" "TO THE ISSUE OF THE USE OF NEUTRAL FLAGS ON CARGO SHIPS." " HOW UNUTTERABLY DULL." " EXACTLY." "WE'RE GOING TO SUGGEST THAT FRENCH CARGO SHIPS" "SAILING UNDER THE AMERICAN FLAG OF CONVENIENCE" "BE LIABLE TO SEIZURE BY PRIVATEERS." "PART OF THE WAR EFFORT." "PATRIOTISM, ALL THAT." "SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU BEEN INTERESTED IN THE WAR EFFORT," "PATRIOTISM, AND ALL THAT?" "I'M NOT." "SO..." "I'LL CONTINUE WITH MY GAME?" "YOU DON'T SEE ANYTHING..." "SINISTER IN THAT MEASURE?" " NO." " THEN NEITHER WILL THEY." "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO TALKING ABOUT?" "80% OF ALL SLAVE SHIPS SAILING TO THE INDIES" "ARE FLYING THE NEUTRAL AMERICAN FLAG," "TO PREVENT THEM FROM BEING BOARDED BY PRIVATEERS." "(SIGHS) IF WE PASS A LAW REMOVING THAT PROTECTION," "NO SHIP OWNER WILL DARE ALLOW HIS VESSEL TO MAKE THE JOURNEY." "BUT THIS WILL ONLY APPLY TO FRENCH SHIPS, NOT BRITISH." "WILBERFORCE:" "THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT." "ONCE ANY SHIP RAISES THE AMERICAN FLAG," "BY LAW IT IS NEITHER FRENCH NOR BRITISH." "SO OUR SLAVE SHIPS WILL BE JUST AS LIABLE" "TO SEIZURE AS FRENCH ONES." "THE PRIVATEERS WON'T CARE WHOSE BOOTY THEY'RE TAKING," "AS LONG AS THEY'RE OPERATING WITHIN THE LAW." "WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF NEUTRAL FLAGS, 80% OF THE BRITISH SLAVE TRADE WILL BE FINISHED OVERNIGHT." "DEAR GOD." "CLARKSON:" "BUT, PRIME MINISTER," "WE NEED TO TUCK THIS BILL AWAY SOMEWHERE." "DISGUISE IT." "OH." "I WON'T EVEN GET ON MY FEET IN THE HOUSE." "THIS WOULD STILL FALL SHORT OF ABOLITION." "WITH THEIR PROFITS CUT, I'D GUESS HALF THE SLAVERS WILL BE BANKRUPT IN TWO YEARS." "THEN WE'LL PICK OFF THEIR M.P.s IN THE HOUSE, ONE BY ONE." "WHOSE IDEA WAS THIS?" "A LAWYER." "ANTI-FRENCH BILL WHICH IS ALSO ANTI-SLAVERY." "DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T THINK OF THIS ANY SOONER." "OH, BUT WE CAN'T LET ANYONE KNOW THAT WE'RE BEHIND THIS." "WE NEED YOU TO INSTRUCT SOMEONE TO PUT THIS BILL FORWARD WHO'S SEEN AS A PATRIOT." "CLARKSON:" "WE DON'T WANT ANY FUSS." "WE JUST NEED SOMEONE REALLY, REALLY..." "BORING." "TYPICALLY, A FRENCH SHIP" "WILL CHANGE ITS REGISTRATION TO RAISE THE AMERICAN FLAG" "AND PICK UP A CARGO OF SUGAR IN HAVANA." "IT WILL THEN SAIL TO CAROLINA..." "OR VIRGINIA..." "OR FLORIDA..." "OR NEW YORK CITY..." "OR EVEN BOSTON." "THE CARGO WILL THEN BE UNLOADED" "ONTO A SECOND SHIP CARRYING THE AMERICAN FLAG... (DISTANT RUSTLING)" "AND SET SAIL FOR FRANCE." "AS THINGS STAND," "NEITHER THE ROYAL NAVY" "NOR LICENSED PRIVATEERS" "HAVE POWER TO SEIZE SUCH A SHIP." "MY PROPOSITION IS..." "THAT ALL THE SHIPS" "FLYING THE AMERICAN FLAG BE LIABLE TO SEARCH AND SEIZURE" "TO PUT AN END TO THIS LAMENTABLE DECEIT" "ON THE PART OF THE FRENCH..." "AND THEIR DUTCH AND SPANISH ALLIES." "MR. SPEAKER!" "I DO BELIEVE THE ABOLITIONISTS ARE COMING AT US AT A SIDE WIND." "A SIDE WIND?" "WHAT KIND OF A SIDE WIND?" "UH, I'M NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF SIDE WIND." "I JUST KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON." " THE JACOBITES ARE IN." " SPEAKER: "JACOBITES"?" "REALLY, I DO THINK YOU MIGHT UPDATE YOUR INVECTIVE TO REFLECT CHANGING TIMES." "(M.P.s CHUCKLING)" "AM I TOO LATE TO CALL FOR AN ADJOURNMENT?" "OF COURSE, YOU ARE." "NOW, WILL YOU LET THE HONORABLE GENTLEMAN PROCEED?" "HARRISON:" "AS I WAS SAYING..." "MY PROPOSITION IS THAT, UH, ALL SHIPS" "FLYING THE AMERICAN FLAG, UH, BE LIABLE TO SEARCH AND SEIZURE..." "TO PUT AN END TO THIS LAMENTABLE DECEIT" "ON THE PART OF THE FRENCH AND THEIR DUTCH AND SPANISH" " JACKSON, GET INTO THE CHAMBER!" " RIGHT, SIR!" "CAMBER, CHAMBER!" "MOVE YOUR ARSE!" "WHAT IS GOING ON?" "JUST DO IT!" "(PANTING)" "(PANTING)" "WHERE THE HELL IS EVERYONE?" "FOX:" "EVERYBODY'S AT THE RACES IN EPSOM." "THEY WERE GIVEN FREE TICKETS." "I SAVED ONE FOR YOU." "A FREE GIFT FROM WILLIAM WILBERFORCE." "(GRUNTS)" " (LOUD CLATTERING) - (GRUNTING)" "WILBY?" " (GLASS SHATTERS) - (MOANS)" "WHAT ON EARTH IS HAPPENING?" "THE POOR MAIDS ARE TERRIFIED." "(GROANING)" "I'LL BRING YOUR LAUDANUM." "NO, NO!" "(GRUNTS)" "I'VE POURED IT ALL AWAY THIS MORNING" " EVERY DROP!" " THEN I'LL FETCH MORE." " NO!" "I'M FINISHED WITH IT!" "I CAN'T EVEN FEEL THE JOY OF THIS VICTORY." "(PANTING)" "THIS NEW BABY WILL FIND ME AS MYSELF." "(PANTING) WHAT WILL BE HIS NAME?" " WHO SAYS IT'S A BOY?" " OH, JUST TELL ME SOME NAMES." "PLEASE, PLEASE, JUST KEEP TALKING." "UH, WILLIAM IF IT'S A BOY, EMMA IF IT'S A GIRL." "YES, IT'S A BOY." "I'M SURE OF IT." "HOW WILL HE LOOK?" " SWEET!" " (SOBBING)" "HE WILL BE STRONG," "WITH CURLY HAIR, BUT DARK, LIKE YOURS." "HE'S INSIDE YOU NOW." "(LAUGHING):" "YES, YES, HE'S INSIDE." "(WILBERFORCE SOBBING)" "I CAN ALMOST HEAR HIM." "HE'S SINGING TO US." "YES, HE WILL HAVE A FINE VOICE LIKE YOU." "YES, YES, A STRONG VOICE." "AND YOU WILL PLAY WITH HIM IN THE GARDEN EVERY MORNING." "YES." "AND SOON WE'LL HAVE A GIRL AND A BOY... (VOICE-OVER):" "...AND A GIRL AND A BOY AND" "(BOY GIGGLING)" "(BARKING)" " (WILBERFORCE CHUCKLING) - (BOY SHOUTING)" " (WILBERFORCE GROWLS PLAYFULLY) - (DOG BARKING)" "WILBY!" "(LAUGHING)" "COME QUICKLY!" "COME ON!" "PLEASE LEAVE US NOW." "THEY TELL ME YOU'RE IMPROVING, BILLY." "BULL." "(SLOW, LABORED BREATHING)" "WE CRACKED CROWNS, DIDN'T WE?" "WE LEFT THE HEADS INTACT." "(CHUCKLES):" "BECAUSE WE'RE SO PATHETICALLY ENGLISH." "(SNORTING COUGHS)" "(INHALES, EXHALES)" "WE HAVE AGREED ON A SUCCESSION." "YOU'RE NOT GONE YET." "I WILL BE REPLACED" "BY LORD GRANVILLE AS PRIME MINISTER," "AND THE FOREIGN SECRETARY WILL BE..." "CHARLES FOX." "AND, WILBER," "FOX HAS ALREADY SECURED A GUARANTEE FROM THE PALACE" "THEY WILL REMAIN NEUTRAL IN THE ISSUE OF THE SLAVE TRADE." "NEXT TIME," "YOU WILL BE PUSHING AT AN OPEN DOOR." "I'M SCARED, WILBER." "OF WHAT?" "AT THIS MOMENT, I WISH I HAD YOUR FAITH." "(PANTING)" "NO MORE EXCUSES NOW, WILBER." "FINISH THEM OFF." " (BIRDS CHIRPING) - (HORSE NEIGHS)" "(HORSE WHINNIES)" "AS YOU KNOW, EQUIANO, I RARELY DRINK." "BUT TODAY'S AN EXCEPTION." "(HORSE NEIGHS)" "TODAY WE'RE DRINKING TO VICTORY." "(BIRDS CHIRPING)" "WISH YOU WERE..." "HERE TO SEE ALL THIS..." "UNFOLDING." "(CHUCKLES):" "THIS IS ONE MORE PUSH." "ONE MORE." "I SAY TO THIS HOUSE THAT THERE IS NOW NO REASON" "WHY MY BILL SHOULD NOT BE COMMENDED TO THE KING." "WILBERFORCE (IN DISTANCE):" "AND I URGE MY HONORABLE FRIENDS" " (SOFT SNORING)" " TO VOTE ONCE AND FOR ALL" "FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE" "THROUGHOUT HIS MAJESTY'S EMPIRE." "(LOUD CHEERING IN DISTANCE)" "THEY'RE TAKING THE VOTE!" "(CHEERING CONTINUES)" "HERE'S THE TALLY." "(INDISTINCT CHATTER)" "ORDER!" "SPEAKER:" "ORDER!" "(CHATTER QUIETS)" "SPEAKER:" "ON THE HOME AND FOREIGN SLAVE TRADE ACT," "THE UNAMENDED BILL CALLING FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE" "THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BRITISH EMPIRE" "NOES TO THE LEFT, 16." " (INDISTINCT SHOUTS)" " AYES TO THE RIGHT, 283." "(LOUD CHEERING)" "SPEAKER:" "I DECLARE THE BILL" "OF ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE..." "TO BE PASSED." "(CHEERING)" "NOBLESSE OBLIGE." "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DOES THAT MEAN?" "IT MEANS, MY NOBILITY OBLIGES ME TO RECOGNIZE" "THE VIRTUE OF AN EXCEPTIONAL COMMONER." "SPEAKER:" "ORDER!" "ORDER!" "FOX:" "WHEN PEOPLE SPEAK OF GREAT MEN," "THEY THINK OF MEN LIKE NAPOLEON." "MEN OF VIOLENCE." "RARELY DO THEY THINK OF PEACEFUL MEN." "BUT CONTRAST THE RECEPTION THEY'LL RECEIVE" "WHEN THEY RETURN HOME FROM THEIR BATTLES." "NAPOLEON WILL ARRIVE IN POMP AND IN POWER." "A MAN WHO'S ACHIEVED THE VERY SUMMIT OF EARTHLY AMBITION." "YET HIS DREAMS WILL BE HAUNTED BY THE OPPRESSIONS OF WAR." "WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, HOWEVER," "WILL RETURN TO HIS FAMILY," "LAY HIS HEAD ON HIS PILLOW," "AND REMEMBER..." "THE SLAVE TRADE IS NO MORE." "(SPARSE APPLAUSE)" "(APPLAUSE GROWS)" "(APPLAUSE FADES OUT)" "(BAGPIPES PLAYING "AMAZING GRACE")" "(SONG ENDS)"