Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble (2000) - full transcript

♪ ( woman vocalizing ) ♪

♪♪

QUAKA. OH!

( joyful laughter )

AAAAH! QUAKA!

HUH?!

QUAKA!

JUBA!

JUBA!

( grunting )

( shouting )



GUESS YOU GOT NO PASS,

HUH, QUAKA?

THAT'S YOUR NAME?

WHAT KIND OF NAME IS "QUAKA,"

HUH?! QUACK QUACK!

I AIN'T NEVER SEEN NO

NIGGER DUCK BEFORE!

I BET YOU'LL THINK TWICE BEFORE

YOU RUN OFF TO PLANT YOUR OATS

IN YOUR LITTLE WIFE,

HUH, QUAKA?

DO IT!

AAAAH!

( whipping continues )



AAAAH!

AAAH! AAAAH....

( whipping, Quaka grunting )

( audience cheering )

( cheering )

BRAVO! BRAVO!

( excited chatter )

GIVE HER THE FLOWER!

MISS KEMBLE!

Man: STEP BACK, PLEASE.

I JUST WANT AN AUTOGRAPH!

SEE THAT SHE GETS IT TONIGHT.

YES, I WILL.

Man: THOMAS SCULLY

IS HERE TONIGHT.

HE'S A VERY FINE PAINTER, FANNY.

I WANT YOU TO MEET HIM.

HE'S ASSURED ME HE CAN PAINT

A TRUE LIKENESS OF YOU.

NO, FATHER, NO ONE CAN PAINT

ME AS I AM, BECAUSE I AM NOT

WHAT I APPEAR TO BE.

THATIS A TRUE STATEMENT.

ELIZABETH!

YOU SAID ONLY A FEW PEOPLE.

THESEAREONLY A FEW PEOPLE.

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO MIND

THE CHILD FOR A WHILE?

IF IT WERE ONLY POSSIBLE.

HA HA HA HA!

TONIGHT WAS MY LAST

PERFORMANCE IN AMERICA.

THE AUDIENCE COUGHED

TOO MUCH, DID THEY?

OH, I'M SORRY. WHAT THE MATTER?

EVERYTHING. BLUNDERING ACTORS

WHO DIDN'T KNOW THEIR PARTS,

COMATOSE AUDIENCES, AND AMERICA.

I'M TIRED OF SPITTOONS AND BAD

BRANDY AND COMPETING WITH WILD

PIGS FOR SPACE ON THE SIDEWALKS.

SO THIS IS THE CAPRICIOUS

KEMBLE WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT.

INTRODUCE US, MRS. SEDGWICK.

FANNY, THIS IS JOHN QUINCY

ADAMS, THE ESTEEMED FORMER

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND DANIEL WEBSTER, SENATOR

AND FAMOUS ORATOR.

FANNY WAS JUST SAYING HOW MUCH

SHE LOVES AMERICA.

FINEST COUNTRY ON EARTH.

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS ENGLISH.

BY THE BYE, SHE LOVED

SHAKESPEARE, ADORED IT.

YOU WERE QUITE GOOD TONIGHT.

WOMEN WEPT.

BUT I THINK DESDEMONA'S

MISFORTUNE IS A VERY JUST

JUDGMENT UPON HER FOR

MARRYING A NIGGER.

DESDEMONA'S FAULT WAS

BEING IN LOVE, SIR.

OTHELLO'S ERROR WAS PRIDE...

NOT BEING A NEGRO, A CONDITION

OVER WHICH HE HAD NO CONTROL.

GOOD EVENING.

EXCUSE ME.

WHAT I WONDER IS IF YOU'VE EVER

HAD ANY CONTROL OVER YOURMOUTH.

NOW, WHAT IS THE MATTER?

I AM SICK TO DEATH OF

BEING FANNY KEMBLE.

I'M SO GOOD AT IT I DON'T DARE

BE ANYONE ELSE.

WELL, THAT'S HONEST.

WHAT'S TO BE DONE?

FANNY, THEY'RE WAITING

FOR YOU. COME.

AND NOW OUR NEXT MUSICIAN

IS PIERCE BUTLER WHO WILL PLAY

A FLUTE SONATA BY CARULLI,

ACCOMPANIED BY MR. AVELEN

ON THE GUITAR.

I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE

THIS PIECE TO OUR CHARMING

GUEST OF HONOR,

MISS FANNY KEMBLE.

♪♪

♪♪ ( continues )

( sonata ends to applause )

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

THAT WHICH WE CALL A ROSE

BY ANY OTHER NAME

WOULD SMELL AS SWEET.

♪♪ ( dance music )

Fanny: NOT ONLY DO YOU KNOW

SHAKESPEARE, YOU PLAY THE FLUTE

VERY WELL, MR. BUTLER.

ARE YOU A MUSICIAN?

IF MY MUSIC MOVES YOU I AM,

OTHERWISE I AM MERELY

A DULL LAWYER.

I'M SURPRISED YOU FOUND TIME

TO LEAVE ROSES FOR ME

THROUGHOUT THE TOUR.

I DON'T RECALL SAYING I DID.

PERHAPS YOU'RE TOO ASHAMED

TO CONFESS IT.

IS THAT WHY YOU NEVER

SIGNED YOUR NAME?

IF I HAD SIGNED MY NAME,

I WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER ONE

OF THOSE MOON-FACED ADMIRERS

GAPING AT US THROUGH THE

WINDOWS; I WANTED TO BE

THE ONE DANCING WITH YOU, AND

TALKING TO YOU IN THE GARDEN.

BUT HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT

FROM THEM?

THEY'RE ONLY DAZZLED BY

THE ROLES I PLAY.

BECAUSE I KNOW YOU BETTER.

"IN THE INMOST CHAMBERS OF MY

SOUL, THERE IS ANOTHER WORLD,

A BLESSED HOME O'ER WHICH

NO LIVING POWER HOLDETH CONTROL,

CLOSE TO WHICH ILL THINGS

DO NEVER COME."

I READ YOUR BOOK OF POETRY.

THOSE POEMS ARE THE FOOLISH

MUSINGS OF A YOUNG GIRL.

THE FACT THEY'RE EVEN PUBLISHED

IS MY ETERNAL PUNISHMENT

FOR HAVING WRITTEN THEM.

WELL, I'M VERY GLAD YOU DID.

I KNEW THE POET WAS RARE--

I DID NOT KNOW SHE WAS

ALSO BEAUTIFUL.

YOU'RE BEGINNING TO SOUND

A LOT LIKE A MOON-FACED ADMIRER

YOURSELF, MR. BUTLER.

WOULD YOU FEEL SAFER

IF I WERE?

IT IS TIME FOR ME TO GO.

ONCE WE GO BACK INSIDE,

YOU BELONG TO THEM.

I MUCH PREFER HAVING YOU

ALL TO MYSELF.

GOOD NIGHT, MISS KEMBLE.

I THINK I'D PREFER THAT TOO,

MR. BUTLER.

"OUR PERFORMANCE OFOTHELLO

WAS WELL RECEIVED, THOUGH ON THE

WHOLE, PHILADELPHIA AUDIENCES

CANNOT DISTINGUISH GOOD THEATER

FROM A CATTLE RACE.

AFTER THE PERFORMANCE,

I RECEIVED YET ANOTHER

SINGLE WHITE ROSE.

BUT THE MYSTERY IS FINALLY OVER.

ELIZABETH'S SOIREE WAS WITLESS

BUT MILDLY INTERESTING--

MY LAST, I VOW--

BUT IT WAS THERE THAT MY SECRET

ADMIRER MADE HIS PRESENCE KNOWN.

HIS NAME: PIERCE BUTLER.

HE WAS SO BRASH AND I WAS SO

ALOOF, BOTH OF US PLAYING OUR

PARTS, BUT HE LIKED THE ONLY

GOOD POEM I'VE EVER WRITTEN,

AND HE PLAYED THE FLUTE

HAUNTINGLY.

QUITE HANDSOME, TOO."

MISS KEMBLE!

MISS KIMBLE, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

OF COURSE I'M ALL RIGHT.

WHY DO YOU ASK?

I THOUGHT YOUR HORSE

HAD RUN AWAY WITH YOU.

WHAT A PREPOSTEROUS IDEA.

HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING ME,

MR. BUTLER?

OH, NO.

WELL, YES.

I PAID THE STABLE BOY SIX

SHILLINGS TO TELL ME WHERE YOU

RODE; I WANTED TO ESCORT YOU.

I THOUGHT THE RAIN MIGHT HAVE

MADE THE TRAILS UNFIT FOR

LADIES, BUT I CAN SEE

I UNDERESTIMATED YOU.

GOOD DAY, MISS KEMBLE.

WELL, THE TRAILS ARE UNFIT

FOR LADIES, MR. BUTLER,

BUT I WOULD ENJOY YOU ESCORTING

ME NONETHELESS.

DO YOU ALWAYS RIDE

AT THAT PACE?

NO, ON THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY

I TROT RESPECTFULLY.

I'M SURPRISED YOU WOULD

DEFER TO ANYONE, MISS KEMBLE,

EVEN A QUEEN.

I DID NOT SAY I WOULD DEFER;

ONLY THAT I TROT.

( laughs )

IS THIS YOUR FIRST VISIT

TO AMERICA?

I SENSE THAT YOU DON'T

CARE FOR IT MUCH.

I CAN'T BLAME YOU.

YOU'VE ONLY SEEN DIRTY CITIES

AND THE INSIDES OF THEATERS

AND PEOPLE FAWNING ALL OVER YOU.

YOU SHOULD HAVE ME

AS YOUR PERSONAL GUIDE.

YOU'RE VERY BOLD, MR. BUTLER.

THIS IS A GRAND COUNTRY,

MISS KEMBLE--

IT INVITES GUMPTION.

STAY ON AFTER YOUR TOUR

IS COMPLETED.

I'LL GIVE YOU THE EYES

OF AN AMERICAN.

I THINK IN YOUR HEART AND SOUL

YOU ALREADY ARE ONE.

( Fanny chuckles )

YOU SEE THAT TREE LINE

OVER THERE?

LAST ONE THERE HAS NO GUMPTION.

HEEYA! GO! GO!

HEEYA! GO!

COME ON!

GO! RUN!

GO! GO!

DO I HAVE GUMPTION,

MR. BUTLER?

( laughs )

OH, YOU DO INDEED, MISS KEMBLE.

I PRONOUNCE YOU

AN HONORARY AMERICAN.

( both laugh )

RIDING ALONE WITH UNATTACHED

MEN, RACING THEM ON HORSEBACK.

FORTUNATELY, YOUR MOTHER

IS IN ENGLAND.

WELL, HE WAS CHARMING.

AND AT LEAST HE DOESN'T CHEW

TOBACCO LIKE MOST AMERICAN MEN.

I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN A GENTLEMAN

SPIT UPON THE CARPET IN THE

COMPANY OF WOMEN WITHOUT EVEN

A HINT OF REMORSE.

OH! APPALLING.

BETWEEN RACES, DID HE MENTION

THE SUBJECT OF MARRIAGE,

PERHAPS?

MARRIAGE?

PIERCE IS MERELY

AN AMUSING FRIEND.

BESIDES, I WOULD NEVER MARRY

A FOOL, WHICH ANY MAN WHO WANTED

TO MARRY ME WOULD HAVE TO BE.

HA HA HA!

BUT THE QUESTION IS,

WOULD YOU MARRY HIM?

I TOLD YOU WE'RE FRIENDS.

WHY DO YOU EVEN ASK?

YOU HAVE A TENDENCY TO DIVE

IN BEFORE TESTING THE DEPTH,

FANNY.

HAS THE SUBJECT OF PIERCE'S

600 SLAVES ARISEN AT ALL?

THEY'RE NOT HIS,

THEY'RE HIS GRANDFATHER'S.

ONLY TILL HIS AUNT DIES

AND THEN THEY'RE HIS,

AND SHE'S ON HER DEATH BED.

MY GOD, I'M MEDDLING.

PIERCE IS NOT A PERSON

WHO KEEPS SLAVES.

ARE YOUR PLANTATIONS

AS LARGE AS ALL THIS?

THEY AREN'T MINE YET,

BUT THEY ARE MUCH LARGER.

AND ARE THERE SLAVES?

YES. IT'S A WAY OF LIFE

IN THE SOUTH.

I CANNOT IMAGINE A LIFE

WITHOUT FREEDOM.

OF COURSE NOT;

IT'S NOT YOUR LIFE.

BUT I GREW UP WITH IT.

THE BUTLER ISLAND SLAVES

HELPED RAISE ME.

I LOVE THEM, AND THEY LOVE ME.

THEY'RE HAPPY AND WELL

CARED FOR; THEY HAVE

NO WISH TO BE FREE.

BUT YOU COULD FREE THEM

IF YOU CHOSE TO.

OF COURSE I COULD, FANNY,

NOTHING COULD BE EASIER.

IT'S QUITE LOVELY HERE;

IT REMINDS ME OF ENGLAND.

YOU SOUND HOMESICK.

HAS YOUR GUMPTION FAILED YOU

ALREADY?

WHAT DO YOU WANT, FANNY?

I MEAN TRULY.

I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING

THAT CAN BE DONE.

AND I HAVE PLENTY OF GUMPTION

TO DO IT.

UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS BORN A

WOMAN AND RAISED BY ACTORS.

THOSE ARE ADVANTAGES,

NOT IMPEDIMENTS.

OH, PIERCE, EVERYONE

HAS ALWAYS SAID NO TO ME.

I KNOW YOUR HEART, FANNY.

WHY AREN'T YOU MARRIED?

I KNOW YOU'VE HAD MANY SUITORS.

WHY HAVE YOU ALWAYS

REJECTED THEM?

WHY WOULD I SWEAR BEFORE GOD

TO BE ANY MAN'S DOCILE ORNAMENT?

I WOULD NEVER GIVE UP

MY FREEDOM.

MEN THINK THEY WANT TO MARRY ME,

BUT IT'S NOT THEIR BRAINS

DOING THE THINKING.

PERHAPS NO ONE HAS EVER

LOVED YOU AS I DO.

I WOULD NEVER ATTEMPT

TO RESTRICT YOU.EVER.

I'M NOT INTERESTING IN ORNAMENTS

OR BLIND OBEDIENCE.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU

THE LIFE YOU DESERVE.

IT WOULD ENRICH ME TO EVEN TRY.

I LOVE YOU, FANNY, I DO.

I WANT TO MARRY YOU...

RIGHT AWAY.

THE RAVEN HIMSELF IS HOARSE

THAT CROAKS THE FATAL ENTRANCE

OF DUNCAN UNDER MY BATTLEMENTS.

COME, YOU SPIRITS, THAT TEND ON

MORTAL THOUGHTS.

UNSEX ME NOW AND FILL ME FROM

THE CROWN TO THE TOE TOP

FULL OF DIRE CRUELTY.

MAKE THICK MY BLOOD--

ELIZABETH!

YOU ARE SO UTTERLY

CONVINCING.

DID YOU COME HERE TO

WATCH ME REHEARSE...

OR TO LECTURE ME ON

THE PERILS OR MARRIAGE?

WELL, SINCE YOU

BRING IT UP...

YOU HAVE LONG DECLARED YOUR

DISDAIN FOR MARRIAGE, FANNY.

YET YOU ARE ABOUT TO GIVE UP

BEING SINGLE AND INDEPENDENT

TO SHARE YOUR LIFE WITH A MAN.

THE QUESTION IS: WHY?

BECAUSETHISIS MY LIFE--

HOLED UP BACKSTAGE OR ACTING

THE FOOL ONSTAGE.

MY LIFE HAS BEEN PREDICTABLE.

BUT PIERCE ISN'T.

HE SURPRISES ME.

AND ALL OF THE EMOTIONS THAT

I'VE ACTED ON STAGE,

I NOWFEEL.

THEY'RE REAL.

YOU'RE HOPING TO LEAVE

THE FANNY KEMBLE YOU'RE

SO SICK OF BEHIND?

SHE MAY FOLLOW YOU, YOU KNOW.

WHEN I'M WITH PIERCE, I DON'T

HAVE TO BE FANNY KEMBLE.

I ADORE BEING WITH HIM.

I LOVE HIM.

DON'T RUIN IT, ELIZABETH.

I'M VERY PLEASED FOR YOU.

I JUST WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU.

YOU MUST KNOW THAT.

OH...

Fanny:WE WERE MARRIED, AS

PIERCE WISHED, RIGHT AWAY.

FATHER DID NOT APPROVE,

MOSTLY BECAUSE IT ENDED

OUR TOUR PREMATURELY.

BUT MY STAGE CAREER HAS ENDED

AT LONG LAST.

WE MOVED INTO BUTLER PLACE,

PIERCE'S CHILDHOOD HOME

OUTSIDE OF PHILADELPHIA.

I WOULD NEVER TELL HIM,

BUT IT'S LITTLE MORE THAN

A SECOND-RATE FARMHOUSE

BY ENGLISH STANDARDS.

BUT HE HAS ASSURED ME THAT WE

WILL BE TRAVELING EXTENSIVELY,

SO I DON'T MIND.

AND MARRIAGE DOES HAVE

ITS SINGULAR ADVANTAGES...

YOU ARESOBEAUTIFUL.

I CAN BEAR THE SUSPENSE

NO LONGER.

I MUST KNOW, DID YOU FINISH

READING MY JOURNAL?

YES, I HAVE.

YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT WRITER,

FANNY, VERY OBSERVANT

AND DETAILED.

I AM SO PLEASED.

I WANT TO PUBLISH IT AND USE

THE PROCEEDS TO HELP MY FATHER.

HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO

REGAIN CONTROL OF COVENT GARDEN

THEATER.

WE COULD ARRANGE A LOAN

AGAINST MY INHERITANCE

IF THAT WOULD HELP.

HE WOULD NEVER ACCEPT IT,

BUT THERE'S NO NEED TO.

I SENT MY JOURNAL TO

CAREY, LEA & BLANCHARD.

THEY PUBLISHED MY POEMS;

THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN

THE JOURNAL, AND THEY

WANT TO PROCEED.

I DON'T THINK IT'S WISE,

FANNY.

THEY ARE YOUR PRIVATE

REFLECTIONS, AND IN MY OPINION,

SHOULD REMAIN SO.

WELL, MANY WRITERS

PUBLISH THEIR JOURNALS.

ESPECIALLY THEIR THOUGHTS ON

COMING TO A NEW COUNTRY.

I TOLD YOU, FANNY,

I DON'T THINK IT'S WISE.

BUT IT'S MY JOURNAL,

AND I'LL PUBLISH IT IF I WISH!

I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN

TO SOUND SO ADAMANT.

I WILL LOOK AT IT AGAIN.

PERHAPS WITH PROPER EDITING

IT CAN BE MADE PRESENTABLE

TO THE PUBLIC.

EDITING?? NO!

IT MUST BE PUBLISHED INTACT.

I WOULDN'T EVEN ALLOW MR. CAREY

TO EDIT IT.

FANNY, PLEASE. IT IS

FILLED WITH CRITICISMS

AND EXAGGERATIONS.

IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE.

FOR WHOM?

YOU MADE ME BELIEVE THAT THE

WORLD WAS OPEN TO ME.

WHY ARE YOU RESTRICTING ME?

I'M NOT; I'M TRYING

TO PROTECT YOU.

IT IS MY DUTY AS YOUR HUSBAND.

THIS COULD HARM YOU GREATLY.

HARM ME? I'M HARDLY

AS DELICATE AS THAT, PIERCE.

I WAS WEANED ON CRITICS.

BUT I WILL NOT BE IDLE.

YOU'RE RARELY HOME, WE NEVER GO

TO THE THEATER OR A BALL,

THE ROAD IS IMPOSSIBLE

FOR FRIENDS TO VISIT,

AND FOR ALL THE ADVENTURES

THAT I HAD ANTICIPATED,

YOU JUST SAY, "IN TIME."

I EXIST IN AN INTELLECTUAL

DROUGHT HERE, AND I AMGOING

TO PUBLISH MY JOURNAL.

I HAVE ALREADY CALLED

MR. CAREY AND ASKED HIM

TO HALT PUBLICATION.

YOU READ MY MAIL.

HOW DARE YOU!

THIS IS MY BUSINESS, NOT YOURS!

YOU CANNOT BLITHELY DECIDE

WHETHER MY WORK IS TO BE

PUBLISHED OR NOT!

I WROTE THIS JOURNAL, AND WHAT

BECOMES OF IT ISMYDECISION!

NO, FANNY. YOU TOOK AN OATH

TO OBEY ME, AND YOU WILL

RESPECT MY WISHES.

I WILL GLADLY EDIT THE JOURNAL.

UNDER NO OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES

WILL I PERMIT IT BE PUBLISHED.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

NO. I UNDERSTOOD

THAT YOU LOVED ME.

I CAN SEE THAT I HAVE BEEN

GREATLY DECEIVED.

( door slams )

HOW DID THE NEWSPAPERS

GET AHOLD OFTHIS?

"THE SHEEP IS ON THE

OTHER FOOT. FANNY THIMBLE,

FIERCE CUTLER..."

WHY, I HAD NO IDEA.

I GAVE THE MANUSCRIPT TO

MR. CAREY IN STRICTEST

CONFIDENCE.

YOU SHOULD ASKHIM.

THE WHOLE CITY'S

IN AN UPROAR!

MAY I REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE

A GUEST IN AMERICA, AND YOU

SHOULD HONOR THE PRIVILEGE?

YES. AMERICA, BASTION

OF FREE SPEECH UNTIL SOMEONE

DARES EXPRESS AN UNFAVORABLE

OPINION.

WHY DIDN'T THEY REPORT THE MANY

FAVORABLE OBSERVATIONS I MADE,

THE THINGS ILIKEABOUT AMERICA?

YOU REFERRED TO NEWSPAPER

WRITERS AS "IRRITATING BUGS"!

WHAT IN GOD'S NAME DID YOU

EXPECT?!

WELL, THEYAREBUGS,

AND THIS PROVES IT.

HOW CAN YOU TAKE

THEIR SIDE AGAINST ME?

I WILL NOT HAVE YOU BEHAVE

THIS WAY TOWARD ME, FANNY.

I'M WARNING YOU.

I SUPPOSE YOU HEARD THAT

MR. CAREY WOULD NOT STOP

PUBLICATION OF MY JOURNAL.

EIGHT HUNDRED COPIES

SOLD IN THE FIRST DAY.

SO MUCH FOR ADVERSE PUBLICITY.

I LIKE THE PART ABOUT THE

PHILADELPHIA WOMEN HAVING

"ABOMINABLY LARGE FEET

AND HORRID DARK COMPLEXIONS."

THAT WENT OVERVERYWELL.

I'M CONSIDERING A DIVORCE.

WELL, DO YOU KNOW

THAT WOULD RUIN HIM?

HIS COLLEAGUES WOULD OSTRACIZE

HIM. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?

HAVE CHILDREN, FANNY.

FEW THINGS BRING PEOPLE CLOSER

TOGETHER THAN HAVING CHILDREN.

I HAD THOUGHT THAT MARRIAGE

WOULD BE A COMPANIONSHIP

ON EQUAL TERMS...

THAT IF THERE WERE

DISAGREEMENTS, NEITHER ONE

WOULD BE FORCED TO YIELD OR

BE DICTATED TO BY THE OTHER.

I LOVE PIERCE, BUT IT'S NOT

IN ME TO PROMISE OBEDIENCE TO

ANY HUMAN BEING WHO'S AS

FALLIBLE AS I AM.

I OWE OBEDIENCE TO GOD,

AND ONLY TO GOD, AND I CANNOT

SEE HOW HAVING CHILDREN WILL

CHANGE THAT, ELIZABETH.

HE KNOWS HOW PRECIOUS FREEDOM

IS TO ME.

YET HE'S ONLY DENIED IT.

WHY HAS HE DONE THIS?

WELL, WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

HE'S A MAN OF HIS ERA WHO

MARRIED A WOMAN COMPLETELY

OUT OF HERS.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT CHILDREN

DO BEST?

THEY TAKE OUR RIGID PHILOSOPHIES

AND THEY TURN THEM UPSIDE-DOWN.

AND IF YOU THINK PIERCE IS

THE ONLY ONE WHO'S INTRACTABLE,

LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

Fanny:SADLY,

ELIZABETH WAS WRONG.

AS MUCH AS WE LOVE OUR PRECIOUS

GIRLS, IT HAS NOT RESOLVED

OUR DIFFICULTIES.

PAPA!

HELLO, SUGAR.

( baby crying )

WELCOME HOME, PIERCE.

WE'VE MISSED YOU VERY MUCH.

FANNY.

THE OVERSEER'S EXCELLENT.

HIS GRANDFATHER WAS THE OVERSEER

FORMYGRANDFATHER.

COTTON PRODUCTION ON ALL THE

PLANTATIONS WAS IN EXCESS

OF 2600 BALES; THAT'S A VERY

SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE

FROM LAST YEAR.

AND WE NOW HAVE OUR OWN

STEAM MILL...

( sighs )

I CAN SEE THAT I'M BORING YOU.

ACTUALLY, PIERCE,

YOU'RE NOT.

WHAT WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT

TAKING ME AND THE CHILDREN

WITH YOU FOR THE WINTER?

TO GEORGIA?

YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.

YES, I AM.

PERHAPS A NEW PLACE AWAY FROM

THE MEAN-SPIRITED GOSSIPS OF

PHILADELPHIA WOULD GIVE US

A CHANCE TO REDISCOVER WHAT

ONCE DREW US TOGETHER.

FOR ALL OUR DIFFICULTIES,

PIERCE, I DO LOVE YOU.

AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU LOVE

AND SEE WHAT YOU'VE

ACCOMPLISHED.

I'M VERY TOUCHED, FANNY.

BUT YOU MUST KNOW IT'S AN

EXTREMELY HARSH LIFE DOWN THERE.

I'VE HAD A VERY SOFT LIFE,

PIERCE, TO MY DETRIMENT

AND TO THOSE I LOVE.

LET ME TRY ANOTHER WAY.

( indistinct chatter )

( all shout greetings )

WELL...

THIS IS BUTLER'S ISLAND.

IT'S QUITE BEAUTIFUL.

FANNY, THIS IS OWEN PARKER.

NICE TO MEET YOU, MR. PARKER.

MR. BUTLER.

HELLO, OWEN.

COME ALONG, SUGAR.

I'M GOING TO LIKE IT HERE.

MM-HMM.

I'M GOING TO LIKE IT, TOO.

SHAD HALL DROWNED

LAST FRIDAY.

I'LL TAKE IT.

SO I GOT HABERSHAM MUNGIN

TO TAKE HIS PLACE AT

THE STEAM MILL.

GOT THREE NEW BABIES,

AND EIGHT WOMEN ARE PREGNANT.

I SWEAR, THEY GET PREGNANT

DURING PLANTING SEASON JUST SO

THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK.

NOW, YOU TAKE A HORSE,

IT'LL WORK PREGNANT UP TO

THE DAY IT GIVES BIRTH, AND IT'S

BACK TO WORK THE NEXT DAY.

SURELY THERE IS A DIFFERENCE,

MR. PARKER.

Fanny:"DEAR ELIZABETH,

I'VE DECIDED TO KEEP A JOURNAL

OF MY SOUTHERN SOJOURN IN THE

FORM OF LETTERS TO YOU.

THAT WAY I CAN TRUTHFULLY TELL

PIERCE THAT I'M NOT KEEPING

A JOURNAL.

THE SEA ISLANDS HAVE A KIND

OF BARREN, WILD BEAUTY, AND

FROM WHAT LITTLE I'VE SEEN,

CIVILIZATION DOES NOT EXIST.

WHAT EXISTS IS SLAVERY,

AND SLAVES.

IN MY NAIVETE, I HAVE NEVER

FULLY CONSIDERED THE HARSH

REALITY OF IT."

MORNIN', MISSUS.

MY NAME'S JACK, I'S SUPPOSED

TO BE YOUR PERSONAL DOMESTIC

WHILE YOU'RE HERE.

I KNOW LOTS OF WORDS,

LIKE "DOMESTIC," WHICH MOST

NIGGERS DON'T KNOW,

'CAUSE I'M VERY SMART.

I CAN TELL YOU EVERYTHING ABOUT

THIS PLACE, I CAN TELL YOU

WHERE THE QUICKSAND IS OR HOW

NOT TO RILE UP THE SNAKES,

JUST TO START WITH.

MY MAMA SAYS THAT I MAKE UP IN

TALKING WHAT I DON'T DO IN

WORKING, AND SHE'S RIGHT,

'CAUSE I'M A REAL TALKER.

WELL, I HAPPEN TO ENJOY

TALKING, JACK, SO WE SHOULD

GET ALONG JUST FINE.

YES'M. WELL, I'M REAL GLAD

ABOUT THAT, MISSUS, REAL GLAD.

NOW, YOU KNOW WHERE

THE PLANTATION IS?

WELL, I'LL SHOW YOU EVERYTHING,

JUST FOLLOW ME, MISSUS.

COME ON.

Man (singing) ♪ WORK, WORK

♪ BIG PILES OF COTTON, WORK

♪ WORK BIG MOUNDS OF DIRT, WORK

♪ WORK, BIG PILES OF COTTON

♪ TILL THE EVENING COME DOWN

♪ YEAH, YEAH, O MY LORD,

♪ YEAH, YEAH, O MY LORD,

♪ YEAH, YEAH, O MY LOOOOORD

♪ TILL THE EVENING COME DOWN

♪ YEAH, YEAH, O MY LORD,

♪ YEAH, YEAH, O MY LORD...

DO THEY ALWAYS SING?

MOST ALWAYS.

I DON'T MIND IT EXCEPT WHEN THEY

START SINGIN' ABOUT DYIN', AND

THEN IT SCARES ME AWFUL BAD.

( bells ringing )

♪ WORK, WORK

♪ BIG PILES OF COTTON...

WHAT'S THAT ON HIS HEAD?

OH. THAT'S JOSIAH.

HE RUNS OFF A LOT.

BUT NOW MASSA PARKERCAN

HEAR THOSE BELLS, SO HE

DON'T GET TOO FAR.

HEY, JOSIAH!

RING YOUR BELLS FOR

YOUR NEW MISTRESS!

( ringing )

NO.

( slaves continue singing )

Woman: DON'T WORRY, NOW.

PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER.

COME ON, NOW, IT'S GONNA

BE ALL RIGHT.

( crying )

SHE'LL BE ALL RIGHT, MINDAH.

LET'S GO SEE.

WHAT IS IT, PSYCHE?

THIS CHILD'S MAMA'S GOT

A PROBLEM HAVING A BABY.

I BETTER GO HELP OUT.

I WON'T BE LONG.

I'LL GO WITH YOU.

YES'M.

COME ON.

IT'S RIGHT UP HERE.

Child: HELLO, MISSUS.

NO, WAIT, Y'ALL MIND NOW.

THIS IS YOUR NEW MISTRESS.

COME ON.

( chatter, baby crying )

( crying )

WHERE ARE YOU TAKING HER?

TO THE INFIRMARY.

( groaning, crying )

( agonized groaning )

( crying, groaning )

SHE THINK HER BABY DEAD,

AUNT JERUSALEM. MINDAH SAY

IT AIN'T MOVED ALL DAY.

SET HER DOWN RIGHT HERE.

( crying, groaning )

Aunt Jerusalem: OKAY, OKAY.

OKAY. OKAY.

OKAY.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

IT'S PROBABLY JUST SLEEPIN',

SAVIN' UP TO GET BORN.

CAN'T YOU CALL HER A DOCTOR?

AIN'T NO DOCTORS FOR NIGGERS,

MISSUS.

WELL, I'LL SPEAK WITH

MY HUSBAND.

MISSUS, CAN YOU ASK HIM

FOR ME, TOO?

WELL, YES. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

HARRIET.

I HAVE THREE BABIES DIE ALREADY,

MISSUS, AND I THINK THIS ONE

GONNA DIE TOO!

AND I CAN'T HAVE NO MORE BABIES,

MISSUS, THAT'S IT.

I'LL SHOW YOU.

OH, MY GOD.

YES, HARRIET.

I-I'LL SPEAK WITH HIM.

( baby crying )

I KNOW THEY'RE ALL AT

THE INFIRMARY, MRS. BUTLER.

BEEN THAT WAY FOR 17 YEARS.

AIN'T NO REASON TO CHANGE IT

NOW. NIGGERS IS FILTHY

CREATURES BY NATURE.

BESIDES, THEY'RE STRONGER

THAN WHITES.

MOST OF 'EM GET WELL

SOON ENOUGH.

I'M NOT BLIND, SIR.

HARRIET IS NOT WELL, AND SHE'S

STILL BEING FORCED TO WORK

IN THE FIELDS.

FANNY...

THIS DOES NOT CONCERN YOU.

YOU GOTTA THINK OF NIGGERS

DIFFERENTLY, MRS. BUTLER.

THEIR SUBSERVIENT ATTITUDE,

THE WAY THEY FLATTER, ALL THEIR

LYING AND STEALING, THE WAY

THEY SMELL-- IT'S WHO THEY ARE.

CODDLIN' WILL RUIN 'EM.

BESIDES, IF SLAVES WERE DYING

IN THE INFIRMARY, MAYBE

I'D CHANGE THINGS.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY

DANGER OF YOU CODDLING SLAVES,

MR. PARKER.

NOW, IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME,

I SEEM TO HAVE LOST

MY APPETITE.

SHE WAS AN ACTRESS.

YOU KNOW HOW THEY ARE.

MAYBE YOU COULD PUT A FEW NEW

BLANKETS DOWN THERE, CLEAN IT UP

SOME, BUT YOU SHOULD RUN THINGS

AS YOU SEE FIT, OWEN.

I'LL KEEP MRS. BUTLER IN LINE.

IF YOU DON'T, WE'LL HAVE

600 SLAVES AT OUR THROATS.

AAAAH!

( whipping, screaming )

STOP!

AAAAH!

STOP THIS!

THIS AIN'T NONE OF

YOUR BUSINESS, MRS. BUTLER.

WHY ARE YOU PUNISHING HER?

NONE OF THIS AIN'T

YOUR FAULT!

IS IT BECAUSE SHE

COMPLAINED TO ME?

IS IT NOT SO?!

AAAAH!

( whipping continues )

MAY I SPEAK WITH YOU?

MR. PARKER IS HAVING HARRIET

FLOGGED FOR COMING TO SEE ME.

DO YOU KNOW THIS?

I ORDERED IT.

HOW COULD YOU?

HAVE YOU NO COMPASSION?

YOU CAUSED IT, FANNY, NOT I.

WE HAVE RULES HERE, AND

YOU ENCOURAGED HARRIET

TO BREAK THEM.

SLAVES ARE TO BE WHIPPED

FOR EXPRESSING LEGITIMATE

GRIEVANCES, IS THAT A RULE?

THEIR GRIEVANCES ARE

RARELY LEGITIMATE.

AND THEIR PHYSICAL COMPLAINTS

ARE ALWAYS EXAGGERATED.

YOU DON'T KNOW THEM.

TO RILE THEM UP AS YOU DID IS

DANGEROUS AND DISRUPTIVE.

I WILL NOT HAVE YOU INTERFERING

IN A SYSTEM WHICH YOU CLEARLY

DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WHAT I UNDERSTOOD WAS YOUR

ASSURANCE THAT THEY WERE HAPPY

AND WELL CARED FOR.

I SUPPOSE YOUR PROMISE TO FREE

THEM WAS EQUALLY HYPOCRITICAL.

IF I FREED THEM,

WHERE WOULD THEY GO?

WHAT WOULD THEY DO?

THEY WOULD BE CAPTURED AND SENT

TO PLANTATIONS WHERE THEY WOULD

BE TREATED FAR WORSE!

THEIR FAMILIES WOULD BE

BROKEN UP; DID YOU KNOW THAT?

IS THAT YOUR IDEA OF COMPASSION?

I DIDN'T INVENT SLAVERY, FANNY,

BUT IT IS OUR WAY OF LIFE

DOWN HERE, AND AS SUCH,

I MANAGE IT AS HONORABLY

AS I CAN; YOU WILL JUST

HAVE TO ACCEPT IT.

HOW CAN YOU ACCEPT A MOTHER

OF TEN WHIPPED FOR NOT WORKING

HARD ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN YOU

IN YOUR LUXURY? TELL ME THAT!

IT ISYOURLUXURY TOO,

SPEAKING OF HYPOCRISY.

OUR SLAVES HAVE A HOME, FOOD,

SAFETY, AND HONEST WORK.

LEAVE THEM BE--

FOR THEIR SAKE.

I HAVE TO INSPECT OUR

PLANTATIONS UP RIVER.

I'LL BE AWAY FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

YOU ALWAYS FIND A REASON

TO BE AWAY, PIERCE.

SOMETIMES I WATCH YOU SLEEP

AT NIGHT, FANNY.

IT IS THE ONLY TIME I CAN

ADORE YOU WITHOUT HAVING

MY SENTIMENTS HURLED BACK

IN MY FACE.

THAT IS WHY I FIND REASONS

TO BE AWAY.

( chickens clucking )

( people coughing )

( baby crying )

OPEN UP THE WINDOWS.

OPEN UP THE WINDOWS

AND LET IN THE LIGHT.

YES'M.

OH.

LET THAT ALONE, MISS.

WHAT FOR YOU LIFT WOOD?

YOU GOT NIGGERS ENOUGH

TO DO THAT FOR YA.

I'VE GOT ARMS AND I'VE GOT

HANDS AND I CAN USE THEM.

NOW, YOU OPEN UP SOME

OF THE WINDOWS.

DO AS I SAY.

YES, MA'AM.

THIS FLOOR NEEDS SWEEPING.

ALL THIS RUBBISH AND FILTH

MUST BE REMOVED.

YES'M.

AND THE CHICKENS; WE MUST

TRY AND KEEP THIS CLEAN.

PSYCHE, JACK. SEE IF YOU CAN

FIND ANY BLANKETS THAT AREN'T

BEING USED AND PUT THEM UNDER

THE PATIENTS THAT HAVE NONE.

AND BE CAREFUL WITH THEM.

YES'M.

ARE YOU STRONG ENOUGH

TO SWEEP?

YES'M.

BECAUSE IF YOU ARE, YOU CAN

HELP US TO CLEAN THE FLOOR.

AND SOMEONE GET SOME

FRESH WATER.

Woman: YES, MISS.

Jack: PUT IT OVER THERE.

JACK, BRING ME THE POULTICE.

THANK YOU.

THIS MIGHT FEEL COLD.

( inhales sharply; sighs )

THAT FEEL ANY BETTER?

YES'M...IT SURE DO.

I'M GOING INTO TOWN TOMORROW.

I'M GOING TO ASK THE DOCTOR

TO COME SEE YOU ABOUT...

YOUR OTHER PROBLEMS.

OH, NO, DON'T DO THAT.

AUNT JERUSALEM CLEANED ME UP

REAL GOOD.

I'M MUCH BETTER NOW,

TRULY I AM.

WHY...

WHY DO YOU HAVE SO MANY

CHILDREN, HARRIET?

MASSA BE REAL PLEASED YOU

GIVE HIM MORE LITTLE NIGGERS,

MISSUS.

MY BABY MAYBE GROW UP TO BE

A CARPENTER, WORTH MAYBE

TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

MR. PARKER GIVE US TIME OFF

FROM WORKING IN THE FIELDS.

MORE CLOTHING, MORE FOOD IN THE

HOUSE, TREAT US MUCH BETTER.

AIN'T NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

THE FACT, HARRIET, IS THAT IF

YOU HAVE ANY MORE CHILDREN,

IT'LL KILL YOU.

YOU MUST TELL MR. PARKER

THAT YOU WON'T.

I'LL DO THAT.

I POSITIVELY WILL.

AND THERE'LL BE NO MORE

FLOGGINGS IF ANYONE COMES TO ME

WITH THEIR PROBLEMS.

YOU'D DON'T NEED TO BE AFRAID

OF BEING WHIPPED ANYMORE.

ANDNO ONEIS TO BE FORCED INTO

HAVING ANY MORE BABIES,

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

YES'M.

Fanny: DO YOU HAVE

A LARGE TUB?

NOW, YOU RUB THIS SOAPY CLOTH

ALL OVER YOU, EVERYWHERE,

JUST LIKE THIS.

IT DOESN'T HURT. HMM?

NOW YOU TRY IT.

HMM?

OH!

DOESN'T THAT FEEL GOOD?

AND WHEN YOU'RE ALL NICE AND

CLEAN ALL OVER, THEN YOU POUR

NICE, CLEAN WATER, WASH OFF

ALL THE SOAP.

( squealing, laughing )

DO YOU THINK YOU CAN

DO THAT BY YOURSELF?

YEAH.

DO YOU ALL THINK SO?

I'LL TELL YOU, ANY CHILD THAT

COMES TO ME WITH A CLEAN FACE

AND CLEAN HANDS WILL RECEIVE

A PENNY, ALL RIGHT?

YOU SPREAD THE WORD.

A PENNY.

A PENNY, YES.

( laughs )

I WANT TO HAVE A WOOD FLOOR PUT

IN, AND WINDOWS EVERYWHERE WITH

GLASS IN THEM, MR. PARKER,

WINDOWS THAT OPEN AND SHUT.

AND NO ONE IS TO LIE ON

THE FLOOR; SIMPLE BED FRAMES

WILL DO.

I DON'T DO NOTHIN'

WITHOUT MR. BUTLER'S SAY-SO.

DO I HAVE TO TELL MY HUSBAND

THAT YOU STAND OUTSIDE MY WINDOW

AT NIGHT TRYING TO CATCH

A GLIMPSE OF ME, OR WILL

MY SAY-SO DO?

GOOD. I SHALL BE GOING INTO

DARIEN THIS AFTERNOON FOR

SUPPLIES.

AND ONE MORE THING.

I WANT YOU TO FREE JOSIAH

FROM THAT HIDEOUS CONTRAPTION.

TOO LATE.

HE ALREADY RUN OFF AGAIN.

THEN HE MUST BE SMARTER

THAN YOUR CRUEL DEVICE.

JACK.

I AIN'TNEVERSEEN

NOTHIN' LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, YOU JUST TOLD HIM WHAT

YOU GONNA DO RIGHT STRAIGHT OUT

AND HE DIDN'T SAY NO!

I MEAN, AIN'TNOBODYEVER TALKED

TO MR. PARKER LIKE THAT.

WE JUST LUCKY WE AIN'T DEAD,

MISSUS, WE'RE JUST PLAIN LUCKY!

AIN'T NO PLANTER'S WIFE IN ALL

OF GEORGIA GONNA RIDE WITH

A PASSEL OF NIGGERS

WITHOUT A WHITE MAN ALONG!

HA HA HA HA HA!

( knocking on door )

DR. HUSTON?

I'M MRS. BUTLER.

MISSUS GONNA BUILD UP THE

INFIRMARY. SHE NEEDS BLANKETS,

BANDAGES, AND MEDICINE AND ALL.

AND I TOLD HER SHEGOTTO SEE

DR. HUSTON, BECAUSE YOU FIXED UP

A BONE FOR ME AT ST. SIMON'S.

I REMEMBER IT WELL, JACK.

IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU,

MRS. BUTLER, I'VE HEARD A LOT

ABOUT YOU ALREADY.

SLAVE NETWORK.

IT'S MUCH FASTER THAN

THE NEW TELEGRAPH.

MORE COLORFUL, TOO.

I WON'T ASK WHAT YOU HEARD.

WELL, IT WASN'T ALL BAD,

MRS. BUTLER.

I HAVE MOST OF THESE

MEDICAL ITEMS RIGHT HERE.

AND IF YOU LIKE, I CAN HELP YOU

GATHER THE LUMBER AND OTHER

ITEMS ON THE LIST.

THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU,

DR. HUSTON.

WELL, I'M GLAD I COULD AT

LEAST HELP YOU WITH THE

BUILDING MATERIALS.

YOU CAN'T COME SEE HARRIET?

NOT UNLESS YOUR HUSBAND

OR MR. PARKER ASK ME TO.

BUT SHE NEEDS A DOCTOR.

MRS. BUTLER, WHY ARE YOU

TAKING UP THEIR CAUSE?

BECAUSE THEY'RE SUFFERING

HORRIBLY.

ONE GIRL'S HANDS AND FEET ARE

LITERALLY ROTTING AWAY, SEVERAL

OF THE CHILDREN HAVE SOME KIND

OF LOCKJAW, THEY'RE UNABLE

EVEN TO SUCKLE.

AND THERE'S PLEURISY EVERYWHERE.

THE GIRL HAS A FORM OF

LEPROSY TO WHICH NEGROES

ARE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE,

AND THERE'S NO KNOWN CURE.

CHILDREN CONTRACT TETANUS

BY PLAYING WITH INFECTED DOGS.

AND PLEURISY? PARKER'S

PROBABLY WORKING 'EM TOO HARD.

HE'S FAMOUS FOR IT.

NO, WHAT I MEANT, MRS. BUTLER,

IS WHY ARE YOU, A WHITE WOMAN,

A PLANTER'S WIFE AND AN ENGLISH

ACTRESS, TAKING UP THE SLAVES'

CAUSE IN GEORGIA?

BECAUSE THEY'RE HUMAN BEINGS.

YOU MIGHT BE CAREFUL

WHO YOU SAY THAT TO, MADAM.

INCLUDING YOU?

WELL, I HAVEN'T LYNCHED YOU.

YET.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP,

DR. HUSTON.

I HOPE MY OPINIONS HAVEN'T

OFFENDED YOU.

I AM NEVER OFFENDED

BY HONESTY....OR BY BEAUTY.

PLEASE COME AGAIN.

SOONER IS BETTER.

YES, I WILL.

Fanny:"HOW I WISH THAT

INSTEAD OF MUSIC AND THEATER

I HAD LEARNT SOMETHING

OF MEDICINE.

I OFTEN THINK IF THEY DIDN'T

HAVE THEIR SONGS, THEY WOULD

MURDER US ALL.

BUT IT ISN'T ALL DREARY HERE.

THE SUNSETS ARE GLORIOUS,

THE DAYTIME SKY IS BRILLIANT,

AND THE LOCAL FISH EXCELLENT.

AND I MET A KIND MAN IN DARIEN,

A DOCTOR, WHO AT LEAST

LISTENED TO ME.

HE MADE ME REALIZE HOW ALONE

I AM HERE.

AS FOR THE SLAVES, SOMETIMES

I SENSE A PROFOUND SWEETNESS

IN THEM.

PIERCE IS RIGHT AGAIN--

I DON'T KNOW THEM AT ALL.

I CANNOT FATHOM THEIR HEARTS."

NO, SHE DOESN'T HELP US.

ALREADY SHE HAS HAD HARRIET

BEATEN. SOON ONE OF US

WILL BE KILLED, YOU WILL SEE.

SHE SURE ENOUGH HELPED ME,

JOE, SHE GIVE ME MEDICINE.

AND SHE CLEANED THE INFIRMARY

ALMOST ON HER OWN.

NO, SHE LIES. SHE SAY BLACK

IS EQUAL LIKE WHITE.

ALREADY WE ARE FIGHTING

AMONG OURSELVES.

SHE IS LIKE A PRETTY

BUTTERFLY-- FIRST RAINY DAY

SHE GONNA FLOAT AWAY, GONE,

WE'LL STILL BE HERE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I AIN'T GIVIN' HER

ALL MY HOPES.

YOU AIN'T SPENT TIME WITH

HER, AUNT JERUSALEM.

SHE AIN'T LIKE THE OTHERS.

SHE MAKE YOU HER FRIEND.

THEN MASSA BUTLER GET ANGRY,

SELL YOU AWAY. I LOSE YOU,

CHILDREN LOSE YOU.

DON'T BE HER FRIEND, PSYCHE.

DON'T.

( hammer pounding nails)

NO, MR. PARKER,

I SAIDTWOMORE WINDOWS.

LIGHT IS GOOD FOR HEALING,

AND IT WON'T WEAKEN THE

STRUCTURE, RIGHT, SAM?

UH, YES'M. I CAN FRAME UP THE

SIDES OF EACH WINDOW REAL GOOD.

BE STRONGER THAN BEFORE.

TELL ME HONESTLY.

ISN'T THERE SOME PART OF YOU

THAT KNOWS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING

IS A GOOD THING?

WHY DON'T YOU ASK

YOUR HUSBAND?

IS THIS YOUR DOING?

IS IT?!

MUST I CONFINE YOU TO

THE HOUSE?

I FORBID YOU TO GO TO THE SLAVE

CAMP ANYMORE, AND THIS

RENOVATION OF THE INFIRMARY

WILL STOP.

BUT WHY? A HEALTHY SLAVE

IS A WORKING SLAVE.

GET MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY

FROM YOUR PROPERTY.

DON'T MOCK ME, FANNY.

THREE SLAVES HAVE DIED

IN THAT HELLISH PIT

SINCE WE ARRIVED.

TO GIVE THE SICK MINIMUM CARE

DOESN'T SEEM TOO MUCH TO ASK.

WHY DIDN'T YOU CONSULT ME

FIRST? YOU ARE MYWIFE.

BEHAVE LIKE ONE, OR I'LL

PACK YOU OFF ON THE NEXT

STEAMER HOME.ALONE.

MAYBE SEPARATION FROM YOUR

CHILDREN WILL RESTORE YOUR

SENSE OF MARITAL OBLIGATION.

MY GOD, YOU WOULDN'T DARE.

IF YOU FORCE ME, I WILL,

I ASSURE YOU.

I WILL NO LONGER VISIT THE

SLAVE CAMP IF YOU WISH...

BUT PLEASE LET ME RESTORE

THE INFIRMARY.

IT'LL ONLY HELP YOU.

PLEASE, PIERCE.

( angry shouting )

Parker: WHAT ARE YOU

DOING HERE?!

GET BACK TO THE CAMP,NOW!

NOW.

JOE.

JOE...

GO HOME.

JOE,PLEASE...GO HOME.

PLEASE.

WHAT'S HAPPENED?

PATROLLERS CAUGHT JOSIAH

DOWN BY THE LANDING.

GUESS HE WASN'T AS SMART

AS YOU THOUGHT HE WAS.

NO!

( gunshot ) AAAH!

GO BACK! GET OUT OF HERE!

OH, MY GOD!

THERE WAS NOTHING

YOU COULD DO.

NO LAWS WERE BROKEN,

HE WAS A RUNAWAY AND FAIR GAME.

HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT

FAIR GAME FOR MURDER.

THEY ARE IN GEORGIA,

MRS. BUTLER.

AND UNLESS YOU LEARN TO BE

A LITTLE BIT MORE DISPASSIONATE,

YOU MAY END UP IN THE FLAMES

YOURSELF.

( exhales )

YOU'RE RIGHT, OF COURSE.

I SOMETIMES DOUBT THAT ANYONE

WHO FEELS THINGS AS INTENSELY

AS I DO COULD BE SAID TO FEEL

ANYTHING AT ALL.

WHY'D YOU COME TO SEE ME?

I DON'T KNOW.

LAST TIME YOU LISTENED TO ME,

EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T AGREE

WITH ME.

HMM. WELL, I'M GLAD YOU

DIDN'T HOLD THAT AGAINST ME.

THERE'S A LOVELY POND NEARBY.

I'D LOVE TO SHOW IT TO YOU.

STILL WATERS...IT'S GOOD

FOR RESTORING THE SOUL.

WHEN I WAS SIXTEEN,

I STARTED READING BYRON.

IT HAD SUCH AN EFFECT ON ME

I HAD TO LIMIT MY READING

TO EVERY OTHER DAY, UNTIL

FINALLY I HAD TO STOP ALTOGTHER.

IN RETURN, I HAD HOPED THAT GOD

WOULD MAKE ME COMPLETELY

AND PERMANENTLY GOOD.

I'M STILL AWAITING

THE CONVERSION.

( chuckles )

IT'S QUITE BEAUTIFUL HERE.

YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON

I'VE EVER BROUGHT HERE.

DO YOU KNOW MY HUSBAND,

DR. HUSTON?

I MET HIM A NUMBER OF TIMES.

I LIKED HIM.

DOES HE KNOW YOU'RE HERE--

WITH ME?

HE LEFT FOR SAVANNAH

THIS MORNING.

IT'S A GREAT MYSTERY TO ME

WHY HE EVER MARRIED ME.

HE KNEW WHO I WAS;

I'M NOT AT ALL SUBTLE.

AND IF HE EXPECTED OBEDIENCE,

WHY WOULD HE CHOOSE ME?

WELL, IF YOU EXPECTED

FREEDOM, WHY WOULD YOU

CHOOSE HIM?

BUT THEN IF YOU HADN'T,

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE,

AND MY LIFE WOULD NOT BE

NEARLY SO BRIGHT.

AND THE BUTLER ISLAND SLAVES,

THEY'D STILL BE PLUNGED

IN DARKNESS.

TEACH THEM TO READ, MRS. BUTLER.

WHAT?

I THOUGHT YOU SUPPORTED SLAVERY.

NO.

WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?

BECAUSE I HAD TO BE SUREYOU

WOULDN'T TELL ANYBODY ELSE.

( knock on door )

MAY I COME IN?

YOU AIN'T SUPPOSED

TO BE HERE, MISSUS.

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT JOSIAH?

HIM AND JOE WORKED AT

THE WOOD SHOP TOGETHER.

THEY WAS LIKE BROTHERS--

MORE THAN THAT.

I'M VERY SORRY.

THERE'S SOMETHING I WANT TO DO

FOR YOU, FOR ALL OF YOU.

I WANT TO TEACH YOU

READING AND WRITING.

I KNOW IT'S ILLEGAL, BUT

I'M CALLING IT A BIBLE CLASS.

MR. PARKER HAS RELUCTANTLY

AGREED TO THE IDEA.

IT'LL BE AT SIX O'CLOCK ON

SUNDAY EVENINGS AT THE OLD BARN.

JOE, I COULD TEACH YOU NUMBERS,

IT WOULD HELP YOU WITH

YOUR CARPENTRY.

IS SOMETHING WRONG?

WHAT USE SLAVES GOT

KNOWING HOW TO READ AND WRITE?

WE AIN'T GOT NO PLACE

IN THIS WORLD.

SLAVERY WON'T LAST FOREVER,

PSYCHE. IF YOU CAN READ AND

WRITE, YOU CAN HELP FREEDOM

COME ALONG EVEN FASTER AND NOT

BE HELPLESS WHEN IT DOES COME.

YOU GOT ALL THE SLAVE

CHILDREN WASHED; WILL THAT KEEP

THE BELLS OFF THEIR HEAD?

WELL, NO, OF COURSE NOT.

JOSIAH...

HE WANT FREEDOM.

AND NOW HE FREE, IN ONE WAY.

YOU WANT TO MAKE ME BETTER

CARPENTER, BUT I STILL BE SLAVE.

YOU SAY KEEP BABIES CLEAN,

KEEP HOUSE CLEAN, BUT WE

STILL SLAVES.

YOU KEEP YOUR BABIES CLEAN.

THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

THEY GOT PATH TO HEAVEN,

WE'S IN HELL. WE STAYPUT.

GO BACK TO YOUR BIG HOUSE.

IT'S BETTER FOR YOU.

DON'T HELP US NO MORE.

SHE TREAT US...

SHE TREAT US LIKE...

WE IN A PIT, SHE DANGLE THE ROPE

THAT WE CANNOT REACH,

TEMPTING US LIKE THE DEVIL.

WE CANNOT HAVE FREEDOM.

SHE MAKE ME FEEL LESS

THAN A MAN.

SHE CANNEVERKNOW WHAT IT'S

LIKE TO BE A SLAVE.

NO, SHE CAN'T...

BUT I THINK MISSUS IS DIFFERENT.

I THINK SHE MEAN TO HELP.

I THINK...MAYBE SHE BE

GOD'S ANGEL SENT TO HELP US.

MAYBE IT'S TIME...TO REACH, JOE.

MY SWEET JOE.

ONE FOR YOU, ONE FOR YOU,

AND ONE FOR YOU.

YOU ALL DID A WONDERFUL JOB.

YOU LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL.

♪♪ ( flute )

THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

I MISS YOU, FANNY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO

TO FIND YOU.

COMING HERE DIDN'T HELP.

WHEN WE GET BACK TO

PHILADELPHIA, I WANNA BUY

A FINE HOUSE FOR US--

CLOSE TO THE THEATERS,

CLOSE TO YOUR FRIENDS.

WOULD YOU LIKE THAT?

THAT'S VERY THOUGHTFUL,

PIERCE.

WHEN WOULD WE LEAVE?

RIGHT AWAY.

MALARIA IS A SERIOUS DANGER

HERE IN THE SUMMER.

IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO STAY,

IN ANY CASE.

PIERCE, I CAN'T GO NOW.

OWEN WILL FINISH THE

INFIRMARY, I PROMISE YOU.

IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

I CAN'T LEAVE THE SLAVES.

THEY DON'T NEED YOU.

DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW ABOUT

YOUR LITTLE BIBLE CLASSES?

EDUCATION DESTROYS THEIR

HAPPINESS, FANNY.

YOU MUST SEE THAT.

WHAT I SEE IS THEIR

HAPPINESS IS BASED ON IGNORANCE.

NO! YOU STILL DON'T

UNDERSTAND WHO THEY ARE!

THEY ARE A SIMPLE,

CONTENTED PEOPLE!

THEY WILL NEVER BE OUR EQUAL!

YET YOU EXTEND YOURSELF TO THEM

MORE THAN TO ME! WHY?!

I NEED YOU, FANNY!

THEY DON'T!

WHAT YOU NEED, PIERCE,

IS TO RULE ME.

I'VE NEVER UNDERSTOOD THAT.

DO YOU PERCEIVE THAT YOU ARE

BETTER THAN I, MORE ENLIGHTENED,

MORE INTELLECTUAL?

YOU ARE MY WIFE.

THE BIBLE CALLS UPON WIVES

TO SUBMIT TO THEIR HUSBANDS,

JUST AS IT CONDEMNS THE SONS

OF HAM TO SLAVERY.

OR DO YOUR SACRED OPINIONS

NOW SUPERSEDE THE WORD OF GOD?!

OH, WHEN DID YOU LAST

READ THE BIBLE?

I MISS YOU, TOO, PIERCE...

BUT THE MAN I FELL IN LOVE WITH

IS NOT THE MAN I MARRIED.

YOU SET THE RULES

OF COURTSHIP, FANNY.

YOU HELP UP A RED CAPE TO MEN,

DARING THEM TO CHARGE.

IF I WAS THE BULL YOU COULDN'T

IMPALE, I CAN'T BE BLAMED.

BUT I HAVE CHANGED SINCE THEN.

IF YOU WOULD ONLY SEE IT.

I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU...

NOT THAT IT MATTERS A GOD DAMN.

LOVE DOESN'T DEMAND

OBEDIENCE, PIERCE.

YOU'RE NOT MY MASTER.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU

RESTRICT ME, THAT TRUTH

WILL ALWAYS REMAIN.

YOU'VE CAST ME AS

THE VILLAIN, FANNY.

SO I WILL PLAY THE PART.

YOU AND THE CHILDREN WILL GO

TO PHILADELPHIA WHEN I SAY...

AND YOU WILL STOP WRITING

LETTERS TO ELIZABETH SEDGWICK

IMMEDIATELY!

AND DON'T GO INTO DARIEN ALONE

ANYMORE.

DON'T DO IT, FANNY.

NOT IF YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE.

AND HIS.

( knock at door )

I WANT YOU TO KEEP MY JOURNAL

FOR ME, PSYCHE.

YOU TRUST A NIGGER WITH THIS?

NO, I TRUST YOU WITH IT.

♪♪

( people clapping and cheering )

( children laughing )

WHAT IS THIS, MA'AM?

IT'S THE ANNUAL SLAVE BALL.

THE INFIRMARY

LOOKS WONDERFUL.

IT LOOKS MAGNIFICENT, SAM.

IT REALLY DOES.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE TWO MORE DOORS

IN CASE OF FIRE,

ONE ON EACH SIDE.

BE BETTER ONE BIG ONE

ON THE FRONT AND ONE IN BACK,

MISSUS, AWAY FROM THE FIREPLACES

AND STOVES.

YOU DO AS YOUR TOLD,

DAMN YOU!

YES, MASSA.

YOU ARE THEIR MISTRESS.

FOR GOD'S SAKE, ACT LIKE IT!

I AM NO MORE THEIR MISTRESS

THAN THEY ARE MINE.

YOUR OWNERSHIP OF THEM

IS A PERVERSION!

AND I WILL NOT SUPPORT IT

JUST BECAUSE I AM YOUR WIFE!

( all gasp )

( groans )

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT, MISSUS?

( sighs )

YOU'RE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.

HUMILIATING YOUR HUSBAND

IN FRONT OF HIS SLAVES

IS AN INVITATION TO MURDER.

IT WOULD APPEAR YOU FORGOT

TO BE DISPASSIONATE.

WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO NOW?

I DON'T KNOW.

PIERCE AND I CAN

NEVER RECONCILE.

AND I SERIOUSLY DOUBT

MY ABILITY TO ALTER

THE SLAVE'S CIRCUMSTANCES.

PERHAPS IT'S TIME TO GO HOME.

YOU WOULD LEAVE PIERCE?

IF YOU DID, FANNY, YOU WOULDN'T

HAVE TO BE ALONE.

GO BACK TO BUTLER ISLAND.

MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR HUSBAND.

AS FOR THE SLAVES...

THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO,

IF YOU'RE READY TO STOP

PLAYING THE DILETTANTE.

AND I THINK YOU ARE.

HERE.

YOU'RE GONNA NEED IT.

AND SO AM I.

( carriage approaching )

( sighs )

PIERCE, I...

IT WAS UNCONSCIONABLE OF ME

TO SAY WHAT I SAID.

PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

AND FORGIVE ME

FOR STRIKING YOU, FANNY.

I'VE SPENT ALL NIGHT THINKING

I MIGHT NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN.

All: C-O-T-T-O-N.

COTTON.

THAT'S VERY GOOD.

NOW, YOUR ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT

WEEK WILL BE TO MAKE UP A SHORT

SENTENCE AND COPY OUT

ALL THE WORDS.

THAT WILL BE ALL FOR TONIGHT.

All: THANK YOU.

PSYCHE, JOE,

WOULD YOU STAY A MOMENT?

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD?

I--I HEARD SOMETHIN'.

DIDN'T PAY IT TOO MUCH MIND.

IT'S A WAY TO ESCAPE SLAVERY,

TO GET AWAY FROM THIS

PLANTATION, TO START A NEW LIFE,

TO BE FREE.

FREE?

WE SET ONE FOOT OFF BUTLER'S

ISLAND, THEM PATROLLERS

WILL GET US, JUST LIKE

THEY DID JOSIAH.

NO, THIS IS NOT

RUNNING OFF, PSYCHE.

AND IT'S NOT A REAL

RAILROAD EITHER.

THERE ARE SECRET ROUTES

WHICH YOU TRAVEL AT NIGHT

AND STATIONS ALONG THE WAY

WHERE PEOPLE WILL HIDE YOU

AND FEED YOU AND GET YOU SAFELY

TO THE NEXT STATION, ALL THE WAY

TO OHIO OR CANADA.

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE

THAT HELP SLAVES?

I DON'T BELIEVE.

OH, THERE ARE PEOPLE, JOE...

BLACK AND WHITE,

BAPTIST AND QUAKER,

EX-SLAVES, RICH AND POOR, TRULY.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?

DR. HUSTON.

HE'S BEEN A CONDUCTOR

ON THE RAILROAD FOR YEARS.

THERE'S A TRAIN LEAVING

ON MONDAY NIGHT FROM

OUTSIDE OF DARIEN.

IF YOU WANT TO GO, I CAN HELP

YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN.

THE LIMIT IS TEN,

SO FIVE OTHERS CAN GO, TOO.

I'VE DONE MANY THINGS WRONG

TRYING TO HELP, AND THIS IS

A RISK, BUT HUNDREDS OF SLAVES

HAVE ESCAPED THIS WAY

AND I THINK...

I THINK YOU SHOULD

TAKE THIS CHANCE.

HIDE 'EM IN FAN'S CRIB.

MASSA WON'T LOOK FOR 'EM THERE.

( sighs )

BRING 'EM ON IN, QUICKLY NOW.

COME ON, LET'S GO.

HURRY UP.

HURRY UP, COME ON.

COME ON, HURRY UP.

COME ON.

GET IN THE BARN.

HURRY UP.

COME ON.

COME ON.

COME ON, GET INSIDE, QUICKLY.

ALL RIGHT, COME ON IN.

I'M HELEN.

THIS IS SHADRACH.

HE'LL BE DRIVING THE PACKAGES

TO GRANGERVILLE TONIGHT

IN HIS WAGON.

YOU'RE NOT SLAVES ANYMORE.

YOU ARE FREE MEN.

HOLD THAT THOUGHT IN YOUR HEART

AND GOD WILL TAKE CARE

OF THE REST.

NOW, IT'S A LONG RIDE,

SO IF YOU WANNA HAVE SOME WATER,

YOU BETTER, THEN LOAD UP.

THIS IS MY FRIEND,

ELIZABETH SEDGWICK'S ADDRESS.

SHE'LL ALWAYS KNOW WHERE I AM.

WRITE TO ME WHEN

YOU'RE SAFE, PSYCHE.

PROMISE?

I PROMISE, MISS BUTLER.

AND I SWEAR, UNTIL I FORGET GOD

AND MY VERY OWN SELF,

I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU,

OR THE KINDNESS YOU'VE GIVEN.

I WAS WRONG ABOUT YOU.

YOU ARE MORE THAN YOUR WORDS.

IT'S SO HARD FOR ME

TO SEE YOU GO...

JUST WHEN I'VE COME

TO LOVE YOU BOTH.

( pounding on door )

Man: OPEN UP IN THERE!

OH! HIDE! HIDE!

COME HERE!

GO TO THE HAY!

QUICKLY!

LIE DOWN!

LIE DOWN IN THE HAY!

Man: OPEN UP IN THERE!

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

SHH.

WELL, EVENIN', GENTLEMEN.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR Y'ALL?

UM, UH, WE'RE LOOKIN'

FOR RUNAWAYS.

( chuckles )

AIN'T NO RUNAWAYS HERE

'CEPT ME AND, UH,

I'M KINDA BUSY AT THE MOMENT.

MIND LEAVIN' US BE?

( laughs )

Man: I THINK SHE LIKED YOU.

ALL CLEAR.

IT'S ALL RIGHT NOW.

COME ON.

HOW'D YOU DO THAT, MISSUS?

I WAS AN ACTRESS.

AND A GOOD ONE.

Helen: EVERYONE IN THE WAGON.

HURRY UP.

IT'S BEHIND THE BARN.

QUICKLY! QUICKLY!

NO, I WANNA GO BACK

WITH YOU, MISSUS!

YOU MUST GO, JACK!

YOU'LL BE SAFE, I PROMISE!

> NO!

THERE IS NO TIME FOR THIS!

THEY MAY BE BACK SOON!

NO! I AIN'T GOIN'!

I AIN'T GOIN'!

Fanny: GO! PSYCHE, JOE, GO!

PLEASE!

COME ON! COME ON!

STAY DOWN!

H'YAH! H'YAH! H'YAH!

WHOA THERE!

YOU SEEN ANY FUGITIVE SLAVES

RUNNIN' TONIGHT, SIR?

RUMOR IS A BUNCH OF 'EM

ESCAPED NEAR HERE.

I CAN'T SAY THAT I HAVE,

GENTLEMEN.

YOU MIND IF I LOOK

UNDER YOUR TARP, SIR?

Man: THERE'S ONE!

THERE HE GOES!

STOP, NIGGER!

( gunshot )

( groans )

DIDN'T KNOW THAT NIGGER

WAS BACK THERE.

TOO MANY DAMN RUNAWAYS

THESE DAYS.

ONE LESS NOW.

SORRY TO TROUBLE YOU, SIR.

H'YAH!

LET ME TAKE YOU

ALL THE WAY BACK.

NO, YOU MIGHT BE SEEN.

GOOD-BYE, DR. HUSTON.

TEN SLAVES ESCAPED

LAST NIGHT.

ONE WAS KILLED.

NO OTHER PLANTATION IN GEORGIA

TREATS ITS SLAVES BETTER.

IS THIS HOW YOU REPAY ME?!

THEN I WILL REPAY YOU IN KIND!

ONE OF YOU WILL RECEIVE

100 LASHES FOR ALL OF YA!

BRUTUS!

( all scream )

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

NO! NO! NO! NO!

MAMA?

NO! NO! NO!

MOVE 'EM BACK!

NO!

GET BACK!

( grunts )

GOD.

( screams )

YOU WILL WITNESS

EVERY SINGLE LASH!

( screams )

TELL ME, FANNY,

DID YOU FREE THEM FOR

THEIR SAKE OR TO HURT ME?

TELL ME THE TRUTH.

( screams )

NO!

( screams )

( crying )

( screams )

GOD DAMN YOU!

FANNY!

DON'T STOP, YOU IDIOT!

GET OFF HIM, FANNY!

GET OFF HIM, FANNY,

I'M WARNING YOU!

( all gasp )

( screams )

( groans )

THIS PUNISHMENT IS OVER.

( sighs )

( crying )

GOD FORGIVE US ALL.

I'LL BE BACK IN THE AUTUMN.

I PROMISE.

MASSA SAY YOU WON'T.

THAT MEAN YOU WON'T.

HE'S NOT MY MASSA, HARRIET.

OH, MISSUS, HE YOUR MASSA

AS MUCH AS HE IS OURS.

Man: THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.

ALL: BYE.

WHOA.

I PLEADED WITH PIERCE

TO GIVE ME A SEPARATION,

TO GO BACK TO ENGLAND

TO SUPPORT MYSELF BY RETURNING

TO THE STAGE.

HE'S OF COURSE REFUSED.

SAYS MY MIND IS DISEASED.

PERHAPS WE SHOULD NOT

STAY HERE WITH YOU,

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

OH, FANNY, DO SIT.

YOU'RE MAKING ME ILL.

HAVE SOME OOLONG TEA.

PLEASE?

( sighs )

AS TO SEPARATIONS

AND OTHER MAJOR LIFE DECISIONS,

WHY DON'T YOU GIVE

YOURSELF SOME TIME?

AND OF COURSE YOU'LL STAY HERE.

HAVE YOU HEARD

FROM PSYCHE AND JOE?

YOU'VE ASKED ME THAT TWICE.

THE ANSWER'S STILL NO.

FANNY, I KNOW OF MANY MARRIAGES

BETWEEN INCOMPATIBLE PEOPLE

WHERE THEY HAVE FOUND

A SENSE OF HARMONY.

DON'T GIVE UP.

YOU MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT

OPINION OF PIERCE AFTER

READING THIS.

THEY'RE LETTERS I WROTE

BUT NEVER SENT.

ONE OF THE MAJOR ROUTES

OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

GOES UP THE DELAWARE RIVER.

MAYBE THEY CAME THAT WAY.

DO YOU PICK UP YOUR MAIL

OR DOES MARIA?

SHE--SHE MAY HAVE

MISPLACED A LETTER.

NO, SHE DIDN'T.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT, FANNY?

WHO ARE WE GOING TO SEE?

( dog barks )

( both gasp )

DAPHNE ALEXANDER.

DR. HUSTON TOLD ME

SHE WAS A CONDUCTOR

ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

THIS IS A WAREHOUSE.

DAPHNE?

THAT'S ME.

I'M MRS. FANNY--

I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

YOU'S THAT WHITE WOMAN

GOT OWEN STIFF NECK PARKER

TO PUT DOWN A WOOD FLOOR

IN THE BUTLER ISLAND INFIRMARY.

YOU'S FAMOUS ON

THE RAILROAD, HONEY.

WASN'T YOU A ACTRESS

OR SOMETHING SILLY

LIKE THAT BEFORE?

WELL, YES, I WAS--

I WAS A BUTLER ISLAND SLAVE

MYSELF ONCE.

GOT OUT BEFORE THERE

EVEN WAS THE RAILROAD.

WELL, DON'T JUST STAND THERE.

COME ON IN, COME ON.

ALL RIGHT NOW,

COME ON OVER HERE.

NOW YOU SEE WHERE YOUR MAMA IS?

GO SEE YOUR MAMA.

GO AHEAD.

YES, MA'AM.

( sighs )

UM, YOU KNOW WHO

WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON IS?

YES, HE WAS THE--

WHO YOU ANYWAY?

THIS IS MY DEAR FRIEND

ELIZABETH SEDGWICK.

OH. WELL, AIN'T NO WHITE MAN

EVER BEEN A BETTER CHAMPION

OF THE NEGRO THAN

WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON.

AND HE STOOD RIGHT

WHERE YOU STANDIN'.

AND HE CONGRATULATED ME

ON MY WORK.

NOW, WHY YOU TWO STANDIN' HERE?

I WAS HOPING YOU MIGHT

REMEMBER MEETING A COUPLE.

PSYCHE AND JOE

AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN?

PSYCHE?

NO. NO, I REMEMBER ALMOST

EVERY NAME, BUT AIN'T NO

PSYCHE COME THROUGH HERE.

DR. HUSTON TOLD ME ABOUT--

HE TELL YOU THAT PRO-SLAVE

DEVILS SET FIRE TO OUR STATION?

TWO LITTLE GIRLS

GOT BURNED ALIVE--

MAKE IT MURDER!

BUT THE LAW DON'T MEAN NOTHIN'

'CEPT LAWS AGAINST

THE FUGITIVE SLAVES.

NOW ALL WE GOT IS THIS PLACE.

IT RAINS, WE GOT WATER

UP TO OUR ANKLES.

I'M SORRY.

SORRY I COULDN'T HELP YA.

CAN...

CAN I HELP IN SOME WAY?

WELL, AIN'T MANY

PATRICIANS LIKE YOU

WANT TO HELP.

I DON'T KNOW IF I TRUST THAT.

I DON'T KNOW.

( laughs )

OF COURSE YOU CAN HELP, HONEY!

THAT'S WHY YOU'VE COME!

( laughs )

COME ON, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU

WHITE LADIES AROUND.

OH, PIERCE WON'T

PUT UP WITH THIS, FANNY.

HE WON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

OH, REALLY?

AND HOW ARE YOU GOING

TO MANAGE THAT?

HARMONY.

YOUR PHRASE.

I'LL BE MORE OBEDIENT

AND AGREEABLE, THE WIFE

HE WANTS ME TO BE.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'RE GOING

TO DECEIVE HIM INTO THINKING

THAT ALL IS WELL WHILE YOU

COMMIT MATRIMONIAL HERESY

BEHIND HIS BACK?

I'M AN ACTRESS.

HE'LL NEVER KNOW.

YOU HATED ACTING, FANNY,

BECAUSE IT WASN'T TRUTHFUL.

THIS IS A LIE THAT WOULD

WOUND PIERCE TERRIBLY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE

INVOLVED, ELIZABETH.

YES, I DO.

I READ YOUR JOURNAL.

CAN'T STAY WITH

ELIZABETH FOREVER.

AND SINCE YOU'VE MADE IT CLEAR

HOW MUCH YOU DESPISE BUTLER

PLACE, WE'LL HAVE TO FIND

SOMETHING ELSE.

I'LL START LOOKING FOR

A HOUSE TO RENT IF YOU LIKE.

YOU WON'T HAVE TIME FOR IT,

I'M SURE.

THERE IS ANOTHER MATTER

I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT.

THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY'S

ASKED ME TO DO THEATRICAL

READINGS FOR VARIOUS HOSPITALS,

FOR CHARITY.

THEY WOULD MOSTLY BE

IN THE EVENINGS.

READINGS?

NO, FANNY.

I WON'T HAVE MY WIFE

DISPLAYING HERSELF IN PUBLIC

SHOW, CHARITY OR NOT.

IT IS UNSEEMLY AND

ENTIRELY UNNECESSARY.

I'M SURE THEY'LL FIND

SOMEONE ELSE.

I'LL POLITELY DECLINE.

YOU, UH, MIGHT WANT

TO TAKE THIS.

IT COULD RAIN.

THEATRICAL READINGS?

I NEED TO TELL HIM

WHERE I'LL BE AT NIGHT.

BUT HE SAID NO.

WELL, HE HASN'T HAD

ANY REASON TO SAY YES, YET.

YOU ARE SHAMELESS.

FANNY?

( moans )

YOUR JUICE, SIR.

WHY DON'T I TAKE

THE DAY OFF ON FRIDAY?

WE COULD HAVE A PICNIC

ON HORSEBACK.

THE GIRLS, TOO.

SOUNDS LOVELY.

I'LL MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT

THOSE READINGS YOU WANTED TO DO.

YOU SAY THEY'RE FOR CHARITY?

MM.

THEN WHY DON'T YOU DO THEM.

I DON'T SEE THE HARM.

AND IT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR YOU.

THEN I WILL.

THANK YOU, PIERCE, VERY MUCH.

( baby crying )

GIVE ME ANOTHER SHEET.

ALL RIGHT.

( crying continues )

YOU SURE YOU KNOW HOW

TO FIX A BROKE ARM?

DID YOU THINK I ONLY KNOW

HOW TO POUR TEA?

OH, AIN'T WE GOT SOME CHEEK.

( chuckles )

WE CAN'T BE IN

THIS WATER HOLE COME WINTER.

THESE BRAVE SOULS

NEED AN ISLAND OF COMFORT

ON THEIR DANGEROUS JOURNEY,

NOT A ANTE-ROOM OF HELL.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

I WANNA SEE THE UPSTAIRS.

I CANNOT BELIEVE

YOU'VE DONE THIS.

YOU'VE DONE IT, FANNY.

YOU'VE MADE A GREAT EFFORT

TO CHANGE.

THIS IS THE LEAST I CAN DO.

I KNOW YOU GET HOMESICK

FOR ENGLAND.

BUT WE CAN BRING ENGLAND HERE.

YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS,

EVERYONE.

WE CAN HAVE BALLS,

GRAND DINNERS, EVERYTHING,

RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN HOME.

AND YOU HAVE A WRITING ROOM

WITH A VIEW OF THE WHOLE CITY.

I LOVE YOU, FANNY.

I'VE NEVER STOPPED.

THERE ARE 11 ROOMS,

8 WITH FIREPLACES,

AND PLENTY OF BEDS.

THE KITCHEN'S WELL-EQUIPPED.

WE'RE FOUR MILES FROM THE RIVER,

BUT THAT MIGHT MAKE IT

SAFER AS A STATION, ESPECIALLY

FOR FUGITIVES WHO ARE SICK

AND NEED TIME TO RECOVER.

THERE ARE NO OTHER HOUSES

FOR MILES AND NO ONE

EVER COMES BY HERE.

IT'S PERFECT!

PRAISE THE LORD!

AND YOU, TOO, HONEY.

WOULD YOU JUST WAIT

JUST A MINUTE?

WHAT IF PIERCE COMES

HERE TO VISIT?

I MEAN, THIS IS HIS

CHILDHOOD HOME.

HE WON'T.

HE'S TOTALLY CONSUMED

WITH THE NEW HOUSE.

BESIDES, I TOLD HIM

I HATED IT HERE.

( baby cooing )

WILL YOU TAKE HIM

TO HIS MOTHER?

DO YOU FEEL MORE WILL COME?

OH, THEY'LL COME,

MISS BUTLER, MORE AND MORE

EVERY WEEK.

DON'T YOU WORRY,

THEY'LL COME.

MISS BUTLER?

MISS BUTLER!

IS THAT YOU, MISS BUTLER?!

OH, YOU GOT OUT?

YES'M, I DID.

THANKS TO YOU.

THAT DAY WHEN I FELT YOUR ARMS

COME 'ROUND ME, I THOUGHT

IT WAS GOD HISSELF.

TRULY I DID.

AND 100 LASHES KILLS A MAN.

I OWE MY LIFE TO YOU,

MISS BUTLER.

I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU.

HOW DID YOU GET OUT?

DID DR. HUSTON HELP YOU?

HE DID, MISSUS.

AFTER YOU LEFT, HE GOT A LOT OF

SLAVES OUT FOR 50 MILES 'ROUND.

BUT THE OWNERS...

I GUESS THE FOUND OUT ABOUT HIM.

THEY SHOT HIM IN HIS BED.

HE HAD 32 BULLET HOLES IN HIM.

HE WAS POWERFUL FOND OF YOU,

MISS BUTLER.

HE SAID SO.

I'M AWFUL SORRY ABOUT IT.

( crying )

YOUNG MAN, YOU BEST

HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT.

COME ON.

I'M SORRY.

OH, GOD!

( continues crying )

"THAT VERY TIME I SAW

BUT THOU COULDST NOT,

FLYING BETWEEN THE COLD MOON

AND THE EARTH, CUPID, ALL ARMED.

A CERTAIN AIM HE TOOK AT

A FAIR VESTAL THRONED

BY THE WEST--"

IS CUPID REAL, MOTHER?

IF HE SHOOTS YOU,

YOU'LL SWEAR HE IS.

PAPA!

HELLO, SUGAR. MWA.

I'M GOING TO BE

AN ACTRESS, PAPA.

I DIDN'T SAY A WORD.

WELL, ACTRESSES HAVE

TO WORK AT NIGHT, SARAH, AND

I KNOW HOW YOU LIKE TO SLEEP.

IN FACT, I WAS ASLEEP WHEN YOUR

MOTHER CAME HOME LAST NIGHT.

DID THE READING GO ON THAT LONG?

NO, IT DIDN'T,

BUT COMING HOME TOOK FOREVER.

THE AXLE ON THE CAB BROKE.

SO WE HAD TO WALK ABOUT

HALF A MILE, MOSTLY THROUGH MUD,

TILL WE CAME TO A FARMHOUSE

WHERE WE HAD TO WAKE THE OWNER

AND HE BROUGHT US HOME

IN A BUCKBOARD.

I HAD TO DO HALF THE READING

AGAIN JUST FOR HIM.

( chuckles )

I LOVE YOU, FANNY.

AND I THINK SARAH

WOULD MAKE A LOVELY ACTRESS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE KNOWS

OR SUSPECTS.

YOU HAVE TO SUSPEND

YOUR ACTIVITIES FOR A WHILE,

FANNY, REALLY.

I'LL GO IN YOUR PLACE.

I WILL AFTER TONIGHT.

HE'S IN NEW YORK.

HERE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

THE WAGON WAS ATTACKED

NOT FAR FROM HERE.

SCHOOLBOYS WITH KNIVES

AND BUCKSHOT.

THEY KILLED THE CONDUCTOR

AND WOUNDED A WHOLE BUNCH ELSE.

( groans )

DAMN PRO-SLAVERS.

MAY THEY ALL BURN IN HELL!

RIDER COMIN'!

PIERCE!

WHAT IS THIS?

GET THESE GOD DAMN NIGGERS

OUT OF HERE!

THEY'LL BE GONE

IN THE MORNING.

SOME OF THEM ARE WOUNDED

AND NEED CARE.

( grunts )

THIS IS MY HOUSE!

YOU GET OUT!

I ORDER YOU TO GET OUT OF HERE!

THIS IS YOUR HOUSE,

BUT YOU OWE THEM A GOOD NIGHT'S

REST AT THE VERY LEAST.

NO ONE'S LEAVING.

( all gasp )

DOES HE HAVE A RIFLE

OUT THERE?

OH, MY GOD,

HE'S GONNA BURN US OUT!

COME ON!

ELIZABETH, DAPHNE,

GET EVERYONE OUT!

THE INJURED, GET THEM OUT!

( grunting )

COME ON NOW!

COME ON!

GET EVERYONE!

ELIZABETH, HURRY!

WE GOTTA COME THIS WAY!

( all talking )

YOU GOTTA COME THIS WAY!

( all talking )

WE CAN'T GET OUT THAT WAY!

WE GOTTA FIND A WINDOW!

OVER THERE, COME ON!

( all scream )

GET INSIDE QUICKLY!

HELP ME!

EVERYONE MOVE BACK!

MOVE BACK!

( grunts )

QUICK, EVERYONE!

GET OUT! GET OUT!

CAREFUL.

( grunts )

COME ON!

( grunts )

GET OUT!

COME ON, GET 'EM OUT, QUICK!

( all screaming )

COME ON, THERE YOU GO.

COME ON, THAT'S IT.

COME ON.

I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

GO THAT WAY.

COME ON!

GO HOME.

GET YOUR CHILDREN

BEFORE HE DOES.

WE'LL BE OKAY.

TAKE HER WITH YOU, ELIZABETH!

GO! GO!

YOU GET OUT OF HERE!

COME ON, GET TO THE WAGON!

YOU GET OUT OF HERE!

YOU GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!

COME ON, COME ON!

GET OUT!

( door opens )

GET THE CHILDREN DOWN HERE.

I WANT THEM TO SEE THEIR MOTHER

AS SHE REALLY IS.

THEY'RE WITH ELIZABETH.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER

FOR THEM AND FOR US.

ALWAYS WHAT YOU DECIDE,

ISN'T THAT RIGHT, FANNY?

THIS HOUSE MEANS NOTHING

TO YOU, DOES IT?

WAS IT EASY TO MAKE ME BELIEVE

YOU CARED FOR ME?

DID YOU AND ELIZABETH

HAVE A GOOD LAUGH ABOUT IT?

NO.

IT WAS A DECEPTION AT FIRST,

BUT THEN I SAW THE MAN

I FELL IN LOVE WITH...

THE MAN I STILL LOVE.

OH, MY GOD,

HAVE YOU NO SHAME?

YOU WOULD BE QUITE DIFFERENT,

PIERCE, WITHOUT ME,

WITHOUT YOUR SLAVES.

YOU'RE SUCH A GOOD MAN.

MARRIAGE HAS TURNED YOU

AGAINST YOUR NATURE.

WHY DON'T YOU JOIN US?

ME, ELIZABETH, AND THE OTHERS.

THERE'S ANY NUMBER OF WAYS

THAT YOU COULD HELP

THE FUGITIVES.

IT WOULD BRING US TOGETHER

AND IT WOULD LIFT SUCH

A WEIGHT FROM YOUR SOUL.

YOU'LL FEEL LIKE YOU COULD FLY.

( chuckles )

OH, YOU ARE MARVELOUS, FANNY.

I ALMOST BELIEVED YOU...

AGAIN.

NO, I WON'T HELP YOUR

BELOVED NIGGERS.

SORRY, YOUR FUGITIVE FREEMEN.

IN FACT, YOU WON'T EITHER,

EVER AGAIN!

YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO

WITH THEM OR ANY ABOLITIONIST

OR ANTI-SLAVERY DEMAGOGUE!

IF YOU DO, YOU WILL NEVER

SEE YOUR CHILDREN AGAIN!

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!

PIERCE, PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.

AND YOU WILL STAY AWAY FROM

ELIZABETH SEDGWICK!

I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT,

BUT I CANNOT STOP HELPING

THOSE PEOPLE.

WON'T HURT YOU, NO ONE

HAS TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT,

BUT I'M--

I SAID NO!

YOUR INSOLENT DEFIANCE

SICKENS ME!

YOU MADE ME BURN DOWN MY HOUSE!

AND WHY?

YOU LOVE NIGGERS MORE THAN ME!

NO, PIERCE, NO!

I LOVE JUSTICE!

AND I LOVE YOU.

LIAR!

YOU ARE A DEMON!

GO BACK TO HELL

WHERE YOU CAME FROM!

YOU HAVE DESTROYED

MY HAPPINESS!

Fanny:"DEAR ELIZABETH,

I AM FOREVER INDEBTED TO YOU

FOR SUGGESTING I TAKE

A COTTAGE HERE IN

THE BERKSHIRES.

I SPEND WHOLE AFTERNOONS

TENDING MY GARDENS

OR WRITING LENGTHY LETTERS

TO SARAH AND FAN.

I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD

SURVIVE WITHOUT THEM.

BUT HUMAN BEINGS ARE ABLE

TO ADJUST TO ANY PRIVATION,

HOWEVER PAINFUL.

MR. FURNESS, BLESS HIS HEART,

HAS ACQUIRED A FINAL

DIVORCE SETTLEMENT AFTER

FIVE LONG YEARS.

PERHAPS BECAUSE PIERCE

HAS SPENT ALL OF HIS MONEY

AND I'VE ASKED FOR NONE.

HE EVEN HAD TO AUCTION OFF

HIS SLAVES.

BUT I CAN SEE MY GIRLS AGAIN

AT LAST.

I WILL BE IN PHILADELPHIA

ON FRIDAY TO SIGN THE PAPERS."

PIERCE IS NOT COMING?

HE'S ILL, BUT HE SIGNED.

THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE YOUR

DAUGHTERS TWO DAYS EACH MONTH

AND TWO MONTHS IN THE SUMMER.

BUT HE STILL INSISTS THAT

YOU NOT PUBLISH YOUR

GEORGIA JOURNALS.

HE SEEMED FIXED ON THAT POINT.

OTHER THAN THAT, THE AGREEMENT

SEEMS GENEROUS ENOUGH.

WHEN DO I SEE MY GIRLS?

AH, WELL, NOW, THAT, UM...

THAT WAS A THORNY PROBLEM.

BUT FINALLY IN THE END,

I PREVAILED.

MAMA.

IT'S MAMA.

OH!

OH, SARAH, FAN!

I MISSED YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

I LOVE YOU, MAMA.

OH, AND I LOVE YOU, TOO.

AH!

HAVE YOU READ THIS?

READ WHAT?

IT'S PREPOSTEROUS.

WHAT?

WAIT UNTIL YOU READ IT,

MRS. SEDGWICK.

IT IS VERY TERRIBLE.

PARLIAMENT IS SERIOUSLY

CONSIDERING A LOAN

TO THE CONFEDERACY.

ARE THE COMPLETELY MAD,

WITH A WAR BETWEEN THE STATES

ALMOST INEVITABLE?

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

I AM GOING TO MY PUBLISHER.

FANNY, NO!

YOU CAN'T PUBLISH YOUR JOURNAL.

PIERCE WILL CUT OFF

YOUR VISITATION RIGHTS.

PEOPLE WILL WANT

TO KILL YOU IN THE STREETS.

OH, WOULD YOU JUST STOP IT,

FANNY, STOP IT.

I AM SERIOUS.

NOW THINK ABOUT

THE RAMIFICATIONS.

I HAVE.

PARLIAMENT HAS NO IDEA

WHAT THIS WAR COULD MEAN.

THEY'RE ONLY INTERESTED

IN PROTECTING THEIR SUPPLY

OF SOUTHERN COTTON.

TO THEM, THE EVILS OF SLAVERY

ARE INSIGNIFICANT.

I CANNOT JUST STAND BY.

"MRS. BUTLER, WHO GLOWED

ON THE STAGE IN HER PREVIOUS

CAREER, NOW TARNISHES HER

REPUTATION WITH HER GEORGIA

JOURNAL, AN OUTRAGEOUS

FALSIFICATION OF SLAVERY."

( sighs )

GUESS WHO WROTE THIS ONE.

"ARE WE TO LET OURSELVES

BE INFLUENCED BY THE TRIVIAL

MUSINGS OF AN EX-PATRIOT,

AN ACTRESS TO BOOT,

ON MATTERS OF SUCH IMPORTANCE?"

PARLIAMENT, OF COURSE.

BLOODY BLIND FOOLS.

IT IS IMPORTANT.

THERE'S NO DARKER HUMAN IMPULSE

THAN TO DENY ANOTHER

HIS FREEDOM.

IT'S DEGRADING

AND DEBASED EXISTENCE.

THIS LOAN WILL ONLY

PROLONG THE MISERY OF IT.

ARE PEOPLE GONNA

KILL YOU IN THE STREETS?

THEY WON'T, MY DARLING.

BUT I HAD TO DO THIS.

WE CANNOT ALWAYS HIDE IN THE

SHADOWS WHEN SOMETHING'S WRONG.

THAT MAKES US PART OF THE ERROR.

IT'S A MESSAGE FROM PIERCE.

HE WANTS TO SEE YOU.

( sighs )

PIERCE?

IT'S FANNY.

MAY I COME IN?

PIERCE?

FANNY.

PLEASE, COME IN.

WHAT A SURPRISE.

I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU.

I'M SORRY YOU'RE SEEING

THE HOUSE LIKE THIS.

I'M FURNISHING

AND PAINTING UPSTAIRS.

I'VE BEEN SO BUSY LATELY.

PLEASE SIT DOWN.

I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR

SETTLING OUR DIFFERENCES,

PIERCE.

AND FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE

OF SARAH AND FAN.

THEY'RE QUITE GROWN UP.

GIVE THE CREDIT TO THEIR

BOARDING SCHOOL, NOT TO ME.

PIERCE, THERE'S SOMETHING

ELSE I WANT TO TELL YOU.

I KNOW MY REBELLIOUS EMOTIONS

CONTRIBUTED ENORMOUSLY

TO OUR DIFFICULTIES.

AN EFFORT TO COMPROMISE

NOW AND THEN WOULD NOT

HAVE HARMED ME.

I'M TRULY SORRY FOR

ALL THE MISERY IT'S CAUSED YOU.

AT THE AUCTION,

A VERY OLD SLAVE CAME UP TO ME.

HIS NAME WAS CUDJO.

I'D FORGOTTEN I EVEN OWNED HIM.

HE TOOK MY HAND.

NO SLAVE HAD EVER

TOUCHED ME BEFORE.

HE SMILED.

AND HE SAID, "YOU IS FREE NOW,

MASSA, YOU IS FREE."

I READ YOUR GEORGIA JOURNAL.

I KEPT THINKING, WHO IS THIS

CRUEL, UNFORGIVING MAN?

AND IT WAS I.

( crying )

MOMMY, MRS. SEDGWICK'S HERE.

FANNY!

ELIZABETH!

OH, YOU LEFT TOO SOON.

PARLIAMENT CANCELED

THE LOAN TO THE CONFEDERACY.

THEY READ EXTRACTS

FROM YOUR JOURNAL

IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

EVEN THE QUEEN READ IT.

OH, YOU DID IT, FANNY!

YOU REALLY DID IT!

THE TRUTH CHANGED

THEIR MINDS, ELIZABETH,

NOT I.

FANNY, YOU MAY HAVE CHANGED

THE COURSE OF HISTORY.

WITHOUT ADDITIONAL CAPITAL,

THE SOUTH WILL NEVER EQUAL

THE NORTH'S CAPACITY TO PRODUCE

ARMS AND AMMUNITION.

YOUR JOURNAL MAY END UP HELPING

TO PRESERVE THE UNION,

AND END SLAVERY.

YOU SHOULD BE PLEASED, FANNY.

YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO HELP.

AND NOW YOU HAVE...

SIGNIFICANTLY.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I'VE MET WITH THE MAYOR

OF YOUR TOWN WHO HAS

REQUESTED THAT I NOT READ

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

I'VE BEEN MET BY THE CLERGYMAN

OF YOUR TOWN WHO HAS ALSO

REQUESTED THAT I NOT READ

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

I'VE BEEN MET BY THE

SCHOOLTEACHERS OF YOUR TOWN.

THEY, TOO, HAVE UNANIMOUSLY

REQUESTED THAT I NOT READ

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I SHALL HAVE THE HONOR OF

PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY

SHAKESPEARE'S IMMORTAL COMEDY

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

( applause )

OH, THEY ADORED YOU,

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU WERE MARVELOUS.

AND I MAKE BUSHELS OF MONEY,

MOST OF WHICH I GIVE TO DAPHNE

TO KEEP UP HER GOOD WORK.

MOMMY, LOOK.

SARAH, FETCH ME

A CROWBAR AND HAMMER.

WHAT ON EARTH COULD THIS BE?

EXCUSE ME, GIRLS.

( grunting )

WHO SENT IT, MAMA?

IT'S FROM JOE.

HE MADE THIS.

PSYCHE WROTE ME A LETTER.

"DEAR MRS. BUTLER, WE MADE IT

TO KINGSTON, CANADA.

WE HEARD ABOUT BUTLER STATION

WAS BURNED.

WE HEARD YOU MOVED TO LENNOX.

WE WILL VISIT WHEN

IT IS SAFE TO TRAVEL.

JOE MAKE THIS FOR YOU.

HE SAY IT IS FOR MANY MORE

WORDS YOU WILL WRITE.

WE ALL THANK YOU.

WE CAN ALL READ AND WRITE.

JOE LEARNED NUMBERS.

YOU OPENED THE WINDOWS

AND LET IN THE LIGHT.

YOU SAW OUR SOULS,

NOT OUR SKIN.

WE ARE FREE

INSIDE OUR HEARTS.

AND THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE,

ALWAYS, FOREVER.

WE LOVE YOU.

PSYCHE, JOE, MAYSIE,

ESTHER, AND RACHEL."

( chuckles )

( indistinct chatter )