American Playhouse (1981–…): Season 4, Episode 11 - Charlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom - full transcript

(triumphant regal music)

(dark military music)

(carriage rattling)

(horse whinnying)

(soldier wincing)

- The Yankees.

(explosions bursting)

The Yankees is comin'!

Theys almost to the home plate!

(explosions bursting)

(door slamming)



(silverware clanging)

- Hannah.

Hannah, come help me.

Hannah, come help me!

(explosions bursting)

- Land, boy.

That's what it's gonna be all about.

We gonna own land.

I'm claimin' it.

(pig squealing)

- Born to be free.

I said you oughta be free.

Well then you better come to the swamp with me.

There you be your own man.



Won't no buckra tell you what to do.

Now who's comin' with me and Simba here?

- Joshua?

Joshua, you don't need to hide out no more.

Colonel Lawrence is fixin' to leave

and the Yankees won't care that you ran away from him.

- Well now woman, don't you know

that Yankees is white folks just like Colonel Lawrence?

Now we might be just tradin' one whip for another.

- Yeah, but we've been apart so long.

I thought that this would be our chance to be together.

- Well we gon' have our time together,

but this ain't it.

- [Hannah] And you be careful.

- As soon as things calm down, I'm gon' send for you.

Keep an eye on the Yankees for me.

(people chattering)

(soft adventurous music) (explosion bursting)

Come on.

(cart rattling) (birds chirping)

- Look at those fields.

My best crop.

I'll be back one fine day, ya hear me?

I'll be back!

- Aaron.

Aaron, let's go.

- Go on.

(soft serene music)

(explosions bursting)

- Now you and Hannah both can have this bed here

and the next two bedrooms.

- This Mrs. Lawrence's room one.

- When you gon' understand that the Colonel and missus

is gone?

Them Yanks mean freedom.

They ain't slaves no more.

- Sure, who won't stop you?

Then that means all missus' frocks belong to me.

- Here, here, here.

(both laughing)

- Woman.

What you doin'?

- Gettin' ready to move us in.

- We ain't stayin' here, woman.

This is a house for folks who can't do their own work!

We don't want their waste.

All I want is what's right for mine:

the land I worked on all my life.

You come on.

We goin' back to our place.

(soft serene music)

(hooves clopping)

- And another case: Port Royal

and the Sea Islands of South Carolina

have fallen to the union.

As the war continues, thousands of former slaves

are being released from servitude.

However, their future status has not yet been determined.

The question is what will become of them?

My proposition is simple.

It rests on sound economic philosophy.

Rewarding labor for work done encourages productivity.

I propose that these Sea Island Negroes be employed,

be paid to work on the plantations of their former masters.

- Mr. Philbrick, is the freedom of the Negro

purely an economic issue in your view?

- I beg your pardon, Miss--

- Forten, sir.

Charlotte Forten.

My question is this:

what if the Negro does not care to test economic theory?

Should he not be free to pursue his own interests?

What if raising food for his own consumption

is what he prefers?

- Then they would be shortsighted indeed, Miss Forten.

Cotton is not only essential for national prosperity.

It will provide a firm economic base

for these former slaves to move ahead in a free society.

- Mr. Philbrick, you speak as if the Negro

will continue to work the land for somebody else's profit.

Is that freedom?

- I beg your pardon.

- I said when will they be free

or is this just another compromise

with the Negro working while the white man prospers?

Who do you think grew the corn you had for dinner, sir?

Who tended the cotton

from which your shirt was woven, Mr. Philbrick?

Not the plantation owners, but the Negroes! (coughs)

- That's not the point, Miss Forten.

If you'll allow me to continue, please.

- Excuse me, Mr. Philbrick.

We are dealing with human beings,

not theoretical principles.

We must understand that generations of Negroes

have been enslaved merely for the purpose of raising cotton.

To them, it represents benefit for the white man.

- Quite right, Miss Towne.

That is why such a great responsibility

rests on your shoulders.

You and the other Philadelphia missionaries

who'll soon leave for Port Royal

must teach these Negroes more than reading, writing

and the simple truths of the Bible.

- (coughs) Laura, you didn't tell me

you were goin' to Port Royal. - Miss Towne, please.

- Why was I left out? - Charlotte.

- You, Miss Towne and those who'll serve with you

must make these Negroes understand

that they are part of a great experiment,

an experiment that will prepare them

for absorption to a free society.

All the people of the union will benefit.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank you for the opportunity

to address you this evening.

(crowd applauding)

Thank you.

(Charlotte coughing)

- Please Charlotte, you must get some air.

- Laura, I can't believe that you would plan

to go to Port Royal without me.

Those are my people.

- I didn't want to upset you.

I knew that your head wouldn't allow you to go.

(Charlotte coughing)

Charlotte, please.

Please let me take you to Dr. Mason.

- (coughs) No, Laura.

I'll be all right.

Dr. Mason will only gimme the same boring advice,

slow down and rest. (coughs)

(dark piano music)

- (claps) That was lovely, Charlotte.

But couldn't you play a more cheerful melody?

- Oh I'm afraid I'm just not up to it, Uncle.

- My darling, I know you're upset

about not goin' to Port Royal

with Laura and the other teachers, but you are so young.

- Youth makes me wanna challenge life, Uncle Robert,

not accept it as it is.

- Your turn will come.

- I'm determined to help my people just as granddaddy did

and port Royal is my chance, I know it is.

- Charlotte, you are here

because Dr. Mason has ordered complete rest.

You wouldn't last 10 days in Port Royal.

The area's primitive and the climate is frightful.

- Uncle, I inherited my determination from granddaddy

and so did you.

You made up your mind

that you were gonna help the runaway slaves.

And even when the bounty hunters came,

you never ever hesitated

to stand up for what you believed in.

You can't change me.

It's in my blood.

Give up.

- Charlotte.

(piano harmonizing) Charlotte.

(piano harmonizing) - Give up, Uncle.

I'm a Forten.

- Charlotte, you're an impossible child.

- Not child, Uncle.

Woman, a Forten woman.

I'm determined to have my way.

Oh Uncle, don't fight me.

Help me.

I wanna have another hearing

before the Philadelphia Missionary Society

to ask to be assigned to Port Royal.

Look at all the contributions you'd made

all these years to their efforts.

You open the door and I'll do the rest. (giggles)

- Charlotte, Charlotte.

- Shh, shh, shh.

You mustn't interrupt this cheerful melody

I'm about to play for you.

(cheerful military music)

(wagon rattling) (birds chirping)

- Good to have you here at Port Royal, Colonel Higginson.

Pierce been waitin' for you, sir.

- I've known Pierce since he was at the treasury department

in Washington, Sergeant.

- You got a big job

tryin' to put this place together here, sir.

That's for sure.

- How is it here, Rivers?

- Well, sir. - Sergeant.

- Well sir, the reb raid has been pickin' us off,

then we can't get the color to join up.

- Why did you join, Sergeant?

- Well sir, I'm not like some of the others.

After workin' the cotton field for 10 years,

I don't care if I ever worked a land

another day in my life.

I like the idea of soldier.

Besides that sir,

I'll say this blue uniform suits me just fine.

There are a few other things, sir.

- Go on.

- Sir,

we got 'squitos big as gators.

When you put your boots on in mornin', sir,

better check first,

make sure ain't no cottonmouth in 'em.

You heard enough, sir?

- For the moment.

(Sergeant Rivers chuckling)

- Mansfield, you'll like Colonel Higginson.

I've known him ever since he was studying to be a minister

at Harvard Divinity.

- You are exasperating, Pierce.

You know how I feel about what the union army is doing here,

how they force the Negroes into service.

You know this Colonel's going to be under the same orders.

- Well at least give him the chance to speak for himself.

- Actually I've come here today

to discuss a different matter.

This Port Royal experiment,

it's getting out of hand.

You're in charge here.

It's up to you to curb the abuses.

- Please, Mansfield, not another sermon.

- I'm not preaching a sermon.

I'm giving a warning.

This island is overrun with profiteers like Philbrick.

That man is going to become rich with this experiment.

- You misunderstand his motives.

He is trying to help.

He thinks that paying the Negroes

to pick cotton is the best way.

- The Negroes don't want to pick any more cotton.

Cotton reminds the slavery.

They want to grow food, food, food to feed their families.

Now it's your responsibility.

- Mr. French!

- Lincoln only took Port Royal because of the cotton

to boost the union economy.

- You, sir, are jumping to an unfounded conclusion.

- Now you, young man, do not understand this situation.

- (clears throat) Didn't mean

to interrupt your meetin', sir.

But I know you was expectin' Colonel Higginson.

- That's quite all right, Sergeant.

The only trouble with these damn tents

is there's no doors to knock on.

Thomas, it's a pleasure to see you.

This is Mansfield French.

And when he's not busy saving souls

or helping run the mission school,

he finds time to tell me how to do my job.

- A pleasure, sir.

- I understand that you were recently

saving a few souls yourself, Colonel.

And now you're a soldier

answering to General Saxton as well as God, I expect.

- Some say the General is God, Reverend.

- Are you under orders

to force the Negroes into service, sir?

- I have no such orders, sir.

My mission here is to raise a regiment of Negroed troops.

- But not by force.

- We are hopeful they can be convinced to volunteer.

- Well some of the brigades have gotten them

to volunteer, Colonel, at the point of God.

- Then they will stop, Mr. French.

I resent the tone of this inquisition.

I have been a supporter of the Negro cause all my life.

(birds chirping)

Excuse me, Edmond.

We must meet on these matters later,

perhaps without the good counsel of Mr. French.

Good day, gentlemen.

- Good day, Thomas and welcome to Port Royal.

Mansfield, as soon as I have the authority

to raise my own diplomatic corps,

you'll be my first volunteer, I promise you.

By force, if necessary.

- [Sergeant] One, two. One, two.

One, two, one.

- And tomorrow, Sergeant,

I'd like to meet some of these Negro men

who're trying to volunteer into service.

- Yes, sir.

You should meet Hannibal, sir.

He used to be the overseer at the Lawrence place.

You could bring him in, the others will follow.

- Good. - One, two.

One, two.

- Miss Forten.

- Mr. McKim, gentlemen.

As you know, I've come to ask your permission

to go to Port Royal as a teacher.

Now I know I've been rejected before.

You refused me citing health problems.

But as you can see, I am now in very good health;

as fit I think as anyone in this room.

- Miss Forten, your uncle has asked us to review a matter

we had considered closed.

You must understand our concern for your personal wellbeing.

We cannot be irresponsible.

This doctor's report clearly indicates

that the state of your health

continues to be extremely precarious.

I'm afraid we must again deny your request.

- May we, for just a moment, consider something

that I consider much more important

than a question of health?

Thus far, all of the missionaries

that have been sent to Port Royal have been white.

Not one member of my race

has been allowed to join in this effort.

It is time to correct that little oversight.

- Now Miss Forten, I adore Negro.

What difference should that make to us?

- Well that is precisely the question I asked myself, sirs.

Abolitionists such as yourselves

must above all else believe in equality.

Now sending me would simply be profession

of your faith in this principle.

I am prepared to leave immediately, gentlemen.

(soft regal music)

(door knocking)

Come in.

- Excuse me, Miss Charlotte.

This letter has just come for you.

- Thank you.

"My dearest daughter,

how can I tell you how much I miss you?

My work to secure aid for our people

has kept me in England far longer than I had planned.

While I am making great progress,

I must pay the price of not seeing my beloved daughter

for yet another few months.

The support for our abolitionist cause is great here.

I've met many influential people

who are in sympathy with this.

Whenever I'm lonely, I think of you playing a lovely melody.

With all my love, your devoted father."

(frogs croaking)

- I now know what you mean about large mosquitoes, Rivers.

I'd only hope they'd take pity on me

of puttin' me outta my misery.

- (chuckles) Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Sometime they get so big, they can carry off a gator.

Well if we had mosquitoes attackin' the reb first,

we'll win this war in no time, sir. (laughs)

- C'mon.

C'mon.

- Lemme go.

Lemme go!

Lemme go! - Told y'all don't kill him.

- You leave my pa alone!

- Quiet!

Do as I say and no one'll get hurt.

- I ain't joinin' up.

You might as well kill me.

- What's the matter with you people?

Don't you understand there's a war on?

- What's going on here, officer?

- Just finding volunteers, Colonel.

- Was this man volunteering?

- No, sir.

(birds chirping)

- Well sir, some men take a little more

coaxing than others, sir.

- Move on out of here right now

and don't bother these people again.

- Yes, sir.

- Release those men.

You're Hannibal.

- That's my name, sir.

- I'm looking for volunteers.

- When I decide to be a soldier, I'll come on my own.

Until then, I'll just worry about feedin' my family.

- I understand.

(birds chirping)

(soft soothing music) (water lapping)

♪ Brother, you ought to been there ♪

♪ Yes my Lord

♪ A sittin' up in the kingdom

- [Charlotte] This is a very lush, beautiful land.

Hot and mosquitoes are plentiful.

While in Beaufort, I heard a lot of talk

of yellow fever and rebel attacks.

♪ A sittin' up in the kingdom

- [Charlotte] The men are now rowing us by ferry

to St. Helena Island.

As we move along,

the rich tones of the boatmen singing breaks the stillness.

♪ Roll Jordan roll

♪ Roll Jordan

♪ I wanna go to Heaven when I die ♪

♪ Hey roll Jordan roll

♪ Roll Jordan roll

♪ Roll Jordan

♪ Roll Jordan roll

♪ Roll Jordan

♪ I wanna go to Heaven when I die ♪

♪ Hey roll Jordan

♪ Roll

(water lapping)

- I know.

I felt the same way when I first came here.

Slavery's written upon everything, Charlotte.

You can't escape.

It's all around us.

Come.

(birds chirping)

(soft serene music)

(wagon rattling)

The challenge here is enormous, Charlotte.

But God is with us and also Reverend French,

you'll meet him soon.

He's been a great source of comfort and support to us.

He's also become a local legend for speaking his mind.

(soft serene music)

That's Blind Lilly and her four grandchildren.

We've been trying to get her to bring the children

to the school that we've organized, but she's afraid.

She thinks we're gonna take the children away from her

and sell them.

- Really?

- I'm not joking, Charlotte.

There's a great deal of suspicion here.

The people, they just wanna be left alone

to work the land that the planters left behind,

not go into the classroom.

And there's another problem.

While we're trying to earn the trust of these people,

some of the union soldiers

are trying to force the Negroes to join up.

We're hoping that the officer in charge

Colonel Higginson will stop. - Higginson?

Thomas Higginson from Boston?

- The Reverend French said

that he studied at Harvard Divinity School.

Do you know him?

- I suspected I do, Laura.

I always thought he'd follow in the footsteps

of his old friend, John Brown.

- Well he could be very important to us.

I think you should see him very soon, Charlotte.

(soft serene music) (wagon rattling)

(donkey braying)

- Laura, I had no idea.

- This is not like Philadelphia.

We abolitionists have led sheltered lives.

This will be your new home, Charlotte.

Oh and this is our friend Hannah.

Mr. French employed her to take care of the house.

(rooster crowing)

- I'm in charge of his house.

- She certainly is.

- Oh, I'll keep that.

- Tomorrow night, you'll meet some of the others.

I've invited Reverend French,

Mr. Pierce and Mr. Philbrick for dinner.

And of course now I'll certainly include Colonel Higginson.

I'll come back up as soon as you're settled, Charlotte.

- Ellen. (chuckles)

Oh, Ellen.

It's so good to see you.

- Charlotte, I'm so glad you're here at least.

How are you feeling?

- Oh, well I'm fine.

- Well after you get settled,

you must tell me all the news about Philadelphia.

- Good. I have so much to tell you, Ellen.

I can't wait to get started.

I've so many ideas.

Perhaps you can help me, Hannah.

- I don't have time to do nothin' 'cept run this house.

And I can't read, so I don't have no ideas.

Is that all, missus?

- You don't have to call me missus.

- Good,

missus.

- I said you don't have to call me missus.

- You wear clothes like that,

I expect that's what you wanna be called.

Down here, we don't have time to put on no airs.

- All my friends from Philadelphia dress this way.

It's not putting on airs.

- Down here, the only way you get clothes like that

is if you sleepin' with a buckra.

- A buckra?

- A white man.

I got chores to do and make your own bed.

I don't do beds for brown women.

(soft serene music)

(frogs croaking) (horse huffing)

- When the union soldiers first came,

they treated you no better than the planters.

That is over now.

I give you my word I will not tolerate it,

but we need soldiers.

You must volunteer.

- Sure. - Huh?

- Colonel stood up for Hannibal.

That ain't what we doubt.

But if I leave, who's gonna feed my family?

(people chattering)

Who's gonna feed Simons

and Lukes?

I wanna work my land.

(people chattering)

That's what freedom means to me.

- And what if the rebs come back tomorrow?

You'll be slaves again.

(people chattering)

The only sure way to keep your land

is to keep the rebs from coming back to this island.

I'll be honest with you.

There are more than a few in Washington

who don't think Negroes can fight, that Negroes can command.

I know it's hard that you should have to prove yourselves.

But if you do, you'll hasten the day of your emancipation.

I hope to stand beside you on that day.

Your freedom is now in your own hands, gentlemen.

Think about it.

- You seem to be gettin' through to 'em, sir.

(people chattering) (frogs croaking)

(serene retro music)

(fire crackling)

- I've been askin' around for you.

- Well ain't it free? (chuckles)

- Shh.

- Shoot, it must be cotton-pickin' time. (chuckles)

Food is ready.

- I brought you some salt.

- Oh, you didn't.

Bless your heart.

Oh, it ain't nothin'.

- It's likely a lie,

but they said we soon be ownin' our own land.

And some colored woman come down here to teach.

- What?

Colored woman?

- Yeah, from up north.

And she wear these hot knit frocks.

Thought she was white. (chuckles)

- Don't trust her, Hannah.

More than likely she tellin' everything you say

to some buckra.

- No, Joshua.

I don't trust nobody.

- You don't trust nobody?

- You. (chuckles)

- Well only way we gon' own our own land is if we take it.

It's moist and (inaudible).

(owl hooting) (frogs croaking)

- Shh.

- That ain't nothin' but a little ole bird.

Forget the bird, forget the bird.

Little old bird chase.

(Joshua imitating bird tweeting)

(Hannah laughing)

- [Group] A,

B,

C,

D. - And this group,

I'd like you to do your sums table.

- [Group] One plus one is two.

One plus two is three.

- Good.

- One plus three.

- And this group, I'd like you to read in your books

chapter three starting on page 41.

Can you find that?

Charlotte.

My goodness.

I wish you were here for more

than just a get acquainted visit.

Certainly captured their attention.

- Hello.

- [Students] Hello.

- Boys and girls, this is Miss Charlotte Forten.

She comes from Philadelphia, just like I do.

She's gonna be teaching her own class next week.

- Hello. - Hello.

- What's your name?

- Charlene.

- Charlene.

Well my name is Charlotte.

Charlene and Charlotte.

That's almost the same, isn't it?

You're awfully pretty, Charlene.

(students chuckling)

- Thank you, missus.

- I love your braids.

You know, Phyllis Wheatley,

a Negro lady poet used to wear her hair in braids sometimes.

- Missus?

- Yes?

- Missus, you have hair like a buckra woman.

- (chuckles) Oh?

Well perhaps you can teach me

how to braid my hair like yours.

Could you do that?

- No, missus.

But my mama can.

(students chuckling)

- Thank you, Charlotte.

All right, children.

Let's go back to our lessons on our slates this time.

Continue with your reading please.

- You got so many children.

- Only scratched the surface.

That's where you come in.

Getting parents to send their children

if they work in the fields hasn't been easy.

We're hoping you may have better luck.

- I think I can do it, Ellen.

- Perhaps you should wear a wig, Charlotte.

(both chuckling)

(crickets chirping)

- [Thomas] Charlotte was staggering.

(guests chattering)

- Forgive my tardiness, gentlemen, please.

- Charlotte.

- Thomas Higginson.

Why, not since Boston.

What a pleasant coincidence.

- Charlotte, lemme introduce you

to some of our other guests.

This is Mr. Pierce and Reverend French.

And of course you do remember Mr. Philbrick.

- Miss Forten.

- Reverend French, will you kindly offer the blessing?

- May God in his infinite grace and wisdom

bless our efforts here on this island.

May he protect us from the traps

of pride,

self-interest

and economic expedience.

Amen.

- Amen.

- Reverend French,

were you addressing the Lord or me in your prayer?

- I'm a man of God.

When he inspires me to speak, I have no need to insinuate.

I speak.

- And more often than is required I might add, Reverend.

- I would like to propose a toast to our new teacher,

success.

- Here, here.

- Thank you, Colonel.

Have you heard whether or not Mr. Lincoln

has made a decision regarding emancipation?

- Mr. Lincoln has a problem

making decisions about everything

including whether or not the Negro shall be a free man.

When Robert Smalls and I went to Washington to visit him,

he spent most of his time looking at the floor.

Smalls just kept talking to him, talking to him.

Lincoln finally looked up.

Well that was a victory, I can tell you.

(guests chuckling)

Mr. Philbrick here of course

has no problems with the indecisiveness.

His mind is fixed on the profit margin.

- Really, Mr. French?

- I'm not casting stones, mind you.

But Mr. Philbrick here owns three plantations

out on Coffin Point.

Now that may surprise you, Miss Forten,

if you thought the Negroes

were going to receive the land free of charge.

- Most of them can't even count to 10 yet.

I say when the time is right and when they're prepared,

then let them have the land.

Otherwise somebody will just take it away from 'em.

You're a sentimental utopian

without a foot in the real world, French.

- And you are a hardheaded economist.

- Philbrick is an abolitionist.

- I think he's a capitalist first.

- He is an abolitionist who is also a sound economist.

And I might add, my own personal choice

for the superintendent of Coffin Point.

- And I say that his motivation

is not primarily the abolition of slavery,

it's the profit from cotton.

- That is enough.

- Gentlemen, I'm sure the ladies would--

- Oh no no no, please.

I like to hear more.

I've disagreed before with Mr. Philbrick.

- What he's saying is not true, Miss Forten.

None of you may know of this or care,

but I've invested over $30,000 of my own money

in this experiment

and I don't have to sit here and be preached to.

Excuse me.

Ladies, Miss Forten.

- Mansfield, you are a deterrent to good digestion.

- I got to speak my mind.

- Well then don't pussyfoot about, French.

Speak frankly. (laughs)

(Charlotte chuckling)

(soft soothing music)

- Do they always fight like that?

- Constantly.

But I don't think what Reverend French said

about Philbrick is true.

Once you get to know Philbrick--

- Oh, I like Reverend French.

He's got fire.

- Yes, you would like someone who speaks his mind.

- Thomas, this doesn't seem like the right place for you.

I would've thought that you'd be teaching

at Harvard Divinity School

or have your own congregation in Boston or Salem.

- I had to make a decision:

do I fight for the abolition of slavery from the pulpit

or do I fight for it firsthand?

So

here I am.

- Well I'm fighting too in my own way.

These people have to be ready for what's coming:

emancipation.

Do you think we will ever see the day?

- We have to believe it will come and keep working for it

just as we did in Boston.

- You and I were always too much alike.

- Charlotte, I would like--

- Thomas,

you are my dear, dear friend.

- What brought us to this same island, Charlotte?

- We're both driven by the same force:

to work for emancipation, nothing more.

Goodnight, Thomas.

(soft soothing music)

(piano harmonizing)

(soft regal music)

(singing drowned out by piano)

♪ My Lord

♪ Whoa people

(choir vocalizing)

♪ Oh people (drowned out by piano) ♪

♪ My Lord

♪ My Lord God

♪ Oh people people people

(choir vocalizing)

♪ Oh people people people

(choir vocalizing)

♪ Oh people people people

♪ My Lord

♪ My Lord God

♪ Whoa I hear the thunder callin' ♪

♪ Lord I hear the thunder callin' ♪

♪ Oh I hear the thunder callin' ♪

♪ My Lord

♪ My Lord

♪ Oh people people people

(choir vocalizing)

♪ Oh people people people

(choir vocalizing)

♪ People people people

♪ My Lord

♪ My Lord God

- [Singer] Amen.

Thank you, Lord.

- Amen. - Amen.

♪ I got to move

♪ I got to move

♪ I got to move

♪ Hey

♪ But when the Lord

♪ Get ready

♪ You got to move

♪ Yeah sometime I'm up

♪ Sometime I'm down

♪ Sometime I'm low

♪ Down to the ground

♪ But when the Lord

♪ Get ready

♪ You got to move

♪ Yeah you may be rich

♪ You may be poor

♪ You may be high

♪ You may be low

♪ But when the Lord

♪ Get ready

♪ You got to move

♪ Yeah got to move

♪ You got to move

♪ You got to move

♪ But when the Lord

♪ Get ready

♪ You got to move

♪ Yeah hush my baby

♪ Don't you cry

♪ You know your mother is supposed to die ♪

♪ But when the Lord

♪ Get ready

♪ You got to move

♪ Yeah you got to move

♪ You got to move

- Last night, the singing seemed so strange and foreign.

How old memories crowd around one at moments like this.

Shall I ever see the dear ones up north?

(door knocking)

I wonder.

Come in.

- Good morning, Charlotte.

- Good morning, Laura.

- I brought you something.

This is the primmer that was given me by my father

on the very first day I was a teacher

and I would adore for you to have it on your first day.

- Oh, thank you, Laura.

What a truly thoughtful gift.

(soft serene music)

My first day in school.

And I will acknowledge that it is not very pleasant one.

Well I must not be discouraged.

Perhaps things will go better tomorrow.

Oh good morning, Mr. Lawrence.

- Mornin'.

- Mrs. Lawrence, I'm the new school teacher.

- We ain't got no children interested in no school.

- Yes, you do.

You have a son, Jacob.

- There's 18 acres of land to be tended here.

He gotta help his daddy.

Got no time to be playin' around at school.

- Oh, well it's not just restricted to children.

You could come yourself.

- What you teachin'?

- Reading, writing.

- They ain't gon' bring us no good crop.

- Well no, but that's not what I'm teaching.

I'm teaching how to hold this land as your own.

I can teach you how to make out a deed,

how to understand a contract, how to protect your land.

And if Jacob doesn't get some kinda formal learning,

well he's gonna be at a tremendous disadvantage

when he grows up and begins to farm his own land.

Mrs. Lawrence, don't stand there

and refuse to send your child to school.

He needs to know things.

- He know plenty.

He know the trials we been through.

I got chain marks on my legs.

Sold two times before I come to the Lawrence place.

Where your chain marks, missus?

- I don't have any that you can see.

(rooster crowing)

I'll be back.

Now you can refuse me over and over again,

but this is not the last time you'll see my face.

- I 'spect it ain't.

- Just give Jacob a chance.

(soft serene music)

(dog barking)

Well hello, Jacob. (chuckles)

I'm glad you came.

- Morning, missus.

- Do your parents know you're here?

- Yes, ma'am.

Mama said I oughta come to you for learnin',

so I won't be the end of the foot of no buckra.

She said she ain't sorry for what she said to you,

but I reckon she is.

Where is everybody?

- You're the only one who's come.

Well if you're to be my only student,

then I can devote my entire attention to you.

It'll be so much more pleasant that way, Jacob.

- How do we start?

- Tuck in your shirttail.

- Oh.

- [Charlotte] Do you know your alphabet?

- Some.

My Aunt Hannah, Papa's sister, taught me.

- She what?

I thought she couldn't read.

- Aunt Hannah can read.

Colonel Lawrence taught her when she was on his plantation.

- I see.

Well I guess we begin by seeing how much you can read.

Sit yourself down.

Let's go.

(rooster crowing)

Jacob?

- I can't read, missus.

Aunt Hannah taught me some but not enough.

Not enough to read.

- Well hold your head up, son.

Come on.

You know, my granddaddy couldn't read

and people laughed at him because he couldn't read,

but he worked very hard and he learned how to read

all by himself.

By the time he was 30 years old,

he had become one of the richest men in town.

After that, nobody laughed at him anymore.

- He a colored man?

- Yes, he was a colored man

and you are gonna do just as well as he did.

- One, one,

one.

One, two, one.

One.

- There's a rebel raidin' party down by the landin'

and ambushed three men.

Hurry, we gotta stop 'em.

- You men stay put.

We ain't takin' over no reb raidin' party.

Damn, I wish this platoon was fightin' reb.

- Sergeant? - Yes, sir.

- [Thomas] What is it?

- Reb raidin' party, sir.

We can't do nothin' with these men.

They ain't soldiers yet.

- You're right.

Take two men with you

and see if you can get Captain Johnson's brigade

at Coffin Point to intercept them.

- Expect they'll be gone by the time they get there, sir.

Fall in!

- We've got to stop these Confederate raids.

- We ain't got enough men to hold the island, sir.

- Then we'll cut them off at the source.

Somewhere in here is a Confederate supply depot.

That's where they get the provisions.

If we can destroy that supply depot, the raids might stop

and our troops will have the first chance

to prove themselves in combat.

I'm proposing this to General Saxton.

- Be good to get into action, sir.

- How soon do you think our troops will be ready?

- Give me a month.

But I think we need some extra help, sir.

- Extra help?

- Yes, sir.

I was thinkin' that Joshua could get us through the swamps

for a surprise raid on the rebs.

- Joshua.

- Yes, sir.

He was the one that stood outside the window

while you was recruitin'.

He ain't ever come in from hidin' in the swamps

even after the rebs left.

He's out there with a few men and his friend, Simba.

- I'm not in favor of using untrained personnel.

- Well sir, he is his own man.

That's for sure.

But he knows the swamps like the back of his hand.

- I'll consider it, Sergeant.

That'll be all.

(birds chirping)

- (chuckles) What you tryin' to do, turn white?

- Hygiene important, Mama.

Keeps you from gettin' sick.

Miss Charlotte say somethin'.

- I never can get you to wash your face.

How come she can?

- She says she want me at the school come morning clean.

- Ooh.

- Howdy, rascal.

- Howdy, Pa.

- Want your supper now?

- Might as well.

(father laughing)

What you learn in school today?

- 'Bout hygiene and readin' some.

- I want you to teach me what she teach you.

- [Jacob] I will.

- I want you to find out about

how to deal with those cotton people.

We depend on you for that.

That Forten lady?

She's got the same skin as you.

You can trust her.

Understand me?

- I won't let you down, Pa.

You know, Miss Charlotte sure is pretty.

- You just keep your mind on your book learnin'.

C'mon in.

Come along.

Hurry up now.

C'mon.

(soft serene music)

- [Charlotte] The days pass

and I wait trying to lift my spirits.

Jacob's determination gives me hope.

- Nobody comin', Miss Charlotte.

- No, not today.

Maybe tomorrow.

Well let's begin by teaching you how to write your name.

That's a good place to start.

(board screeching)

(soft soothing music)

You copy that.

Oh, Laura.

Here I am feeling sorry for myself.

Because as tired as I am,

I can't sleep and you haven't even been to bed at all.

- Nevermind that, Charlotte.

Reverend French has to have these reports of our expenses

by the morning so he can send them to Philadelphia

and that's that.

Not enough money.

That always seems to be the problem.

God certainly gave us a challenge, didn't he?

- Well I'm beginning to wonder if I'm up to it.

Here you are running an entire school

and I can't get enough students for one class.

- Oh, Charlotte.

I know it isn't easy.

But the simple matter of the fact is that parents

do not want to let their children leave the field

simply to sit in a classroom.

- Laura, there's more to it than that.

It goes much deeper.

I'm colored just like they are,

but they seem to be more ready to accept you and Ellen.

No, it's a question of trust.

I remember when Uncle Robert and granddaddy

would bring home a runaway slave

who'd come through the underground.

That look of fear in their eyes

as if they were afraid

their freedom might be snatched away at any moment.

But the thing that hurt the most, Laura, was the distrust.

Sometimes they wouldn't talk to me for days.

These people look at me that way, Laura.

- Trust and acceptance

has to do with more than the color of your skin, Charlotte.

It takes time.

- How much time do I have, Laura?

I cannot sit in an empty classroom forever.

- Oh Charlotte, Charlotte.

Is this the same young woman

who overcame every obstacle to come to these islands?

You won over Mr. McKim and the entire missionary board

in just one afternoon, remember?

We each have to prove ourselves

and you've been doing that all of your life.

In the end, your self-doubt will be your strength.

Now it's very late and I think we both can use some rest.

Goodnight, dear.

- Goodnight, Laura.

Laura? - Hmm?

- I am going to fill that classroom.

(intriguing retro music)

- [Reverend] Brothers and sisters,

from up north, sister Charlotte Forten.

- I'm the new teacher

and I've come to invite you all to my class.

Now you cannot have freedom without an education.

You must allow your children to come to school.

- "In

the.

In

the--"

- "In

the beginning."

- "In the--"

(Blind Lilly wheezing)

- I said no.

- But the school is free.

Your grandchildren may come anytime that they want to.

I'll even come to your home if you want me to.

- You talk like you was white.

- Well that's right.

I don't talk like you because I come from up north.

- You from Modesto?

- No, Miss Lilly.

I come from much further away than that,

but I wanna teach your grandchildren.

- Mm-mmm!

They don't leave this place.

They got work to do.

Sally, Marie, you better go get them chores done.

Nathan, go get that wood.

And Beatrice, you know what you got to do.

- Yes.

- And you,

(axe chopping)

you leave my young'uns be.

(hens clucking)

(axe chopping)

(intriguing retro music)

(goats bleating)

- One-two, one-two, one-two, one-two.

One-two, one-two, one-two, one-two.

One-two, one-two, one-two, one-two.

One-two, one-two, one-two, one-two.

One-two, one-two, one-two, one-two.

One-two, one-two, one-two, one-two.

- This is Hannah, sir.

- Sit down, Hannah.

First of all, I wanted to say

that no one's going to hurt you.

- Why you bring me here?

- I know you haven't done anything.

- Then what you want me for?

- I need your help.

I suppose you know we're looking for Joshua.

We need his help, his knowledge of the swamps.

We're all fighting on the same side.

Do you know where he is?

Nothing is going to happen to him.

I give you my word of honor

and I think my men will tell you that I keep my word.

- That's right, Hannah.

- Gonna have to do a lot to prove that to him.

- We're preparing to raid a Confederate supply depot.

It'll be a chance for our troops

to prove themselves in combat.

- Joshua already prove himself.

He got rid of plenty of rebs on his own.

Can I go now?

- Very well.

Sergeant Rivers will escort you back

to the Lawrence plantation.

(door knocking)

- Oh Thomas, come in.

- Evening, Charlotte.

- Did Hannah help you?

- Nothing.

(dog barking)

- She knows where Joshua is.

- But she wouldn't trust me.

- Well I'd like to help you,

but she doesn't trust me either.

I'll never forget what she said to me

the first day that I came.

- And what was that?

- She wanted to know what buckra I'd slept with

to get my fine clothes.

- I see.

- Buckra.

That word haunts me.

Do you understand, Thomas?

- Boston seems a century away, doesn't it, Charlotte?

- Yes, it does.

But I don't think that we cared less.

It's just that the challenges

were so much more philosophical then.

(birds chirping)

- Whoa, whoa.

- Hello there.

(Hannibal vocalizing)

Mighty big field to be workin' alone, Hannibal.

- Oh, it's not so bad. (vocalizes)

You figure you'll be workin' land

you'll be ownin', Mr. Philbrick.

- The government hasn't decided

whether they're gonna sell this abandoned property

to you or not.

This point, you're just a squatter.

- Well the way I see it,

squatters' rights must be worth somethin'.

With a crop to raise,

I can't wait around to see what the government's gonna do.

- You can't handle all this land by yourself.

I can help.

I'll bring men in here.

We'll start a real operation.

- What crop would those men be raisin'?

- Cotton, of course.

- I think that we can't do no business on that.

I done worked a whole lotta cotton for Colonel Lawrence

and I ain't never been able to need none of it.

Corn, tobacco, cows.

That's what I want these 30 acres for.

- Gonna be needin' money to buy these 30 acres.

If you were in with me,

you wouldn't have to worry about that.

- Mr. Philbrick, I may have been a slave.

But here and now saved me a bit of money.

I ain't worried about the money,

but I am worried about a crop.

(exhales) I gotta get this field plowed before sundown.

- Well if you change your mind, lemme know.

(birds chirping)

(cheek clicking) (soft serene music)

(Hannibal vocalizing)

- This could take a long time.

- This could take years, Miss Charlotte.

It's been three weeks, missus.

- [Charlotte] Nobody knows better than my feet, Jacob.

- Missus?

After emancipation and we get our land,

what're we gonna do with all this learnin'?

- Well it'll help you to think,

make your mind stronger so you can stay free.

But we've got to find a way to get the others in here.

- I don't exactly know how to say this, missus.

But people 'round here don't go by their mind too much,

they go by feelin's.

- Oh missus, my grandmother's real sick.

She says she don't want nobody to come,

but I think she's gettin' worse.

(birds chirping)

- She lookin' real bad, Miss Charlotte.

- My, she's burning up with fever, Jacob.

You gotta get help right away.

(Blind Lilly humming)

Lilly?

- Go on now, you do as they say.

You take that jenk and go right out to your father now.

It's a hot day and I know he's gettin' thirsty.

Well

you got to be my eyes.

That's right, child.

Your mama can't see no more.

You got to. (wheezes)

You got to. (wheezes)

You gotta, you gotta.

- Shh.

(Blind Lilly wheezing) (frogs croaking)

- Charlotte, I'm sorry.

(Laura drowned out by door squeaking)

- Oh Laura, I'm so glad you're here.

- [Laura] How is she?

- [Charlotte] Very, very bad.

(Charlotte coughing)

- It's pneumonia.

We'll have to do the best we can.

Charlotte, you should leave.

Your lungs are already weak.

You'd be risking pneumonia yourself if you stay here.

- Oh but Laura, I have to be free of my body.

Don't you understand?

I have to do this.

Now you have other people to care for,

other responsibilities.

You must go.

- All right, Charlotte.

When Hannah come.

- Hannah?

- Yes, Hannah.

She's as much an expert on homeopathic medicine as I am.

She just calls the plants by different names, that's all.

(frogs croaking)

- Who taught you cooking?

- A buckra.

- You don't look like you up to a lotta hard work to me.

- Oh Hannah please, don't fight me.

I'm not the enemy.

(frogs croaking) (choir vocalizing)

Oh, Hannah.

You're awake.

Good.

She seems to be having such a hard time breathing.

Can't we do anything more for her?

- See if you can get her to take some of these.

(Blind Lilly wheezing)

Ain't miracles except from God.

(choir humming)

- You that northern

woman?

- Yes, I'm that woman who won't mind her business.

- I thought you was my daughter,

Sarah.

You got little bones like a bird.

Any hour liken you was a big woman. (coughs)

Help me.

Help, help me.

- Oh no, Lily.

You shouldn't. - Help.

Help me sit up.

Help me. (wheezes)

- Pull the pillow.

(frogs croaking) (Blind Lilly wheezing)

- It been 40 years since I seen the sun.

I know it more than a warm feelin' on my face.

Like a speck,

I see it soon.

- Lilly, you're goin' to get better.

- Mm-mmm.

Let me see you, Charlotte Forten.

(frogs croaking)

Strange.

Strange.

Strange. (wheezes)

(frogs croaking)

- (winces) C'mon.

(Blind Lilly wheezing)

Okay.

You're okay.

(choir humming)

(Charlotte wincing)

(Charlotte coughing)

(soft somber music)

(soft cheerful music) (birds chirping)

- Miss Charlotte?

- Hmm?

- Is England a long ways away?

- Yes, it's way across the Atlantic Ocean.

My father's there now.

- What's he doin' over there?

- Looking for freedom.

- I might go there one day.

- Brought some tea for Jacob.

- Thanks, Aunt Hannah.

- Well who's the other cup for?

- Anybody who might want some.

- I see.

How do you like my new dress, Hannah?

- It's better than them fancy frocks you were wearin'.

Looks a lot more natural.

- Thank you for the tea.

- That was a pretty song I heard you playin'.

- Thanks.

(birds chirping)

Hannah.

Would you help me?

- What do you want?

- Well Colonel Higginson needs Joshua.

Please, please take me to him.

I think I can make him understand why he has to come in.

(soft regal music)

(intriguing retro music)

- Hannah.

- Josh, I know we could trust her.

- Been runnin' with that Higginson buckra, huh?

- Higginson needs your help.

- Higginson is my natural enemy.

Now don't you know if that man say,

"Joshua, you back in chains tomorrow,"

don't you know it be so?

I am free and ain't nobody gon' change that.

- But your people need you.

- My people.

Hannah, you hear that?

My people.

Well now

what do you know about me

or my people?

You, some northern school teacher.

Never felt the whip.

- There's no point in standing here

tryin' to prove who suffered the most.

What good does your hiding and your anger do anyway?

You have a chance to help.

Now those rebels have been shooting at colored folks too.

And if they come back--

- How do I know that I can trust you?

- I'll do whatever you say.

- You see that water right there?

Full of alligators.

Gators big as horses

come out 'bout this time of day for feedin'.

Mm-hmm, you do anything I say?

Come on then, let's me and you go wade.

C'mon, c'mon.

(water splashing)

Yeah, go on.

C'mon, put your foot on in there.

C'mon, here come a nice big one right now.

Yeah, yeah, I know him.

- Joshua!

- Yeah, got somethin' for ya there.

- Joshua! - Got somethin'.

I got a northern school teacher here.

- No, stop it.

- Said my people will do anything.

- Come on, Charlotte.

- (laughs) And Hannah,

make sure that Higginson buckra comes around here alone,

you hear?

Alone!

- [Reverend] Let us pray.

(crickets chirping) (dog barking)

This evenin', great God.

We thank you Lord for bringin' us through another day.

- Yes, Lord. - Yes.

- We praise you great God with everything you give us.

- [Congregation] Oh thank you, Jesus.

- We praise you Lord with our feet,

we praise you with our body

and we praise you with our hand.

- Yes, Lord. - Thank you, Lord.

- We don't feel no driver whip.

- [Congregation] Amen.

- We is free.

- Yes, Lord. - Thank you.

- Free.

Keep us free, Jesus.

- [Congregation] Yes, Lord.

- Keep us free until we are safe in the arm of Jesus.

Now Lord, we don't know why you no more Lord

with all of the trouble of this world.

But Father, just give us travelin' mercy

- [Congregation] Yes, Lord

- [Reverend] Until we are safe in the arm of our family.

- [Congregation] Yes, Lord.

- These and all other blessings we ask in Jesus' name.

Amen. - Amen.

- [Charlotte] Reverend Watson?

- [Reverend] Yes, child.

- Excuse me, sir.

But there's something I must say.

- But we done benedict.

- I won't take much of your time.

I know that you're all ready to leave.

- Very well.

Very well, child.

We'll hear what you got to say.

Brothers and sisters,

this is the new teacher at Penn School

from up north, Miss Charlotte Forten.

- Brothers and sisters.

When I first came to your praise house,

I didn't know what it meant to make a joyful noise

unto the Lord.

But you have taught this northern lady

how to praise God with gladness.

But you worship God with the freedom

that comes from the trust and belief that you have in Him.

- [Congregation] Amen.

- It is that freedom that I want to talk to you

about this evening.

Emancipation is coming soon.

Now you found freedom in the eyes of God

as you gave it up on the face of this Earth

for your masters.

Well President Lincoln is going to change all of that.

When the emancipation comes, you've got to be ready.

Now you won't be fighting with whips and chains,

but you're gonna be full citizens of this union.

You will be facing people who will take advantage of you

and your weapon against them is going to be learning.

You must learn to read, to write,

to count, to understand how to read a contract

to know how to buy land.

All I'm asking is that you trust me enough to believe,

believe that I can give you what you need

to hold onto your freedom.

Trust me to help you.

- Trust come hard to us, missus,

but we listenin'.

All the time we listenin' and hopin'.

- Missus, can I say somethin'?

- Of course, Jacob.

- When missus first came here, I felt the same as you.

I didn't trust her.

She taught me anyhow.

She cares about us, I know that.

"The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

He maketh me lie down in green pastures,

he restoreth my soul."

(congregation muttering)

How'd I do, missus?

- (chuckles) That's beautiful, Jacob.

Beautiful.

All you have to do now is practice.

(door knocking)

Oh, come in.

(serene retro music) (birds chirping)

Hello.

- We've come about the schoolin', missus.

- Come in, come in.

(intriguing retro music)

- Joshua!

I know you can see me, Joshua.

I'm all alone!

Where the devil are you, Joshua?

Joshua?

- Lookin' for me?

- Yes, I am.

I'm Colonel Higginson.

- I know who ya are.

I know everything before you even think it.

- I'd like to have you on my side.

- Well now why should I help and trust you?

You been lyin' to my people,

lyin' about land that they ain't never gonna own,

lyin' about a freedom Mr. Lincoln say they got

that they ain't never gon' see.

- I will not lie to you.

I can't guarantee what Washington will do or will not do.

What I can do is my job

and that is to keep the rebs from coming back.

My orders are to take the rebel supply depot down the river

and I need your help.

If those are lies, you can hold me personally responsible.

- Don't you worry, buckra.

I do just that.

(soft foreboding music)

- Miss Charlotte, how do you come to buy land?

- Are you thinking of buying some land, Jacob?

- Some day, but my pa's gonna buy some now.

- We're all hoping for some, missus.

- Well all right.

Well first you must have the money to purchase the land.

Once it's all paid for, you get what's called a deed.

Now the deed proves that the land is yours.

Before the deed is signed,

you find out if the land is clear.

- Got 30 Acres of good soil out there, Hannibal.

Emancipation's almost here.

Soon you'll be a free man.

Make decisions about that land.

You should grow cotton for me.

- Yeah, I thank you for your offer, Mr. Philbrick.

I intend to own that land for myself.

I saved up the dollar an acre I need.

- Hannibal, you don't know the first thing

about buyin' land.

- Well first, I needs the money I got.

And second, I make sure the title is clear.

There ain't no back taxes

'cause I don't want them problems for myself.

And third, I gets the deed and our files of Mr. Pierce.

- I see.

- I'm glad you do, Mr. Philbrick.

- Well you certainly got it all worked out, don't you?

All right, Hannibal.

If that's the way you feel about it, good luck.

I just want you to remember

you can always plant cotton for me.

- Well I thanks you anyway, Mr. Philbrick.

Good day.

Sir.

- Good day, sir.

(soft serene music) (birds chirping)

Good day.

- How'd I do?

- You sounded just like one of those government men, Pa.

- That's because I knew what I was talkin' about

thanks to you. (laughs)

- One.

On two,

on two,

on two.

- The way I see it if we deploy our men along this corridor,

we can intercept their forces and take them by surprise.

What do you think?

(rooster crowing)

- We go through the Pope plantation right here.

That's gonna let 'em out right around here 'round this farm.

Once we get through the swamp.

- One-two, one-two, one.

One-two, one-two.

(retro military music)

One-two, one-two, one-two.

Company

halt.

Right.

(birds chirping)

Present

arm.

Shoulder

arm.

Other

arm.

(shouts) Left.

- Colonel Higginson, gives me great pleasure

to present you with this flag

which henceforth will be your regimental banner.

- Three cheers for the first South Carolina.

Hip-hip. - Hooray!

- Hip-hip. - Hooray!

- Hip-hip. - Hooray!

- I hold in my hand

a proclamation from President Lincoln abolishing slavery.

With the rising of today's sun, you are free men.

(crowd cheering)

- Ten-hut!

- I, for one, could not sleep last night.

And when I saw the sun come up this morning,

I thought that this was the most glorious day

this country has yet seen.

Now let us take a moment to remember our fallen comrades

whose blood was spilled to protect your freedom.

This day is theirs also.

(birds chirping)

♪ My country

♪ 'Tis of thee

♪ Sweet land of liberty

♪ Of thee I sing

♪ Land where my fathers died

♪ Land of the pilgrims' pride

♪ From ev'ry mountainside

♪ Let freedom ring

(crowd cheering)

- I want you to enjoy, celebrate.

- Oh, thank you very much.

- Take some time for yourself now, Charlotte.

Promise?

- I promise.

(retro military music)

Hello there.

My, you seem to be the only ones here not smiling.

- (sighs) I can't see no reason for me

to be shoutin' my head off

just 'cause they hand us out to the free molasses

and tobacco heart attack.

- Now it means a little bit more than that to you,

doesn't it?

- You really think things gon' change, don't you?

Just 'cause Mr. Lincoln put some words on a piece of paper?

Charlotte, don't no buckra change his mind.

- Well it's only a piece of paper right now,

but you must believe in the future.

It's not all gonna happen at once,

but I think things have been happening much faster

than we ever could've hoped for.

- 'Least now you and me could be together.

- Now you're talkin'.

We gon' take that army pay and buy us some piece of land.

- Then you do have hope for the future.

- Only hope I have is that we beat the buckra

and I'm afraid that fight is just beginning.

- Ready now?

- Yes.

- Hold still, please.

(Joshua clearing throat)

(soft patriotic music)

- Yee-hoo! (laughs)

C'mon, y'all.

Miss Charlotte.

- Yes.

- I ain't a squatter no more.

- No, sir.

You're a landowner now.

- It sure feels good. (laughs)

- Lena, I hope the children are being helpful to you.

- Oh, they mindin' me just like they was my own.

I just wish Jacob was as good as them. (chuckles)

- Miss Charlotte?

- Yes, Beatrice?

- We just wanna say thank you

for all you done for all of us.

- Yes, Marie?

(gasps) Oh my.

Thank you.

(soft serene music)

- Papers signed tomorrow morning.

Charlotte, could you wait outside please?

- Oh that's all right, Edmond.

We can talk later.

- Just a moment, please.

I have something I'd like to say to you.

Reverend French was right.

You care for nothing but profit.

- Now see here, Miss Forten.

- You Boston businessmen have bought up 10 more plantations,

haven't you?

- It's all perfectly legal, Miss Forten.

- I'm not speaking about legalities.

I'm speaking about promises

that were made to these freed men.

They were expecting a fair share of the land,

a lion's share.

- Young lady, listen to me for a moment.

Please.

You've been unwilling to listen to reason

since our first encounter in Philadelphia.

Now the cotton plantations produced 100 pounds per acre

less this year than they did before the war.

There's no profit in that for anyone.

If this trend continues,

the government will confiscate all the land.

Believe it.

Edmond.

I'm the only hope these islanders have, Miss Forten.

- Well then God save them.

The devil take your soul. (coughs)

- You all right, Charlotte?

- How could I possibly be all right?

You've been lying to these people and you've betrayed me.

- No one has deliberately lied, Charlotte.

Didn't you listen to what Mr. Philbrick has said?

- Don't you quote that person in my presence.

I heard what he said.

The Boston businessmen turn a profit

and these people be damned.

- That is nonsense and you know it.

- I've been watching them as they've been buying land.

They'd been so full of hope.

I have led them to expect so much.

Well have I deceived them?

- Only history can answer that, Charlotte.

- Oh, Edmond.

Can't you do better than that?

- Charlotte, these people are going to have to learn

to live in a very complicated world.

There's a price for freedom, Charlotte.

- I thought they had already paid that price.

I'm going to them now, Edmond.

I wanna be with them in their joy because I love them.

(frogs croaking)

♪ Remember my mother

♪ Remember me

♪ Hallelujah

♪ Remember my mother

♪ Yes Lord

♪ Remember

♪ Me

♪ Yes

♪ Yes

♪ Oh

♪ Lord Lord

♪ Oh Lord remember

♪ Remember

♪ Remember

♪ Me

Oh, Lord.

♪ People in the valley

♪ Time

♪ People in the valley

♪ Time

♪ Oh people in the valley

♪ Time Lord

♪ Time rolls by

♪ Oh can't you hear him callin' ♪

♪ Time

♪ Can't you hear him callin'

♪ Time

♪ Can't you hear him callin'

♪ Time Lord

♪ Time rolls by

♪ Oh people people

♪ Time

♪ People people

♪ Time

♪ People people

♪ Time Lord

♪ Time rolls by

♪ Oh sicker sicker people

♪ Time

♪ People people people (Charlotte shrieking)

(frogs croaking)

(Charlotte coughing)

- Charlotte, you heard what the doctor said.

You're not getting better.

You're getting worse.

It's the climate, dear.

And you've been working yourself much too hard.

- No. (coughs)

- Charlotte,

you mean too much to us to allow you to destroy yourself.

- It's God's will that you go.

- I won't leave Port Royal. (coughs)

- We've already arranged for the passage, dear.

- (wheezes) God has blessed me with a strong mind

and then curse me with a weak body.

I have so much more to do here. (coughs)

Mansfield.

- Charlotte.

This isn't the end.

No, it's the beginning.

You're gonna be fightin' for all your people

for a long time after you're away from here.

- [Charlotte] Mansfield, pray for me.

- You'll be in my prayers every day, Charlotte.

- No,

pray for me now

and for my people. (coughs)

(frogs croaking)

- Dear Lord, we come to you seeking your strength

that we may show the way to thy people who have

suffered enough.

We ask that thou would help us to

help them retain their newfound freedom,

that they may be allowed to live their lives

the way they choose.

Thy servant in Christ, Charlotte Forten,

sustain her in the trials that are to come.

Let thy strength

be her strength.

Jesus' name we pray, amen.

- Amen.

- Now young lady, you get some rest.

(Charlotte coughing) (frogs croaking)

- So you leavin' us?

I know you in misery now.

I can understand that.

- I love the people here, Hannah.

- They know that better than you do.

And now if you have to leave,

we know what we can be because you showed us.

Come, sit up.

(Charlotte coughing)

Let me fix this bed for you.

- I would like to mount this attack as soon as possible.

What do you propose?

- We wait about a week and then it'd be dark of the moon.

We move by night down this river there.

We stay close to the high grass.

And when we attack that depot,

we hit it from the swamp side.

Now nobody ever expects you to come outta the swamp.

- What about water moccasins?

- Be careful.

Well they scared of you as you is of them. (laughs)

Old Simba here take care of all the snakes.

- All right, gentlemen.

Rivers, continue here.

I'm taking Miss Forten to the ferry.

(birds chirping)

- Really gon' miss that little lady around here.

(soft serene music) (wagon rattling)

(birds chirping)

- Charlotte, I--

- Oh, Thomas.

I will miss you deeply.

Your first battle next week and I'll be gone,

but I'll be praying for your safe return

from this dreadful war.

My future's with my people now.

They need me very much and I need them.

- After the war, Charlotte, we could serve them together.

- [Jacob] Miss Charlotte.

Miss Charlotte!

- Jacob.

Jacob, Jacob.

- I learned a lot from you, Miss Charlotte.

- I think I learned more from you, Jacob.

I wish you were coming with me to--

- Massachusetts?

- (chuckles) No, Jacob.

Phyllis Wheatley came from Massachusetts.

I'm the lady from Philadelphia, remember?

(Jacob chuckling)

Oh, I'm gonna miss you, every one of you.

Now Jacob, I'm counting on you.

Do you understand?

- Yes, missus.

I ain't never gonna disappoint you.

One fine day, I'm comin' to Phila,

Phila.

Philadelphia to see you.

- Well I'll be waiting for you, Jacob.

I'll be waiting.

(soft serene music) (birds chirping)

♪ Remember days past

♪ Remember me

♪ Remember days past

♪ Remember me

♪ Oh

♪ Lord

♪ Remember

♪ Me

♪ Remember

♪ Dying

♪ Days

♪ Remember

♪ Dying

♪ Days

♪ Oh

♪ Lord

♪ Remember

♪ Me

♪ Remember

♪ Me

♪ Remember

♪ Me

♪ Oh

♪ Lord

♪ Remember

♪ Me

(soft regal music)

(triumphant regal music)

(triumphant regal music)