ROSE: She's so, so pretty.
-What you gonna call her? -July.
-Yes, yes, I'll take her. -Massa, no, no. Massa, please. -Be off!
NIMROD: Morning, Miss July. My,
-how you all grow up. -Morning, Mr. Nimrod.
CAROLINE: You will not ruin this Christmas dinner for me, John!
It is high time we had some fun!
What's going on?
MILITIA MAN: The slaves are burning down the plantations.
NIMROD: This island ablaze.
Mama?
ROSE: You have a fine son.
JULY: A new slave.
Soon taken.
Mrs. Mortimer? Robert Goodwin at your service.
In just a few days, slavery,
that dreadful evil, will be finally abolished.
OLD JULY: Look at her.
The loss of her mama and of her baby boy
almost finish that girl.
Yet her hair be braided neat,
her dress clean, her face straight.
Only deep within them black, black eyes
might you catch a flash of pain,
swift as a doll with two faces.
But upon this particular evening,
if you watch her close-- come.
You might see her smile.
(fireworks exploding in distance)
(roosters clucking)
Oh, what on Earth was all that noise?
JULY: Big party, missus.
Everywhere. All over the island.
For... me is now free.
OLD JULY: Of course, freedom come at a price.
For the new queen in England say that compensation
must be paid to the slave owners, of course.
Come, Caroline even teach July to read and write
to keep track of this big, big money coming in.
Molly!
OLD JULY: And for the slaves, what they get?
Nothing. Not a penny.
-(sighs) -No matter how July rise up
above all the other houseworkers...
...still she get nothing.
What good be free...
if nothing change?
JULY: Leave it. Let me do it.
Go.
Get out, go on, before him come.
(rooster crows, birds chirping)
Are we quite ready?
-All ready, missus, all ready. -Good.
(exhales): Oh.
It's such a relief
to have a true gentleman come to us as overseer.
-At last, company worth keeping. -Mrs. Mortimer?
There you are, Mr. Goodwin.
Do take a seat.
Oh, thank you.
I hope your accommodation is satisfactory?
It's most satisfactory, thank you.
No, my needs are few.
In fact, I've just been making
my preliminary inspection of the estate.
(laughs): Oh.
How very industrious of you.
Bring the tea, Marguerite.
Yes, but I must say, Mrs. Mortimer,
the, uh, plantation is by no means running
as efficiently as it could.
And the workers' accommodation, that's in a dreadful state.
I've never seen such a number of miserable Black people before.
CAROLINE: Oh, is that so?
I had no idea.
(clattering)
Since my brother died, I'm afraid
I've found it quite, um, quite a struggle
-to manage the estate on my own. -Well, of course,
but in my opinion, Mrs. Mortimer,
the well-being of the workers
is the key to the success of a plantation.
Really?
Absolutely, madam.
In fact, my first suggestion would be to tell the workers
how fairly you intend to treat them,
especially now they're free to leave if they wish.
Are you quite, q-quite sure about that, Mr. Goodw--
Pour the tea, Marguerite.
Milk or lemon, massa?
Uh, milk, if you please.
Yes, I believe wholeheartedly that slavery is an abomination.
It's... The Negroes need kindness.
That's what my father told me.
"Take kindness to them, Robert,
and then you will have their love and respect."
Thank you.
Yes, my father is a man of God, you see, Mrs. Mortimer.
It was his wish that I come to Jamaica and help
cleanse this stain that slavery has placed upon England.
I see.
-Mmm. -And Mrs. Goodwin?
Oh, my mother passed away some years ago.
(laughs) I meant...
(exhales)
I don't mean to pry...
ROBERT: Oh, um...
No, I've not yet taken a wife myself.
(titters)
My father encouraged me to find my vocation first.
Oh, that's very wise, yes.
Leave us, Marguerite.
Yes, thank you, Marguerite.
Thank you, massa.
CAROLINE: I think he found me very charming.
Mmm.
His long elegant fingers, I bet he plays piano well.
Hmm.
He comes from a very good family.
Even has a baronet on his mother's side.
(exhales): Oh, and sparkling, bluest eyes you've-- All right!
That's enough, Marguerite. You may rinse.
(exhales)
-(bird chitters) -Mmm.
He's very tall, isn't he?
Very broad. Tall and broad.
He's handsome.
(Caroline speaking indistinctly)
Are you listening, girl?
I were just thinking about what the overseer did say,
that me can leave you now.
Any time me want.
Well, where would you go? Hmm?
Have you thought about that?
I mean, who would protect you? No, no, no.
-You'd starve, surely. -(scoffs)
You have a very easy life of it here, I can assure you that.
Most other workers on other plantations...
Oh! Oh!
Oh, bugger it. Bugger it!
OLD JULY: Not all the Negroes
were present to hear Robert Goodwin
when he did first address them.
Some already pack up and fled that plantation
to seek work elsewhere.
Others were still laid upon their beds with heads
too sore to listen on no bakra man.
He jump on top of the barrel.
-Come in, come in, come in. -(indistinct chatter)
Come in.
Come in, come in, come in, come in.
Mm. Him surely have some fine, fine boots upon him foot.
Hmm. Not a spot of mud.
Well, good morning to you all.
-(murmured greetings) -Good morning.
Now, as you're all no doubt well aware,
your mistress Mrs. Mortimer, has, by the grace of God,
-granted you your freedom. -(scattered cheers)
-Freedom! -But listen, listen.
You must remember that the houses
you live in, they don't belong to you.
No, they're the property of your mistress.
So, if you don't labor for your mistress as you've done before,
then you can't expect to remain in your homes.
-(scattered grumbles) -However...
Mm-mm. Him not tell truth.
Queen did command we stay in our house.
-Hush up, me want to hear. -Don't-a hush me.
...to work as before will be paid a fair wage.
Out of which you must pay a small rent for your homes.
Now, I know that some workers
have already left and your number is depleted.
Therefore, we need those good souls remaining to work hard,
so that the plantation of Amity may thrive
and prosper once more for your esteemed mistress.
And let us all thank God for this blessing of freedom.
And prove to Queen Victoria, to the people of England
and to your mistress, that you are worthy
of the kindness that has been shown to you.
Me no have to listen up no bakra no more.
ROBERT: Thank you. Thank you all for coming.
You may go.
You...
(clears throat)
Do you think, uh, you have restored their best feelings
towards me, Mr. Goodwin?
Absolutely, madam, yes.
No, I'm certain of it.
(thunder crashes)
CAROLINE: Marguerite!
There you are. Go to Mr. Goodwin's house
and ask if he cares to dine with me this evening.
We have beef. And I know he'll be interested in beef.
-But it be raining very hard. -No, never mind about that.
You must go now so we have time to prepare.
Rain soon stop, me go then.
No, it's only a little bit of rain, go now.
-But me can go later, so I... -At once!
Free? (sucks teeth)
-(scoffs) -(thunder crashes)
(panting)
ROBERT: Elias! Elias, quickly!
Stay out! Christ!
Oh, God, get them off me!
Oh, God, right, there's another one under there.
-Quick, Elias. Quickly. -ELIAS: Me have them, massa.
ROBERT: All right, right.
Right, there's another one here. Right there.
-Quick, I can see it there. There. Quick, quick. -ELIAS: Me have them, massa.
-Me have them. -Right, right. Put them in the box, put them in the box.
ROBERT: Quick, quick, quick, quick.
Okay, put them in the box.
-(panting): Right. -(box clicks)
Oh, uh, just one moment, we're just, um...
Just...
Oh, you're drenched.
Massa, me missus want to know, you come tonight?
Your mistress sent you out in this storm?
What-what could possibly be so important? I'm really...
-Box full, massa. -Right, well don't leave it there, Elias.
Take it away, please.
And don't leave it on the veranda like last time.
-Just kill them all and take them very far away. -But me find plenty more.
-You want to see, Miss July? -Please, Elias,
-for pity's sake, just take them away. -But massa...
Elias!
(exhales)
(panting)
(laughs)
Thank you.
-Mm-hmm. -And now you know how ridiculous
your new overseer is whenever there's cockroaches
anywhere near him.
(both laugh)
You can laugh all you like, it is terror.
Well, them just be bug-a-bugs, massa.
Plenty upon this island.
Them roused up by the rains, but them have no harm.
(chuckles): No be feared.
Well, I'm very feared of them.
Did I hear Elias call you something else?
Miss July.
Is that your name?
That be my true name, yes, massa.
And why does your mistress call you Marguerite?
Her think it pretty name for call a slave.
Oh, I see.
And may I call you Miss July?
Well, then, Miss July...
what's your message?
Me missus want you to come to dinner,
for she has beef must be eat up.
Right.
Well, I haven't had beef since I arrived here.
So yes, tell your mistress
that I gratefully accept her invitation to eat beef.
In her company, of course.
(chuckles softly)
Yes, massa.
Oh, wait. Um, let me give you...
(rain continues pattering)
...let me give you this.
(opens umbrella)
Thank you.
(thunder rumbling)
-♪♪ ♪♪ -(birds singing, chirping)
(exhales)
(laughs softly)
♪♪ ♪♪
CLARA: Oh.
Miss July, is it not?
You walking all the way back to Amity
this hot-hot day?
Miss-- Miss Clara. Good day to you.
You have no parasol, Miss July?
You be getting very dark.
You still working 'pon that plantation?
-Yes, but... -I could not abide
(laughs): still to be on a plantation.
The wife of a white man on a plantation?
Me husband would never allow it.
Your husband?
But you did not hear?
Mr. William Walker,
the attorney at Friendship Plantation.
Yes, him buy me a lodging house, me husband.
It be the big white house 'pon the corner
of Trelawney Street. You know it? Here.
(Clara gasps)
But me forget--
plantation slaves can't read.
-(hoofbeats approaching) -ROBERT: Whoa, whoa. Whoa!
Hello. Good day, Miss July.
Are you on an errand for your mistress?
Surely be, massa.
ROBERT: Well, then may I drive you back to Amity?
I've finished my business here.
I'm heading there now.
Yes.
-Yes. -Come.
Thanking you.
Good day to you, Miss Clara.
♪♪ ♪♪
OLD JULY: From up high,
in the front of that fine carriage,
the world did look very, very different
to our July.
And she found herself thinking
how Miss Clara had come up in the world...
and of how she get there.
♪♪ ♪♪
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
(horse whinnies)
-Massa, have you... -You know... Oh, no, please.
Please.
-Me was... -(clears throat softly)
...just thinking.
Have you...
ever been to Scotch land, massa?
Uh, no, I haven't, no.
Heard it's very beautiful, though.
-(laughs softly) -Why do you ask that?
My papa be from Scotch land.
Your father was a white man?
Oh, yes.
Me be a mulatto,
not a Negro.
ROBERT: And what was his name?
JULY: Me papa be Mr. Tam Dewar.
He was the overseer here?
-Yes. -Yes, right.
JULY: Him be a fine overseer.
And your mother?
Her name be Kitty.
She...
she work in the first gang.
She...
(laughs softly)
She was tall...
and strong.
And was Tam Dewar married to your mother?
Them...
them both killed, massa, in...
(clears throat) the riots where...
where did happen, mm...
I'm so sorry. I'm so...
(July gasps softly)
-♪♪ ♪♪ -(birds chirping)
I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry.
I-I didn't mean that.
(whispers): It's all right.
Let me help you down.
-Oh, uh, ooh, ooh... -Ooh!
(both chuckle)
(both panting)
Uh, I have a book on Scotland.
Perhaps you'd allow me to show it to you one day?
-(exhales) -Thank you, massa.
Me surely will.
(panting)
Wha', catchin' flies, Molly?
ROBERT: Hyah!
(horse neighs)
♪♪ ♪♪
This one needs mending.
And this one.
These undergarments-- look.
The silk here is almost in shreds!
(July gasps)
-The rats been at them, missus. -What?!
-Them like chew the sweaty parts of the pants... -Oh, stop!
Just have them...
washed and mended.
(breath seething)
(Caroline exhales)
A gentleman surely deserves
the company of a lady.
Mm. Him surely do, missus.
-(humming a tune) -(knocking)
MOLLY: Water.
JULY: Put it here.
Your missus catch you in that, she gon' get you lash.
Well, she not gon' catch me.
(mumbles)
Where you be going in it?
Fishing.
(chuckles) Going catch me
a big old fish, so me never need dirty me hand no more.
(sighs)
(July starts humming, then stops)
What you look at me for?
-Come on, out! -(grunts)
Goodbye!
Oh! Hey!
♪♪ ♪♪
(July clearing throat conspicuously)
(Robert sniffs)
Miss July.
Uh... (chuckles softly)
Sorry, must have just, um...
just for a moment.
Uh, do you have a message for me?
No, massa. Me come to see the book.
The book?
With picture of Scotch land,
-where me papa be from. -Oh, yes, yes.
Yes, the book.
Um...
(book thumps)
(pages flip, book closes)
This be your papa?
Yes, that's right, that's him.
Huh.
Ah.
Here we are.
Let's see.
-(flipping pages) -Hmm...
Here.
-Mm. This is Scotland. -(chuckles)
JULY: Mm.
Be this where my papa live?
(chuckles)
Well, no, I doubt it. That's a castle.
-Oh. -(chuckles)
No, let's see if there's something more...
(flipping pages)
-Yes. -Hmm.
This is probably more the sort of thing.
Hmm.
This be my papa house?
Well, not this one exactly, no, but...
something similar.
ROBERT: Hmm.
And...
...what be these?
(Robert exhales)
Sheep.
(Robert panting)
And what be sheep?
(Robert exhales)
(gasping breaths)
(objects clatter)
Oh, no, no, no.
No, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.
I shouldn't have done that.
-No, no, it be right, massa. -No.
No, no, no. It's very, very wrong.
-It's very wrong. -(sighs)
My, um...
My father would not approve, you see.
But your papa is not here.
No. He-he has the highest contempt
for white men who abuse their position with Negroes,
-you see... -But me is a mulatto.
(exhales): Oh, God.
(chuckles) He sent me here to do good.
He will never know. Hmm?
-Please, July. You have to leave. -No, massa.
You have to leave. I'm sorry.
-You have to leave. -Why?
Because you're too beautiful.
You're too good.
-Why don't... -No, you have to leave.
Please leave.
Just leave.
(Robert breathing loudly)
I will not give in to this, Father.
I will not give in to this, Father, I promise you. Right?
I won't give in to this.
I promise you, I won't give in to this.
(groans)
(Robert sighs)
OLD JULY: Let me whisper you a truth.
(sighs)
(laughs)
OLD JULY: This is not the way white men usually behaved
upon this Caribbean island.
(birds singing)
For many weeks after that,
Robert Goodwin did stay away from the Great House
until July fear she may not see him again.
(clears throat)
Hmm.
♪♪ ♪♪
OLD JULY: Until finally,
Caroline could stand it no longer.
She demand his attention.
(indistinct chatter)
Give me help.
Uh-oh.
-Missus. -(indistinct singing)
-Oh, what she be after? -(indistinct shouting)
JACKSON: Let's go! Make it snappy!
ROBERT: This is all being planted up and fertilized.
And the first gang are planting 3,000 holes a day,
which, uh, works out
-at over six acres a week... -(cow lowing)
which, according to my research, should should give us
a very healthy profit indeed, actually.
(Caroline coughs, clears throat)
-I must say, it's terribly, uh... -(whip cracks)
-Move! -Oh, that's just the manure. -Oh.
But I guarantee you, Mrs. Mortimer, at this rate,
we shall have the finest sugar crop in all of Jamaica.
-(cow lowing) -Oh, I think I...
Perhaps I'd better s-sit.
Are you all right, madam?
Oh. Oh. You all right?
(singing and shouting continue)
CAROLINE: As a plantation owner, of course,
I am interested in the management of...
my estate, and yet, as-as a lady,
sometimes I find it a bit of a challenge.
Yes, well, let's, um... let's get you into the shade.
Here, missus. You can lean on me.
No, one hand's plenty, Marguerite.
(singing and shouting continue)
OLD JULY: July knew
those blue, blue eyes of his still be hungry for her.
Mm, mm, like...
OLD JULY: But what?
What was he waiting for?
CAROLINE (in distance): Marguerite!
(bird squawking)
Marguerite!
Come.
(July laughs softly)
Listen,
you must know, right?
I-I can't hide it from you.
I love you.
What?
I love you. (laughs)
Listen.
I've, uh... oh, I've made a plan
that I've just this minute set into action.
What plan?
It will work. I promise you, it will work.
Oh.
T-Tell me.
-Tell me. -I'm about to.
-Mm-hmm. (laughs) -I will. I will.
(July laughs)
Soon. I'll explain soon.
-All right? -All right.
Go, go, go.
(Robert pants)
CAROLINE (laughing): Marguerite! Where are you?
Oh, there you are!
What are you doing?
Yes, come at once, Marguerite!
Quickly!
-(cock crowing) -(distant chatter)
There is so much to be done.
We must go into town first thing tomorrow morning
to the dressmaker's, of course,
and then there are cards to be printed,
and we need to order a cake, the finest cake.
Isn't it the most exciting news?
Oh, I didn't tell you.
I am to be married.
(July gasps)
I am to be married to Robert Goodwin. (laughs)
Oh. Come. There's so much to be done!
(footsteps retreating)
OLD JULY: What fool-fool dream had our July been nursing?
(applause)
-(glasses clink) -(crowd chatter)
Caroline wasted no time
in becoming Mrs. Robert Goodwin.
(bubbling)
Eight letters had Robert received from his papa,
urging him to take a wife and start a family.
"Only a married man might taste the joys of love,"
his papa say.
And having guarded his virginity all these years,
now on his wedding night,
oh, how ready he was to taste them joys.
I must confess I thought
I should never again be blessed with love.
God has smiled upon me, Marguerite.
Oh!
I am to be the happiest woman on the whole island.
(Caroline gasps, sighs)
That'll be all, Marguerite.
(door closes loudly)
(cries, groans)
(crying)
Oh.
Mm.
(exhales loudly)
(clears throat)
(sighs)
(squeals, giggles)
-Oh. (clears throat) -(knocking)
(insects chirping and trilling)
(knocking)
(door squeaks open)
Massa. Oh.
(door closes, locks)
What you be doing here?
(July gasps)
I think I've loved you ever since the moment I saw you.
Every scrap of love I possess,
every scrap, I lay before you now.
Will you have me?
(Robert moaning)
(July panting)
(Robert panting)
ROBERT: Sorry. Sorry.
Sorry.
(July gasps)
(Robert panting)
(Robert moans)
(clock ticking)
(both moaning)
ROBERT: Oh, God.
(distant moaning)
-Ah. Ah. Oh, my God! -(moaning)
Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah!
-Shh. Shh. Shh. Shh. -(moaning continues)
(both laughing)
-(birds singing) -(roosters crowing)
(rooster crowing)
Mm. I must go get the missus' breakfast.
No. No, no, no, no, you're not to leave the bed.
Huh? I must go.
No, you're not to leave this bed.
She need her food.
No, she can feed herself.
(both laugh)
-It's true, but... -Yeah.
(both laughing)
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
(indistinct chatter)
(chatter continues)
(door creaks)
(rooster crowing in distance)
Breakfast, missus.
(sighs)
(clock ticking)
That be all?
(indistinct chatter in distance)
(sighs)
Something's come up in the, uh, mill yard, apparently.
So I'll miss breakfast, unfortunately.
But, um...
I'll be back for lunch.
All right?
(door creaks shut)
(screaming)
♪♪ Hill and gully rider ♪♪
♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
-♪♪ Hill and gully rider ♪♪ -♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
♪♪ And I been down, low down ♪♪
♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
♪♪ And I low down, bend down ♪♪
♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
-♪♪ Hill and gully rider ♪♪ -♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
Go on!
♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
-♪♪ And I been down, low down ♪♪ -♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
(shouts happily)
Thank you, boys.
♪♪ Hill and gully rider ♪♪
♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
♪♪ Hill and gully rider ♪♪
♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
♪♪ And I low down, been down ♪♪
♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
♪♪ And I low down, bend down ♪♪
♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
Move it!
♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
(woman groans softly)
♪♪ Hill and gully... ♪♪
OLD JULY: Robert know he could not marry a Negro.
It would break his papa's heart.
But this arrangement
would be just fine.
-♪♪ And you better mind, you tumble down ♪♪ -♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
♪♪ And you tumble down, you broke your neck... ♪♪
I said, move it!
Hey!
We be slaves no more!
It would bring benefit to both women,
pride to his papa,
and pleasure to himself.
We be slaves no more.
-JACKSON: Move! -(grunts)
(horse neighs)
We be free now, just like you.
And we dance to no lash.
(horse whinnies)
-Hyah! -(horse neighs)
Go along!
-♪♪ Hill and gully rider ♪♪ -♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
♪♪ Hill and gully rider ♪♪
♪♪ Hill and gully... ♪♪
OLD JULY: And, of course, Robert's marriage meant
that he was no longer just an overseer,
but now lord,
master...
and owner of Amity.
♪♪ And you better mind, you tumble down ♪♪
♪♪ Hill and gully ♪♪
♪♪ And you tumble down, you broke your neck ♪♪
♪♪ Hill and gully. ♪♪
(insects chittering, chirping)
(takes deep breath)
I was thinking after dinner
we could spend some time together in the music room.
I'm afraid I have work to do after supper.
I need to, um...
go over the books with Jackson.
It's been so very long
since we had an evening together, husband.
It's been months.
You wouldn't see the place go to rack and ruin,
-would you? -Mm. No, of course not.
I... do think that...
Then perhaps tomorrow evening.
Clear these, Marguerite.
Yes, missus.
My dear, you do know that Marguerite is not her name?
What?
No, her name's Miss July.
(Caroline takes deep breath)
Well, I've always known her as Marguerite.
Ever since she was a tiny girl.
Nevertheless, that's not her name, is it?
Her name is Miss July.
So we should address her as such.
Miss July?
Am I expected to take tea with her of an afternoon?
Shake her hand?
(laughs): Inquire about her family?
Caroline, could you speak in a lower register?
Missus.
And for you, massa.
Thank you, Miss July.
Miss July?
Do we have any pickle to go with this cheese?
Surely, massa.
What kind of pickle you want?
Um...
something hot, I think.
We only have sweet, massa.
But I can get hot pickle in the market.
-(takes deep breath) -Miss Essie, she have
-the best hot pepper pickle in town. -Does she, now?
Mm.
Well, I'd very much like to taste
her hot pepper pickle.
(chuckles softly)
(snickers)
Come and sit with us.
What could possibly be the harm?
Come and sit down.
-No! No! No! No! -(slams table)
Thank you, massa,
but me must return to the kitchen.
-(insects trilling) -(July laughing)
Stop it.
(laughs): Stop it.
H...
Get off, you.
-(playful groaning) -JULY: Aw.
Mm-hmm, you want to play games? Mm-hmm.
(Robert snorts)
Hmm.
-(laughs): Well, stand up. -Ah.
-Some sleeves. Mm-hmm. -Oh, yes, please, yes.
(Robert chuckles)
-I look like a beekeeper. -(laughing)
Why are you making me your beekeeper?
So you can go out and work hard.
You know, I've never been happier
than in this room with you.
You are my true wife, July.
And you are my big, big, blue-eyed husband.
(laughs)
Mm.
To work, then.
JULY: Mm-hmm.
ROBERT: Have I got everything?
Don't be long.
(laughs)
Come back!
I missed you!
(man speaking indistinctly)
Jackson.
How's everything on my estate?
Good morning, Mr. Goodwin.
ROBERT: This field should be finished by now, surely, no?
Where are the others?
Since they've been freed,
the lazier they've got.
Well, send someone to find them, and get them to work.
We can't afford to let things slip,
even for a few days.
Savvy?
Good. (clicks tongue)
(birds singing)
(broom bristles whooshing)
(indistinct conversation)
-JULY: No. -Yes. All right.
♪♪ ♪♪
(whispers): All right.
♪♪ ♪♪
(gasps softly)
(sobbing)
(baby crying)
(stops crying)
-ROSE: Mm-hmm. -(fussing)
Mm-hmm.
Go and see your mama.
-Who this? -Who this?
(Rose chuckles)
You never seen skin so pale.
(baby fussing)
This be good medicine.
Soothe the memory of your first child.
(rapid steps approaching)
(door creaks open)
ROBERT: Oh, thank God you're safe.
(panting): Oh, thank God.
And the baby?
(whispers): A girl.
-Girl. -A girl.
-ROSE: Mm-hmm. -(baby fussing)
(Robert panting)
(Robert chuckles)
Hello.
Oh, she's perfect.
You're perfect. It's perfect.
My, um...
my mother's name was Emily.
Do you think...?
Emily be a fine name.
(July laughing)
♪♪ ♪♪
(Robert chuckles)
♪♪ ♪♪
OLD JULY: I wish I could end my story here.
But... no.
(girls laughing nearby)
LILIAN: Girls, teatime.
Come in now. Come on in
and wash your hands.
(girls laughing)
Go on.
Tea?
OLD JULY: It was not long after the birth of Emily
that Amity's fortunes did flounder
and the trouble with the new massa begin.
(shell sounds)
(indistinct chatter)
ROBERT: Now, as you know,
three fields of cane are ready to be taken off.
So we must work quickly to get the job done.
However, since there are fewer of you working here now,
I will need you all to work seven
full days a week from now on.
(overlapping arguing)
That's every person over the age of ten years old,
man and woman, understand?
Must work seven days a week, otherwise the crop will spoil.
-It be Christmas. -We promise
-time off! -Yes, no, I know that.
The crop is ready now, so we must harvest now.
If we wait until after Christmas, the crop will spoil.
-You see? -But me go see my wife.
Massa, five days a week we work for you.
DUBLIN: Five days it be.
Yes, but five days is not enough
to take off a sugar crop, is it?
The cane will rot in the fields.
Come, James, you're a good Negro.
You know this to be true.
Tell you what, massa.
Every one of us in health, we work five days for you.
-And we work hard. -(workers murmuring)
No, it must be seven days.
Do you hear me, boy?
(clears throat) Just until the crop's in.
Yes, massa, me did hear you, but...
me said five days!
We must have Christmas off.
PEGGY: Five days only!
-We work hard five days. -Yes, but remember, if you
do not work when required, then you will not be paid.
If you cannot pay your rent, you cannot stay in your homes.
-We built them house! -Our queen tell us we stay in we house!
Yes, but all free people, even white people in England,
they all work for wages, as and when required by their masters.
Look... look, I will give you some time to think this over.
But I suggest you think very, very hard.
(grunts)
(all muttering)
-(Emily crying) -You tell the massa
him think very hard.
We slaves no more.
Why you make trouble with him for?
Is only till crop be over.
Don't be fool just 'cause you have him pickney.
-Bakra all the same. -No.
Him different.
Him be good and him be fair.
(indistinct chatter)
(Emily cooing)
Emily?
Oh.
(Emily babbling)
ROBERT: Let's have some food.
(July laughs)
ROBERT: Aw...
(July gasps) Mmm.
Me thinking, husband,
about the Christmas working.
Maybe it help if you just talk to the workers.
I've talked to them.
(Emily babbling)
And I've always treated them well, so I don't know why
they're being so disobedient.
'Cause, husband, it be Christmas.
Them want to see them family.
-Them want to work them gardens. -Well, I can't help that, July.
The crop's ready now. It's ready now!
Yeah, but Mary Ellis have her son Alfred come.
Him work many days for see her.
First time since him taken from her.
Them been planning this for many, many months.
Yes, but they...
they can visit them-- that's the point.
They can visit them after the crop's in.
Yes, yes, but for that, them must trust you.
Many white massas not tell the truth.
Them tell lie.
-When have I--? -You is different.
I know you be different.
So show them.
(indistinct chatter)
Ezra.
How are you? Are you well?
Well, massa?
Yes, because I have a proposition for you.
If you were to work seven days a week for me,
I would pay you a very good wage.
And I would give you time off once you finished.
Now how about that? What do you say to that?
But, massa, me no can work Christmas.
Me go Unity.
See me pickney.
Me must walk a long, long, long way.
Yes, yes.
Yes, that's what I'm saying.
Yes, you could, you could visit them
after Christmas-- that's my point.
Hey!
Come on, Ezra, will you not just do as I suggest?
Come on, say you will and that will be an end to it.
No, massa, me no can do.
(all muttering)
Mary, Mary.
It be Peggy.
Peggy, yes, Peggy, yes, no, I know.
Peggy, of course, of course.
Now you'd be willing to work seven days
-for me, wouldn't you? Yes. -(Peggy groaning)
(chuckles) You surely wouldn't let me down.
Massa, no!
Me want to go Joncanoe.
Long time I plan it, massa, hmm?
Me make special dress.
Cannot work, massa, man, cannot work.
She says she wants prepare for her special party.
Dublin?
Now come on, man, you understand, hmm?
(chuckles)
The boiling houses must be supplied with cane.
Is that not correct, Dublin?
This is for the good of us all.
But, massa, it be Christmas.
And me must go to church to praise the good Lord.
(laughter)
Dublin at church.
-(laughter, clamoring) -He said he must go to church.
Yes, I know what he said, I know what he said.
JAMES: ♪♪ Christmas a come, me wan me lama ♪♪
♪♪ Christmas a come, me wan me lama ♪♪
♪♪ Christmas a come, me wan me deggeday ♪♪
-Wait, husband! -♪♪ Christmas a come ♪♪
-♪♪ Me wan me deggeday... ♪♪ -Wait!
♪♪ Not a hat on me head me wan me lama ♪♪
♪♪ Christmas a come me wan me lama ♪♪
♪♪ Christmas a come me wan me lama... ♪♪
-Go! Go! -Wait!
♪♪ Christmas a come me wan me lama ♪♪
-Go, go. -♪♪ Christmas a come me wan me lama ♪♪
♪♪ Not a hat on me head me wan me lama ♪♪
♪♪ Not a hat on me head me wan... ♪♪
(insects trilling)
(exhales)
(chuckles)
(muttering)
His father's quite wrong, you know.
I told him, Negroes, they cannot be reasoned with.
He's tried everything he can to treat them fairly,
and look how they repay him.
His father's never even met a Negro.
They will never be civilized.
And they won't rest until
every planter in Jamaica is ruined.
Husband?
-(huffing) -Hmm?
Come in now.
You work too hard.
You must rest.
How can they be so ungrateful, hmm?
Come.
See Emily, come.
No, July.
I'm make those niggers beg to work for me.
I'll make them beg.
(huffs)
♪♪ ♪♪
OLD JULY: Though the wind be calm that night,
and the sky be clear...
...July did feel a great storm coming.
♪♪ ♪♪
Let's put the past behind us, right?
And let's come together.
(crying)
Me no have to serve you no more.
-(paper rustling) -JAMES: We stop work.
And we pay no rent!
-MAN: No rent! -WOMAN: No more rent!
May God protect and help us this day as we do thy work.
-Come on, yah! -(indistinct shouting)
Where be the massa?
ELIAS: Massa in the east field!
Him not right, Miss July!
He does not want to see you.
He said so himself.
(groans)