Roots

You are Kunta Kinte.

Behold!

The only thing greater than yourself.

The first duty of a Mandinka warrior is to raise a family.

It's time your family paid for all the trouble

they have caused me, Kunta.

Run!

Sell the boy to the British with the other captives.

- No more running for you, boy. - No! No!

No, please don't!

I'm so relieved you're gonna make it.

My name is Belle.

Let's make it official.

I never thought I'd be able to have another child.

I'll protect our child.

Kizzy, I think I was selfish

to have you born into a world like this.

Don't worry, Fa. You trained me well.

Kizzy! No! No, Kizzy!

No!

Run!

Kizzy!

Where the hell do you think you're going?

This is my right!

Help me!

I'm gonna name you after my daddy...

George Lea II.

Seems hotter today than yesterday.

Yes, Massa.

Sky just sits on you.

When I was a boy, I'd spend a day like this

just sitting buck naked in the creek.

_

_

Why are you here?

He pretty. I wanted to touch him.

He could scratch the prying eyes from your head.

I'm gonna tell Massa Tom to beat the hell out of you.

Make sure you stay away from my chickens.

Now get!

Mama.

N-Not in my front of my boy, Massa Tom.

Get up, George.

You need to learn!

George, what'd you do? What... What'd he do, Massa?

Little monkey keeps bothering Mingo,

messing with my birds in the range walk.

Mingo's got too much work to do, boy.

George, them birds will hurt you.

You scared of them birds?

Then I'm gonna put your yellow ass up on the wagon

when Mingo and me go out and fight.

You're gonna help.

Mingo don't like children.

He... He don't like people.

Get your clothes on, boy.

You look pretty in this light, Kizzy.

Please. He watching us.

Can I hold the bird, Massa Tom?

You do what Mingo tells you to do.

And you be on your best behavior,

or I'll sell you to Cherokee savages.

Oh, Fa.

Papa, he trying to take my boy.

Massa Tom, why you start fighting chickens?

Gamecocks, George, not chickens.

And I fight them 'cause they're magic.

Carried me from a backwoods shack

with 10 brothers and sisters...

Abracadabra.

Bought my own farm.

Bought my first nigger.

His name was George, like yourn.

Tough old boy. Died too fast.

He my daddy?

Your daddy's long gone.

No-account white man passing through.

Gave you that yellow skin.

Second nigger I bought was Mingo.

Best move I ever made.

Wants this all clear by sundown.

See that land over there?

Biggest farm in Carolina ain't enough

for Mr. William Byrd.

That bastard hates me 'cause I'm Irish

and 'cause my daddy was backwoods poor.

Thinks he knows who I am.

He don't know a damn thing about Tom Lea.

Thinks he's prince of Caswell County.

Hell, I'm gonna be king of Caswell County.

Pay what you owe, Irish!

I'll pay you in a week!

Oyez! Oyez!

Whoa! Hit him! Don't tickle him!

Ooh!

Oyez! Oyez!

The main match... a struggle to the death.

I give you Tom Lea...

Yeah! Whoo-hoo!

...and Farnie Deets.

Bring that cock to the pen, Mingo.

You get him, Mingo!

Let's go, Mingo!

Look at my Red.

- You ever seen anything so beautiful? - Unh-unh.

- Huh? - Yeah.

- Gonna bring me luck, boy? - Yes, Massa.

Go and add $200 to my bet.

Bill your cocks.

Come on now, Mingo!

- Step back, gentlemen. - Come on, Mingo!

Step back.

- Come on, boy. - Come on, Mingo!

Pit your cocks!

Go, Red!

Come on.

Come on!

- Come on! - Come on!

Come on!

Get him, Red!

Ah, shit!

Mingo, what the hell you doing, boy?

Fight them cocks.

Come on, Red!

- Come on, Red! - Fight the cock, boy!

Red! Come on!

Come on!

Come on, Red!

Come on, Red!

Get him! Come on, boy! Get him!

And the match goes to Tom Lea!

Ah, yeah!

Yes!

Yeah!

What a row!

Nobody beats my Red! Nobody beats my Red!

Nobody beats the Red! Nobody!

Yeah!

- Good job, there, Mingo? - Attaboy, Mingo!

- Yeah, Mingo! - Come on.

Hey! Mingo!

Oh, I love your money, boys!

You can all win it back at the next county fair.

Mingo, big Red all right?

Piss.

Piss on the damn bird, boy.

You sure this good for the bird?

You think you Massa Tom?

Don't ever question me about these birds.

I tell you to do something, you just do it.

Think you know. Don't know nothing.

Don't know the Lord gave chickens

worst things in the world... pip, distemper, apoplexy,

cholera, lime leg, and canker.

You don't know pee clean like a good turpentine.

Yeah.

All right.

I don't know why we even brought you along, no way.

'Cause Massa Tom says I can help.

How?

I talk to your birds.

Talk nothing but hot air.

Birds use they eyes to talk.

Got to hold your stare.

Turn your head away, show you weak.

Stand up.

Got to be a man when you messing with these birds.

Such a big help you is, Chicken George.

"The first cut of...

w-wheat is...

m-most... most...

f-fa... fav..."

What's this say, Kizzy?

Favorable.

"...favorable on a cool day."

Yes.

Never thought nobody could learn farming by reading, Kizzy.

Need to read something to tell me how to act

around fancy ladies.

Bit of gossip, weather, fashion.

The more you talk about nothing,

the smarter them ladies think you be.

Whoa!

You won't tell Massa Tom I been teaching you.

Whew!

Why don't you pour me a drink, Kizzy?

Can't you see I'm parched?

George!

Oh, my God.

Whose blood that is?

What Mingo do to you?

I got clawed.

Did they hurt you?

Massa Tom said I held 'em real good,

and they true killers.

Still waiting on that drink, Kizzy.

George, get over here.

I got a question for ya.

You want to keep fighting gamecocks with Mingo and me,

or you want to get sunburned working them fields?