Manderlay Page #2

so nothing really

ever happened with it.

Anyhow, it may take them a while

to gather the evidence

against the plantation for when

the family goes on trial.

Trial?

Tater-pie, there are times

when you seem even less with it

than your dear mother.

Oh, I seem to have

underestimated 'em.

We've at least one man

with a genuine thirst for freedom,

and he's gettin' out,

and he's in a hurry.

Yeah, he's hightailin' it, all right.

Yeah, that's Gramps.

- Pardon me.

- Not a lot of dignity there.

He's scared out of his wits.

Would it be possible

to have a word with the young lady?

Yes, yes.

Don't mean to inconvenience you.

That's exactly what you're doin'

You're not inconveniencing anyone.

This is a grave day

for everyone, I know that.

I just thought we must've seemed

a mite bit ungrateful.

We should like to thank you properly

for what you've done.

It'll only take a moment.

- Yes, of course.

- Ten minutes.

Then I'm gone.

Not a second longer.

Grace was conducted

through the wretched living quarters

bestowed upon the slaves

with their pitiful leaky cabins.

Her actions would comprise

an unconditional enrichment

of these people's lives.

There was no doubt about that.

Or was there?

Actually, Grace did not see

much of the glow she had hoped for...

the glow that could've

convinced her

that no one would end up

like her little pale yellow canary.

These were human beings,

but of the kind on whom

pain had been inflicted, Grace thought,

as she was suddenly interrupted

by a strangely exotic accent.

When we were slaves,

we were not required

to offer thanks for our supper,

and for the water we drink

and the air we breathed.

Nobody needs to say

thank you, but...

But what?

I mean, there is something

we ought to be thankful for?

I didn't mean "but."

I meant "and."

And...

There's no reason

to be grateful for anything

as natural as your freedom.

I'm the first to apologize

for everything...

...you and your people

have been subjected to.

See, those gates should've been

unlocked 70 years ago.

Only 70 years ago?

But before that, of course,

they were completely justified.

No.

No, no, you misunderstand me.

What can I say?

You need say nothing at all.

We've heard of your kind.

You're a society lady

who spends her time

rescuing wretched n*ggers.

I should like to say thank you.

Missy done give her time

and effort to helpin' us.

Time I'll bet she could've spent

on all kinds of different things.

'Cause was perfect justice

when God made some of us slaves

and not others.

The nigra is vile by nature.

I know it ain't popular to say so,

and it ain't 'cause of Bert

that I say so. Hmm.

No, Victoria

did not base her perception

exclusively on her experience

of her husband, though God knows,

it weighed heavily.

Bert was a useless eejit

whose character Victoria

regrettably, so far in vain,

had done her best to improve

by hitting him with any implement

at hand on any given occasion,

no matter how much he had

threatened to take his own life

by throwing himself into

Manderlay's deep well.

Grace looked at Wilhelm,

the old house slave, and understood.

He had not brought her here

for anybody to thank her.

He just wanted her

to see them all...

the unfortunate flock

that he very rightly feared

would have few chances

beyond the perimeter fence.

Living proof of the devastating

power of oppression.

- Listen up.

- Yes, sir.

This has all been put on paper.

I just needed to check

the wording first again

as these things

are legal and binding.

Bingo.

- What are these?

- Don't rightly know, ma'am.

They're the contracts, ma'am.

The family

has been so considerate

to offer us all employment.

Grace was not a lawyer,

and unqualified to assess

the validity of the contract

she held in her hand,

but she feared that, unfortunately,

any judge in the county

would deem it fair and proper.

It appeared to Grace

that instead of employee,

they might just as well

have retained the old term of slave.

A body would only sign it

if he or she was utterly ignorant

of life in liberal society,

or if he or she

really had no choice.

Folks, I suppose that

you're in urgent need of cash.

- Mark?

- Cash?

I once knew this fella

from a little township

nobody know the name of,

so there ain't no grounds to mention

what it was called.

He had cash.

Not piles of it.

We are prepared

to lend you some money

as covered by this

other piece of paper,

and we can also set up

a little store here, if you like.

After all, it's a long way to town.

And if you buy enough

for all of us,

I bet you're liable to get

a real nice bulk discount,

and the goods'll be cheaper

than in town.

Ain't that right, Miss Grace?

I have no idea.

Please sign, everybody.

What this be?

What it is?

All right.

Let's go.

Turn it off.

Damn it.

Daddy, you said that I

didn't have the power to help Tweety.

You were right.

I was a child then.

So what is it this time?

This time,

I have the power to act.

You said so back in Dogville,

that your power

would be mine, too,

and that I could use it

in my own way.

That power was to carry on

the family farm.

That I was open to new ideas.

The power you ask for now

will undoubtedly

be applied to something

that's foolish at best...

Daddy, you promised.

Oh.

You were a bastard to Mother,

but when you promised

her something, she got it.

Okay.

You've been given

what I promised you.

Maybe things haven't been

split right down the middle,

but this is as far

as I'm prepared to go.

I want nothing

to do with your plans.

And you won't be able

to get in touch with me

if anything goes wrong

and you need me, as usual,

to get you out of trouble,

because fortunately, my dear,

you'll have no idea

where I am.

- Daddy, I'd like to take Joseph as well.

- No.

I need a lawyer to sort out

some paperwork.

No. No! Never!

Never!

I'd never let Joseph go.

He's the only man I know

who can draw up a contract

so there's only one

possible interpretation,

and though I haven't needed

that talent as of yet,

I still might need it one day.

I'll give you Viggo

and Bruno for him.

Never.

I've given you my best associates,

and you know it!

Daddy, I was meant

to have been given half.

If Mother had been alive...

Oh, damn it, Grace!

So that very day,

and into the early hours,

Joseph employed

the celebrated unambiguous phrases

his previous employer had given him

so wretchedly little opportunity

to practice.

New contracts

needed drawing up,

and old ones

needed nullifying...

all with the astonishing good will

that parties always evince

in the company

of rapid-firing machine pistols.

These were the deeds of gift.

You transfer the property

to the former slaves in joint ownership.

The last document

is your contract of employment

by this community.

Employment? I don't...

...quite get

what you mean by that.

It'll be without pay,

and the right of termination

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