The Butler Page #10

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but these camps went on

for 200 years

right here in America.

Buried my daddy right over there.

My mama would've been

right proud of me,

being with a man like you's.

Taking such good care of me

all of these years.

I love you, Cecil Gaines.

I love you more, Gloria.

Are you sure about this?

Yes, sir.

I just want to be the one

to tell you first, that's all.

But you're the best butler here.

You're like family, Cecil.

Been an honor serving you.

Well, not just for me,

I'm sure I speak for all the presidents

when I say that you've

served your country well.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Cecil?

This whole civil rights issue...

I sometimes fear I'm...

on the wrong side of it,

that I'm...

...just wrong.

Sometimes I think I'm just

scared of what it really means.

But I'm trying not to be

so scared anymore.

- Who do we want to free?!

- Mandela!

When do we want him free?

- Now!

- Free Mandela!

Twenty years ago, we marched

in this country for our rights.

Today, we march to free

the people of South Africa.

Yeah!

Ronald Reagan has attacked or dismantled

every civil rights program

that has ever been put in place.

- Yeah!

- Right!

Aiding the oppression of black South

Africans is absolutely consistent

with his policies on race issues.

Am I right?

- Am I right?

- Yes!

Hold on, hold on.

Excuse me. Steven?

Where's Steven?

- Free Mandela!

- Free Mandela, y'all!

Free Mandela!

Free Mandela!

Free Mandela! Free Mandela!

Hi, Dad.

Hi, Louis.

What are you doing here?

I came here to protest with you.

You'll get arrested, Dad.

You'll lose your job.

I lost you.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, son.

Don't worry, Dad, we'll be

out of here in a few hours.

Who said I was worried?

After going to jail,

I thought I'd seen it all.

- You OK, Daddy?

- Yeah, no, no, no. I'm good.

But I never imagined I'd see...

...a black man

be a real contender for

the President of the United States.

Here we go.

- It's that sweet corn.

- That corn look good.

Gloria and I would walk

to our polling place

every night to see where

we'd be voting for Barack Obama.

We'd just... stare at it, smile.

- You done?

- Pretty much.

Good. Time to go.

You done pretty good there.

Thanks, honey.

How come Louis' wife

named that child...

- ... Shaquanda?

- Now, don't start that again.

I ain't starting it, I just don't know

what kind of name that is.

I mean, really! Shaquanda?

I think she done that just to spite me.

Ain't nobody

done nothing to spite you.

Yes, she did.

She a ugly little old girl, too.

That little pug nose.

- I hope she grow out of it.

- Now, you need to stop that.

- You know that ain't right.

- Don't you think

she look a little like

Louis around the mouth?

I think... she look just like you.

- Like me?

- Yeah, so you need to...

...you need

to stop talking about her.

Let me look at her again,

then, real good.

She do look a little bit like me.

She a pretty little thing.

I guess I can put up

with the name Shaquanda.

I forgot where I put my Bible.

- You know I need my Bible.

- Mm-hm.

- I think I left it in the bathroom.

- Why is Louis late?

Boy gets elected to Congress...

...and he ain't been on time

getting us to church ever since.

- I can't believe you still... fussing.

- He gonna be late to his own funeral.

Are you still fussing

about Louis?

He said he's gonna be here for us.

- Go ahead, call him.

- I ain't calling Louis.

I'm gonna get my purse and...

What'd you say? Isaiah?

I see you got... your mark here.

I'm gonna fall all over myself.

Baby, you need...

to move that to the other side.

Baby?

Honey?

You sleeping?

Baby?

Are you all right?

...states will be closing,

and there are some big ones,

especially California,

the largest state

in the United States,

with 55 electoral votes.

Hawaii, that's where

Barack Obama was born.

will be closing its polls.

Idaho, Oregon

and Washington state,

and those states

have been going Democratic

in presidential contests

in recent years.

So in a few seconds

those states

will be closing their polls,

and presumably we'll

be able to see what's...

Louis!

...a major projection at that point.

This is a moment that a lot of

people have been waiting for...

Louis, come on down!

Come down!

...could be rather historic.

And CNN can now project

that Barack Obama, 47 years old,

will become the President-Elect

of the United States. We project...

If there is anyone out there

who still doubts that America

is a place where

all things are possible...

...who still wonders if the dream of our

founders is alive in our time,

who still questions

the power of our democracy,

tonight is your answer.

You must look

through their eyes...

...see what it is that they want...

...see what it is that they need...

...anticipate...

...bring a smile

to the principal's eyes.

Mr. Gaines.

I'm Admiral Rochon, the chief usher.

- Nice to meet you, admiral.

- Pleasure's all mine, sir.

I just wanted to tell you

what an honor it is to meet you, sir.

The honor is mine.

The president's so excited

to meet with you.

Well...

...that's just fine, isn't it?

Let me show

you the way.

I know the way.

The heart of the question is,

whether all Americans

are to be afforded equal rights

and equal opportunities.

It is the effort of American

Negroes to secure for themselves

the full blessings of American life.

We will respond

with that timeless creed

Yes, we can.

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