The Great Debaters Page #6

that's all.

Great news, great news,

great news!

My phone has been ringing off the hook.

University of Michigan wants to

debate us.

So does SMU (Southern Methodist

University), so does Georgia.

Where is Mr. Lowe?

When do I get to debate?

Sooner than you think, James.

Sooner than you think.

When?

When you're ready.

I am ready now.

Mr. Tolson, I do not mind if James...

What's wrong?

Maybe I'm tired of this.

Of what?

Of watching another people debate.

When am I get a chance to prove myself?

You are the best researcher, James.

We could not do this without you.

You do plenty without me.

Excuse me.

- James.

- What?

James, you wait.

It was so mean what you said in there.

I don't wanna lose your friendship...

How can you lose

something that you've never had?

You were never my friend?

Maybe I don't wanna just

be your friend.

Maybe it hurts me to be your friend.

Get stringed.

Mr. Tolson!

Where is he?

- Calm down, Henry.

- Have you seen him?

No, they don't let us.

- Ain't did unto you, did they?

- No, we're fine.

Good day.

I am dr. James Farmer, Wiley College.

This is William Taylor,

Mr. Tolson attorney.

- And this is his wife, Ruth.

- Hello.

I'd like to see my client, please.

William.

- Sir Dozier, dr James Farmer, this is...

- Hello William.

How are you doing today?

- Fine, sir. And you?

- Not too bad, not too bad.

Me and William we go a way back.

I knew William when I was a boy.

Could I see my client

now, sheriff?

Your client?

The fact of the business is, William

that your client is kind of busy right now.

Busy doing what?

Sheriff, sheriff.

It's a situation...

- Get some boys out there.

- Right. Men!

Let him go, let him go...

Let him go! Let him go!

- They're with you?

- That's right.

See, this is what happens to a town

when you let the unions in...

...starts trouble.

People get all wild up about nothing.

One of us is liable to get hurt.

If you catch my drift.

Sheriff, it is clear

that you have not evidence,

To arrest Mr. Tolson.

So I suggest you let him go.

You suggest it? Who the hell are you?

Couple months ago...

...there was a raid on the floor

of Tilmuch barn.

It was a peaceful and lawful

gathering of sharecroppers,

Who were brutally attacked by a

gang of violent vigilants.

Now witnesses say that

you were there.

If you led that raid, Sheriff,

You're the one who

broke the law. Not Tolson.

Are you threatening me, boy?

No, sir.

I wouldn't do that.

But I can not speak for

those people outside.

An unjust law is

no law at all.

What does that mean?

A mass-slaughter of citizens.

Both white and colored...

by Texas Rangers.

It's that really what you want

as a Sheriff of this county?

Now if you'd let Tolson go home,

I believe, I believe these folks outside...

...they go home as well.

- That pig wasn't worth 25 dollars.

- What?

You owe my father some money.

Have a seat, Mr. Farmer.

Oh, Lord...

SMU (Southern Methodist University)

has canceled.

University of Georgia sounds

like they will follow soon.

Why?

I've been blacklisted.

They're talking about censoring me,

Dean claiming the board have asked me to...

Stop working with

sharecroppers or else,

They say that is not my fight.

So...

Things are bad.

My academic career is in jeopardy,

My debate team has nowhere to go.

Anyone know who Antaeus was?

Sure, he was a gigantic wrestler

in Greek mythology.

His mother was Gaia, the Goddess of Earth, and...

I mean he was unbeatable,

because any time he was thrown down

to the Earth that would make him stronger.

That's correct, it would

make him stronger.

Defeat would make him stronger.

You are my students,

I am your teacher.

I think that is a sacred trust.

So what do I say to you now?

Quit?

Because the Dean says so?

Because the Sheriff says so?

Because the Texas Rangers says so?

No!

I am diametrically oppose to that.

My message to you is to never quit.

We are not quiting.

Good.

What do you wanna us to do?

- Debate Harvard.

- Harvard?

Harvard University. They're the

reigning national champions.

If we defeat them,

we defeat the best.

Mr.Tolson, sir!

With the whole lotta respect.

Harvard ain't gonna debate us.

Not a little Wiley College

in Marshall, Texas.

They know who we are, Henry.

I've been writing them letters,

sending them articles...

But how do we get them

letter back?

By continuing to win.

Dr. Farmer has informed me,

that Howard University...

is gonna be in Prairie View next week.

We annihilated Fisk (Univ.)

If we eliminate Howard...

...we will have beaten the two

best negro colleges in Amierica.

I can guarantee you that I will see

to it that Harvard does not ignore that.

All right?

Yes.

- Look forward on that, you don't see on that?

- I've been looking all the time.

- Prairie View, Texas. 127.

- You show me where I look, 'cause it's not on.

- It's not there.

- Is there, you just can't find it.

I see 2 and I see 7.

Right, now look for 1 in front

of this and you get it.

After 126,

Before 128.

I really don't think...

Where you get this map?

What are you doing?

I'll come down.

Back in the car, shut the door.

Nobody move.

Get down, get down.

Get down, too.

There is a negro in that car.

Come on, let's pick it.

All right. Everybody

sit tight and...

...I'll get the keys.

- How you doing, Mrs. Baker?

- I am fine.

- Are you all right?

- Yes, M'am.

- Nice if you come in.

- Thank you.

Henry.

Henry!

Henry!

Hi baby, how you doing?

Still waiting for me?

What's the matter baby?

Come on.

Baby!

Samantha!

Shut up, let's go.

- Where?

- Shut up, let's go.

- Where we going?

- Next room.

Got him, Mr. Tolson.

Ok, sit...

Come here.

Give me a hug.

Stop.

/...what I see, great big n*gger hanging on the tree...

You're worthless...

What?

You think you are the only one hurt?

Ok, I'm sorry...

For everything...

For drinking...

I apologise.

I'm not talking about me.

You're right.

I'm gonna talk to her.

No, no. You won't allowed.

She doesn't need to see you like this.

No, is ok.

I'm just gonna talk to her...

Can you leave me alone?

Calm down, boy. Stop.

Stop. I am not playing with you.

Calm down.

You're crazy?

You're never gon' forgot what

you saw up there, you understand?

You're never gon' forgot what

you saw up there.

Can hang and they easy tore off you sometimes

sometimes they cut all of your fingers off,

Your toes, your nose, your ears.

Sometimes they cut your coverts off.

Sometimes they skin you alive.

You'll never be able to forget.

What do you think he did?

He did not have to do nothing

James, he did not have to do nothing.

In Texas, they lynch negroes.

Do you understand?

So it doesn't matter how good

we are, doesn't?

What do you talk? What?

This is all useless.

What are you talking about?

We're just a bunch of negroes debating

each other on subjects we all agree on.

James, don't talk like that.

All right?

- Why not?

- Because you can't.

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