The Great Debaters Page #7

Not you.

Bye. God bless.

Where is Samantha?

She's not going with us.

Why not?

What do you think?

I took her to the bus-station.

She wanted to go back to school.

You wanted your chance?

This is it.

How can any negro...

...defend the punishment of prison...

When he sees so much

oppression in his own life?

How?

Because crime itself

is a form of oppression.

And negroes fall victim

to more violent crime,

than any other race in America.

For us...

Prison not only offers

protection, but retribution.

Yes, it is.

And for the criminal...

It is a dark gift...

The hardship that

introduces a man to himself...

That rouses his

passion for freedom...

His hope for redemption.

Our next debater from

Wiley College,

Mr. James Farmer Junior.

Mr. Farmer.

Mum.

Mum.

Honey!

Hi!

So...

We lost.

I'm sorry.

This came...

Harvard?

Who sent this?

- Go on, open it! And read it.

- It seems that someone opened it already.

Not me.

- You didn't open it already?

- No.

You are not a good liar.

Out loud!

Dear Mr. Tolson.

Thank you for informing us...

about your historical victory

over Oklahoma City.

I'm sure you realize

our season is nearly over,

but today we received another

letter from Wiley College,

written by Mr. Henry Lowe.

with an "e".

He told us from his student's

prospective about your...

...about your undefeated season.

- Well, we are not undefeted any more.

- Doesn't matter.

We wish to extend

an invitation to...

We wish to extend invitation to

debate Harvard Crimson,

Here in Cambridge.

Let us know if this is agreeable to you.

- Don't tell anybody.

- No.

You don't have to thank me.

- I just wanted to show you I could write too.

- Yes, good. Thank you.

You could do me a favor.

What's that?

Keep Samantha on the team...

Why I wanna do that?

Mr. Tolson it was a rough night.

Yes it was, Mr. Lowe.

For all of us.

And she walked out on us

at the last minute.

No, sir. She did not walk out on us.

She walked out on me.

It's a good tea.

Resolved:

Capitalism is a immoral.

You will be arguing the affirmative.

To a bunch of Wall Street bankers.

Mr. Tolson, I owe you and my teammates...

You're late, come in, sit down.

Samantha, I am not...

Resolved.

You've got macaroni cheese, fried chicken,

black peas for good luck,

red beans and rice, corn-bread, candy canes,

I put some peach cutlet in there too.

And red pudding too. I know that you don't

like pudding but I put it anyway.

Thank you, mom.

Good luck, son.

Dad...

Yes, Junior.

You get bolster by regards, yeah?

Yes sir.

Come on, train's leaving.

Coming.

- Bye mom.

- Bye bye.

I love you.

We love you, too.

All aboard.

- I'm not going with you.

- What?

I can not leave the state.

It's a condition of my bail.

You can't let them stop you.

They're not stopping me.

I just don't wanna jeopardize

your opportunity.

You did want without me, this is what

you wanted to do all along. Isn't it?

It's right.

Why didn't you tell us before?

Because I didn't want to hear your arguments.

I knew they'd be too good.

All right, Mr. Lowe.

You are in charge.

Whatever your instinct will tell you,

you listen.

- Yes, sir.

- Let's go.

What we supposed to do without you?

Win.

I thought someone supposed to meet us.

- Wiley College?

- Yes.

I'm Harland Osbourne. Harvard has put me

in charge for the time you are here in Boston.

- Hi, I am Henry Lowe.

- Mr. Lowe.

- James Farmer Junior.

- Mr. Farmer.

- Samantha Booke.

- Of course, Miss Booke.

We should be going.

My car is up front.

- I've got it.

- Thank you.

Just so you know we're staying

on campus in Douglas Hall.

I got to tell you, this debate

is stiring up a lot of excitement.

- Really?

- Oh yeah.

It's gonna be broadcast all over America.

- Can we see where we gonna debate?

- Of course.

Hello, Harvard.

Excuse me.

You suppose to be here?

I guess we'll find out. Won't we?

Look, Mr. Farmer.

Lowe, I've got 5 dollars.

Yes, I did, too. It's called "per diem".

- Want me to hold it for you?

- No, not my 5 dollars.

I've got 5 dollars. I've got 5 dollars.

Yeah, me too.

Well, mine is crisp.

James, this is high tea, all right?

We nibble, we do not devour.

How do you know?

I don't.

Hello, I'm Wilson.

This is for you.

Thank you.

I can't accept that, sir.

It would be inappropriate.

"To be inappropriate".

- Who this wrote?

- From Harvard.

Maybe it's more money.

We have been informed,

by Tau Kappa Gamma that your team delivers...

Canned speaches...

Arguments written by

faculty rather then students.

Therefore we are changing the topic.

You have the same amount of time

To write new arguments as the Harvard team.

Coaches helped

students all the time.

Yes, sir.

Both teams will be delivered

the same reference books.

A new topic:
"Resolved: Civil disobedience

is a moral weapon to fight for justice."

Wiley College will

be arguing the affirmative.

Thank you, sir.

I can't reach Mr. Tolson.

Nobody knows where he is.

He sent us up to loose.

We can't win without him.

You're wrong.

We can't win without him.

Thoreau?

Here is your coffee, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Wilson.

Just Wilson.

Thank you, Wilson.

- Well, you have to use the mass...

- But is that...

Agreed, James. But we'll save it for

the red button. We gonna save the best for last.

Because you have to...

You have to lead the audience...

I think we should include this

Ghandi concept with Satyagraha...

I don't agree. I don't think people can

understand Satyagarha... or Such a gar...

Satyagraha. From the Sanskrit,

meaning truth and fairness.

I told you.

It's obvious to me that we should

begin debate with Ghandi.

That's exactly what

I won't do it.

Why should I do the obvious thing?

Because that's what wins debate.

Listen to what you're saying.

This is Harvard, ok?

The first thing you think when you say

"disobedience"...What's the first thing?

That's why we chose Ghandhi!

He's a strong poet.

I wanna win.

Do you wanna win?

Yes, I wanna win.

This is not getting us the way out.

Tolson told me I was in charge.

Ain't put you in charge.

He put me in charge,

so I make the decision.

We will not starting with Ghandi.

You act like a kid!

- You are a kid.

- You are an idiot.

- Am I an idiot?

- Yes, you are an idiot.

To hell with you,

to hell with this debate.

To hell with me?

Just because I've just leaved you?

Crazy, you!

- He's coming back, isn't he?

- See if I care.

You're beautiful when you sleep.

Yes, I know, I know...

But she ain't stop me from looking at you.

Shut up and go to bed.

James, come on, wake up.

No.

James...

Come on James, get up.

What?

What is this?

That's my notes.

Why are you giving on to me for?

Because you're debating, not me.

What?

It's your turn, James.

You're serious?

- You're crazy.

- 14 is just as good as me.

Judges will love you.

No, you can't quit.

I'm not quitting Samantha.

Tolson made me captain,

and I said that you are ready.

You saw me at Howard,

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