Amistad Page #3

If the two lieutenants prevail,

they'll likely to sell them to Spain,

and they'll be executed.

If Montes and Ruiz are successful...

I'm a little confused.

What are they worth to you?

We're discussing the case,

not its expense.

Of course. Well, the case is much

simpler than you think, Mr. Tappan.

It's like anything - land,

livestock, heirlooms, what have you.

Livestock.

Yes. Consider -

the only way one may sell or purchase

slaves is if they are born slaves,

as on the plantation.

- I'm right, aren't I?

- Yes.

- So, are they?

- "Are they?"

Yes. Born slaves,

as on a plantation.

We're not certain,

but we very much doubt it.

Let's say they are.

Then they are possessions,

and no more deserving of

a criminal trial than a bookcase.

On the other hand,

let's say they aren't slaves,

in which case they were

illegally acquired.

Forget mutiny, forget piracy,

forget murder.

Those are irrelevant occurrences.

Ignore everything but

the pre-eminent issue at hand.

The wrongful transfer

of stolen goods.

Either way, we win.

Sir, this war must be waged on

the battlefield of righteousness.

The what?

It would be against

everything I stand for

to let this deteriorate into

an exercise in legal minutia.

Mr. Tappan, I'm talking about

the heart of the matter.

As am I.

It is our destiny,

as abolitionists and as Christians,

to save these people.

These are people, Mr. Baldwin,

not livestock.

Did Christ hire a lawyer

to get him off on technicalities?

He went to the cross, nobly.

You know why?

To make a statement.

To make a statement, as must we.

But Christ lost.

- You, I think...

- No, sir, he did not.

- You want to win, don't you?

- Yes.

I certainly do. Hell, sometimes

I don't get paid unless I do.

Which brings us back to

the question of worth.

In order to do a better job

than the Son of God's attorney

I'll require two and a

half dollars a day.

# Amazing grace

# How sweet the sound... #

# That saved a wretch like me... #

# I once was lost

# But now am found... #

How do you do, sir? How do you do?

There?

I'm sorry. I don't understand.

Excuse me. I...

My name is Roger Baldwin.

This is Theodore Joadson

of the Anti-slavery Society

and owner of the Forten

Shipping Service.

And this is Professor Gibbs,

a linguist.

Keep talking. Get them to talk.

Have you seen this before?

- This belongs to you?

No.

Umm...

I need to know where you're from.

Uh...

He said, I think, "Show me the map."

Here, Africa...

Is this where you're from?

A-fri-ca.

Were you born in the West Indies?

What did he say?

Oh, he said, er...

They have to go away.

- Emancipation! It's God's way!

You cannot own another human being!

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