Transcripts - Forever Dreaming

[INSECTS TRILLING]

- [BIRD CAWS]

- [WIND WHISTLES]

♪ [RIDGEWAY]

So...

She left the okra.

But...

... took the seeds.

Took her mother's birthright...

... because she doesn't know where her mammy is.

She's not running to somewhere.

Just running away.

That's good.

Homer, take this down.

[SNIFFLES]

Escaped from her legal master in Georgia.

sl*ve girl, by the name of Cora.

Of medium height and dark complexion.

[HOMER]

"Has a star-shaped mark on her temple from an injury.

Possessed of a spirited nature...

and devious method."

[MR. FIELDS]

For the first time ever, these savages from the darkest jungles of Africa are traveling on the vast ocean.

They've never seen the ocean like that before.

For the first time ever, they spoke with the white man,

- [MURMURING]

- and learned his language, instead of the gobbledygook that they used to speak in darkest Africa.

For the first time ever, they had a proper cup of tea.

[CHILDREN]

Mmm!

And guess what they drank out of in the depths of the darkest Africa?

- Human skulls.

- [GASPING]

[MR. FIELDS]

Ooh...

[CHILDREN LAUGHING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

♪ [IRIS]

You got a dress for Saturday?

[BETTY]

Mm-hmm, you seen it. The pink one.

I had to use scrip, but, uh, it was worth it.

[IRIS]

Girl, scrip will be the death of me.

- [BETTY]

Mm-hmm.

- Ain't never gonna get out of debt.

[BETTY]

Hey, Bessie, you got a dress yet?

You even going to the social, Miss Bookworm?

Mm-mmm. If Christian gonna be there, then you gots to go.

- [BETTY]

Mm. - [CORA]

Don't be silly.

- He's sweet on you.

- We're friends, is all.

Child, that man look at you like a puppy.

Mm-hmm. A puppy that want to hump your leg.

- [LAUGHTER]

- [KNOCKING]

- Good work today, ladies.

- [TAPPING ON BOOK]

- [WOMEN]

Thank you, Mr. Fields.

- Yes, yes, yes.

Now, Bessie, listen, I want you to work on channeling that African spirit, you see?

Uh, remember that "authenticity" is our watchword, yes?

All these people that come here, they think they know what this life was like, but we got to show them what it was really like.

Yes?

For us, by us, huh?

"FUBU," huh?

[CHUCKLES]

Very good, very good.

Yes, yes.

♪ - [INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- [HORSES NEIGH]

[HORSE SNORTS]

- [LAUGHTER]

- [BUSY CHATTER]

[BUSY CHATTER CONTINUES]

♪ ♪ [TRAIN WHISTLES]

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[LOUD expl*si*n]

- [DEACON]

It's your damn fault!

- [JACOB]

Man, don't you lie on me, g*dd*mn it.

- [MEN GRUNTING]

- [MAN]

Shut it all down!

Shut it down!

- Get off me!

- Mind your damn business, fool.

g*dd*mn it!

When I say I wants it done which way, that's the way I wants it done.

You two fighting what make that machine get bogged?

You two fighting what make that machine get bogged?

I'm-a have you kicked back to what hell you came from.

They did it like you said, boss.

Hell no, they didn't.

Uh, sorry, Mr. Abraham.

Y'all get back to work.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

See, now, it says right here.

New process.

First take...

You trying to tell me how to read, boy?

No, sir.

Looks like we got us a genius on deck, boys.

Genius. Get back to work.

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[INSECTS TRILLING]

[QUIET CHATTER]

[MAN]

A gentleman removes his hat when entering a room, when ladies are present.

When he meets a lady, he should raise his hat gracefully.

Good.

Henrietta, would you try...

Sorry I'm late, Miss Lucy.

Page in your primer.

Henrietta, please continue.

I...

- dey waits...

- [LAUGHTER]

In Georgia, what we are doing here is a crime.

I would be fined $ , and you all would receive lashes.

That's from the law.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

It's hard to start from nothing.

A few weeks ago, some of you were where Henrietta is now.

It takes time, patience.

Isn't that right, Bessie?

Good night. Good night.

Bessie.

Uh, I believe you were asking after this?

- You can borrow it.

- [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Gulliver's Travels, huh?

I never heard of it.

- Go on. - Oh. Thank you, Miss Lucy.

I hope you enjoy it.

- [CHUCKLES]

- Bessie?

Keep your head up.

[BUSY CHATTER]

That's gonna look real nice on you, Bessie.

[CHUCKLES]

Mm-hmm.

Gonna look like the Queen of Egypt.

[BELL TOLLING]

Mr. Christian Markson.

The doctor will see you now.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DR. CAMPBELL]

Ah, yes. Please come forward.

- This won't take long.

- [DOOR CLOSES]

We are required to examine every n*gro involved in a work-related incident.

Your name is Christian Markson, yes?

Yes, sir.

Where are you from, Christian?

From...

It's okay.

I'm not like the rest of them.

Born in Delaware, raised in Mississippi, sir.

Mississippi?

I haven't spent as much time in the South as some of my colleagues, but I...

I wouldn't have taken you for Mississippi.

It should be in the file, Doctor.

It's not, actually.

The proctors hold your past.

We're only concerned with your future.

Aptitude, not history.

I've never known a white man to show much concern for what Negroes are mentally capable of.

You know what aptitude means.

How long have you been able to read?

Uh...

Th... th... they teaching us.

I doubt "aptitude" is part of the curriculum.

You seemed taken with this one.

Locked on to it when you came in.

You gave yourself away.

The Odyssey isn't approved for n*gro reading.

It's okay.

No one cares that you can read, here.

Why, then, must they be concerned with what I read?

Take the book.

I will write you a note on official stationary.

No one will bother about it.

Thank you, Doctor.

Don't thank me, Christian.

Earn it.

Excuse me, sir?

I want you to come be my assistant.

You can write and read far beyond the level of the typical n*gro.

And I think there's an opportunity here for tremendous research and unlimited progress.

I've got a, um, special project, that needs a lot of help.

Welcome to your future.

♪ Sir.

[BELL TOLLING]

[LIVELY CHATTER]

[STRING QUARTET PLAYING]

Quite a contraption you have here, sir.

Why, thank you.

One of a handful of such devices in the entire state.

There's a train coming.

Leaves tomorrow evening.

Have you told Cora?

No.

I haven't had a chance to.

As you might imagine, she doesn't take too kindly to the idea of having her portrait taken.

All right, come a little closer?

- [LIVELY CHATTER]

- [LAUGHTER]

[CAESAR]

Milady?

May I have this dance, Miss Carpenter?

You may.

[FLASH POWDER IGNITES]

[CAESAR]

You're looking mighty fine tonight, Miss Bessie Carpenter.

Same to you, Christian Markson.

Is that so?

Yes, it is.

Fine things suit you.

And you, Mr. Markson.

And you.

♪ [CRICKETS CHIRPING]

[CAESAR]

Sam said there's another train.

Leaves tomorrow night.

[CORA]

He know where it's headed?

[CAESAR]

No.

Didn't say.

Do you like it here?

Yeah.

I do.

The South is the South.

But...

I got a new job.

Start Monday.

Working for one of the doctors down in the Griffin building.

Well, I'm not surprised.

You got a shine in you, Caesar.

Always have.

I don't know about all that.

Just glad to be out of that factory.

Glad to have the chance, maybe...

... to use my mind for once.

Maybe we should stay.

We'll always have to pretend.

Some way, part ways.

Too much behind us.

But this...

... this is real, Cora.

You here.

I'm here. We here.

Together.

Please forgive me if I was too bold.

[INHALES SHARPLY]

But when we danced...

... all the sudden I saw our future.

Me coming home from work to spend the night in your arms.

Us arguing over whether to call our baby Ajarry or...

something from the Bible, or whatever you want.

It may be a lie.

But Markson is a name given in a way damn well more honorable than any what was given by our masters.

One kiss and you're talking about babies, huh?

[LAUGHS]

If you want to stay...

we stay.

I'm not getting on that train without you.

We in this together.

♪ What we are doing here in Griffin is unprecedented.

It is in the very best interests of the n*gro people, and it would not be possible without our generous sponsors,

- so let's give them all a hand now.

- [CHEERING]

Together, we are building a better n*gro mind, body and soul.

For the practical betterment.

[ALL]

For the practical betterment.

- Of n*gro life!

- [ALL]

Of n*gro life!

- [MEG]

No!

- [MURMURING]

They taking my babies!

They taking my babies!

[SOBBING]

No. They taking my babies.

- They taking my babies!

- You. Play, play.

You... you taking my babies!

- You... It's not right, you can't...

- [SHUSHING]

You can't... you can't take my babies!

- [WHISPERING]

- [MUFFLED CRIES]

Stop it, stop it.

[CRYING]

That's my babies.

Why, why?

Why would you...

Why would you do that?

Why would you do that?

Why?

[CRYING]

[OPERATIC SINGING]

♪ ♪

- [WHIP CRACKS]

- [MR. FIELDS]

You see?

- [WHIP CRACKS]

- Now that's... that's, that's good, but you... you're a bit stiff. Loosen up.

Look behind you. Yeah.

- [WHIP CRACKS]

- That's... that's... It's better. Better.

Still, you look like you're painting a fence. Loosen it up.

- [WHIP CRACKS]

- Albert, l... look.

There's room for improvement.

You... you mind?

May I?

Look here.

- You see?

Let it flow. - Yeah.

And if you like... You don't have to if you don't feel comfortable, but you could...

you could add some dialogue, you know?

Like...

"Stupid animal!" - [WHIP CRACKS]

- How you like that, huh?

[WHIP CRACKS]

How that feel, huh?

- [WHIP CRACKS]

- Pick your quota!

You gonna pick your quota today, or I'm gonna take the hide off of every last one of you!

Those are just a few examples, of course.

- [LAUGHS]

- [ALBERT]

Oh, that's mighty impressive.

- Thank you. - Oh, you've done this before, I take it?

Ah, well, there was...

That was a lifetime ago.

[LAUGHTER]

[MR. FIELDS]

Remember, stay... stay loose.

[ALBERT]

Yes, sir.

[WHIP CRACKS]

[MURMURING]

[ALBERT]

You'll make your quota!

- Work!

- [WHIP CRACKS]

[WHIP CRACKING CONTINUES]

♪ [WHIP CRACKS]

[BETTY]

Ooh, child, it is hot under them lights.

There she go, putting on them gloves again.

You must be going to see them white folks.

Doctor's appointment.

Hmm, who you got?

Dr. Sinclair?

I don't know anymore.

Seem like it's a different one every time.

- Ain't that the truth.

- Hmm.

My mama had a thing with her heart.

Would've gave anything in the world to see one of them white doctors.

Lord, if she could see me now.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Just keep thinking about that girl that went crazy at the social.

Yeah, they say the tests say she had bad blood.

Hmm.

[BUSY CHATTER]

[HORSE WHINNIES]

[ELEVATOR WHIRRING]

Sure hope you ain't denting that brass, 'cause it'll come out of my pay.

- [SHAKY BREATHING]

- [GEARS SQUEAL]

- [BELL DINGS]

- [DOORS OPEN]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Oh, good afternoon, sir.

- How you doing?

- Very well, thank you.

[HORSE NEIGHS IN DISTANCE]

How much is this?

Ah, let's see.

It's about...

...

cents.

I could give it to you on scrip.

How much on scrip?

- Dollar .

- [SCOFFS]

Razor only costs you ten cents.

Yeah, and a whole mess of pain.

- Thank you, sir.

- [REGISTER BELL DINGS]

[REGISTER DRAWER CLOSES]

Hey, what's that?

"Vitamins," they call it.

Like root doctor on the plantation.

Putting them in every bag. They free.

Supposed to be good for your blood.

- All right.

- All right, now.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

[COWBELL RINGING]

♪

- [HORSES NEIGHING]

- [BUSY CHATTER]

[DOOR OPENS]

Bessie Carpenter?

Hi.

Bessie Carpenter.

Now, if you can, uh, please try to relax.

[GASPS]

[CRYING]

[SHAKY BREATHING]

The body, um...

records things that have happened to us.

[PANTING]

Your master?

My questions aren't meant to be cruel.

I'm... I'm trying to determine, as best as I can, whether you can bear children.

Assuming that's something you want.

After my mama left, a bunch of older boys took to calling me names, bothering after me.

[GASPING]

No. One night, they carried me into the woods.

[SOBBING]

No. No, no, no.

No, no.

Well, uh, I'm pleased to tell you about a new procedure that can...

... free you from the burden of childbirth.

It's a surgical technique wherein the tubes inside a woman are severed to prevent the birth of a child.

The procedure is simple, permanent and without risk.

This is a gift to the n*gro race.

What if I don't want to?

The choice is yours, of course.

As of right now, it is mandatory for some in the state, uh, n*gro women who have already birthed more than two children, in the name of population control... imbeciles, mentally unfit, habitual criminals...

but that doesn't apply to you, Bessie.

This is just a chance for you to take control over your own destiny.

Now, I do need to draw some blood.

Dr. Forster took about a pitcher of my blood two weeks ago.

Probably felt like it, but, uh...

I'm guessing it wasn't quite that much.

Make a fist for me.

Please.

Now, on three, I want you to take a deep breath.

- One, two, three.

- [GASPS SOFTLY]

[BUSY CHATTER]

- [CHILDREN LAUGHING]

- [EXCITED CHATTER]

[CHILD WHOOPS]

- [EXCITED CHATTER CONTINUES]

- [WHOOPING]

♪ [PROPRIETOR]

May I help you?

Where are the penny candies?

Ma'am?

The penny candies, for the childrens.

Penny candies?

Never had none in here.

But y'all got to have candy somewhere.

I'm sorry, ma'am. We don't carry candy.

Oh.

[PAPER RUSTLES]

- [COUGHING]

- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[COUGHING CONTINUES]

Hey.

- [WHEEZES]

- Take 'em.

I been taking 'em, you hear?

Well, take some more.

I'm fine, I don't need 'em.

Anything I can do to help get you well.

[SOBS]

[MEG CRYING]

No. No, no...

- g*dd*mn it.

- [SCREAMS]

[CRYING]

That's my baby.

My baby.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[MEG]

They taking him from me!

[MAN]

It wasn't upstairs.

[WOMAN]

Haven't seen you here before.

[LAUGHTER]

- [LIQUID POURING]

- [BOUNTY HUNTER SIGHS]

[MEG CRYING IN DISTANCE]

[GRUNTS, EXHALES]

[BARTENDER]

That your n*gg*r screaming out there?

It is.

People's complaining.

Yeah, well, let 'em complain.

I got a business to run.

And here I thought n*gg*r*s were this state's business.

- [MEG]

They taking my babies.

- Best be moving on fore the sheriff comes.

Bring him. I'll buy him a drink.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

He can't be in here.

- There's a boarding house right down the street.

- Sit down.

It has cheap whiskey and lets n*gg*r*s sleep on the floor.

Thank you kindly.

I'll pass that on to any n*gg*r*s I see.

What about this little n*gg*r here?

Hmm?

Why, he is a n*gg*r, indeed, I'll grant you that.

Huh.

But he ain't sleeping on no floor.

Not lest he chooses so his self.

[MEG]

They're taking him from me.

Cletus?

Cletus!

- [CLETUS]

Yes, sir!

- Watch the bar

- while I go fetch the sheriff.

- Yes, sir.

[MUMBLING]

Little n*gg*r's up in my bar.

Got him a little ole n*gg*r hat on.

[MUTTERING]

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

What you want?

[BOTTLES RATTLE]

- [GLASSES RATTLING]

- Here.

Whiskey?

Mm-hmm.

So, I take it catching slaves is your business?

Whatever pays is my business.

We hunting a m*rder*r.

- [BOUNTY HUNTER]

That right?

- Yes, sir.

Huh.

Seen 'em?

Can't say that I have.

[MEG CRYING]

So, the one outside, the... cheery one.

That belong to you?

[BOUNTY HUNTER SIGHS]

- Yeah.

- [MEG]

My babies...

She was living in a strange town.

They got something called a "skyscraper," and n*gg*r*s all parading around in fancy clothes.

A skyscraper?

[HOMER]

It's a house, boss.

Like a big old house.

Bigger and higher than you've ever seen.

Touches the sky, almost.

Huh.

Where is this skyscraper?

[BOUNTY HUNTER]

It's not too far.

Day or two ride.

Hmm.

♪ [METALLIC WHIRRING]

[ELEVATOR RATTLES]

[BELL DINGS]

[BABY CRYING]

[CRYING CONTINUES]

[CRYING INTENSIFIES]

[TYPING]

[WOMAN SCREAMS]


- [MURMURING]

- [WOMAN CRYING]

Uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh.

- [CRYING]

Where's my baby?!

- [OTHERS SHUSHING]

I want my baby!

[CRYING]

[SHUSHING]

[MAN COUGHING]

[COUGHING INTENSIFIES]

- [GASPING]

- [PANICKED CHATTER]

[MAN]

What's going on?

[MAN ]

He's bleeding.

[MAN ]

I don't know, there's something's wrong with him.

- [MAN ]

You all right?

- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[MISS LUCY]

Are you okay, Bessie?

You look tired.

Oh, I didn't sleep too well last night, ma'am.

Hmm, I'm sorry to hear that.

Bessie, please.

You can say anything you like. I'm here for you.

Why aren't there any babies?

[MISS LUCY CHUCKLES]

There are babies everywhere.

No, ma'am.

I am asking you...

why there ain't no Black babies here.

Where are all the n*gro children?

♪ What are these?

With these programs, our population has increased fivefold in the last year.

Griffin can't build houses fast enough to keep up.

And it's not fair to have mamas nursing their young in common rooms.

So, when Negroes get married and have children, they move on to Evansville.

- [SIGHS]

- But, Bessie dear, you're scheduled to have the procedure.

Evansville doesn't concern you.

The Black body is a strong and fascinating thing.

We've been studying it only in the crudest way since your arrival on these shores.

How little can we put into it while generating unprecedented bounties for the work it yields?

How far can we tear away at it without breaking it?

Now, Christian, I must tell you, with everything we throw at it, the Black body only grows stronger.

More resilient.

We are finding a way to perfect you.

By poisoning us?

But he said I didn't have to.

He said it's my choice.

That may have been true then.

But the doctor ran your blood work.

And it is not true now.

Would you rather go back to the plantation?

Would you be willing to send all the men and women here back to that life in exchange for the life of one man suffering through the protocol?

Christian, I've told you all along...

you're not like the rest.

The w*r within your eyes shows itself.

You are the n*gro of the future.

Don't sacrifice that for the sake of the common n*gg*r.

This is science.

What the doctors are doing here in Griffin...

is unprecedented.

We can't expect everyone to understand.

But you certainly must trust.

What we are doing here is in the very best interest of the n*gro people.

[LIQUID POURING]

There are things happening here...

... that we don't believe you to understand.

Dark...

... horrific things.

Here?

In Griffin?

The n*gg*r shall not prosper...

... lest he prosper in the white man's vision of him.

Sam, they poisoning the men.

And they're cutting the womens.

Making it so we can't have babies.

That's why some of the girls is going crazy.

[STAMMERS]

Um...

They k*lling us.

[CORA]

When the train coming?

- [SIGHS]

- Sam.

- When is the train coming?

- Um...

soon, I... I mean, there'll... there'll be a train by soon, I'm sure.

What do we do in the meantime?

We just have to check in.

Evening to evening, day-to-day.

Be mindful of your comings and goings.

I mean, the hills have eyes here.

The valleys, too.

[GASPING]

How could you not know, Sam?

You said it was safe here.

- I thought...

- Mm-mm.

[CRYING SOFTLY]

I swear to you, I thought it was.

[GASPS]

[QUIET CHATTER]

[MAN]

That's what I heard. It's different, though.

That's why I like to fry it up...

♪ [CREAKING]

♪ [WOOD CRACKLING SOFTLY]

[BEDSPRINGS SQUEAK]

I told Mr. Anderson that's unconscionable.

I can't have that... Mr. Ford.

- Which one is she?

- Please excuse us, Miss Daley.

Good day, Mrs., uh...

Madison.

Lucille Madison.

- Lucille.

- [DOOR CLOSES]

To what do I owe the pleasure?

Hmm. "For the practical betterment of n*gro life."

[CHUCKLES]

I have it on good word that there are a very particular pair of runaways residing under your care.

There are no runaways here, sir.

I assure you.

[MR. FORD]

Show her.

Why don't you take a seat?

Why, thank you.

Think I might.

The girl in that bulletin is wanted for the m*rder of a child.

A white child.

She has a very particular scar right about here.

And you recognized her, I saw it clear as day.

So, either you take me to her, or I will have to inform the governor of South Carolina that you are harboring murderous Negroes under this grand experiment of yours.

Mr. Ford, who is this gentleman?

Mr. Ridgeway is a... sl*ve catcher.

Ah.

Noble profession, sir.

It seems like we're both doing our part.

[HOMER]

Possessed of a spirited nature and devious method.

Possessed of a spirited nature and devious method.

Possessed of a spirited nature and devious method.

Possessed of a spirited...

[MR. FIELDS]

Under the sweltering summer sun and the cr*ck of the overseer's whip...

[SHOUTS]

- [WHIP CRACKING]

- ... they labor to harvest the white, fibrous gold that will one day find itself in the great textile warehouses of Boston...

- [WHIP CRACKS]

- [ALBERT]

You'll make your quota!

[MR. FIELDS]

... and New York and across the vast Atlantic to Liverpool.

They know not that their labors...

- [WHIP CRACKS]

- [DISTORTED CHATTER]

Wh... what do we have here?

It seems we have a... a young lad from the big house, and he's... he's trying to bring his mother in from her labor in the field.

And the mother says, "No, I must stay, my child."

- And the overseer separates the boy from his mother.

- No!

No!

- Stop!

- The mother runs.

Runs away in... in grief...

- [APPLAUSE]

- Yes, yes.

Now, if you will all follow me...

[DOOR OPENS]

[RIDGEWAY]

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

Well, mighty sorry for the disturbance.

Close the door.

[DOOR CLOSES]

You three, turn around.

- [INSECTS TRILLING]

- [PANTING]

- Sam. Sam!

- [SAM]

Cora?

- [CRYING]

- Cora, what happened?

- The sl*ve catcher, he's... he's here.

- Wait, wait, c... calm down.

- Wh... what?

- The sl*ve catcher.

- We need to go get Caesar!

- Okay, okay, w-w-wait.

- Where's Caesar?

Where's Caesar?

- I don't know, I don't know!

Last time I saw... He's probably at work...

I should've gone to him.

No, no, you did right. He'd say so himself.

- [GLASS SHATTERS]

- Come on, we've got to get you down to the platform.

What about Caesar?

I'll find him, but we've got to get you down there.

They may be coming.

Cora, please.

I will find him. I promise you.

I promise you that. I give you my word.

Cora, please.

Please, Cora.

[SOBBING]

I'm sorry, Cora.

I'm so damn sorry.

- What is this?

- Shaving powder, sir.

- For n*gg*r men.

- [SNIFFS]

Mmm.

A shave without razors.

It smells like horse manure.

It's called a depilatory, sir.

De... pilatory.

Still smells like horse manure.

Uh, what is your name, son?

Christian Markson.

You have very particular eyes, Christian.

Hmm.

Very particular.

[SIGHS]

Hmm.

Long way from home.

Hmm.

Long way from home.

[PANTING]

[SNIFFLES]

[WATER DRIPPING SLOWLY]

♪ [WIND WHISTLES]

[GASPING SOFTLY]

[SNIFFLES]

- [WHIMPERING]

- [METALLIC SQUEAKING]

[WHISPERS]

It's okay.

I'll never leave you.

I promise you that.

Still don't know when the train is coming.

We should be safe down here, though.

Wait, where is Sam?

How... how... how did you... ?

"Be strong, saith my heart.

I am a soldier.

I have seen worse sights than this."

[RUMBLING IN DISTANCE]

Something down this tunnel a ways.

[RUMBLING]

Caesar!

Caesar, Caesar!

[SOBS]

Caesar!

[METALLIC SQUEAKING DEPARTING]

[GASPS]

No, no, Caesar!

Caesar!

[GROUND RUMBLING]

[WHEELS SCREECHING]

[TRAIN CAR RATTLING]

♪ Who, Lord, who gonna ride this train? ♪

♪ Who, Lord, who ♪

What the world?

♪ Who gonna ride this? ♪

- [STEAM HISSING]

- [RUMBLING]

- ♪ Who, Lord ♪

- [WHEELS SCREECHING]

♪ Ride this train ♪

[STEAM HISSES]

Oh.

[CHUCKLES]

You not supposed to be here.

But I am here.

Hmm.

- Some fine pork tongue.

- Thank you.

Lord.

[CHUCKLES]

Sorry about the stink, Miss. I've got to tend to this.

You got a name?

- Ellis. - I'm Cora.

I'm grateful you stopped, Ellis.

Oh. S... sorry, Miss. I'm maintenance, still.

Got to be to transport human freight.

You'll have to wait for them to send one of the other trains.

No, no, no. I... I don't care how old you is.

I'm getting on this damn train.

A... all right, all right, all right, all right.

I reckon I can report you as...

as emergency circumstance, but I got to follow regulation.

First being, passengers ride in coach.

Can't expect me to ride on that.

No passengers in the engine room.

Sorry, Miss.

This a professional operation.

Oh, and you gonna want to strap yourself down some.

This cart shimmies like a cottonmouth when it gets to moving.

All aboard!

[HONKING]

- [STEAM HISSES]

- [RUMBLING]

[SOBBING SOFTLY]

♪

♪ Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on ♪

♪ Check it out, check it out ♪

♪ One-two, one-two, one-two, one-two, one-two ♪

♪ Check the sound, check the sound ♪

♪ Check the sound, yeah ♪

♪ One-two, one-two, one-two, one-two, one-two ♪

♪ Check the sound, check the sound ♪

♪ Can't keep runnin' away ♪

♪ Can't keep runnin' away ♪

♪ Can't keep runnin' away ♪

♪ Can't keep runnin' away ♪

♪ I must admit on some occasions ♪

♪ I went out like a punk and a chump ♪

♪ Or a sucka or something to that effect ♪

♪ Respect I used to never get ♪

♪ 'Cause all I got was upset ♪

♪ When n*gg*s used to be like, "What's up, fool?" ♪

♪ And tried to sweat a n*gga like the Lip ♪

♪ For no reason at all, I can recall ♪

♪ n*gg*s throwing Cs in my face ♪

♪ That I'm a celebrity who's on the brink of insanity ♪

♪ Now don't be wishin' of switchin' ♪

♪ Any positions with me ♪

♪ 'Cause when you in my position ♪

♪ It ain't never easy ♪

♪ To do any type of maintainin' ♪

♪ 'Cause all the gamin' ♪

♪ Just gotta keep keen and cunnin' ♪

♪ Can't keep runnin' away ♪

♪ Can't keep runnin' away ♪

♪ Uh, now ♪

♪ You can't keep ♪

♪ Runnin' away, runnin' away ♪

- ♪ Yeah ♪

- ♪ Runnin' away ♪

♪ You can't keep on runnin' ♪