Tamango (1958)

Dorothy Dandridge: Aïché - la maîtresse de Reinker, Aiché - Reinker's Mistress

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Quotes 

• Aiché, Reiker's Mistress : Maybe I didn't explain myself well. What I was trying to say is that you're a slave. The slave can never fight back. Never! Never, never, never, never, never! And the sooner you learn that the better off you'll be! Because, if you don't learn it they - they won't chain you next time, they'll hang you!

• Aiché, Reiker's Mistress : If you want to get along on the boat, it's not hard. You just have to obey, that's all. You see, the Captain's not mad at you. You heard him. There are a lot of big houses in Havana. If you behave, maybe he'll keep you with him or sell you as a kitchen man or a houseboy or a coachman. Oh, yeah, that's the best, to be a coachman.

  Tamango : White man's trash.

  Aiché, Reiker's Mistress : What did you say?

  Tamango : White man's trash!

  Aiché, Reiker's Mistress : You. What are you? A rusty rifle? A bag of glass beads? That's all you're worth. So, don't put on any airs with me.

• Doctor Corot : Admit it, you hate the Captain.

  Aiché, Reiker's Mistress : What makes you so sure?

  Doctor Corot : How could you feel anything else? Come on, tell me the truth.

  Aiché, Reiker's Mistress : The truth? Do you see that? I wasn't born with it. They were branded on me by each man that bought me. And these scars. You see them? My first master, a mouse would have frightened him. But, that didn't keep him from beatin' me whenever he felt like it. The Captain never beats me! He's never branded me. He's never says a mean word to me. He treats me like a white woman! If you want the truth - that's it.

  Doctor Corot : That won't stop him of getting rid of you as soon as we reach port. He's going to get married - and live in Rotterdam. Didn't you know? And you're going to be sold and branded and beaten by you're new master. Unless, of course, it's me.

• Aiché, Reiker's Mistress : When you get married, it'll be goodbye Aiché, won't it? What'll happen to Aiché? Why, we'll sell her! We'll - bring her into the slave market. Put on your best dress Aiché - and get up on the blocks so that all the clients can see you. Smile, show your teeth Aiché. Turn around Aiché. Mmm, she's strong and healthy and obedient. How much am I offered? Five hundred pounds over here. And five hundred and fifty over here. And six hundred over here. And sold to the gentleman with the cigar and a big, black hat. Come down off the block, Aiché. And follow your new master, wherever he tells you to go. I wonder what he'll be like, my new master? Handsome or ugly? Young or old?

  Captain John Reinker : Aiché, that's enough now. Let's talk about it in the morning.

  [embrace, kiss] 

  Aiché, Reiker's Mistress : Old and ugly. You'll make sure of that so that I'll be sure to miss you.

  Captain John Reinker : That's enough I said.

  [deep kiss] 

  Aiché, Reiker's Mistress : I won't miss you. I won't miss you at all. And if you're going to beat me, you better do it now, because after you sell me, it'll be too late.

• Doctor Corot : Tell me something Aiché, what do you feel when you see the blacks - the blacks like you, chained, and made slaves? What does it do to you?

  Aiché, Reiker's Mistress : One lump of sugar or two?

  Doctor Corot : Two. Maybe you've got white blood in your veins, but you're a slave - just like they are. You were sold - just like they were.

  Aiché, Reiker's Mistress : It was a long time ago. I was just a kid. I don't remember.

  Doctor Corot : Don't you feel anything?

  Aiché, Reiker's Mistress : Milk in your coffee?

  Doctor Corot : Half and half - your color.

• Aiché, Reiker's Mistress : I've always hated your hands on me