Amistad (1997)

Stellan Skarsgård: Tappan

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Quotes 

• Theodore Joadson : They were first detained by officers of a brig off Long Island. They were conveyed to New Haven - under what authority, I don't know - and given over to the local constabulary. About forty of them, including four or five children. The arraignment is day after tomorrow. I can only assume that the charge is murder.

  Tappan : I'll see what I can do about that.

• Tappan : This news - well of course it's bad news - but the truth is they may be more valuable to our struggle in death than in life. Martyrdom, Mr. Joadson. From the dawn of Christianity we have seen no stronger power for change. You know it's true.

  Theodore Joadson : What is true, Mr. Tappan - and believe me when I tell you that I have seen this - is that there are some men whose hatred of slavery is stronger than any, except for the slave himself.

  Tappan : If you wish to inspire such hatred in a man, Mr. Joadson, speak to him in that fashion and it may come true.

• Baldwin : Ignore everything but the pre-eminent issue at hand. The wrongful transfer of stolen goods. Either way, we win.

  Tappan : Sir, this war must be waged on the battlefield of righteousness.

  Baldwin : The what?

  Tappan : It would be against everything I stand for to let this deteriorate into an exercise in legal minutia.

  Baldwin : Mr. Tappan, I'm talking about the heart of the matter.

  Tappan : 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.

  Baldwin : But Christ lost. - You, I think...

  Tappan : No, sir, he did not!

  Baldwin : You want to win, don't you?

  Tappan : Yes.

  Baldwin : 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.

• Tappan : [to Theodore]  They may be of more value to our struggle in death than in life.

• Baldwin : On the other hand, let's say they aren't slaves. If they aren't slaves, in which case they were illegally acquired, weren't they? Forget mutiny, forget piracy, forget murder and all the rest. Those are subsequent irrelevant occurrences. Ignore everything but the pre-eminent issue at hand. The wrongful transfer of stolen goods. Either way, we win.

  Tappan : Sir, this war must be waged on the battlefield of righteousness.

  Baldwin : The what?

• Baldwin : Ah, Mr. Tappan. How do you do, sir? My name is Roger S Baldwin, attorney-at-law.

  Tappan : Real estate?

  Baldwin : Real estate, inventories and other assets.

  Tappan : Can I help you with something?

  Baldwin : What is it that you do?

  Tappan : Well, I own various business... and banks.

  Baldwin : As a matter of fact, you probably could help me, Mr. Tappan. But that's not why I'm here. I'd like to help you.

  Tappan : Me?

  Baldwin : Yes. I deal with property. Sometimes I get people's property back, other times I get it taken away, as in this case. Every one of the claims speaks to the issue of ownership.

  Tappan : Thank you, Mr... Mr. Baldwin.

  Baldwin : Baldwin, Roger S, attorney-at-law.

  Tappan : But I'm afraid what's needed here is a criminal attorney. A trial lawyer. But thanks for your interest.

  Baldwin : Yes. Well... intending no disrespect, Mr. Tappan, but if that were the way to go, well, then... Well, I wouldn't have bothered coming down here. Goodbye. I bid you gentlemen a good afternoon.

• Theodore Joadson : The ship is Amistad. It's too small to be a trans-Atlantic slaver.

  Tappan : So, they're plantation slaves then. West Indians?

  Theodore Joadson : Not necessarily. At least, they certainly don't look it. From the glimpse I caught of them on their way to jail. They have these - scars.

  Tappan : Scars?

• Tappan : We know we aimed high coming to see you, Sir.

  John Quincy Adams : Well, aim lower! Find yourself someone whose inspiration blossoms the more you lose.