Birthright (1938)

Carman Newsome: Peter Siner

Photos 

Quotes 

• Peter Siner : Well, that's become proper and to the point, like a business property should be consummated.

  Tump Pack : Should be what, brother? Well, it was quick all right.

• Mr. Tomley : I didn't do you right.

  Peter Siner : Why did you turn down my proposition, Mr. Tomley, after we had agreed and drawn up the papers?

  Mr. Tomley : Well, I had to do it, Peter.

  Peter Siner : Why, Mr. Tomley?

  Mr. Tomley : White neighbor of mine wanted me.

  Peter Siner : Who, Mr. Tomley?

  Mr. Tomley : Henry Hooker talked me into it, Peter. It was a mean trick. I done you wrong.

  Peter Siner : Henry Hooker? You don't mean the cashier at the bank?

  Mr. Tomley : Yep. There ain't but one Henry Hooker. He's the one and only. He told me if I sold you any of my land that you all would put up a Negro school and bring in so many blackbirds, you'd run me clean off of my farm. Well, what he said, would ruin the whole town - a Negro school would.

• Peter Siner : That can't be legal!

  Tump Pack : Legal? Legal, hell! Anything a white man wants to pull over on a Negro in Hooker's Bend is legal.

• Peter's Mother : I 'clare fo gawd, you ain't home a week, 'fore you fightin' over a yellow hussy like a roustabout!

  Peter Siner : But, Mother, I...

  Peter's Mother : Me sweatin' over the washtub so you could go north and learn a little sense - only to see you come back home and start chasin' a dirly yellow hussy.

  Peter Siner : Oh, Mother, I was only walkin' home with Miss Deldine.

  Peter's Mother : Miss Deldine! Miss Deldine! If you mean that stuck up, yellow, fly by night honey, then say so. Don't stand there mouthin' Miss Deldine. Miss Deldine!

• Cissie Deldine : In a way, Peter, we - eh - you and I don't belong here and we'll never get anywhere as long as we stay here. Why don't you go away Peter? Way up north where most of our educated people have gone. Up north where you can be free! You can't grow up and develop here. They simply won't let you and especially now when everyone doubts you. If you go north...

  Peter Siner : What about you Cissie?

  Cissie Deldine : Oh, I'm a woman. We haven't the chance to do as we want to.

• Peter Siner : My mother's sick, Doctor.

  Dr. Jallop : Who is it?

  Peter Siner : Caroline Siner, she's been taken suddenly with...

  Dr. Jallop : The fat negress that lives in the three room house on 12th Street, isn't she?

  Peter Siner : I'll show you the way.

  Dr. Jallop : No. Caroline Siner owes me a five dollar doctor bill, already.

• Cissie Deldine : So, that's, that's why I cannot marry you, Peter.

  Peter Siner : You mean - morals. I see. I was stupid!

  Cissie Deldine : Well, I'm glad it's over. I'm glad you know. You see, Peter, if you had been like Tump Pack or Winz or any of the other boys around here, it, it wouldn't make much difference. But, you went off and learned to feel and think like a white man. Why, you changed your code, Peter. I don't think that was fair for you to go away and change your code, then come back and judge us according to your new code. You see, Peter, we couldn't change ours. We have to stay here and we couldn't change ours.

• Rose, Capt Renfro's Maid : Well, for the Lord's sake, is I bringin' this breakfast to a Negro?

  Peter Siner : I suppose it's me.

  Rose, Capt Renfro's Maid : Well, what fo'? What fo' you ain't come to the kitchen and eat off the shef. Is you sick?

  Peter Siner : I never felt better in my life.

  Rose, Capt Renfro's Maid : Then what the devil is I got into? I ain't wanna work no such place. Carryin' breakfast to the beef of a Negro stout as a mule. Say, what you doin' here anyhow? How come this?

  Peter Siner : Now, now, Rose, I'm here to do some writing for the Captain and other things.

  Rose, Capt Renfro's Maid : Well, O' Lord, when spooks get a writin' for White folks, ants will be jumpin' from bullfrogs and havin' other Negros wait on them. You just as much a spook as I's! This is a last mouthful I fetch for you or any other jig walk in, Peter Siner! You ain't no black Jesus!

• Capt Renfro : I heard that you were going to marry a negress here in town called Cissie Deldine.

  Peter Siner : But, I'm not. That's settled.

  Capt Renfro : You say that it's settled?

  Peter Siner : Yes.

  Capt Renfro : You have thought of it? Maybe, considered it? Well, at least that eases my mind. It eases my mind. Its, eh, not only the thought of losing you, Peter, but, this girl that you're thinking of marrying - well, let me warn you, she's a negress!

  Peter Siner : A negress?

  Capt Renfro : I don't exactly mean a negress - I - she's a thief and furthermore, she's not a good girl. I couldn't endure seeing you married to a thief.

• Tump Pack : Turn around and march on to Darktown.

  Peter Siner : What for?

  Tump Pack : I'm gonna drop you into main street where all the jigs have been braggin' about you and Cissie can see that I ain't gonna take no dinglin' from nobody.