Richard Harris: James Jarvis

Cry, the Beloved Country

James Jarvis

Robert Ndela: Sir... to my knowledge, your son never said... he believed in something, unless he believed it.
James Jarvis: I would like nothing better... than to understand my boy.
Robert Ndela: He's the only man I've ever met, black or white, who saw me for what I am. What I really am.

James Jarvis: There was something Arthur wrote that day that he - he said that we taught him nothing.
Mrs. Jarvis: What did he mean?
James Jarvis: He meant that we taught him *nothing* - about the country in which he lived. He said that we called ourselves Christians, but we were indifferent to the sufferings of Christians. He said, that when we say we are "Christians" - what we mean is - that we are - *white*. Oh, why? Why, why, why - do we bring children into this world.

Glyn Henderson: Arthur and I didn't always agree on the native question. He - he was an idealist.
James Jarvis: Yes, yes, yes.
Glyn Henderson: I think we ought to be hard on the natives. But, Arthur, he - he said that whatever crimes they committed, were more or less our fault. I didn't really understand him. I don't mean that he wasn't sincere.
James Jarvis: No, no, no. Of course not. Of course not.

James Jarvis: Perhaps, you also saw the boy? He too used to ride past the church.
Rev Stephen Kumalo: I remember. He had a brightness in him.
James Jarvis: Yes. He had a brightness in him.

James Jarvis: Is it true - that he opened a boys club for blacks?
Mary Jarvis: Yes, the Claremont African Boys Club.
James Jarvis: What's he want to do that for? I just don't understand Arthur. I guess, I never will understand him. I wish he'd leave things as they are. I wish he'd face reality. He's a dreamer! Blacks have their place, we have our place. Blacks live their lives, we live our lives - but, *separately*.