Amistad (1997)

Chiwetel Ejiofor: Ensign Covey

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Quotes 

• Ens. Covey : [Translating for Cinque after he has been set free]  What did you say to them?

  John Quincy Adams : Huh?

  Ens. Covey : [translates again]  What words did you use to persuade them?

  John Quincy Adams : [looks at Cinque]  Yours.

• Ens. Covey : [translating for Cinque to John Quincy Adams]  I will call to the past, far back to the beginning of time, and beg them to come and help me at the judgment. I will reach back and draw them into me, and they must come, for at this moment, I am the whole reason they have existed at all.

• John Quincy Adams : Now, you understand you're going to the Supreme Court. Do you know why?

  Ens. Covey : [translating for Cinque]  It is the place where they finally kill us.

• Baldwin : Our president, our big, big man has appealed the decision to our Supreme Court.

  Ens. Covey : [translating for Cinque to John Quincy Adams]  What does that mean?

  Baldwin : We have to try the case again.

• John Quincy Adams : Has anyone told you about me? What have they told you?

  Ens. Covey : [translating for Cinque]  That you are a chief.

  John Quincy Adams : I was a chief. Yes.

  Ens. Covey : [translating for Cinque]  A chief cannot become anything less than a chief - even in death.

  John Quincy Adams : Oh, I wish that were true. Yes, in deed.

• John Quincy Adams : One tries to govern wisely, strongly. One tries to govern in a way that betters the lives of one's villagers. One tries to kill the lion. Unfortunately, one isn't always wise enough or strong enough. Time passes and the moment is gone. Now, listen, Cinque, listen, we're about - we're about to bring your case before the highest court in our land. We're about to do battle with a lion that is threatening to rip our country in two. Huh? And all we have on our side is a rock. Of course, you didn't ask to be at the center of this historic conflagration anymore than I did; but, we find ourselves here, nonetheless, by some mysterious mix of circumstances and all the world watching. So, what are we to do? Huh?

  Joseph Cinque : [in Mende]  Is he going to help? He has far many more questions than answers.

  John Quincy Adams : What did he just say?

  Ens. Covey : I - I - Sorry, I didn't catch it.

  John Quincy Adams : Cinque, look, I'm being honest with you. Anything less would be disrespectful. I'm telling you. I'm preparing you, I suppose. I'm explaining to you. That the test ahead of us is an exceptionally difficult one.

  Ens. Covey : [translating for Cinque]  We won't be going in there alone.

  John Quincy Adams : Alone? In deed, not. We have right at our side. We have righteousness at our side! We have Mr. Baldwin over there.

  Ens. Covey : [translating for Cinque]  I meant my ancestors. I will call into the past. Far back to the beginning of time and beg them to come and help me at the judgement. I will reach back and draw them into me and they must come. For at this moment I am the whole reason they have existed at all.