12 Years a Slave Page #12

You'll be in the ownership of Mr.

Tibeats. You are his now. Serve

him as you'd serve me.

SOLOMON:

Sir.

FORD:

And your faithfulness will not be

forgotten.

(CONTINUED)

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SOLOMON:

Yes, sir.

FORD:

Pride and want have been my sin.

Loss of you is but one of my

punishments.

82 EXT. FORD PLANATION - DAY 82

-END OF JANUARY, 1842- [OVER ONE DAY]

We see Solomon working as a carpenter, helping to erect aWeaving House that stands off to the side of theplantation's Great House.

At the moment Solomon is nailing on siding. Tibeats

arrives and is immediately dissatisfied with the work.

TIBEATS:

Make them boards flush.

SOLOMON:

They are, sir.

TIBEATS:

They is no such thing.

Solomon runs his hands over the boards.

SOLOMON:

As smooth to the touch as a

yearling's coat.

TIBEATS:

Callin' me a liar, boy?

SOLOMON:

Only a matter of perspective, sir.

From where you stand you may see

differently. But the hands are

not mistaken. I ask only that you

employ all your senses before

rendering judgement.

What's Tibeats to do when faced with fact? All he can do

is spew invectives.

TIBEATS:

You are a brute. You are a dog,

and no better for followin'

instruction.

SOLOMON:

I'll do as ordered, sir.

(CONTINUED)

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TIBEATS:

Then you'll be up at daybreak.

You will procure a keg of nails

from Chapin and commence puttin'

on clapboards.

Tibeats wheels away. Solomon goes back to his work.

After a few moments Solomon notices a bit of commotion in

the drive of the great house. It involves an

inconsolable Eliza who is being herded by Sam onto a cartDRIVEN BY A WHITE MAN. Mistress Ford and Rachel watch.

Solomon can only watch as the last connection to his daysas a free man is driven away to a location unknown.

83 EXT. WEAVING HOUSE - MORNING 83

It is day break. As ordered, Solomon is up and working.

Chapin is rolling a keg of nails off a handcart forSolomon.

CHAPIN:

If Tibeats prefers a different

size, I will endeavor to furnish

them, but you may use those until

further directed.

SOLOMON:

Yes, sir.

84 EXT. WEAVING HOUSE - LATER 84

As the day gets on to mid-morning, the sun already bakingin the sky, Tibeats makes his way over to Solomon. Even

before arriving to Solomon his mien is one ofbelligerence; out of sorts and something less than sober.

TIBEATS:

I thought I told yah ta commence

ta puttin' on clapboards this

morn'.

(CONTINUED)

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SOLOMON:

Yes, master. I am about it. I

have begun on the other side ofthe house.

Tibeats walks around to look over Solomon's work. He is

picayune, as if purposefully looking for fault.

TIBEATS:

Didn't I tell yah last night toget a keg of nails of Chapin?

SOLOMON:

And so I did; and Chapin said hewould get another size for you, ifyou wanted them when he came backfrom the field.

Tibeats walks to the keg and kicks it. Moving towardSolomon "with a great passion:"

TIBEATS:

Goddamn yah! I thought yah knowedsomethin'!

Solomon, perhaps inspired by his moment with Eliza, is inno mood for Tibeats.

SOLOMON:

I did as instructed. If there's

something wrong, then its wrongwith your instructions.

TIBEATS:

Yah black bastard! Yah goddmanblack bastard!

In an inconsolable rage, Tibeats runs off to the piazzato fetch a whip.

Solomon looks around. He is alone other than Rachel and

Mistress Ford who, shocked by that which she witnesses,

runs out to the field to fetch Chapin. Solomon's

instinct is to run, but he stands his ground as Tibeatsmarches back whip in hand.

TIBEATS (CONT'D)

Strip yer clothes!

Solomon does no such thing.

TIBEATS (CONT'D)

Strip!

SOLOMON:

I will not.

With "concentrated vengeance," Tibeats springs forSolomon, seizing him by the throat with one hand and

(CONTINUED)

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raising the whip with the other. Before he can strike

the blow, however, Solomon catches Tibeats by the collarof his coat and pulls him in close. Reaching down,

Solomon grabs Tibeats by the ankle and pushes him backwith the other hand. Tibeats tumbles to the ground. A

violent struggle takes place as Solomon puts a foot toTibeats throat, and then in a frenzy of madness snatchesthe whip from Tibeats and begins to strike him with thehandle again and again and again.

TIBEATS:

Yew will not live ta see another

day, n*gger! This is yer last, I

swear it!

Solomon ignores the threats, continues to beat Tibeats.

Blow after blow falling fast and heavy on Tibeats'swriggling form. The stiff stock of the whip wraps aroundTibeats's cringing body until Solomon's arm aches.

Tibeats's cries of vengeance turn to yelps for help andthen pleas for mercy:

TIBEATS (CONT'D)

Murder! It's murder! Lord, God,

help me. God be merciful!

And then suddenly, Tibeats shrieks-

TIBEATS (CONT’D)

Papa I'm sorry!

Chapin comes RIDING IN FROM THE FIELD fast and hard.

Solomon strikes Tibeats a blow or two more, then deliversa well-directed kick that sends Tibeats rolling over theground.

CHAPIN:

What is the matter?

Tibeats struggles up and tries to present an air ofdignity and control while he keeps a demonic eye onSolomon:

SOLOMON:

Master Tibeats wants to whip me

for using the nails you gave me.

CHAPIN:

What's the matter with the nails?

With a mix of shame, anger and embarrassment, Tibeatssays, as if being exposed-

TIBEATS:

They're...they're too large.

CHAPIN:

I am overseer here. I told Platt

to use them, and

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

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CHAPIN (CONT'D)

I shall furnish such nails as I

please. Do you understand that,

Mr. Tibeats?

Tibeats answer is in the grinding of his teeth and theshaking of his fist.

TIBEATS:

This ain't done by half. I will

have flesh, and I will have all of

it.

Tibeats moves off toward, and then INTO THE HOUSE.

Chapin follows. A long moment, Solomon stands alone. He

looks around, not sure what to do; to stay or to flee.

Anxiety mounts on his features.

A moment more, and Tibeats EXITS the house. He saddles

his horse and rides off to beat the devil. Or, worse, tofetch him.

Chapin comes running back out of the house. He is

visibly excited, and when he speaks he is quite earnest.

Though he tries to project reasoned emotions he gives offan air of impending trouble.

CHAPIN:

Do not stir. Do not attempt to

leave the plantation on any

account whatever. But if you run

there is no protecting you.

SOLOMON:

Sir-

CHAPIN:

If you run, Platt, there is no

protecting you. Rachel...!

Chapin runs off to join Rachel. The two converse at a

distance from Solomon, then they head off for the logkitchen.

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