12 Years a Slave Page #13

Solomon is now very much alone, and he waits for what isto come. AND WE WAIT WITH HIM. And we wait, and wecontinue to wait... Moment by moment, the dread of theunexpected mounts.

Solomon's eyes begin to well. He has beaten a white man,

and he knows that death awaits him.

A SLIGHT PRAYER TO THE HEAVENS BEGINS TO FORM IN HIS

THROAT, but he is too choked up to fully speak it.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 57.

84 CONTINUED:
(4) 84 84 CONTINUED: (4) 84

Chapin has now returned to the piazza. He stands and

watches, but does not move to Solomon.

Solomon waits, and waits...

WE HEAR THE SOUND OF DISTANT HOOFS which grow louder andlouder in the manner of rolling thunder. It's Tibeats.

He returns with two accomplices; RAMSAY and COOK. Theycarry with them large whips and a coil of rope.

TIBEATS:

Tha's the one. Tha's him.

Dismounting, they move with menace that is tinged withperverse pleasure and wordless malevolence. Solomon

tries to fight back, but he is strong armed and tied byTIBEATS - his wrists, and then ankles bound in the same

manner. In the meantime the other two have slipped acord within Solomon's elbows, running it across his backand tying it firmly. Solomon is then dragged toward apeach tree. A lynching is in store. The naked horror of

it intensely palpable.

Solomon looks toward the piazza, but Chapin is now gone.

Tears of fear flow down Solomon's cheeks. He is on the

verge of panic; a man heading toward his own execution,

he begins to struggle and fight.

A rope goes around Solomon's neck, then is tossed overthe branch of the tree. The trio begin to hoist Solomon.

He gasps and gags as spittle flies from his mouth and thelife is choked from him.

With suddenness, Chapin comes from the house brandishinga pistol in each hand - Colt Paterson .36 caliber"Holster" pistols with 9" barrels. Chapin moves withdetermination toward the lynch mob. He is sharp andmatter of fact. With the guns in hand, he really doesn'tneed to be much more demonstrative.

CHAPIN:

Gentlemen... Whoever moves that

n*gger another foot from where hestands is a dead man. I am

overseer of this plantation sevenyears, and in the absence ofWilliam Ford, my duty is toprotect his interests. Ford holds

a mortgage on Platt of fourhundred dollars. If you hang him,

he loses his debt. Until that is

canceled you have no claim to hislife.

Directing his attention to Ramsay and Cook:

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 58.

84 CONTINUED:
(5) 84 84 CONTINUED: (5) 84

CHAPIN (CONT'D)

As for you two, if you have any

regard for your own safety...I

say, begone!

Ramsay and Cook don't need to be told twice. The pistolsChapin's gripping make the situation real clear. Without

further word, they mount their horses and ride away.

Tibeats remains, and his anger with him.

TIBEATS:

Yah got no cause. Platt is mine,

and mine ta do with as I please.

Yah touch my property, I will 'ave

yah strung up as well.

Tibeats mounts up and departs. There is a surreal moment

as Chapin's not sure what to do about Solomon. He

chooses to do nothing. Solomon is left dangling by theneck from the tree as Chapin calls to Sam in thedistance:

CHAPIN:

Sam! Get the mule. You must ride

to Master Ford. Tell him to come

here at once without a single

moment's delay. Tell him they are

trying to murder Platt. Hurry,

boy. Bring him back if you must

kill the mule to do so!

SAM:

Yes, suh!

Sam mounts up and rides off, the mule demonstrating muchspeed.

85 EXT. FORD PLANATION - LATER 85

HOURS HAVE PASSED. The sun is now at its apex. The sightand smell of the red rose bush is more than vivid as

Solomon remains tied and dangling exactly where he wasleft. The scene is both tranquil and horrific. Life onthe plantation continues. The OTHER SLAVES work in the

field. CHILDREN make their way playfully in the yard.

It should all underscore the fact that a black, hangingeven partially from a tree, is nothing unusual in thistime and space.

(CONTINUED)

86

87 87

88

89

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 59.

CONTINUED:
85

Chapin walks back and forth with the pistols in hishands. Clearly he fears Tibeats returning with more andbetter assistance. And yet, he does nothing to alleviateSolomon's suffering. He heeds Tibeats words, and asthough caught up in the middle of nothing more than aproperty dispute, he offers no further aid.

Solomon's head lolls to one side. He looks toward the

sun. The bright light flares off the leaves and branchesof the tree from which Solomon hangs. The glare inSolomon's eyes offering him more pain than solace, but hecannot help but look upward. As he does, his eyesflutter between life and lifelessness...

OMIT 86

EXT. FORD PLANATION - LATER 87

Solomon continues to hang. By now he is drenched insweat, and nearly delirious with dehydration. His lipsdry and parched. He may not die from hanging, but he mayvery well expire before the day is over.

Eventually Rachel comes over - timidly, and as though shewere acting contrary to orders - and offers a drink ofwater from a tin cup, pouring it in Solomon's mouth forhim. She then takes a small hand towel and dabs at the

water which clings to his lips. Rachel then retreats,

and leaves Solomon to hang.

EXT. FORD PLANATION - EVENING 88

The sun is just now arching for the horizon. Solomon

remains, as though his torture will not end. Ford,

trailed by Sam, finally comes riding up. He dismounts,

and moves swiftly over to Solomon. With great heartache:

FORD:

Platt... My poor Platt.

Ford produces a blade and cuts Solomon loose. Solomon

attempts to carry himself, but he cannot. He falls to

the ground and passes out.

INT. FORD PLANATION/GREAT HOUSE - NIGHT 89

As we come into the scene, Solomon lays on a blanket onthe floor. Eventually, his eyes flutter, then open. He

is in the foyer of the Ford house. As he gets hisbearings, he looks around the interior. THE SPACE IS

HANDSOME, AND WELL DECORATED. It is sharp contrast tothe bleak surroundings, shacks and dungeons Solomon haslargely been accustom to during his time of slavery. It

will be the "first and last time such a sumptuous restingplace was granted" during his twelve years of bondage.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 60.

89 CONTINUED:
89 89 CONTINUED: 89

Solomon doesn't have much chance to luxuriate in his

surroundings. He hears a DOG BARKING just outside, andis unnerved. Has Tibeats returned to finish what he

started?

From a study, Master Ford appears with a gun in hand. He

goes to the door, opens it and looks outside. He can see

nothing. Satisfied, Ford crosses back over to Solomon.

He is frank with Solomon regarding the situation.

FORD:

I believe Tibeats is skulkin'

about the premises somewhere. He

wants you dead, and he will

attempt to have you so. It's no

Rate this script:4.2 / 13 votes