12 Years a Slave Page #15

bravery will be handed down to the

last posterity. If ever there be

a stain upon "raw militia," he

done wiped away on the eight of

January. I say da result a that

day's battle is of 'mo importance

to our grand nation than any

occurrence 'fo or since. Great

man. Great man in deed. We all

need pray to Heavenly Father da

General reign over us always.

96 INT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/SLAVE SHACK - NIGHT 96

The slaves are sleeping. There is a loud commotion.

Epps enters, drunkenly, forcing the slaves awake.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 65.

96 CONTINUED:
96 96 CONTINUED: 96

EPPS:

Get up! Get up, we dance tonight!

We will not waste the evenin' with

yer laziness. Get up.

97 INT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/MAIN HOUSE - NIGHT 97

Despite the lateness of the hour, the slaves are up andnow fully dressed. They take up position in the middleof the floor. They wait, poised like actors. Solomon

strikes up a tune; Henry joins in with a pan flute andthe slaves dance. They do so very wearily. The whole of

it certainly more torture than pleasure.

Epps, whip in hand:

EPPS:

Where's yah merriment? Move yer

feet.

As the slaves twirl about Epps keeps an attentive eye onPatsey. It should be quite clear that his primarymotivation for holding dances is so that he may viewPatsey twirl about the floor.

This fact is not lost on Mistress Epps. A few moments of

Epps's lust on display is all that the Mistress can bear.

Jealousy mounting, she snatches up a CARAFE. With all

her might she throws it at Patsey. It hits Patsey squarein the face. TOO THICK TO SHATTER, IT LEAVES HER BLOODYAND WRITHING ON THE FLOOR. The dancing, the music stop.

The slaves, however, react as though it is not the firsttime they've seen as much from the Mistress.

Mistress Epps, screaming like a hellion:

MISTRESS EPPS:

Sell her!

EPPS:

C'mon, now. Wha's this?

MISTRESS EPPS:

You will sell the negress!

EPPS:

You're talkin' foolish. Sell

little Pats? She pick with more

vigor than any other n*gger!

Choose another ta go.

MISTRESS EPPS:

No other. Sell her!

EPPS:

I will not!

(CONTINUED)

98

99

100

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 66.

CONTINUED:
97

MISTRESS EPPS:

You will remove that black b*tch

from this property, 'er I'll takemyself back to Cheneyville.

EPPS:

Back to that hog's trough where Ifound you? Oh, the idleness ofthat yarn washes over me. Do not

set yourself up against Patsey, mydear. That's a wager on which youwill not profit. Calm yerself.

And settle for my affection,

'cause my affection you got. Or,

go. 'Cause I will rid myself ofyah well before I do away withher!

Mistress Epps stands irate, lost in fury and unable toeven think of what to do. Eventually, optionless, shestorms away.

For a few beats there is only the sound of Patseysobbing.

EPPS (CONT'D)

That damned woman! I won't have

my mood spoiled. I will not.

Dance!

Epps sends the whip in Solomon's direction. Solomon

responds by playing.

Treach literally drags the prone Patsey from the floor,

blood still spilling from her face. The slaves, asordered, return to dancing.

EXT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION - MORNING 98

-AUGUST, 1843

The sun has only just risen above the horizon. FROM THE

GREAT HOUSE THE HORN IS BLOWN signaling the start ofanother day.

EXT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/FIELD - DAY 99

Slaves are in the field picking cotton. They accompanytheir work with a SPIRITUAL.

EXT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/GREAT HOUSE - LATER 100

As the slaves make their way in from the field, theMistress calls to Solomon. SHE HAS A PIECE OF PAPER IN

HAND.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 67.

100 CONTINUED:
100 100 CONTINUED: 100

MISTRESS EPPS:

Platt...

SOLOMON:

Yes, Mistress.

MISTRESS EPPS:

Can you find your way to

Bartholomew's?

SOLOMON:

I can, ma'am.

Handing Solomon a sheet of paper.

MISTRESS EPPS:

This is a list of goods and

sundries. You will take it to be

filled and return immediately.

Tell Bartholomew to add it to our

debt.

SOLOMON:

I will, Mistress.

Solomon looks at the list. In a careless moment, Solomonreads quietly from it. He catches himself, but notbefore the Mistress notes his action. With highinquisitiveness:

MISTRESS EPPS:

Where yah from, Platt?

SOLOMON:

I have told you.

MISTRESS EPPS:

Tell me again.

SOLOMON:

Washington.

MISTRESS EPPS:

Who were yah Master?

SOLOMON:

Master name of Freeman.

MISTRESS EPPS:

Was he a learned man?

SOLOMON:

I suppose so.

MISTRESS EPPS:

He learn yah ta read?

(CONTINUED)

100

1/24/13

CONTINUED:
(2)

FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 68.

100

SOLOMON:

A word here or there, but I haveno understanding of the writtentext.

MISTRESS EPPS:

Don't trouble yer self with it.

Same as the rest, Master boughtyah to work. Tha's all. And anymore'll earn yah a hun'red lashes.

Having delivered her cool advice, Mistress heads backinto the house.

A101 EXT. ROAD -DAY A101 *

Solomon walks along a well-worn path, shopping bag drapedover one shoulder. We see his feet. As the walk slowlygathers pace, Solomon suddenly turns left into densefoliage. His tread is now a full blown sprint, treesflash past as Solomon attacks his way through the woods.

The sound of branches cracking underneath. His feet,

heartbeat and breath almost deafening. He is desperate.

The violence of his advance abruptly stops, there issilence. We see in a clearance a posse of patrollers,

preparing for a lynching of two young men. Solomon's

eyes meet theirs. The two men look back at Solomon with

a look of fear as one of the patrollers checks the noosearound their neck. Suddenly the bloodhounds startbarking and the patrollers turn in the direction ofSolomon. Solomon's whole body shakes with anticipation.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

PATROLLER:

(aggressively)

Boy, where are you going?

*

*

*

SOLOMON:

(almost tripping overhis words)

To the store, Sir, toBartholomew's. I was sent there

by Mistress Epps.

*

*

*

*

*

*

The patroller reaches out for Solomon's free pass aroundhis neck, yanking him forward. He looks at it.

*

*

PATROLLER:

Get there and get there quick.

*

*

The patroller kicks Solomon hard, sending him on his way.

Solomon walks on, looking one more time at the two youngmen; again there is a moment of connection.

*

*

*

Solomon turns. The two men are hoisted up, kicking andspitting, behind his shoulder.

*

*

Solomon finds himself back on the trail walking towardsBartholomew's, his face now full of shock and

(CONTINUED)

*

*

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 68A.

A101 CONTINUED:
A101 A101 CONTINUED: A101

trepidation. He walks, fighting to calm himself down. *

We move behind him as he continues his journey, a lonely *

figure. *

101 INT. BARTHOLOMEW'S - LATER 101

A general store in the township of Holmesville. Solomon

stands at the counter as BARTHOLOMEW fills Mistress

Epps's order. Among the items set before Solomon is aQUANTITY OF FOOLSCAP.

Rate this script:4.2 / 13 votes