12 Years a Slave Page #16

The items are collected for Solomon and placed in a sack.

Solomon giving little thought to them other than gettingthem back to the mistress.

As he turns, he glimpses the regalia of slave restraints,

of all different guises; chains, muzzles for sale.

102 EXT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/GREAT HOUSE - LATER 102

Solomon returns and delivers the items to the Mistress.

MISTRESS EPPS:

Any trouble?

SOLOMON:

No, ma'am. No trouble.

103 OMIT -MOVED TO A105 103

104 EXT. SHAW'S HOUSE - DAY 104

-JULY, 1844

Sitting on the Grand house's Piazza, Patsey is having teawith MISTRESS HARRIET SHAW, WHO IS A BLACK WOMAN. Thoughonce a slave, she is now comparatively refined though notwholly so. The table where they sit is adorned withwhite linens, and they are attended by a HOUSE N*GGER.

It makes for a tranquil surreal scene.

MASTER SHAW, A WHITE MAN, IS ON THE LAWN GROOMING AHORSE.

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 69.

A105 EXT. ROAD -DAY A105

Solomon is running flat out along the road. Running asthough his life depended on getting to his destination inbeyond a timely manner.

B105 EXT. SHAW'S HOUSE - DAY B105

Still running, slick with sweat, Solomon comes upon theSHAW HOUSE.

As Solomon arrives:

MASTER SHAW:

Platt Epps, good Sunday morning.

SOLOMON:

Good morning, Master Shaw. I've

been sent by Master to retrievePatsey. May I approach?

MASTER SHAW:

You may.

Solomon makes his way over to the piazza.

SOLOMON:

Excuse me, Mistress Shaw.

MISTRESS SHAW:

N*gger Platt.

SOLOMON:

My apologies. Patsey, Masterwishes you to return.

PATSEY:

Sabbath day. I's free ta roam.

SOLOMON:

Understood. But the Master sent

me running to fetch you, and saidno time should be wasted.

MISTRESS SHAW:

Drink tea?

SOLOMON:

Thank you, Mistress, but I don'tdare.

MISTRESS SHAW:

Would you knowed Massa Epps'sconsternation ta be any lessenedwit your timely return? Sit. Sit

and drink the tea that offered.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 70.

B105 CONTINUED:
B105 B105 CONTINUED: B105

Solomon knows better, but he sits and the Mistress hastea poured for him.

MISTRESS SHAW (CONT'D)

What'n was Epps's concern?

SOLOMON:

...I'd rather not say...

MISTRESS SHAW:

L'il gossip on the Sabbath be

fine. All things in moderation.

Solomon is not sure what to say. He struggles to be asdiplomatic as possible.

SOLOMON:

As you are aware, Master Epps can

be a man of a hard countenance.

There are times when it is

impossible to account for his

logic. You know he has ill

feelings toward your husband.

MISTRESS SHAW:

He do.

SOLOMON:

Master Epps has somehow come to

believe, as incorrectly as it may

be, that Master Shaw is... That

he is something of a lothario and

an unprincipled man. A misguided

belief born out of their mutual

competition as planters, no doubt.

MISTRESS SHAW:

No doubt...if not born outta truth

itself.

The Mistress waves to Shaw. Shaw, unsuspecting of theconversation, waves back.

SOLOMON:

I'm certain Patsey's well being is

Master Epps's only concern.

MISTRESS SHAW:

Nothin' Epps desire come outta

concern.

SOLOMON:

I meant no disrespect.

MISTRESS SHAW:

He ain't heard you.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 71.

B105 CONTINUED:
(2) B105 B105 CONTINUED: (2) B105

SOLOMON:

I meant no disrespect to you,

Mistress.

MISTRESS SHAW:

Ha! You worry for me? Got no

cause to worry for my

sensibilities. I ain't felt the

end of a lash in 'mo years than I

cain recall. Ain't worked a

field, neither. Where one time I

served, now I got others servin'

me. The cost to my current

existence be Massa Shaw

broadcasting his affections, 'n me

enjoyin' his pantomime of

fidelity. If that what keep me

from the cotton pickin' n*ggers,

that what it be. A small and

reasonable price to be paid 'fo

sure.

Looking toward Patsey, speaking with great empathy:

MISTRESS SHAW (CONT’D)

I knowed what it like to be the

object of Massa's predilections

and peculiarities. And I knowed

they can get expressed with

kindness or wit violence. A lusty

visit in the night, or a

visitation from the whip. And wit

my experience, if'n I can give

comfort, then comfort I give. And

you take comfort, Patsey; the Good

Lord will manage Epps. In His own

time the Good Lord will manage dem

all. Yes, Lordy, there's a day

comin' that will burn as an oven.

It comin' as sure as the Lord is

just. When His will be done...the

curse on the Pharos is a poor

example of all that wait 'fo the

plantation class.

Mistress Shaw turns her head to the side, catching aslave's attention. As she does so, the slave, a YOUNGWOMAN, commences to pour tea.

As if to punctuate her thought, the Mistress takes a sipof her tea.

105 EXT. EPPS'S PLANTATION - LATER 105

Solomon and Patsey are returning from Shaw's. Waiting onthe porch of the Great House, a drunk Epps beckons forPatsey, his lewd intentions obvious.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 72.

105 CONTINUED:
105 105 CONTINUED: 105

EPPS:

Pats...! Patsey!

SOLOMON:

Do not look in his direction.

Continue on.

Epps does not care to be ignored. He lifts himself and

moves toward the pair in a rage.

EPPS:

Patsey...!

Solomon moves between Epps and Patsey, cutting Epps offas Patsey continues on. Playing up his "ignorance" ofthe situation:

SOLOMON:

Found her, Master, and brought herback just as instructed.

EPPS:

What'd you jus now tell her?

What'd you say to Pats?

SOLOMON:

No words were spoken. None of

consequence.

EPPS:

Lie! Damned liar! Saw youtalkin' with 'er. Tell me!

SOLOMON:

I cannot speak of what did not

occur.

Epps grabs Solomon.

EPPS:

I'll cut your black throat.

Solomon pulls away from Epps, RIPPING HIS SHIRT IN THEPROCESS. Epps gives chase. Solomon begins to run aroundthe large pig sty, easily keeping his distance. Epps,

however is undeterred. He moves after Solomon as

speedily as he can, which isn't very speedily at all.

And quickly he tires. Epps is forced to bend over andsuck air. Solomon maintains his distance, barelybreathing hard. His breath returned to him, Epps startsup the chase again. Solomon runs on out of reach.

Shortly, Epps again stops, gets his breath... And now in

what should be quite comical, Epps again runs afterSolomon. Again, Epps's vigor leaves him before he caneven get close to the slave.

Dropping down to the dirt, in a show of regret and piety:

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 73.

105 CONTINUED:
(2) 105 105 CONTINUED: (2) 105

EPPS (CONT'D)

Platt... Platt, liquor filled me.

I admit that it did, and I doneover reacted. It's the Lord's

day. Ain't nothin' Christian in

us carryin' on like this. Help meta my feet, and let us both prayto the Lord for forgiveness.

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