12 Years a Slave Page #17

Epps extends a hand to Solomon. Cautiously, Solomonmoves close, but not too close. As Solomon draws within

striking distance, Epps lunges for him. He chases

Solomon on until he is again out of breath and once moredrops down. And again offering a treaty:

EPPS (CONT'D)

I'm all done in, Platt. I have

met my limitations, and I ain'tequal to 'em. I concede to yah,

but in the name of valor, help yermaster to his feet.

Solomon cautiously moves closer to help. Again he isattacked by Epps - this time by knife. Sort of. Epps istoo drunk and tired to fully open the folding blade - andchased far around the field by Epps. ALL OF THE

PRECEDING SHOULD BE MORE FUNNY THAN SHOCKING. A CHANGE

OF PACE FROM THE OTHERWISE NECESSARY BLEAKNESS OF SLAVE

LIFE.

Mistress Epps comes running from the house to the pair.

MISTRESS EPPS:

What? Wha's the fuss?

SOLOMON:

A misunderstanding is all. It

began when I was sent to retrievePatsey from where she'd takensabbatical at Master Shaw's. Uponreturning, Master Epps believedPatsey and me to be inconversation when we were not. I

tried to explain, but it lead toall this.

MISTRESS EPPS:

What is it? Ya cain't remain the

Sabbath without her under youreye? Ya are a no-account bastard.

EPPS:

Hold a moment...

MISTRESS EPPS:

A filthy, godless heathen. My bedis too holy for yah ta share.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 74.

105 CONTINUED:
(3) 105 105 CONTINUED: (3) 105

EPPS:

Wha's...wha's he been tellin' yah?

MISTRESS EPPS:

Of yer misbegotten ways.

EPPS:

And he would know what of

anythin'? I ain't even spoken

with him today. Platt, yah lyin'

n*gger, have I? Have I?

Discretion being the better part and all, Solomon remainssilent.

EPPS (CONT'D)

There; there's all the truth he

got. Damned n*gger. Damn yah.

Epps pushes his way past the Mistress.

106 EXT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/FIELD - DAY 106

-AUGUST, 1844

With the sun yet again high in the sky the slaves areworking the field picking cotton. As before THEY SING A

SPIRITUAL, the only thing that distracts them from thetedium at hand.

But there is no distracting from the heat. We see Henrybegin to falter before it... And eventually collapseright in the dirt. Though the other slaves take note,

none move to help him. None dare.

From Treach rather matter of factly:

TREACH:

Get him water.

Edward runs to fetch a gourd. He carries it to Henry,

DUMPS THE WATER ON HIM, BUT DOES NOT ACTUALLY GIVE HENRYANYTHING TO DRINK.

Roused, Henry rights himself.

EDWARD:

Go'won. Git up.

Unsteadily, Henry lifts himself and goes back to pickingcotton. He joins in again with the spiritual, as if thesong is all that can keep him going.

107 INT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/SLAVE SHACKS - NIGHT 107

-OCTOBER, 1844

(CONTINUED)

108

109

110

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 75.

CONTINUED:
107

The slaves are asleep. Epps arrives, again withoutknocking, with his whip in hand. The slaves stir. Uncle

Abram asks:

UNCLE ABRAM:

We dance tonight, massa?

Epps remains quietly focused on Patsey. And it's clear

from her apprehensive expression just what it is he'scome looking for. This time there is no escaping it. As

if to acknowledge the badness to come, Phebe lightlycries.

EXT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/SMOKE HOUSE - NIGHT 108

On top of a wood pile, in the back of the smoke house -

Epps shoves Patsey. He stops, stands as if gathering hismanhood, then he's all over Patsey. He is rough andclumsy. It looks like something between an awkward rapeand a virgin attempting his first sexual encounter.

Patsey does not respond in any way other than tocontinually turn her head from Epps, but otherwise remainas still as possible. If there is such a thing, she isvicious with her passive aggressiveness.

Epps's frustration mounts until - as the Mistress Shawhad cautioned - he crosses the line from passion toviolence. He begins slapping Patsey to get a responsefrom her. When that fails, he punches her which onlyleads to him taking up his whip and lashing PatseyMERCILESSLY. Still, she gives him nothing. Beaten,

Patsey sits in the dirt among the cotton, Epps deepbreathing above her. The desire for sex now having lefthim.

Epps heads from the field. Patsey is left where she is.

INT. BARTHOLOMEW'S - DAY 109

-NOVEMBER, 1844

As before, Solomon waits as Bartholomew fills MistressEpps order. Among the items set before Solomon isanother quantity of foolscap.

EXT. ROAD -DAY 110

Solomon is making his way back to the Epps plantation.

He carries with him a sack filled with the goods from thestore. As he walks, SOLOMON LOOKS AROUND CASUALLY. When

he is certain he is alone, he sets down the sack, opensit and appropriates A SINGLE SHEET OF THE PAPER which hefolds and places in his pocket. That done, he cinches upthe sack and continues on his way.

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 76.

111 OMIT 111

112 INT. EPPS'S PLANTATION/SLAVE SHACK - DAY 112

Solomon takes the slip of paper and hides it within hisfiddle. Perhaps the safest place he can think of. He

acts as though he's hiding away found gold. In realityit's more than that. For Solomon the paper is a firststep toward freedom.

113 INT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/MAIN HOUSE - NIGHT 113

-DECEMBER, 1844

It's another night of Epps's forced revelry. Coming inquick from the previous scene, we go from Solomon holdinghis fiddle, to playing it as the slaves are again made todance.

Mistress Epps brings out a tray of freshly bakedpastries. She sets them down on a table.

MISTRESS EPPS:

A moment from the dancing. Come

sample what I baked for y'all.

The slaves, thankful for the rest as much as the food,

file toward the tray reciting a chorus of "Thank you,

Mistress." As Patsey moves toward the pastries:

MISTRESS EPPS (CONT'D)

There'll be none for you, Patsey.

Patsey merely turns away. Her non responsiveness,

however, serves only to incite the Mistress. Screaming:

MISTRESS EPPS (CONT'D)

Yah see that? Did yah see the

look of insolence she give me?

EPPS:

Seen nothin' but her turn away.

MISTRESS EPPS:

Are you blind or ignorant? It was

hot, hateful scorn. It filled

that black face. Yah tell me yah

did'n see it, then yah choose not

to look, or yah sayin' I lie.

EPPS:

Whatever it was, it passed.

MISTRESS EPPS:

Is that how yah are with the

n*ggers? Let every ill thought

fester inside 'em. Look at 'em.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 77.

113 CONTINUED:
113

MISTRESS EPPS (CONT'D)

They foul with it; foul with their

hate. You let it be, it'll come

back to us in the dark a night.

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