12 Years a Slave Page #20

SOLOMON:

You know this to be so?

UNCLE ABRAM:

Two of my massas tolt me.

(CONTINUED)

A129

129

130

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 86.

CONTINUED:
A129

OMIT 129

EXT. TURNER PLANTATION - NIGHT 130

-FEBRUARY/MARCH, 1847

Alone out on the edge of the Bayou, Solomon is playing alow air on his violin WHILE SNACKING ON SCRAPS OF BACON.

As he plays, something appears in the distance. From the

edge of the bayou, coming forth like an apparition arisenfrom the earth, is CELESTE. She is a young woman ofabout 19 years of age and far whiter than most blacks.

"IT REQUIRED CLOSE INSPECTION TO DISTINGUISH IN HERFEATURE THE SLIGHTEST TRACE OF AFRICAN BLOOD." Beyondthat, she is pale and haggard, but still lovely.

Dressed in a white gown, she emerges from the water.

Draped on her dress, her period. A line in her skirt.

It's very visible, but not shocking. A ribbon of red inher dress.

Celeste moves to Solomon without fear or hesitation. As

Solomon, startled, takes her in, Celeste says quiteplainly:

CELESTE:

I am hungry. Give me food.

SOLOMON:

Who are you?

CELESTE:

I'm hungry.

Solomon gives Celeste some of his food. Celeste,

famished, devours it.

SOLOMON:

What is your name?

CELESTE:

My name is Celeste.

SOLOMON:

What are your circumstances?

CELESTE:

I belong ta Massa Carey, and 'ave

been two days among da palmettoes.

Celeste is sick and cain't work,

and would rather die in the swamp

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 87.

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CELESTE (CONT'D)

than be whipped to death by the

overseer. So I took myself away.

Massa's dogs won't follow me. The

patrollers 'ave tried to set dem

on me. But dey a secret between

dem and Celeste, and dey won't

mind the devilish orders of the

overseer.

Celeste lifts her head from the food on which she gnaws.

CELESTE (CONT'D)

Do you believe me?

SOLOMON:

Yes.

CELESTE:

Why?

SOLOMON:

There are some whose tracks the

hounds will refuse to follow.

CELESTE:

Give me more food. I'm starvin'.

SOLOMON:

This is all my allowance for the

rest of-

CELESTE:

Give it to me.

Almost as if compelled, Solomon does as ordered. As she

eats, Celeste aggrandizes herself:

CELESTE (CONT'D)

Most slaves escape at night. The

overseers are alert for such

chicanes. But Celeste tricked dem

'n alight in the middle of the day

wit the sun up at its highest.

The place of my concealment now

deep in the swamp, not half a mile

from Massa's plantation, and a

world apart. A world a tall

trees whose long arms make fo' a

canopy so dense dey keep away even

the beams of the sun. It twilight

always in Celeste's world, even in

the brightest day. I will live

there, and I will live freely.

The overseers are a cowardly lot.

Dey will not go where their dogs

show fear and where it always be

night. Others will join me in the

twilight, and we ain't gunna be

slaves no 'mo forever.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 88.

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(2) 130 130 CONTINUED: (2) 130

Solomon isn't sure what to say. Before he can sayanything:

CELESTE (CONT'D)

Celeste will come to you again in

the night. You will have food for

her.

Celeste departs the way she came; as though she were avision.

131 INT. JUDGE TURNER'S PLANTATION/FOOD STORAGE - NIGHT 131

Solomon stealthfully makes his way into the storage shed.

Dried and smoked meats are hung, and milled corn isabout. Taking out a handkerchief, Solomon begins to loadit with food. Not too much. Not so much his thieverywill be readily noticed, but he does avail himself.

132 EXT. TURNER PLANTATION - NIGHT 132

Solomon plays his violin, but plays it with an anxiousnature as he waits.

Then, as before, a figure appears in the distance. It is

Celeste coming out of the night. She makes her waydirectly to Solomon. With no greeting, she says:

CELESTE:

I am hungry.

Solomon gives Celeste the handkerchief he's filled. She

opens it, and begins to devour the food. As she eats:

CELESTE (CONT'D)

I was rude, and didn't even ask yo

name.

SOLOMON:

Platt.

(beat)

Solomon. Solomon is my true and

free name.

CELESTE:

Was you free?

SOLOMON:

I was. I am.

Solomon exposes his wrist, displays his tattoo as heannounces:

SOLOMON (CONT'D)

I remain free in my heart.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 89.

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Giving a laugh as though it's the silliest thing she'sheard:

CELESTE:

Free heart means nothin if'n yobody gunna die a slave.

SOLOMON:

I will not.

CELESTE:

How? Celeste knows you ain't

gunna run. Celeste knows it ain't

your nature.

SOLOMON:

I have a plan. I have a letter.

CELESTE:

A letter? How'll yah mail daletter? Who yah trust to post it?

A n*gger that can read and writeis a n*gger that'll hang.

There is a pause. Solomon can't answer this question. It

is the glaring hole in his plan.

Having finished eating:

(CONTINUED)

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134

135

134

135

136

137

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1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 90.

CONTINUED:
(2) 132

CELESTE (CONT'D)

Celeste will come again in denight. You will bring her 'mofood.

SOLOMON:

I risk discovery to take more.

CELESTE:

You will bring Celeste 'mo food.

And with that Celeste again moves back into the darkness.

OMIT 133

OMIT 134

EXT. TURNER PLANTATION - EVENING 135

Solomon is picking at the bark off a WHITE MAPLE.

EXT. TURNER PLANTATION - EVENING 136

In a tin cup, over a fire, Solomon boils the white maplebark in just a bit of water.

INT. JUDGE TURNER'S PLANTATION/SLAVES CABIN - NIGHT 137

As others sleep, by the light of dying coals, Solomonuses the quill to test the boiled bark. The liquid holdsas a form of ink. It is no?t ideal, but it is legible onthe page. Armed with this, Solomon writes his letter.

EXT. TURNER PLANTATION - NIGHT 138

Solomon sits with Celeste. He relates his news to her.

SOLOMON:

I have my letter.

CELESTE:

Yah has your freedom then?

SOLOMON:

All that remains is to contrive

measures by which the letter cansafely be deposited in the postoffice.

When Celeste speaks she is quite melancholy.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 91.

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CELESTE:

I have resolved to return to myMassa.

Solomon gives an unnerved look. This is not good news.

SOLOMON:

Is it more food you need?

CELESTE:

I live in fear.

SOLOMON:

None will come after you in the

swamps.

CELESTE:

It ain't the patrollers I scaredof... At all seasons the howlingof wild animals can be heard at

night along the border of the

swamps. At first their calls were

welcomin'. Dey too was free, 'n Ithought dey greeted me like asistah. Lately, dey cries haveturned horrifyin'. They mean tokill Celeste.

SOLOMON:

The solitude plays tricks. It's

your impression, nothing more. Ifyou go back to your master youcould face the same.

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