
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:
A129OMIT 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.
130 CONTINUED:
130 130 CONTINUED: 130CELESTE (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.
130 CONTINUED:
(2) 130 130 CONTINUED: (2) 130Solomon 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.
132 CONTINUED:
132 132 CONTINUED: 132Giving 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)
133
134
135
134
135
136
137
138
1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 90.
CONTINUED:
(2) 132CELESTE (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.
138 CONTINUED:
138 138 CONTINUED: 138CELESTE:
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
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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"12 Years a Slave" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 17 Mar. 2025. <https://www.scripts.com/script/12_years_a_slave_47>.
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