12 Years a Slave Page #23

Looking right to Solomon:

EPPS:

Get up.

Solomon does. Epps heads back out into the dark. He

says nothing, but his directive is clear: Follow me.

153 EXT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/SLAVE SHACK - CONTINUOUS 153

Solomon comes out into the dark. Nearly hidden in theshadows is a bitter Epps. Despite the lack of light,

Epps's malevolence is quite clear. His whip attached tohis hip. As he speaks, he stokes himself with swigs froma FLASK.

Epps puts his arm around Solomon, as if consoling afriend, and guides him into the woods.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 100A.

153 CONTINUED:
153 153 CONTINUED: 153

EPPS:

Well, boy. I understand I've gota larned n*gger that writes

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 101.

153 CONTINUED:
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EPPS (CONT'D)

letters and tries to get white

fellows to mail 'em.

Solomon, hardly missing a beat, plays this off.

EPPS (CONT’D)

Well, Armsby tol' me today the

devil was among my n*ggers. That

I had one that needed close

watchin' or he would run away.

When I axed him why, he said you

come over to him and waked him up

in the middle of the night and

wanted him to carry a letter to

Marksville. What have yah got to

say to that?

SOLOMON:

All I have to say, master, is all

that need be said. There is no

truth in it.

EPPS:

You say.

SOLOMON:

How could I write a letter without

ink or paper? There is nobody I

want to write to 'cause I hain't

got no friends living as I know

of. That Armsby is a lying

drunken fellow. You know this,

just as you know that I am

constant in truth. Now, master, I

can see what that Armsby is after,

plain enough. Didn't he want you

to hire him for an overseer?

A beat.

SOLOMON (CONT’D)

That's it. He wants to make you

believe we're all going to run

away and then he thinks you'll

hire an overseer to watch us. He

believes you are soft soap. He's

given to such talk. I believe

he's just made this story out of

whole cloth, 'cause he wants to

get a situation. It's all a lie,

master, you may depend on't. It's

all a lie.

For a tense moment we are unsure which way Epps'll go.

Increasingly it become apparent that, shallow minded andequally soused, Solomon has been able to fold Epps'sthoughts. In a low curse that clearly states his illintentions.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 102.

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Revealed is a pocket knife, which all through theconversation, unknown to us the audience, was pushed upagainst Solomon's stomach. As Epps speaks, he closes itand taps it on Solomon's shoulder.

EPPS:

I'm damned. I'll be god... Were

he not free and white, Platt.

Were he not free and white.

Epps heads off. Solomon is left to exhale a deep breath.

154 EXT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/WOODS - NIGHT 154

Having found a lonely spot, Solomon has struck a SMALLFIRE. He has in his hand his letter. With no ceremony,

he casts the letter upon the flames and watches it burn.

And with it, at this time, seems all chance of him everbeing free. He stands and looks at it as if forever, asashes descend into the night sky.

FADE TO BLACK.

A155 EXT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/GREAT HOUSE - DAY A155

-MARCH, 1852

The slaves are now employed working on an extension tothe Great House. The slaves work under the direction of

MR. SAMUEL BASS, a between forty and fifty years old, oflight complexion and light hair. He is cool and self-

possessed, fond of argument, but always speaking withextreme deliberation as well as a Canadian accent.

B155 EXT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/GREAT HOUSE - DAY B155

As the slaves continue to work, there is a conversationgoing on between Epps and Bass. Bass much skilled in the

art of sophistry, while Epps's arguments are fueledmostly by emotion alone. Though at first Epps doeslittle more than joke his way around the facts.

Solomon, working still, can't help but overhear as Eppsoffers Bass a drink, which Bass waves away.

EPPS:

Take it. You look unsettled.

BASS:

I'm well.

EPPS:

No shame in taking respite from

the heat; drink, shade. It's

ungodly for travelers. Hearty, or

otherwise.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 102A.

B155 CONTINUED:
B155

Bass gives a laugh.

EPPS (CONT’D)

I meant no joke.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 103.

B155 CONTINUED:
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BASS:

Your humor is inadvertent.

Sensing perhaps Bass's laughter might be at his expense,

Epps presses.

EPPS:

Then share what's funny. Or what

ills you.

BASS:

I'm here to complete the work athand. As requested, and as paid.

EPPS:

Something rubs you wrongly.

Before I take further offense, Ioffer you the opportunity to speakon it.

BASS:

You ask plainly, I will tell youplainly. What I find amusing: Youworry about my well being in theheat but, quite frankly, thecondition of your laborers-

EPPS:

"The condition of my..." What in

the hell are you-

BASS:

It is horrid. It's all wrong.

All wrong, sir.

EPPS:

They ain't hired help. They're myslaves.

BASS:

You say that with pride.

EPPS:

I say it as fact.

BASS:

If the conversation concerns what

is factual and what is not;

there's no justice norrighteousness in slavery. I

wouldn't own a slave if I was rich

as Croesus, which I am not, as isperfectly well understood. More

particularly among my creditors.

There's another humbug: the creditsystem. Humbug, sir. No credit,

no debt. Credit leads a man into

temptation. Cash down is the onlything that will deliver him from

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT

B155 CONTINUED:
(3)

BASS (CONT'D)

evil. But this question of

slavery; what right have you to

your n*ggers when you come down to

the point?

EPPS:

What right? I bought 'em. I paid

for 'em.

BASS:

Of course you did. The law says

you have the right to hold a

n*gger, but begging the law's

pardon...it lies. Is everything

right because the law allows it?

Suppose they'd pass a law taking

away your liberty and making you a

slave?

EPPS:

Ha!

BASS:

Suppose.

EPPS:

That ain't a supposable case.

BASS:

Because the law states that your

liberties are undeniable? Because

society deems it so? Laws change.

Social systems crumble. Universal

truths are constant. It is a

fact, it is a plain fact that what

is true and right is true and

right for all. White and black

alike.

EPPS:

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Yah compare me

to a n*gger, Bass? Yah might as

well ask what the difference is

between a white man and a baboon.

Now, I seen one of them critters

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