12 Years a Slave Page #5

(beat)

Or, yah can carry on like yahbeen, and I fear yah won't live tosee Sunday next.

With that thought, Radburn exits. Solomon rests. But to

rest seems like giving in to defeat. He begins pulling

(CONTINUED)

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on his chains. But for all his struggling, the chainloosens none. Solomon calls out:

SOLOMON:

Help me! Someone help me!

If anyone at all hears him, they do not respond. Solomon

continues his plaintive cry for assistance.

26 EXT. BURCH'S DUNGEON - CONTINUOUS 26

Beginning with a TIGHT SHOT on the shuttered, barredwindow of Burch's dungeon - Solomon's cries barely ekingbeyond the space - THE CAMERA PULLS BACK from thebuilding, onto the city until clearly visible is theNation's capital. It's icon's of freedom - the WHITE

HOUSE, the CAPITOL BUILDING - fairly mocking Solomon'scaptivity. Simultaneously, barren at the early hour andcluttered with litter and the remains of previous day'sprocession, the city is a bleak and forboding sight.

27 INT. BURCH'S DUNGEON - DAY 27

IT IS DAY NOW. The door to the yard is thrown open. The

harsh white light floods all over Solomon.

28 OMITTED 28

(CONTINUED)

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29 MOVED TO SC. A32 29

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30 EXT. BURCH'S DUNGEON/YARD - DAY 30

It is a yard just beyond Burch's. The yard is hemmed inby a brick wall. In the yard are two men, and a boy.

The oldest is CLEMENS RAY a man of about 25 years of age.

He is well educated. JOHN WILLIAMS is about 20 yearsold. He is born and bred a slave, is lacking ineducation, and overwhelmed with fear of the situation.

Finally there is a child about 10 years of age whoanswers to the name of Randall.

Solomon, Clemens Ray, John and Randall ALL STAND NAKED.

Though they try to cover their privates a bit, they areall aware of the uselessness of modesty. Radburn is

present. He has before him A COUPLE OF BUCKETS OF COLD

WATER. He throws water on the naked men.

RADBURN:

Go on. Warsh up.

The men, soaking in humility as well as water, begin toscrub with A SINGLE BAR OF HARSH SOAP passed among them.

RADBURN (CONT'D)

The boy, too. Get him clean.

Solomon takes some soap and rubs it over Randall.

RADBURN (CONT'D)

Scrub now. Git 'em clean.

Solomon scrubs harder. Randall - clearly cold anduncomfortable - appeals to Solomon.

RANDALL:

Do you know when my Mama will

come?

RADBURN:

Hush him up!

Seeing Solomon has no answer for him, Randall begins to

cry.

RANDALL:

Mama ..! Mama! Is she going to

come?

Doing all he can to spare the child from a certainbeating:

SOLOMON:

Quiet, please.

Randall is becoming nearly inconsolable.

RANDALL:

Mama!

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Saying anything to keep the boy quiet:

SOLOMON:

Your mother will come, I swear she

will, but you must be silent.

Please. Be silent!

On the seeming strength of Solomon's promise, Randallgoes silent. Solomon looks to Radburn, who just throwswater on the soapy men.

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31 OMITTED 31

A32 INT. BURCH'S DUNGEON - EVENING A32

Radburn brings food in to Solomon; a shriveled piece ofmeat and some water. Just barely enough to sustainSolomon. Radburn also has a SHIRT.

RADBURN:

That old thing of yours is just

rags and tatters. Need something

proper to wear.

Solomon doesn't move for the clothing.

RADBURN (CONT'D)

Go'won. Put it on.

With slow defiance, Solomon does as instructed. He

removes what remains of his old shirt - the one he was

wearing when first kidnapped - and puts on the oneRadburn brought him. The shirt's ill-fitting and dirty.

Despite that, Radburn says:

RADBURN (CONT'D)

There. Tha's fine. Tha's fine.

Got no gratitude?

SOLOMON:

...Thank you...

RADBURN:

Yah keep bein' proper, yah'll see

how things work out.

Radburn starts to take the old shirt.

SOLOMON:

No! It was from my wife.

RADBURN:

Rags and tatters. Rags and

tatters.

Taking the shirt, the "rags and tatters" as he callsthem, Radburn exits, locking the door behind him.

Solomon sits with the plate of food before him. He

pushes the plate away rather than eat.

32 EXT. BURCH'S DUNGEON/YARD - DAY 32

Sitting together out in the yard are Clemens Ray, Johnand Solomon. Over time they have drawn trustworthyenough to speak with one another. At the moment Solomon

is still trying to apply reason to the situation.

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Randall wanders about in the background. As usual, hecalls out for his "Mama." By now, however, his callsshould feel like little more than background noise.

SOLOMON:

This can't stand. It is a crime.

I believe now someone lay in waitfor me. My drink was altered...

We are free men. They have...theyhave no right to hold us.

Solomon waits for a response from the others. They give

none.

SOLOMON (CONT'D)

We need a sympathetic ear. If we

have an opportunity to explain oursituation-

CLEMENS:

Who in your estimation is thatsympathetic ear?

SOLOMON:

The two men I journeyed with. I'm

certain they're making inquires atthis very moment.

CLEMENS:

I would be just as certain theyare counting the money paid fordelivering you to this place.

SOLOMON:

They were not kidnappers. Theywere artists. Fellow performers.

CLEMENS:

You know that? You know for

certain who they were?

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The fact is, Solomon can't say for certain.

CLEMENS (CONT’D)

How I reckon the situation:

whatever past we had...well,

that's done now. The reality tocome is us being transportedsouthward. New Orleans if I were

to venture. After we arrive,

we'll be put to market. Beyondthat... Well, once in a slavestate I suppose there's only oneoutcome.

JOHN:

No.

CLEMENS:

I don't say that to give you emptyagitation, John...

JOHN:

For y'all. For y'all they ain'tnothin' but that! But John was'n

kidnapped. John bein' hold as

debt, tha's all. Massa pay hisdebt, and John be redeemed-

CLEMENS:

Boy, our masters will not come for

us.

John is nearly beside himself with panic.

JOHN:

Now John's...John's sorry fory'all, but tha's how it be. Where

y'all goin', yah goin' witoutJohn. Massa take care of me.

Massa take care.

RANDALL:

Mama!

All three men turn and look. At the moment Randall

doesn't call out emptily. At the door to the yard isBurch along with two women. One in her late twenties;

ELIZA. She is "arrayed in silk, with rings upon herfingers, and golden ornaments suspended from her ears."

Though a slave, Eliza was a mistress and has - to thispoint - lived well. This is reflected in her airs and

her speech. The other is a little girl, light in skincolor, of about seven or eight. This is EMILY, Randall'shalf sister.

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