Lincoln Page #13

takes years and years and You deliver your own

years but - goddamned petition, thank

you...

PETITIONER:

Please, please.

Robert wrestles the trunk out of the man's grasp just as Mary

enters the hall and sees him.

MARY:

He's here...

(calling down the hall:)

He's here, Mrs. Cuthbert! He's

here!

(TO ROBERT:
)

Robbie... Oh Robbie! Robbie!

ROBERT:

(EMBRACING HER:
)

Hi, mama. Hey. Hey...

MARY (CONT'D)

(OVERJOYED)

Oh!

She instantly eyes Robert's amount of luggage with suspicion.

MARY (CONT'D) TAD

You're only staying a few - but what's made everyone

days. Why'd you pack all of really cross with the man,

that? the man who wrote the finch

book, is he says people are

ROBERT cousins to monkeys, but he

Well, I don't know how long was going to say -

I'M -

MARY (CONT'D)

(TO TAD:
)

Go tell your father Robert's home!

40.

TAD:

Mr. Nicolay says daddy's secluded

with Mr. Blair.

MARY:

Tell him anyway.

Tad drops the suitcase and runs to the office. Mary strokes

Robert's face, looking concerned.

MARY (CONT'D)

You forget to eat, exactly like

him.

ROBERT:

(LAUGHS)

No...

MARY:

You'll linger a few days extra,

after the reception, before you go

back to school.

ROBERT:

Well, I don't know if I'm gonna go

back to -

She stops him with an alarmed look.

MARY:

We'll fatten you up before you

return to Boston.

ROBERT:

All right, mama.

MARY:

All right.

(beaming at him,

ADORINGLY:
)

Oh Robbie...

INT. LINCOLN'S OFFICE, WHITE HOUSE - MORNING

Preston Blair, still in his traveling cloak, and Lincoln

stand near the fireplace facing one another.

PRESTON BLAIR:

Jefferson Davis is sending three

delegates:
Stephens, Hunter and

Campbell:
Vice President of the

Confederacy, their former Secretary

of State, and their Assistant

41.

Secretary of War. They're coming in

earnest to propose peace.

Both men look into the fire. Preston moves closer.

PRESTON BLAIR (CONT'D)

I know this is unwelcome news for

you. Now hear me: I went to

Richmond to talk to traitors, to

smile at and plead with traitors,

because it'll be spring in two

months, the roads'll be passable,

the Spring slaughter commences.

Four bloody Springs now! Think of

my Frank, who you've taken to your

heart, how you'll blame yourself if

the war takes my son as it's taken

multitudes of sons. Think of all

the boys who'll die if you don't

make peace. You must talk with

these men!

LINCOLN:

I intend to, Preston. And in

return, I must ask you -

PRESTON BLAIR LINCOLN

No, this is not horsetrading, - to support our push for

this is life and - the amendment when it reaches

THE -

There's a knock on the door.

LINCOLN (CONT'D)

Not now!

Robert enters. Nicolay stands behind him, apologetic.

LINCOLN (CONT'D)

Oh. Bob. I'm sorry. Welcome home.

He shakes hands with his son, stiffly.

ROBERT:

Thank you.

LINCOLN PRESTON BLAIR

(to Robert:
) (pointedly:)

I'm talking to Preston Blair, You're looking fit, Robert.

we - Harvard agrees with you. Fit

ROBERT and rested.

Mr. Blair.

42.

LINCOLN:

(dismissing Robert,

UNINTENTIONALLY ABRUPT)

Just give us a moment please,

Robert. Thank you.

He turns to Preston. Robert, stung, hesitates, then leaves

the room, Nicolay shutting the door behind him.

PRESTON BLAIR:

I will procure your votes for you,

as I promised. You've always kept

your word to me. Those Southern men

are coming.

(taking Lincoln's hand)

I beg you, in the name of Gentle

CHRIST -

PRESTON BLAIR (CONT'D) LINCOLN

Talk peace with these men. Preston, I understand...

LINCOLN:

(SHARPLY)

I understand, Preston.

EXT. ON THE MALL - AFTERNOON

JACOB GRAYLOR (D, PA) and Bilbo walk outside the Capitol.

Graylor looks over the prospectuses.

ROBERT LATHAM (V.O.)

We have one abstention so far -

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