Lincoln Page #15

INT. A WORKINGMENS' LUNCHROOM, WASHINGTON - DAY

A hall packed with working men, soaped-up windows. A GYPSY

FIDDLER saws away. Homer Benson, incongruous in a suit,

slurps. As he lifts his spoon to his mouth, the folio is

placed in front of him. He looks over, puzzled, as Schell

smiles and extends a hand.

Benson takes the folio. Schell slides his chair closer.

INT. THE ROOM IN THE ST. CHARLES HOTEL - NIGHT

Another prospectus joins the pile: "Benson"

ROBERT LATHAM:

And lastly...

Bilbo retrieves a paper from the floor and hands it to

Seward.

W.N. BILBO

Clay Hawkins. Of Ohio.

46.

EXT. A WOODS ALONG THE POTOMAC RIVER - MORNING

Bilbo walks with Clay Hawkins, who peruses the folio. Bilbo

has a small covered wicker basket slung over his shoulder.

Hawkins follows, happy and sick with fear.

CLAY HAWKINS:

T-tax collector for the Western

Reserve. Th-th-that pays

handsomely.

W.N. BILBO

Don't just reach for the highest

branches. They sway in every

breeze. Assistant Port Inspector of

Marlston looks like the ticket to

me.

CLAY HAWKINS:

Uh, boats, they, they make me sick.

Bilbo retrieves a snare; a small bird is trapped by the foot.

Bilbo stuffs the bird in the basket.

CLAY HAWKINS (CONT'D)

So just stand on the dock. Let the

Assistant Assistant Port

Inspector's stomach go weak.

Bilbo eyes Hawkins, who anxiously eyes the folio.

INT. LINCOLN'S OFFICE, WHITE HOUSE - EARLY EVENING

Seward hands the last prospectus to Nicolay, who unfolds it,

places it on top of the other prospectuses, and records

details about Hawkins's appointment in a notebook. Seward

smokes a cigar, Nicolay a pipe. Lincoln sits, feet up,

examining a newspaper.

SEWARD:

And lastly, Democratic yes vote

number six. Hawkins from Ohio.

LINCOLN:

Six.

SEWARD:

Well, thus far. Plus Graylor's

abstention. From tiny acorns and so

on.

LINCOLN:

What'd Hawkins get?

47.

JOHN NICOLAY:

(STILL WRITING:
)

Postmaster of the Millersburg Post

Office.

LINCOLN:

He's selling himself cheap, ain't

he?

SEWARD:

He wanted tax collector of the

Western Reserve - a first-term

congressman who couldn't manage re-

election, I felt it unseemly and

they bargained him down to

Postmaster.

(TO NICOLAY:
)

Scatter `em over several rounds of

appointments, so no one notices.

And burn this ledger, please, after

you're done.

Lincoln stands.

LINCOLN:

(TO NICOLAY:
)

Time for my public opinion bath.

Might as well let `em in.

Nicolay helps Lincoln trade his shawl for his overcoat in

preparation to meet the public.

LINCOLN (CONT'D)

Seven yeses with Mr. Ellis!

Thirteen to go!

SEWARD:

One last item, an absurdity, but -

My associates report that among the

Representatives a fantastical

rumor's bruited about, which I

immediately disavowed, that you'd

allowed bleary old Preston Blair to

sojourn to Richmond to invite Jeff

Davis to send commissioners up to

Washington with a peace plan.

Lincoln is silent. A horrifying reality dawns for Seward:

SEWARD (CONT'D)

I, of course, told them you would

never...Not without consulting me,

you wouldn't...Because why on earth

would you?

48.

EXT. IN AN OPEN FIELD NEAR PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA - EVENING

THREE UNION CAVALRY OFFICERS consult with THREE CONFEDERATE

CAVALRY OFFICERS, all mounted. The officers exchange

documents and salutes.

TITLE:
NO MAN'S LAND

OUTSIDE PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA

JANUARY 11

The ranking Confederate trots to a buggy in which three

Confederate officials sit: Vice President ALEXANDER STEPHENS,

53, short; JOHN A. CAMPBELL, Assistant Secretary of War, 54;

and Senator R.M.T. HUNTER, 56. They're well-dressed for

winter, Stephens especially heavily bundled.

Stephens, Campbell and the indignant Hunter leave the buggy

and are escorted by Confederate officers to the waiting

company of Union cavalry and infantry.

A Union Army ambulance, a large American flag painted on one

side, driven by TWO BLACK SOLDIERS, stands near broken wagons

and a derelict cannon. ANOTHER BLACK SOLDIER stands at

attention by the ambulance's rear door.

The soldier, staring coldly at these men, gestures brusquely

to the ambulance. The Confederate peace commissioners

hesitate; Hunter stares in horror at the black soldiers. Then

Rate this script:2.9 / 8 votes