Lincoln Page #21

We've taken the fort, but the city

of Wilmington has not surrendered.

A beat as this sinks in. Then:

STANTON:

How many casualties?

Eckert looks up at Stanton and Lincoln, stricken.

INT. THE HOUSE CHAMBER - DAY

One representative's reading a paper with the headline: THE

FALLEN AT WILMINGTON, followed by hundreds of names.

Pendleton and Wood are conferring.

FERNANDO WOOD:

Heavy losses.

GEORGE PENDLETON

And more to come.

FERNANDO WOOD:

Sours the national mood. That might

suffice to discourage him -

GEORGE PENDLETON

To what? To bring this down? Not in

a fight like this. This is to the

death.

FERNANDO WOOD:

It's gruesome!

GEORGE PENDLETON

(GETTING UPSET:
)

Are you despairing, or merely lazy?

This fight is for The United States

of America! Nothing "suffices". A

rumor? Nothing! They're not lazy!

They're busily buying votes! While

we hope to be saved by "the

national mood?!"

He looks over at Stevens, who's at his desk consulting with

Ashley and Julian.

65.

GEORGE PENDLETON (CONT'D)

Before this blood is dry, when

Stevens next takes the floor, taunt

him - you excel at that - get him

to proclaim what we all know he

believes in his coal-colored heart:

that this vote is meant to set the

black race on high, to niggerate

America.

FERNANDO WOOD:

George, please. Stay on course.

GEORGE PENDLETON

Bring Stevens to full froth. I can

ensure that every newspaperman from

Louisville to San Francisco will be

here to witness it and print it.

Colfax gavels the chamber to order, as George Yeaman

approaches the podium.

SCHUYLER COLFAX:

The floor belongs to the

mellifluent gentleman from

Kentucky, Mr. George Yeaman.

GEORGE YEAMAN:

I thank you, Speaker Colfax.

The Democrats applaud as Yeaman takes his place at the podium

and surveys the chamber.

GEORGE YEAMAN (CONT'D)

Although I'm disgusted by slavery

I rise on this sad and solemn day

to announce that I'm opposed to the

amendment. We must consider what

will become of colored folk if four

million are in one instant set

free.

Cheers and boos.

ASA VINTNER LITTON

They'll be free, George! That's

what'll become of them! What'll

become of any of us?! That's what

being free means!

Schell, Latham, and Bilbo are perched in their usual gallery

seats, taking notes.

66.

RICHARD SCHELL:

Think how splendid if Mr. Yeaman

switched.

ROBERT LATHAM:

(shaking his head:)

Too publicly against us. He can't

change course now.

W.N. BILBO

Not for some miserable little job

anyways.

GEORGE YEAMAN:

And, and! We will be forced to

enfranchise the men of the colored

race - it would be inhuman not to!

Who among us is prepared to give

Negroes the vote?

He's momentarily silenced by cheers and boos throughout the

chamber.

GEORGE YEAMAN (CONT'D)

And, and! What shall follow upon

that? Universal enfranchisement?

Votes for women?

Yeaman is stopped, baffled and dismayed by the explosion he's

provoked.

INT. AN EMPTY COMMITTEE ROOM, THE CAPITOL - DAY

Hawkins enters and stops when he sees Pendleton and Wood.

It's a trap. LeClerk follows, closing the door.

FERNANDO WOOD:

Bless my eyes, if it isn't the Post

Master of Millersburg Ohio!

Hawkins looks at LeClerk, who guiltily avoids his glance.

GEORGE PENDLETON

Mr. LeClerk felt honor-bound to

inform us. Of your disgusting

betrayal. Your prostitution.

FERNANDO WOOD:

Is that true, Postmaster Hawkins?

Is your maidenly virtue for sale?

Hawkins sinks.

67.

EXT. A WOODS ALONG THE POTOMAC RIVER - MORNING

Bilbo and Clay Hawkins are again in the woods. Bilbo, with

his basket, clutches a pair of noisy snared partridges.

CLAY HAWKINS:

My neighbors hear that I voted yes

for n*gger freedom and no to peace,

they will kill me.

W.N. BILBO

A deal's a deal and you men know

better than to piss your pants just

cause there's talk about peace

talks.

W.N. BILBO (CONT'D) CLAY HAWKINS

My neighbors in Nashville, Look, I'll find another job.

they found out I was loyal to

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