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Lincoln Page #23
ALEXANDER STEPHENS
If we're not to discuss a truce
between warring nations, what in
heaven's name can we discuss?
GRANT:
Terms of surrender.
EXT. THE JAMES RIVER DOCK AT CITY POINT, VIRGINIA - DAY
As a somber Grant disembarks with his aides from the River
QUEEN:
GRANT (V.O.)
"Office United States Military
Telegraph, War Dept. For Abraham
Lincoln, President of the United
States. January 20, 1865. I will
71.
state confidentially that I am
convinced, upon conversation with
these Commissioners, that their
intentions are good and their
desire sincere to restore peace and
union. I fear now their going back,
without any expression of
interest..."
Seward's voice takes over from Grant's.
GRANT (V.O.) (CONT'D) SEWARD (V.O.)
"...from anyone in authority, "...from anyone in authority,
Mr. Lincoln..." Mr. Lincoln..."
INT. SEWARD MANSION, LAFAYETTE SQUARE, WASHINGTON - NIGHT
Seward's in a fancy robe and slippers, reading a telegram.
SEWARD:
"...will have a bad influence.
I will be sorry should it prove
impossible for you to have an
interview with them. I am awaiting
your instructions. U.S. Grant,
Lieutenant General Commanding
Armies United States"
Lincoln is in his coat, shawl over his shoulders, holding his
hat.
LINCOLN:
After four years of war and near
600,000 lives lost. He believes we
can end this war now.
My trust in him is marrow deep.
Seward looks up at Lincoln, then down again at the telegram.
He stands and crosses to Lincoln.
SEWARD:
You could bring the delegates to
Washington. In exchange for the
South's immediate surrender, we
could promise them the amendment's
defeat. They'd agree, don't you
think? We'd end the war. This week.
Lincoln has closed his eyes.
72.
SEWARD (CONT'D)
Or. If you could manage, without
seeming to do it, to -
Lincoln shakes his head "no."
SEWARD (CONT'D)
The peace delegation might
encounter delays as they travel up
the James River. Particularly with
the fighting around Wilmington.
Within ten days time, we might pass
the Thirteenth Amendment.
INT. HALLWAY, THE WHITE HOUSE - LATE NIGHT
Lincoln, shawl still wrapped around him, walks the long empty
hall.
INT. LINCOLN'S OFFICE, WHITE HOUSE - LATE NIGHT
Lincoln sits before an open window. He's dishevelled, in
shirtsleeves an unbuttoned vest, next to an inkwell, papers
and books of law scattered about, and a lit candle in a
candlestick, guttering. Grant's telegraph is in one hand, and
in the other hand, his spectacles and, dangling from a chain,
his open pocket watch. His bare left foot keeps time with the
watch's loud ticking. He stares out into the cold night.
INT. JOHN HAY AND JOHN NICOLAY'S BEDROOM - EVEN LATER
The room is spare and neat. Nicolay and Hay are asleep in
their beds.
Lincoln is sitting at the foot of Hay's bed, spectacles on,
reading a petition, the others in his lap, pencil in hand.
LINCOLN:
Now, here's a sixteen year old boy.
They're going to hang him...
Hay startles awake, then settles. He's used to this.
LINCOLN (CONT'D)
(he reads a little
FURTHER:
)He was with the 15th Indiana
Calvary near Beaufort, seems he
lamed his horse to avoid battle.
I don't think even Stanton would
73.
complain if I pardoned him? You
think Stanton would complain?
Nicolay stirs in the next bed.
JOHN HAY:
Ummm... I don't know, sir, I don't
know who you're, uh... What time is
it?
LINCOLN:
It's three forty in the morning.
JOHN NICOLAY:
(not waking up:
)Don't... let him pardon any more
deserters...
Nicolay's asleep again.
JOHN HAY:
Mr. Stanton thinks you pardon too
many. He's generally apoplectic on
the subject -
LINCOLN:
He oughtn't to have done that,
crippled his horse, that was cruel,
but you don't just hang a sixteen
year old boy for that -
JOHN HAY:
Ask the horse what he thinks.
LINCOLN:
- for cruelty. There'd be no
sixteen year old boys left.
(a beat, then:
)Grant wants me to bring the secesh
delegates to Washington.
JOHN HAY:
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