Lincoln Page #28

for Willie because I couldn't

permit it in myself, though I

wanted to, Mary. I wanted to crawl

under the earth, into the vault

with his coffin. I still do. Every

day I do.

Don't... talk to me about grief.

(BEAT:
)

I must make my decisions, Bob must

make his, you yours. And bear what

we must, hold and carry what we

must. What I carry within me - you

must allow me to do it, alone as I

must. And you alone, Mary, you

alone may lighten this burden, or

render it intolerable. As you

choose.

She opens her mouth to make an angry reply, then stops, and

watches as he leaves the room.

INT. ODD FELLOWS' HALL, WASHINGTON - NIGHT

Onstage, Gounod's Faust, Act Three, scene eight, the garden

outside Marguerite's cottage, a gorgeously romantic night.

MARGUERITE and FAUST are alone singing. The Lincolns, in

their box, watch quietly. Elizabeth Keckley sits next to

Mary.

87.

Mary turns to Lincoln. They speak in whispers. Mrs. Keckley

tries not to listen but she can't help hearing what they say.

MARY:

You think I'm ignorant of what

you're up to because you haven't

discussed this scheme with me as

you ought to have done. When have I

ever been so easily bamboozled?

(BEAT)

I believe you when you insist that

amending the constitution and

abolishing slavery will end this

war. And since you are sending my

son into the war, woe unto you if

you fail to pass the amendment.

LINCOLN:

Seward doesn't want me leaving big

muddy footprints all over town.

MARY:

No one ever lived who knows better

than you the proper placement of

footfalls on treacherous paths.

Seward can't do it. You must.

Because if you fail to secure the

necessary votes, woe unto you, sir.

You will answer to me.

EXT. THE PORTICO OF THE WHITE HOUSE - A SHORT WHILE LATER

The carriage has pulled up and Mary is entering the White

House. Lincoln helps Mrs. Keckley down from the carriage.

She hesitates before proceeding in. Then she faces Lincoln.

ELIZABETH KECKLEY

I know the vote is only four days

away; I know you're concerned.

Thank you for your concern over

this, and I want you to know:

They'll approve it. God will see

to it.

LINCOLN:

I don't envy him his task. He may

wish He'd chosen an instrument for

His purpose more wieldy than the

House of Representatives.

ELIZABETH KECKLEY

Then you'll see to it.

88.

Lincoln looks at her, considering. Then:

LINCOLN:

Are you afraid of what lies ahead?

For your people? If we succeed?

ELIZABETH KECKLEY

White people don't want us here.

LINCOLN:

Many don't.

ELIZABETH KECKLEY

What about you?

LINCOLN:

I...I don't know you, Mrs. Keckley.

Any of you. You're ...familiar to

me, as all people are.

Unaccommodated, poor, bare, forked

creatures such as we all are. You

have a right to expect what I

expect, and likely our expectations

are not incomprehensible to each

other. I assume I'll get used to

you. But what you are to the

nation, what'll become of you once

slavery's day is done, I don't

know.

ELIZABETH KECKLEY

What my people are to be, I can't

say. Negroes have been fighting and

dying for freedom since the first

of us was a slave. I never heard

any ask what freedom will bring.

Freedom's first. As for me: My son

died, fighting for the Union,

wearing the Union blue. For freedom

he died. I'm his mother. That's

what I am to the nation, Mr.

Lincoln. What else must I be?

INT. A BEDROOM IN THE ST. CHARLES HOTEL - LATE NIGHT

The room is far filthier and more cluttered than before.

Bilbo and Latham are playing cards. Schell is asleep in bed.

W.N. BILBO

My whole hand's gonna be proud in

about five seconds, let's see how

proud you gonna be.

89.

ROBERT LATHAM:

Oh, it is? What you got goin'?

There's a quick knock on the door.

W.N. BILBO

Yeah?

ROBERT LATHAM:

Go away!

(TO BILBO)

That watch fob, is that gold?

W.N. BILBO

You keep your eyes off my fob!

Seward enters, displeased, as they show their cards,

laughing.

ROBERT LATHAM:

Nines paired!

W.N. BILBO

Oh my God damn!

SEWARD:

Gentlemen. You have a visitor.

Latham jovially collects his winnings. He stops short when

Lincoln steps into the room, cloak and stovepipe, very tall.

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