Lincoln Page #34

We begin with Connecticut. Mr.

Augustus Benjamin, on the matter of

this amendment, how say you?

The chamber is completely silent for the first time.

106.

AUGUSTUS BENJAMIN

Nay!

The clerk records his vote.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

Mr. Arthur Bentleigh.

ARTHUR BENTLEIGH

Nay!

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

Mr. John Ellis, how say you?

JOHN ELLIS:

Aye!

Angry shouts from Ellis's fellow Democrats, forcing Colfax to

gavel for order.

DEMOCRATIC SENATOR

What?! Shameful!

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

Missouri next. Mr. Walter Appleton.

WALTER APPLETON:

I vote no!

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

Mr. Josiah Burton.

JOSIAH BURTON rises to his feet. He is very, very tall and

thin.

JOSIAH BURTON:

Beanpole Burton is pleased to vote

yea!

Mary watches from the balcony, pleased, but anxious.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

The State of New Jersey. Mr.

Nehemiah Cleary.

NEHEMIAH CLEARY:

No.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

Mr. James Martinson.

107.

JAMES ASHLEY:

Mr. Martinson has delegated me to

say he is indisposed and he

abstains.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

Mr. Austin J. Roberts.

JAMES ASHLEY:

Also indisposed, also abstaining.

Shocked anger from the Democrats. Pendleton starts

calculating votes on a sheet of paper. Wood grabs it and

begins to calculate more rapidly.

In the balcony, Mary keeps track on her own list. She writes

carefully next to Roberts's name: "15 TO WIN"

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

Illinois concluded. Mr. Harold

Hollister, how say you?

Hollister glowers next to Hutton, who's silently praying.

HAROLD HOLLISTER

No.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

Mr. Hutton? Mr. William Hutton,

cast your vote.

Hutton looks up from his prayer.

WILLIAM HUTTON:

William Hutton, remembering at this

moment his beloved brother,

Fredrick, votes against the

amendment.

INT. LINCOLN'S OFFICE, THE WHITE HOUSE - AFTERNOON

Lincoln watches Tad stacking books to make a fort for his

lead toy soldiers.

INT/EXT. ROTUNDA AND FRONT DOOR OF THE CAPITOL - AFTERNOON

A field telegraph has been set up near the steps, at the

front of the enormous crowd that's assembled before the

Capitol. Poles are held up in the crowd by soldiers along

which the telegraph wire is stretched.

108.

A soldier stationed at the door of the Capitol relays the

vote to another soldier manning the cipher key:

SOLDIER:

Webster Allen votes no.

The cipher operator instantly transmits.

INT. GRANT'S TELEGRAPH ROOM AT CITY POINT - AFTERNOON

OFFICERS are crowded in the small room, watching a SERGEANT

transcribe as his cipher key clicks.

SERGEANT:

Webster Allen, Illinois, Democrat,

votes...no.

The cipher key clicks again.

SERGEANT (CONT'D)

Halberd Law, Indiana, Democrat,

votes...no.

Grant observes this from the balcony above. Robert, in a

captain's uniform, stands near him. Like his mother, Robert

has a scorecard, and he's keeping track.

Grant turns his back on the proceedings to light a cigar.

He's concerned at how close the vote is. Behind him the count

CONTINUES:

SERGEANT (CONT'D)

Archibald Moran...yes.

Robert has been looking at Grant; he returns to his score

keeping.

SERGEANT (CONT'D)

Ambrose Bailer...yes.

INT. THE HOUSE CHAMBER AND BALCONY - AFTERNOON

The Clerk continues.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

Mr. Walter H. Washburn.

WALTER H. WASHBURN

Votes no.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

And Mr. George Yeaman, how say you?

109.

Yeaman doesn't respond. The silence this causes lengthens,

till representatives begin to look to see what's happened.

Yeaman sits, staring ahead, not responding. Thaddeus Stevens,

sensing something's happening, looks in Yeaman's direction.

Yeaman, still staring ahead, mumbles something, but it's

inaudible.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE (CONT'D)

Sorry Mr. Yeaman, I didn't hear you

VOTE -

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