Lincoln Page #7

you mean -

PRESTON BLAIR:

All Republicans ought to be

conservative, I founded this party -

in my own goddamned home - to be a

conservative antislavery party, not

a hobbyhorse for goddamned radical

abolitionists and -

ELIZABETH BLAIR LEE

Damp down the dyspepsia, daddy,

you'll frighten the child.

MONTGOMERY BLAIR

(TO LINCOLN:
)

You need us to keep the

conservative side of the party in

the traces while you diddle the

radicals and bundle up with

Thaddeus Stevens's gang. You need

our help.

LINCOLN:

Yes, sir, I do.

MONTGOMERY BLAIR

Well, what do we get?

ELIZABETH BLAIR LEE

Whoo! Blunt! Your manners, Monty,

must be why Mr. Lincoln pushed you

out of his cabinet.

PRESTON BLAIR MONTGOMERY BLAIR

He was pushed out - I wasn't pushed.

21.

ELIZABETH BLAIR LEE (CONT'D)

(SMILING SARCASTICALLY:)

Oh of course you weren't.

PRESTON BLAIR MONTGOMERY BLAIR

He was pushed out to placate (to Tad:)

the goddamn radical I agreed to resign.

abolishonists!

ELIZABETH BLAIR LEE (CONT'D)

(a nod at Tad:
)

Oh Daddy, please!

PRESTON BLAIR:

You don't mind, boy, do you?

LINCOLN:

He spends his days with soldiers.

TAD:

They taught me a song!

PRESTON BLAIR:

Did they? Soldiers know all manner

of songs. How's your brother Bob?

TAD:

He's at school now, but he's coming

to visit in four days! For the

shindy!

PRESTON BLAIR:

At school! Ain't that fine! Good

he's not in the army!

TAD:

Oh he wants to be, but mama said he

CAN'T -

PRESTON BLAIR:

Dangerous life, soldiering.

ELIZABETH BLAIR LEE

Your mama is wise to keep him clean

out of that.

PRESTON BLAIR:

Now your daddy knows that what I

want, in return for all the help I

give him, is to go down to Richmond

like he said I could, soon as

Savannah fell, and talk to

Jefferson Davis. Give me terms I

22.

can offer to Jefferson Davis to

start negotiating for peace. He'll

talk to me!

MONTGOMERY BLAIR

Conservative members of your party

want you to listen to overtures

from Richmond. That above all.

Two black servants who have entered begin to pour and serve

tea.

MONTGOMERY BLAIR (CONT'D)

They'll vote for this rash and

dangerous amendment only if every

other possibility is exhausted.

PRESTON BLAIR:

Our Republicans ain't

abolitionists. We can't tell our

people they can vote yes on

abolishing slavery unless at the

same time we can tell `em that

you're seeking a negotiated peace.

The Blairs look at Lincoln, waiting for an answer.

EXT. OUTSIDE BLAIR HOUSE - NIGHT

A light snow's beginning to fall. A lacquered coach stands

outside the house, the Blair crest in gold on its doors.

Elizabeth Blair Lee, a blanket in her arms, comes out of the

house, talking to LEO, an elderly black servant, formerly a

slave belonging to the Blairs. They're followed by an elderly

black woman in a housekeeper's uniform.

ELIZABETH BLAIR LEE

Leo, it's a hundred miles to

Richmond. Get him drunk so he can

sleep.

LEO:

Yes'm.

Elizabeth goes to the carriage, where Preston awaits. She

passes the blanket through the carriage window and tucks it

around her father.

ELIZABETH BLAIR LEE

Here, daddy.

23.

PRESTON BLAIR ELIZABETH BLAIR LEE

Oh! Thank you. (fussing with the

BLANKET:
)

Let's fix this up...

PRESTON BLAIR:

Where's my hat?

ELIZABETH BLAIR LEE

Leo has your hat. All right?

As Leo climbs into the carriage, Elizabeth kisses her hand,

then slaps the kiss on her father's cheek.

ELIZABETH BLAIR LEE (CONT'D)

Go make peace.

INT. LINCOLN'S OFFICE, WHITE HOUSE - MORNING

The cabinet has assembled. Lincoln heads the table, Seward at

his left and EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War, 51, barrel-

shaped, long bearded, bespectacled, at his right. Next to him

are Secretary of the Navy GIDEON WELLES, 63, luxurious white

hair (it's a wig) and a flowing snowy beard; Postmaster

General WILLIAM DENNISON, 50; Secretary of the Interior JOHN

USHER, 49; Secretary of the Treasury WILLIAM FESSENDEN, 59;

and Attorney General JAMES SPEED, 53.

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