12 Years a Slave Page #4

We are just outside the Northup house. A CARRIAGE waits

with a DRIVER. Anne and the children are dressed for

travel - Anne sporting HER NEW CARRY ALL. The Driver

loads bags into the carriage.

For her parting gift, Anne gives her husband a kiss.

SOLOMON:

Travel safely.

ANNE:

Stay safely.

Anne and the children loaded up, the Driver chides thehorse and the carriage heads off. Solomon waves a heartygood bye to his wife and children.

10 EXT. PARK -DAY 10

Solomon is now out for a stroll. He passes two men - twoin particular - who stand outside conversing with MR.

MOON himself:
MERRILL BROWN and ABRAM HAMILTON. Brown

is about 40, with a countenance indicating shrewdness andintelligence. Hamilton is closer to 25, a man of faircomplexion and light eyes. Both are finely, if perhaps abit garishly, dressed. Hamilton, as Solomon describeshim, slightly effeminate.

Moon, spotting Solomon:

MR. MOON

Call the Devil's name... There he

is now. Mr. Northup...! I have

two gentlemen who should make your

acquaintance. Messrs. Brown and

Hamilton.

BROWN:

Sir.

MR. MOON

Mr. Northup, these two gentlemen

were inquiring about distinguished

individuals, and I was just this

very moment telling them that

Solomon Northup is an expert

player on the violin.

HAMILTON:

He was indeed.

SOLOMON:

Mr. Moon is being overly gracious.

(CONTINUED)

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10 CONTINUED:
10 10 CONTINUED: 10

BROWN:

Taking into consideration hisgraciousness and your modesty, maywe trouble you for a moment ofyour time to converse, sir?

11 EXT. PARK/PAVILION - LATER 11

We make a jump to a green space. Solomon, Brown andHamilton are sitting at a bench.

SOLOMON:

A circus?

HAMILTON:

That is our usual employee. The

company currently in the city ofWashington.

BROWN:

Circus too constricting a word todescribe the talented and merryband with which we travel. It is

a spectacle unlike most have everwitnessed. Creatures from the

darkest Africa as yet unseen bycivilized man. Acrobats from the

Orient able to contort themselves

in the most confounding manners.

HAMILTON:

And I myself in aide of Mr. Brown;

an internationally renownedpractitioner in the art ofprestidigitation.

BROWN:

We are on our way thither torejoin the company having left fora short time to make a small

profit from our own exhibitions.

HAMILTON:

The reason for our inquiry withMr. Moon...

BROWN:

Yes. We had just a devil of atime in procuring music for our

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

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11 CONTINUED:
11

BROWN (CONT'D)

entertainments. Men of true

talent seemingly in short supply.

SOLOMON:

Thank you sir...

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