12 Years a Slave Page #5

BROWN:

If we could persuade you toaccompany us as far as New York...

We would give you one dollar foreach day's service and threedollars for every night played atour performances. In addition wewould provide sufficient pay forthe expenses of your return fromNew York here to Saratoga.

SOLOMON:

You understand this is all verysudden.

HAMILTON:

Consider it an opportunity to seethe country-

SOLOMON:

It's intriguing...

HAMILTON:

If there is any way in which youwould give consideration to theoffer...

Solomon gives the whole deal one last consideration.

SOLOMON:

The payment offered is enticementenough, as is my desire to visitthe metropolis.

HAMILTON:

We are delighted, sir. So

delighted. Though we would addthat our travel plans-

BROWN:

We would like to depart withhaste.

(CONTINUED)

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 10.

11 CONTINUED:
(2) 11 11 CONTINUED: (2) 11

SOLOMON:

As luck would have it, my wife and

children are traveling. I will

write her of our plans.

BROWN:

Excellent! I would beg you

collect yourself, then we may

proceed.

12 INT. NORTHUP HOUSE/BEDROOM - LATER 12

Back in his house, we see Solomon packing: putting someclothes in a travel case, and collecting his violin aswell.

13 INT. NORTHUP HOUSE/STUDY - LATER 13

Solomon sits down to write a letter; pen poised overpaper with already a few lines written. But Solomon

thinks better of it. WITH LITTLE THOUGHT HE TEARS THE

PAPER AND SETS IT ASIDE. WE SHOULD GET THE SENSE THAT

THE ABSOLUTE VALUE OF BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE BY LETTER

IS LOST ON SOLOMON. THIS FACT WILL HAVE GREAT WEIGHT IN

THE NEAR FUTURE.

14 EXT. SOLOMON'S HOUSE/INT. COVERED CARRIAGE - LATER 14

Solomon enters the buggy, carpet bag in hand. Brown and

Hamilton are waiting. They ride in a covered carriageled by a pair of "noble" horses.

HAMILTON:

No letter to post?

SOLOMON:

No need. My return will coincide

with my family's.

BROWN:

We're off then.

15 INT. PUB -EVENING 15

-MID TO LATE APRIL, 1841

We find ourselves in a roadside pub. It serves the

purpose of drinking and diversion, and little more. As

Solomon plays his violin, Brown and Hamilton perform adecent, paired magic routine before a SPARSE AUDIENCE NOTOF "SELECT CHARACTER."

1/24/13 FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT 11.

16 INT. PUB -LATER 16

After the show, the pub now fairly empty, Solomon,

Hamilton and Brown sit down to eat. Hamilton and Brown

drink, but again Solomon abstains. Though Solomonremains cool, Hamilton and Brown put up a great show ofbeing disappointed as Hamilton counts out what littlemoney was collected.

HAMILTON:

Not an additional tip from a oneof them. They expect to beentertained for nothing.

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