12 Years a Slave · written by John Ridley and Steve McQueen · 2013

Ford reads Scripture about protecting children and the consequences of harming them to the plantation’s gathered slaves.

Scene 109 of 211 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Ford

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:04 into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 109

After being kidnapped from New York and sold into slavery, Solomon Northup uses his skills and carefully placed trust to survive and seek a way back to his family.

Scenes 1–29
Solomon lives freely in Saratoga as a husband, father, worker, and musician.
Scenes 30–65
Kidnapped and held under the imposed name Platt, Solomon must preserve his life and identity.
Scene 86
Ford takes Solomon, Harry, and Eliza from Freeman; Eliza is dragged away from Emily, committing Solomon to plantation life and its family separations.
Scene 87
Ford brings Solomon and the other captives into plantation life; Solomon must survive within a system that denies his identity.
Just before
Scene 106
Under Solomon’s direction, the workers clear the creek banks and build a narrow raft, which he tests by carrying timber upstream.
Scene 107
Solomon’s successful raft arrives at the mill to the workers’ cheers and Ford’s applause, while Taydem and Tibeats resent the demonstration.
Scene 108
Ford gives Solomon a fiddle as thanks for his work; Solomon appreciates the gift but hears “over the years” as a reminder of his captivity.
Scene 109
This scene

109EXT. FORD PLANTATION - DAY

It's Sunday. The slaves are again gathered to hear the word of the Lord as read by Master Ford.

FORD

At the same time came the

disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who

is the greatest in the kingdom of

heaven? And Jesus called a little

child unto him, and set him in the

midst of them, And said, Verily I

say unto you, Except ye be

converted, and become as little

children, ye shall not enter into

the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever

therefore shall humble himself as

this little child, the same is

greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

And whoso shall receive one such

little child in my name receiveth

me. But whoso shall offend one of

these little ones which believe in

me, it were better for him that a

millstone were hanged about his

neck, and that he were drowned in

the depth of the sea. Woe unto

the world because of offences!

For it must needs be that offences

come; but woe to that man by whom

the offence cometh!

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