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

While Solomon builds the weaving house, Tibeats disputes the boards and orders him to fetch nails before daybreak.

Scene 114 of 211 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Tibeats
Solomon

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:09 into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 114

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 111
Tibeats drives Solomon, Sam, and Harry by wagon along Bayou Boeuf to their next assignment.
Scene 112
Solomon finds Eliza at the Tanner plantation, where she still mourns her children; when she clings to him, Tibeats beats them both until overseer Chapin intervenes.
Scene 113
At supper, Lawson and Bristol warn Solomon that Tibeats is volatile and that Ford can no longer protect him.
Scene 114
This scene

114EXT. TANNER PLANATION - DAY

We see Solomon working as a carpenter. He is working to help erect a Weaving House that stands off to the side of the plantation's Great House.

At the moment Solomon is nailing on siding. Tibeats comes around and is immediately dissatisfied with this work.

TIBEATS

Make them boards flush.

SOLOMON

They are, sir.

TIBEATS

They is no such thing.

Solomon runs his hands over the boards.

SOLOMON

As smooth to the touch as a

yearling's coat.

TIBEATS

Callin' me a liar, boy?

Not caring for Solomon's tone, Epps's about ready to physically correct him. But Solomon verbally dodges.

SOLOMON

Only a matter of perspective, sir.

From where you stand you may see

differently. But the hands are

not mistaken. I ask only that you

employ all your senses before

rendering judgement.

What's Tibeats to do when faced with fact? All he can do is spew invectives.

TIBEATS

You are a brute. You are a dog,

and no better for followin'

instruction.

SOLOMON

I'll do as ordered, sir.

TIBEATS

Then you'll be up at daybreak.

You will procure a keg of nails

from Chapin and commence puttin'

on clapboards.

Tibeats wheels away.