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

At dawn, Solomon waits for Chapin and asks for the keg of nails Tibeats ordered him to collect.

Scene 116 of 211 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Chapin
Solomon

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:10 into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 116

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 113
At supper, Lawson and Bristol warn Solomon that Tibeats is volatile and that Ford can no longer protect him.
Scene 114
While Solomon builds the weaving house, Tibeats disputes the boards and orders him to fetch nails before daybreak.
Scene 115
Unable to bear Eliza’s constant crying, Solomon strikes her; she asks whether he still grieves his own children and calls him by his true name, piercing his attempt to suppress his pain.
Scene 116
This scene

116EXT. TANNER PLANATION - DAYBREAK

It is early, early morning. The sun just barely making its way over the horizon. Solomon is waiting on the piazza for Chapin to arrive. He does, and in good spirits.

CHAPIN

Platt...? Good early morning.

Solomon removes his hat as he addresses Chapin.

SOLOMON

Sir, Master Tibeats had directed

me to call upon you for a keg of

nails.