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

Solomon and Anne prepare for bed in a quiet routine that shows their settled marriage.

Scene 13 of 211 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 8 min into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 13

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.

Scene 1
A butcher carries a sheep from its pen into the slaughter shed; the killing follows in scene 2, while scene 1 establishes the image of captivity.
Scene 9
Jasper asks how he might escape, and Solomon says to “watch your opportunities and strike for freedom”; this is a reading of the line as the story’s theme of waiting for a chance to act.
Just before
Scene 10
At Parker’s store, Solomon plays a new violin for the children. Jasper asks how he might escape slavery; Solomon can offer only that he watch for an opportunity before Jasper’s master calls him away.
Scene 11
Over dinner, Solomon reads the family a newspaper account of President Harrison’s death; Elizabeth asks him to read it again.
Scene 12
Solomon and Anne tuck the children into bed and kiss them good night.
Scene 13
This scene

13INT. NORTHUP HOUSE/BEDROOM - NIGHT

Solomon and Anne are now preparing for bed themselves. Anne washing her face in a basin as Solomon changes into his night clothes. The limited interaction of the two should be very perfunctory. Like many married couples they've just become very accustomed to one another.