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

Epps chases Solomon, who runs from him; Solomon later recounts the episode to Mistress Epps.

Scene 140 of 211 · ≈ 3 min on screen · Act two

Patsey
Solomon
Epps
Mistress Epps

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:29 into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 140

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.
Scenes 66–123
He enters plantation life under Ford, passes through Tibeats’s violence and the near-lynching, and is transferred to Epps.
Scene 124
Solomon is transferred to Epps’s plantation and placed among Patsey and the enslaved workers, opening the harsher final plantation phase.
Just before
Scene 137
Solomon returns the purchased goods to Mistress Epps and reports that the errand went smoothly.
Scene 138
Solomon runs down the road at full speed toward his destination.
Scene 139
Solomon finds Patsey taking tea with Harriet Shaw; Harriet explains how she survives Shaw’s affairs and sympathizes with Patsey’s exposure to Epps’s lust and violence.
Scene 140
This scene

140EXT. EPPS'S PLANTATION - LATER

Solomon and Patsey are returning from Shaw's. Waiting on the porch of the Great House, a drunk Epps beckons for Patsey to go to him. Aware of his lewd intentions, knowing what's waiting for her, Patsey begins to lightly cry.

PATSEY

Platt... De old hog-jaw beckon.

SOLOMON

Do not look in his direction.

Continue on as though he's gone

unobserved by you.

Epps does not care to be ignored. He lifts himself and moves toward the pair in a rage.

EPPS

Patsey...!

Solomon moves between Epps and Patsey, cutting Epps off as Patsey continues on. Playing up his "ignorance" of the situation:

SOLOMON

Found her, Master, and brought her

back just as instructed.

EPPS

What'd you tell her? What'd you

say to Pats?

SOLOMON

No words were spoken. None of

consequence.

EPPS

Lie! Damned liar! Saw you

talkin' with 'er jus now. Tell

me!

SOLOMON

I cannot speak of what did not

occur.

Epps grabs Solomon.

EPPS

I'll cut your black throat.

Solomon pulls away from Epps, ripping his shirt in the process. Epps gives chase. Solomon begins to run around the cotton field, easily keeping his distance. Epps, however is undeterred. He moves after Solomon as speedily as he can, which isn't very speedily at all. And quickly he tires. He's forced to bend over and suck air. Solomon maintains his distance, barely breathing hard. His breath returned to him, Epps starts up the