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149INT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/MAIN HOUSE - EVENING

It's another night of Epps's forced revelry. Coming in quick from the previous scene, we go from Solomon holding his fiddle, to playing it as the slaves are again made to dance.

Mistress Epps brings out a tray of freshly baked pastries. She sets them down on a table.

MISTRESS EPPS

A moment from the dancing. Come

sample what I baked for y'all.

The slaves, thankful for the rest as much as the food, file toward the tray reciting a chorus of "Thank you, Mistress." As Patsey moves toward the pastries:

MISTRESS EPPS (CONT'D)

There'll be none for you, Patsey.

Patsey merely turns away. Her non responsiveness, however, serves only to incite the Mistress. Screaming:

MISTRESS EPPS (CONT'D)

Yah see that? Did yah see the

look of insolence she give me?

EPPS

Seen nothin' but her turn away.

MISTRESS EPPS

It was hot, hateful scorn. It

filled that black face. Yah tell

me yah did'n see it, then yah

choose not to look, or yah sayin'

I lie.

EPPS

Whatever it was, it passed.

MISTRESS EPPS

Is that how you are with the

niggers? Let every ill thought

fester in 'em. Look at 'em. They

foul with it; foul with their

hate. You let it be, it'll come

back to us in the dark a night.

Yah want that? Yah want them

black animals to leave us gut like

pigs in our own sleep?

Epps isn't sure how to respond to the inchoate berating. It's an invitation for the Mistress to continue.

MISTRESS EPPS (CONT'D)