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

Solomon offers Armsby all his savings to secretly post a letter to New York; Armsby agrees and sets a two-day meeting to receive it.

Scene 190 of 211 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Solomon
Armsby

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 2:00 into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 190

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 187
Solomon, Bob, and Wiley are whipped for their low totals; Epps insults Solomon, orders him to clean up, and commands a dance that night.
Scene 188
Solomon re-hides the letter, takes his saved money, and cautiously leaves the cabin.
Scene 189
Solomon crosses the dark plantation to the lantern-lit cabin where Armsby invites him inside.
Scene 190
This scene

190INT. EPPS'S PLANTATION/ARMSBY'S SHACK - LATER

The door opens. Solomon enters. Armsby is surprised to see him. So much so, he isn't sure what greeting to give. Solomon gives a blunt introduction. Re: the coins:

SOLOMON

The proceeds of my fiddling

performances. A few picayunes,

but all I have in the world. I

promise them to you if you will do

me the favor I require. But I beg

you not to expose me if you cannot

grant the request.

ARMSBY

What is it you ask?

SOLOMON

First, your word, sir.

ARMSBY

On my honor.

SOLOMON

It is a simple enough request. I

ask only that you deposit a letter

in the Marksville post office.

And that you keep the action an

inviolable secret forever. The

details of the letter are of no

consequence. Even at that, for me

to write it would be a self-

imposition of much pain and

suffering.

ARMSBY

Where's the letter now?

SOLOMON

It is not yet composed. I will

have it in a day. Two at most.

Armsby considers the request.

ARMSBY

I will do as you ask. And will

accept whatever payment is

offered.

Solomon hesitates. In the moment, he's not so sure he can wholly give himself over to trust.

ARMSBY (CONT'D)

To assist you, I put my own self

at risk. I will do so, but not

without fair compensation.

Solomon hands over the money.

ARMSBY (CONT'D)

Compose your letter. We will meet