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

At the Marksville post office, Henry Northup hears the postmaster disparage abolitionists but mention the local carpenter Bass, then asks where to find him.

Scene 208 of 211 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Waddill
Northup

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 2:16 into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 208

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.
Scenes 124–199
Under Epps, Solomon works and watches for a route home; Armsby betrays his letter attempt, and Patsey’s punishment leaves him without a safe path out.
Scenes 200–206
Bass’s arrival gives Solomon a person willing to hear his account and carry letters to his northern friends.
Scene 207
Bass reports no answer and withdraws from the danger, leaving Solomon without confirmation that the letters will bring help.
Just before
Scene 205
Solomon waits nervously with a lit candle by the river until Bass arrives.
Scene 206
By candlelight, Solomon gives Bass names and addresses in Saratoga; Bass agrees to post the letters at Marksville and check for replies.
Scene 207
Bass tells Solomon no reply has arrived and refuses to risk another inquiry, admitting his fear has overcome his belief and he plans to leave.
Scene 208
This scene

208INT. MARKSVILLE POST OFFICE - DAY

We are in the office of MR. WADDILL, the Post Master of Marksville. At the moment he is seated across from Mr HENRY NORTHUP. The careful eye will recognize him.

At the moment the conversation is regarding a book which Waddill holds - Uncle Tom's Cabin.

WADDILL

It's liberal fantasy, of course.

Some call it literature. To my

way of thinking it's sedition.

Incredible that we have come this

far. Or sunk this low; there is a

true and genuine market for such

twaddle. Dangerous days, sir.

Dangerous. Far too much

politickin'. The Soft Shells, the

Hard Shells, the Hunkers and Barn

Burners and Woolly Heads and

Silver Grays... And the worst of

the lot; the Free Soilers and the

Abolitionists. They take root

like a malignant plant. The north

is lost to us. No offense.

Northup gives a noncommittal nod.

WADDILL (CONT'D)

It is the territories we must hang

on to, now. And by any measure.

NORTHUP

The Free Soilers, the

Abolitionists; you are liberated

of such kind yourself?

WADDILL

Delightfully. Never...but one

here in Marksville. An eccentric

creature who preaches abolitionism

as vehemently as any fanatic in

the North I would imagine. He is

otherwise a generous, inoffensive

man. But always maintaining the

wrong side of an argument. It

affords us a deal of amusement.

He is an excellent mechanic, and

almost indispensable in the

community. He is a carpenter.

Name a Bass.