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

Henry Northup asks Bass about a Marksville letter from Solomon Northup; Bass confirms he wrote it and welcomes the chance to help rescue him.

Scene 209 of 211 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Northup
Bass

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 2:17 into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 209

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 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
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 209
This scene

209EXT. STREET - EVENING

Bass is exiting his residence. Northup, who has been waiting, calls to him.

NORTHUP

Mr. Bass?

Bass looks. He does not recognize Northup and is cautious to say the least.

BASS

Are we acquainted?

NORTHUP

We are not. To the point: Allow

me to ask you if you were on Bayou

Boeuf last August.

BASS

Yes, sir. I was there in August.

NORTHUP

Did you write a letter for a

colored man at that place to some

gentlemen in Saratoga Springs?

BASS

Excuse me, sir, if I say that is

none of your business.

NORTHUP

Perhaps I'm rather hasty, Mr.

Bass. I beg your pardon. But I

have come from the state of New

York to accomplish the purpose of

the writer of a letter post marked

at Marksville. I am in search of

Solomon Northup. If you know him,

I beg you to inform me frankly

where he is, and I assure you the

source of any information you may

give me shall not be divulged if

you desire it not to be.

Bass considers his next words.

BASS

I have done nothing to be ashamed

of. I am the man who wrote the

letter. If you have come to

rescue Solomon Northup, I am glad

to see you.