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

A sheriff verifies Solomon’s identity with his family’s names, then Northup claims him as a free man; Solomon embraces Patsey before leaving the plantation with the rescuers.

Scene 210 of 211 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act three

Climax
Sheriff
Solomon
Epps
Northup
Patsey

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 2:17 into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 210

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 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
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 210
This scene

210EXT. MASTER EPPS'S PLANTATION/FIELD - DAY

The Slaves are working in the field. Solomon too focused on picking cotton to note the arrival of two men by carriage: Northup and the SHERIFF.

While the Sheriff makes his way to the field, Northup remains with the carriage. The Sheriff calls:

SHERIFF

Platt...? Where is the boy called

Platt?

SOLOMON

...Sir...

The Sheriff crosses to him.

SHERIFF

Your name is Platt, is it?

SOLOMON

Yes, master.

Pointing off to the distance.

SHERIFF

Do you know that man?

Solomon looks toward the carriage. He has to shield his eyes from the sun. Recognition is slow coming to him. But when it does, it hits him as a rush.

SOLOMON

Henry Northup...?

Solomon starts for Northup, but he is pulled back by the Sheriff who is keen to determine Solomon's true identity. As he does, Epps makes his way over.

SHERIFF

Stop a moment. Have you any other

name than Platt?

SOLOMON

Solomon Northup is my name.

EPPS

Sheriff...

SHERIFF

Have you a family?

EPPS

What's all this?

SHERIFF

It is official business.

EPPS

My nigger, my business.

SHERIFF

Your business waits.

(to Solomon)

Tell me of your family.

SOLOMON

I have a wife and three children.

SHERIFF

What were their names?

SOLOMON