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

Solomon, Arthur, and Robert agree on roles for a mutiny and choose the Sabbath morning, when they expect the crew to be less alert.

Scene 57 of 211 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Solomon
Arthur
Robert

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 37 min into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 57

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.
Scene 30
Solomon is drugged and abducted in New York, abruptly ending his free life and beginning his captivity.
Scene 31
After Solomon is drugged and abducted in scene 30, he wakes in chains and discovers that he has been stolen from his free life.
Just before
Scene 54
Solomon empties the galley’s waste over the side of the ship.
Scene 55
In the crowded hold, Arthur recounts his kidnapping and joins Solomon’s plan to seize the ship and sail north, but they debate the risks and who else might join.
Scene 56
Back in the galley, Solomon watches Robert work with a knife and considers him as a possible ally.
Scene 57
This scene

57I/E. ORLEANS/DECK - LATER

It's now Solomon, Arthur and Robert talking, Robert having evidently been brought into the conspiracy. Robert seems a little sweaty. Not nervous. Literally a light but constant sheen of sweat covers him.

SOLOMON

Captain and the mate sleep in the

same cabin. The cook always

sleeps in the galley, and crew's

in the forecastle.

ARTHUR

We two, steal into the captain's

cabin, be done with them.

(to Robert)

We get you a weapon. Sharp,

blunt...don't matter. Wait

outside the crew cabin. Comes to

it, you haveta hold 'em back 'til

we can come.

ROBERT

After the deed, who'ta pilot us?

ARTHUR

Solomon.

ROBERT

Ya'ever pilot a boat?

SOLOMON

We head north. That's all that's

required.

ARTHUR

Then we're agreed. No turning

away now.

ROBERT

When?

ARTHUR

Three days. The morning of the

Sabbath.