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

Robert lies covered in smallpox pustules but still tells Solomon he will recover in time for their planned mutiny; Solomon stays beside him.

Scene 62 of 211 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Robert
Solomon

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 39 min into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 62

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 59
Solomon finds and hides the knife as he dumps the garbage overboard.
Scene 60
The captain discovers Robert’s smallpox rash and orders lime spread in the hold, with the captives moved onto the deck and kept away from the crew.
Scene 61
The captives huddle under guard on the Orleans deck, leaving no opening for escape.
Scene 62
This scene

62INT. ORLEANS/HOLD - LATER

A couple of days on now. Robert lays on a blanket down in the hold. He is a really, really pitiful sight, his body covered with pustules.

Solomon keeps clear of Robert, but sits with him. Between wheezing breathes, he says very weakly:

ROBERT

Solomon... Solomon...

SOLOMON

Yes?

ROBERT

I be right soon. I be right, then

we do as planned.

Solomon doesn't respond. He continues to maintain his vigil with Robert.