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

Anne readies the children for a family portrait; Solomon arrives, gives the children coins, and kisses his wife.

Scene 8 of 211 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 3 min into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 8

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.

Scene 1
A butcher carries a sheep from its pen into the slaughter shed; the killing follows in scene 2, while scene 1 establishes the image of captivity.
Just before
Scene 5
The string maker carries the packaged strings through Saratoga to a townhouse and calls for Mr. Northup.
Scene 6
Solomon opens the package, fits the new strings to his violin, tests them, and begins to play.
Scene 7
At an evening dinner party, Solomon plays for the guests’ reel; they applaud and praise his musicianship.
Scene 8
This scene

8INT. NORTHUP HOUSE/BEDROOM - MORNING

It is a Saturday morning. Clad in her "finest attire" is ANNE; Solomon's wife. A few years younger than Solomon. She is lighter in color than Solomon as well. We see also the Northup children: ELIZABETH, who is ten, MARGARET, eight and ALONZO who is five. They are handsome, and well groomed kids. Anne straightening up the children. She finishes, she rises up and stands behind them, almost as if preparing to pose for a portrait.

They all wait a moment, then Solomon enters the foyer. He stands, and looks admiringly at his family. ADMIRINGLY stressed. It isn't that he doesn't have love for them, he does as well. But in the moment, he truly admires his greatest accomplishment: a family that is healthy and well and provided for. He goes to his children, and hands each a coin.

He moves, then, to Anne. Gives her a kiss on the cheek. The children giggle at the sight.