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

The Northups walk through Saratoga as Solomon observes enslaved people accompanying white masters; Jasper sees their family and edges toward the store.

Scene 9 of 211 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Save the Cat: Theme Stated

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 4 min into a 2:22 film

The story so farBefore scene 9

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 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
Anne readies the children for a family portrait; Solomon arrives, gives the children coins, and kisses his wife.
Scene 9
This scene

9EXT. STREET - DAY

Solomon and his family are now out walking along the streets and groves of Saratoga.

The streets are well populated this morning with many people out strolling. Most are WHITE, but there are BLACKS as well. They are FREED BLACKS who mingle fairly easily - though not always completely - with the whites. We see, too, a few BLACK SLAVES who travel with their WHITE MASTERS. These pairings are largely from the south and - despite the fact the blacks are slaves - they are not physically downtrodden, not field hands. They are well dressed and "leading apparently an easy life" - comparatively speaking - as they trail their masters.

Among the slaves, we see one in particular; JASPER. As he trails his MASTER he can't help but note Solomon and his family as they make their way INTO A STORE. His intrigue of this most handsome and harmonious group should be obvious.

With his Master occupied, Jasper moves slyly toward Parker's store. Clearly his intent is to have dealings with the Northups.