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.
- Scene 86
Ford takes Solomon, Harry, and Eliza from Freeman; Eliza is dragged away from Emily, committing Solomon to plantation life and its family separations.
- Just before
- Scene 87
Ford brings Solomon, John, and Eliza to his plantation; while Eliza grieves her lost children, Ford assigns the men to mill work and sends them to Sally’s cabin.
- Scene 88
Two young children pause their washing to stare at the newly arrived captives, then run off.
- Scene 89
Sally explains the plantation’s work and Sabbath routine; a teenage slave runs in, stares at the newcomers, then laughs and leaves.
- Scene 90
This scene
