Lincoln: Robert returns to the White House, wrestles with petitioners and tells Mary he may not return to school. (scene 17)

17INT. SECOND FLOOR CORRIDOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE - MORNING

The corridor as usual is lined with petitioners. They've lined up along both sides of the wall and are hooting, laughing, clapping and cheering, egging on Tad as, with furious concentration, he drives a cart pulled at considerable speed by a large and seriously annoyed goat down the hall. White House doorkeeper and unofficial child- minder TOM PENDEL follows, admonishing the petitioners as he goes.

TOM PENDEL

Please don't encourage this! Don't

encourage this!

ROBERT LINCOLN, 21, enters from the stairs carrying several pieces of large and heavy luggage.

Tad sees him, jumps out of the goat cart, runs up to and tackles Robert, causing him to drop his luggage. They embrace as Pendel captures the goat and leads it away.

TAD

You're back you're back you're back

you're back you're -

ROBERT

(LAUGHING)

I am. Your goat got big.

Robert disentangles himself from Tad and hands him a suitcase.

ROBERT (CONT’D)

Here, help me get one of these to

my room.

(a nervous glance at the door to Mary's bedroom SUITE:)

Is she in there?

As Robert hoists the rest of the luggage himself, Tad chatters and A PETITIONER comes forward. He grabs the trunk as Robert's lifting it.

TAD PETITIONER

She's asleep, probably, they You

need help, sir? I can... went to

see Avonia Jones last night in a

play about ROBERT Israelites.

Daddy's meeting No, sir, I don't.

No.

with a famous scientist now and

he's nervous because of PETITIONER