Lincoln · written by Tony Kushner · 2012

The operatives report that they still need twenty Democratic votes despite securing Graylor's abstention.

Scene 20 of 102 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Robert Latham

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 42 min into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 20

In the final winter of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln risks a fragile coalition and the chance of an early peace to force an amendment abolishing slavery through a divided House of Representatives.

Scenes 1–7
The reelected president balances military command, popular affection and a household wounded by grief.
Scenes 8–13
Lincoln needs a durable constitutional abolition measure and commits to passing it before the term ends.
Scenes 14–16
Radical allies and discreet patronage operatives join the campaign as the amendment enters House debate.
Just before
Scene 17
Robert returns to the White House, wrestles with petitioners and tells Mary he may not return to school.
Scene 18
Blair reports that Confederate peace commissioners are coming; Lincoln receives Robert distractedly and demands Blair's promised votes.
Scene 19
Graylor considers a patronage offer that would secure his abstention.
Scene 20
This scene

20INT. A BEDROOM IN THE ST. CHARLES HOTEL - NIGHT

A small room, two beds, in disarray: newspapers, overflowing ashtrays, whiskey bottles empty on the floor. Latham and Schell stand at a table strewn with the remnants of a poker game. Bilbo lies on one of the beds. All three are in their shirtsleeves. Seward is at the table.

ROBERT LATHAM

- so the total of representatives

voting three weeks from today is

reduced to 182, which means 122 yes

votes to reach the requisite two-

thirds of the House. Assuming all

Republicans vote for the

amendment...?

Seward nods, less assertively than Latham would like.

ROBERT LATHAM (CONT'D)

Then, despite our abstention, to

reach a two-thirds majority we

remain 20 yeses short.