Lincoln · written by Tony Kushner · 2012

Robert asks to enlist as Lincoln dresses for the reception; Tad questions Slade and Keckley about slavery.

Scene 36 of 102 · ≈ 3 min on screen · Act two

Robert
Lincoln
William Slade
William Slade Robert
Tad
Elizabeth Keckley
Tad Lincoln
John Hay

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 50 min into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 36

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.
Scene 17
Robert returns, bringing the family's private struggle over his enlistment into Lincoln's public campaign.
Just before
Scene 33
Confederate peace commissioners cross the lines and reluctantly enter an ambulance staffed by Black soldiers.
Scene 34
Seward warns peace negotiations could destroy the amendment coalition; Lincoln orders him to find thirteen more votes.
Scene 35
The commissioners arrive at Grant's headquarters aboard the River Queen at City Point.
Scene 36
This scene

36INT. LINCOLN'S BEDROOM, SECOND FLOOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE - LATE AFTERNOON

Tad, in fancy military uniform,

sits on the bed, Gardener's box of

glass negatives open beside him. He

holds up a plate to a lamp:

An old black man with a thick beard and hair, shirtless.

Tad looks at another plate:

A young black woman, headscarf, huge ugly scar across her cheek and down her neck.

He studies these with solemn concentration.

ROBERT (O.C.)

You drafted half the men in Boston!

What do you think their families

think about me?

Lincoln is being dressed in formal wear by his valet, WILLIAM SLADE, a light-skinned black man in his 40s. Robert, already in his morning suit, is standing by the door.

ROBERT (CONT'D)

The only reason they don't throw

things and spit on me is `cause

you're so popular. I can't

concentrate on, on British

mercantile law, I don't care about

British mercantile law. I might not

even want to be a lawyer -

LINCOLN

It's a sturdy profession, and a

useful one.

ROBERT

Yes, and I want to be useful, but

now, not afterwards!

Slade hands Lincoln his formal gloves.

LINCOLN

I ain't wearing them things, Mr.

Slade, they never fit right.

WILLIAM SLADE

The missus will have you wear `em.

Don't think about leaving `em.

ROBERT

You're delaying, that's your

favorite tactic.

WILLIAM SLADE ROBERT

(to Robert:) You won't tell me no,

but the Be useful and stop war will

be over in a month, distracting

him. and you know it will!