Lincoln · written by Tony Kushner · 2012

Lincoln finds Mary grieving in Willie's bedroom and acknowledges the pain they cannot escape.

Scene 37 of 102 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Mary
Lincoln

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 52 min into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 37

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 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
Robert asks to enlist as Lincoln dresses for the reception; Tad questions Slade and Keckley about slavery.
Scene 37
This scene

37INT. THE PRINCE OF WALES BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Lincoln enters a dark room, its heavy drapes closed against the dim afternoon light. There are two beds. One is stripped bare. The other is canopied with a thick black veil.

Mary, dressed in a deep purple gown with black flowers and beading, perfectly pitched between mourning and emergence, is seated at the head of the canopied bed. On a nightstand next to the bed there's a toy locomotive engine, a tattered book of B&O railroad schedules.

Mary holds a framed photograph: an image of WILLIE, 12, handsome, bright-eyed, confident.

Lincoln crosses to the window.

MARY

My head hurts so.

(BEAT)

I prayed for death the night Willie

died. The headaches are how I know

I didn't get my wish. How to endure

the long afternoon and deep into

the night.

LINCOLN

I know.

MARY

Trying not to think about him. How

will I manage?

LINCOLN

Somehow you will.

MARY

(SAD SMILE:)

Somehow. Somehow. Somehow... Every

party, every... And now, four years