Lincoln: Lincoln asks Stevens to temper his radical demands, arguing that a moral compass cannot chart the… (scene 39)

39INT. THE WHITE HOUSE KITCHEN - EVENING

The kitchen's piled with unwashed cookware, eggshells, flour bins, muffin and pastry molds, spoons and knives, the detritus of the preparations for the finger food served at the reception, which has now transitioned into a dance and is still underway upstairs. Music, the tramp of dancing feet and rhythmic clapping is audible.

A BLACK FOOTMAN carrying a huge tray laden with dishes and cups comes down the stairs. He hastily beats a retreat when he sees Lincoln and Thaddeus Stevens quietly talking amid the mess.

LINCOLN

Since we have the floor next in the

debate, I thought I'd suggest you

might...temper your contributions

so as not to frighten our

conservative friends?

THADDEUS STEVENS

Ashley insists you're ensuring

approval by dispensing patronage to

otherwise undeserving Democrats.

LINCOLN

I can't ensure a single damn thing

if you scare the whole House with

talk of land appropriations and

revolutionary tribunals and

punitive thisses and thats -

THADDEUS STEVENS

When the war ends, I intend to push

for full equality, the Negro vote

and much more. Congress shall

mandate the seizure of every foot

of rebel land and every dollar of

their property. We'll use their

confiscated wealth to establish

hundreds of thousands of free Negro

farmers, and at their side soldiers

armed to occupy and transform the

heritage of traitors. We'll build

up a land down there of free men

and free women and free children

and freedom.

The nation needs to know that we have such plans.