Lincoln · written by Tony Kushner · 2012

Elizabeth Keckley encounters Lincoln outside Mary's room and recognizes the trouble caused by his dream.

Scene 5 of 102 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Lincoln
Elizabeth Keckley

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 9 min into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 5

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.

Scene 1
Black Union soldiers fight a merciless close-quarters battle against white Confederates.
Just before
Scene 2
Black and white soldiers meet Lincoln; Ira Clark challenges him on equality and recites the Gettysburg Address.
Scene 3
Lincoln dreams of riding alone aboard a powerful ship toward a receding shore.
Scene 4
Mary identifies Lincoln's new campaign for the slavery amendment and warns him against wasting his popularity.
Scene 5
This scene

5INT. HALLWAY, LEAVING MARY'S BOUDOIR - NIGHT

Lincoln encounters ELIZABETH KECKLEY, a light-skinned black woman, 38, Mary's dressmaker and close friend, holding a dark- blue velvet bodice embroidered with jet beads.

LINCOLN

It's late, Mrs. Keckley.

ELIZABETH KECKLEY

(holding out the bodice:)

She needs this for the grand

reception.

Lincoln bends down to look at the intricate beading.

ELIZABETH KECKLEY (CONT'D)

It's slow work.

He nods, smiles, straightens up.

LINCOLN

Good night.

He continues down the hall. Mrs. Keckley starts to enter Mary's boudoir, then stops, sensing something amiss. She calls quietly after Lincoln:

ELIZABETH KECKLEY

(concerned, a little EXASPERATED:)

Did you tell her a dream?