Lincoln · written by Tony Kushner · 2012

Keckley challenges Lincoln about freed people's future and asserts her place in the nation through her son's sacrifice.

Scene 65 of 102 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Elizabeth Keckley
Lincoln

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:28 into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 65

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.
Scene 56
Lincoln changes his telegram to hold the Confederate commissioners outside Washington, choosing time for the amendment over immediate talks.
Just before
Scene 62
Robert sees discarded limbs and insists on enlisting; Lincoln slaps him, then fails to reconcile with him.
Scene 63
Mary rages at Robert's enlistment; Lincoln admits his own suppressed grief and asks her to bear their burdens.
Scene 64
At the opera, Mary urges Lincoln to secure the amendment himself and warns him of failure's cost.
Scene 65
This scene

65EXT. THE PORTICO OF THE WHITE HOUSE - A SHORT WHILE LATER

The carriage has pulled up and Mary is entering the White House. Lincoln helps Mrs. Keckley down from the carriage.

She hesitates before proceeding in. Then she faces Lincoln.

ELIZABETH KECKLEY

I know the vote is only four days

away; I know you're concerned.

Thank you for your concern over

this, and I want you to know:

They'll approve it. God will see to

it.

LINCOLN

I don't envy him his task. He may

wish He'd chosen an instrument for

His purpose more wieldy than the

House of Representatives.

ELIZABETH KECKLEY

Then you'll see to it.

Lincoln looks at her, considering. Then:

LINCOLN

Are you afraid of what lies ahead?

For your people? If we succeed?

ELIZABETH KECKLEY

White people don't want us here.

LINCOLN

Many don't.

ELIZABETH KECKLEY

What about you?

LINCOLN

I...I don't know you, Mrs. Keckley.

Any of you. You're ...familiar to

me, as all people are.

Unaccommodated, poor, bare, forked

creatures such as we all are. You

have a right to expect what I

expect, and likely our expectations

are not incomprehensible to each

other. I assume I'll get used to

you. But what you are to the

nation, what'll become of you once

slavery's day is done, I don't

know.

ELIZABETH KECKLEY

What my people are to be, I can't

say. Negroes have been fighting and

dying for freedom since the first

of us was a slave. I never heard