Lincoln · written by Tony Kushner · 2012

Lincoln visits Seward's operatives and devises a way to pressure Coffroth through his disputed congressional seat.

Scene 66 of 102 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act two

Save the Cat: Break into Three
W.n. Bilbo
Robert Latham
Seward
Lincoln
Richard Schell
Lincoln W.n. Bilbo

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:29 into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 66

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 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
Keckley challenges Lincoln about freed people's future and asserts her place in the nation through her son's sacrifice.
Scene 66
This scene

66INT. A BEDROOM IN THE ST. CHARLES HOTEL - LATE NIGHT

The room is far filthier and more cluttered than before. Bilbo and Latham are playing cards. Schell is asleep in bed.

W.N. BILBO

My whole hand's gonna be proud in

about five seconds, let's see how

proud you gonna be.

ROBERT LATHAM

Oh, it is? What you got goin'?

There's a quick knock on the door.

W.N. BILBO

Yeah?

ROBERT LATHAM

Go away!

(TO BILBO)

That watch fob, is that gold?

W.N. BILBO

You keep your eyes off my fob!

Seward enters, displeased, as they show their cards, laughing.

ROBERT LATHAM

Nines paired!

W.N. BILBO

Oh my God damn!

SEWARD

Gentlemen. You have a visitor.

Latham jovially collects his winnings. He stops short when Lincoln steps into the room, cloak and stovepipe, very tall.

W.N. BILBO

Well, I'll be fucked.

LINCOLN

I wouldn't bet against it, Mr...?

Schell startles awake as Bilbo puts down his cigar and wipes his hand on his vest.

W.N. BILBO

W.N. Bilbo.

LINCOLN

Mr. Bilbo. Gentlemen.

ROBERT LATHAM

Sir...

W.N. BILBO

Why are you here? No offense, but

Mr. Seward's banished the very

mention of your name, he won't even

let us use fifty-cent pieces `cause they got your face on `em.

LINCOLN

The Secretary of State here tells

me that, uh, you got eleven

Democrats in the bag. That's