Lincoln · written by Tony Kushner · 2012

Lincoln asks Hutton whether his brother's death can find meaning in the freedom it helped win.

Scene 70 of 102 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

William Hutton
Lincoln

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:36 into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 70

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.
Scene 63
Mary predicts losing Robert and confronts Lincoln over the grief and bloodshed carried by his decisions.
Scene 66
Lincoln joins the operatives himself and begins personally securing the remaining Democrats.
Just before
Scene 67
Stevens secures Coffroth's vote by threatening his seat, while requiring him to remain a Democrat through the vote.
Scene 68
Lincoln asks the operatives for the remaining names and singles out George Yeaman.
Scene 69
Lincoln appeals personally to Yeaman, separating the immediate abolition vote from fears about emancipation's aftermath.
Scene 70
This scene

70EXT. A WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD IN WASHINGTON - NIGHT

Lincoln stands in front of William Hutton's row house, talking to Hutton. The funeral wreath still hangs on the door behind them, displaying the marks of time passing: faded, weatherbeaten, dusty.

WILLIAM HUTTON

I can't make sense of it, what he

died for.

Mr. Lincoln, I hate them all, I do,

all black people. I am a prejudiced

man.

The door opens slightly behind Hutton. His wife looks out. Hutton exchanges a glance with her, and the door shuts again.

LINCOLN

I'd change that in you if I could,

but that's not why I come. I might

be wrong, Mr. Hutton, but I

expect... Colored people will most

likely be free, and when that's so,

it's simple truth that your

brother's bravery, and his death,

helped make it so. Only you can

decide whether that's sense enough

for you, or not.

Hutton walks slowly back to his house.

LINCOLN (CONT'D)

My deepest sympathies to your

family.

Lincoln goes back to his buggy. Hutton pauses at his door to watch Lincoln's buggy drive away.