Lincoln · written by Tony Kushner · 2012

With the coalition still short, Lincoln erupts at his allies and commands them to procure the last votes.

Scene 71 of 102 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Last scene of act two

Plot Point II
Preston Blair
James Ashley
Lincoln
Seward

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:36 into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 71

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 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
Lincoln asks Hutton whether his brother's death can find meaning in the freedom it helped win.
Scene 71
This scene

71INT. LINCOLN'S OFFICE - NIGHT

Lincoln is seated at the head of the cabinet table along with Seward. Ashley, Preston and Montgomery Blair. Hay and Nicolay sit in their usual chairs.

PRESTON BLAIR

(ANGRY:)

We've managed our members to a fare-

thee-well, you've had no defections

from the Republican right to

trouble you, whereas as to what you

promised - Where the hell are the

commissioners?!

JAMES ASHLEY

Oh God...

(TO LINCOLN:)

It's true! You, you...lied to me,

Mr. Lincoln! You evaded my requests

for a denial that, that there is a

Confederate peace offer because,

because there is one! We are

absolutely guaranteed to lose the

whole thing -

JAMES ASHLEY (CONT’D)

- and we'll be discredited, We

don't need a goddamned the

amendment itself will be abolition

amendment! Leave tainted. What if,

what if the Constitution alone!

State these peace commissioners by

state you can extirpate - appear

today? Or worse, on the morning -

LINCOLN

I can't listen to this anymore! I

can't accomplish a goddamned thing

of any human meaning or worth until

we cure ourselves of slavery and

end this pestilential war, and

whether any of you or anyone else

knows it, I know I need this! This

amendment is that cure! We're

stepped out upon the world's stage

now, now, with the fate of human

dignity in our hands! Blood's been

spilt to afford us this moment!

He points around the table at Ashley, Monty, Preston.

LINCOLN (CONT'D)