Lincoln · written by Tony Kushner · 2012

Lincoln's denial defeats postponement and the roll call begins, with Ellis supporting the amendment and Hutton opposing it.

Scene 77 of 102 · ≈ 3 min on screen · Act three

James Ashley
George Pendleton
Aaron Haddam
Schuyler Colfax
Asa Vintner Litton
The Clerk Of The House
Augustus Benjamin
Arthur Bentleigh
John Ellis
Democratic Senator
Walter Appleton
Josiah Burton
Nehemiah Cleary
Harold Hollister
William Hutton

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:44 into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 77

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.
Scene 71
Still short of votes and beset by demands for peace, Lincoln orders his allies to procure the final votes.
Just before
Scene 74
Bilbo, Hay and Nicolay race from the Capitol to get Lincoln's answer to the peace allegations.
Scene 75
The race continues through the White House, with Hay reaching Lincoln's office ahead of Bilbo.
Scene 76
Lincoln writes a narrowly worded denial; Hay fears impeachment, so Lincoln entrusts delivery to Bilbo.
Scene 77
This scene

77INT. THE HOUSE CHAMBER AND BALCONY - AFTERNOON

Bilbo, pushing past the pages, runs in, holding the note, Ashley snatches it, reading as he makes his way to the podium. All eyes are on Ashley.

JAMES ASHLEY

From the President:

The chamber falls silent.

JAMES ASHLEY (CONT'D)

"So far as I know, there are no

peace commissioners in the city nor

are there likely to be."

Applause, booing, furious discussion.

GEORGE PENDLETON

"So far as I know-"?! That means

nothing! Are there commissioners

from the South or aren't there?!

In the balcony, Mary looks to Mrs. Keckley.

JAMES ASHLEY

The President has answered you,

sir! Your peace offer is a fiction!

GEORGE PENDLETON

That is not a denial, it is a

lawyer's dodge!

JAMES ASHLEY

Mr. Haddam? Is your faction

satisfied?

Preston, in the balcony, hesitates. He looks at his daughter, who gives him a questioning look: "Do you want this on your head?"

Preston doesn't. He indicates to Haddam with a small shake of his venerable head: "Drop it."

AARON HADDAM

The conservative Republican

faction's satisfied, and we thank

Mr. Lincoln. I move to table Mr.

Wood's motion.

SCHUYLER COLFAX

Tabled!

There's an angry response, but Wood and Pendleton sit, thwarted.

JAMES ASHLEY

Speaker Colfax, I order the main

question.

SCHUYLER COLFAX

A motion has been made to bring the

bill for the Thirteenth Amendment