Lincoln · written by Tony Kushner · 2012

On a spring buggy ride, Lincoln and Mary imagine travel and resolve to try to be happier.

Scene 97 of 102 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Mary
Lincoln

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 2:00 into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 97

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.
Scenes 17–84
Lincoln bargains, delays peace commissioners, confronts family costs and defends the vote against postponement.
Scenes 85–90
The House passes the amendment and the victory enters the private lives of Lincoln and Stevens.
Just before
Scene 94
Lincoln rides across the battlefield outside Petersburg, seeing Union and Confederate corpses at close range.
Scene 95
Lincoln asks Grant for mercy toward the defeated South; Grant tells him he must lead the nation out of war.
Scene 96
After Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Grant and Union officers remove their hats in a gesture of respect.
Scene 97
This scene

97EXT. A BUGGY RIDE THROUGH WASHINGTON - AFTERNOON

A beautiful spring afternoon. Lincoln and Mary are riding in the buggy, driven by the old soldier.

MARY

You've an itch to travel?

LINCOLN

I'd like that. To the West by rail.

MARY

(shaking her head no:)

Overseas.

LINCOLN

The Holy Land.

MARY

(a laugh, then:)

Awfully pious for a man who takes

his wife out buggy-riding on Good

Friday.

LINCOLN

Jerusalem. Where David and Solomon

walked. I dream of walking in that

ancient city.

She seems sadder. They ride in silence.

MARY

All anyone will remember of me is I

was crazy and I ruined your

happiness.

LINCOLN

Anyone thinks that doesn't

understand, Molly.

She nods; then, tenderly:

MARY

When they look at you, at what it

cost to live at the heart of this,

they'll wonder at it. They'll

wonder at you. They should. But

they should also look at the

wretched woman by your side, if

they want to understand what this

was truly like. For an ordinary

person. For anyone other than you.

Lincoln laughs, takes her hand. She leans against him.

LINCOLN

We must try to be happier. We must.

Both of us. We've been so miserable

for so long.