EXT. PARADE GROUNDS ADJACENT TO THE WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, ANACOSTIA RIVER - NIGHT
Rain and fog. Union Army companies are camped out across the grounds. Preparations are being made for the impending assault on the Confederate port of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Two black soldiers stand before a bivouacked Negro unit: HAROLD GREEN, an infantryman in his late thirties, and IRA CLARK, a cavalryman in his early twenties. ABRAHAM LINCOLN sits on a bench facing Harold and Ira; his stovepipe hat is at his side.
HAROLD GREEN
So at Jenkins' Ferry, we decided warn't taking no reb prisoners. And we didn't leave a one of em alive. The ones of us that didn't die that day, we joined up with the 116th U.S. Colored, sir. From Camp Nelson Kentucky.
LINCOLN
What's your name, soldier?
HAROLD GREEN
Private Harold Green, sir.
IRA CLARK
I'm Corporal Ira Clark, sir. Fifth Massachusetts Cavalry. We're waiting over there. He nods in the direction of his cavalry.
IRA CLARK (CONT'D)
We're leaving our horses behind, and shipping out with the 24th Infantry for the assault next week on Wilmington.
LINCOLN
(to Harold Green:) How long've you been a soldier?
HAROLD GREEN
Two year, sir.
LINCOLN
Second Kansas Colored Infantry, they fought bravely at Jenkins' Ferry.
HAROLD GREEN IRA CLARK
That's right, sir. They killed a thousand rebel soldiers, sir. They were very brave.(hesitating, then) And making three dollars less each month than white soldiers. Harold Green is a little startled at Clark's bluntness.
HAROLD GREEN
Us 2nd Kansas boys, whenever we fight now we -
IRA CLARK
Another three dollars subtracted from our pay for our uniforms.
HAROLD GREEN
That was true, yessir, but that CHANGED -
IRA CLARK
Equal pay now. Still no commissioned Negro officers.
LINCOLN
I am aware of it, Corporal Clark.
IRA CLARK
Yes, sir, that's good you're aware, sir. It's only that -
HAROLD GREEN
(to Lincoln, trying to change the subject:) You think the Wilmington attack is gonna be -
IRA CLARK
Now that white people have accustomed themselves to seeing Negro men with guns, fighting on their behalf, and now that they can tolerate Negro soldiers getting the same pay - in a few years perhaps they can abide the idea of Negro lieutenants and captains. In fifty years, maybe a Negro colonel. In a hundred years - the vote. Green's offended at the way Clark is talking to Lincoln.
LINCOLN
What'll you do after the war, Corporal Clark?
IRA CLARK
Work, sir. Perhaps you'll hire me.
LINCOLN
Perhaps I will.
IRA CLARK
But you should know, sir, that I get sick at the smell of bootblack and I can't cut hair. Lincoln smiles.
LINCOLN
I've yet to find a man could cut mine so it'd make any difference.
HAROLD GREEN
You got springy hair for a white man. Lincoln laughs.
LINCOLN
Yes, I do. My last barber hanged himself. And the one before that. Left me his scissors in his will.
Green laughs.
TWO WHITE SOLDIERS have come up, two young kids, nervous and excited.
FIRST WHITE SOLDIER LINCOLN
President Lincoln, sir? Evening, boys.
SECOND WHITE SOLDIER
Damn! Damn! We, we saw you, um. We were at, at -
FIRST WHITE SOLDIER
We was at Gettysburg!
HAROLD GREEN SECOND WHITE SOLDIER
You boys fight at Gettysburg? DAMN I can't believe it's -
FIRST WHITE SOLDIER (CONT'D)
(to Green, with mild CONTEMPT) Naw, we didn't fight there. We just signed up last month.We saw him two years ago at the cemetery dedication.
SECOND WHITE SOLDIER
Yeah, we heard you speak! We... DAMN DAMN DAMN! Uh, hey, how tall are you anyway?!
FIRST WHITE SOLDIER
Jeez, SHUT up!
LINCOLN
Could you hear what I said?
FIRST WHITE SOLDIER No, sir, not much, it was-
SECOND WHITE SOLDIER
(he recites, fast and MECHANICALLY:) "Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."
LINCOLN
That's good, thank you for -
FIRST WHITE SOLDIER
"Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure.We are, we are, we are met on a great battlefield of that war."
LINCOLN
Thank you, that's -
ECOND WHITE SOLDIER
"We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is..." (He chokes up a little.)
FIRST WHITE SOLDIER
His uncles, they died on the second day of fighting.
SECOND WHITE SOLDIER A VOICE (O.C.)
I know the last part. "It is, Company up! Move it out! uh, it is rather -"
Soldiers all over the field rise up at the mustering of the troops. Names of regiments, brigades, divisions are called: all across the field, the men put out fires, put on knapsacks.
LINCOLN
(to the two white SOLDIERS:) You fellas best find your company.
FIRST WHITE SOLDIER (SALUTING LINCOLN:) Thank you, sir. God bless you!
LINCOLN
God bless you.
The second white soldier salutes, and the two move out. Green salutes Lincoln as well and glances at Clark, who remains, looking down. Green leaves. Clark looks up, salutes Lincoln and, turning smartly, walks toward his unit.
Then he stops, turns back, faces Lincoln, who watches him. A beat, and then, in a tone of admiration and cautious admonishment, reminding Lincoln of his promise:
IRA CLARK
"That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in VAIN -- "
Clark salutes Lincoln again, turns again and walks away.Lincoln watches him go. As he walks into the fog, Clark continues reciting in a powerful voice: IRA CLARK (CONT'D) " - That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Lincoln watches Clark until the fog's swallowed him up.