TITLE: US ARMY HEADQUARTERS

CITY POINT, VIRGINIA

JANUARY 12

INT. LINCOLN'S BEDROOM, SECOND FLOOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE - LATE AFTERNOON

Tad, in fancy military uniform, sits on the bed, Gardener's box of glass negatives open beside him. He holds up a plate to a lamp:

An old black man with a thick beard and hair, shirtless.

Tad looks at another plate:

A young black woman, headscarf, huge ugly scar across her cheek and down her neck.

He studies these with solemn concentration.

ROBERT (O.C.) You drafted half the men in Boston! What do you think their families think about me?

Lincoln is being dressed in formal wear by his valet, WILLIAM SLADE, a light-skinned black man in his 40s. Robert, already in his morning suit, is standing by the door.

           ROBERT (CONT'D)

The only reason they don't throw things and spit on me is `cause you're so popular. I can't concentrate on, on British mercantile law, I don't care about British mercantile law. I might not even want to be a lawyer -

           LINCOLN

It's a sturdy profession, and a useful one.

           ROBERT

Yes, and I want to be useful, but now, not afterwards!

Slade hands Lincoln his formal gloves.

           LINCOLN

I ain't wearing them things, Mr. Slade, they never fit right.

           WILLIAM SLADE

The missus will have you wear `em. Don't think about leaving `em.

           ROBERT

You're delaying, that's your favorite tactic.

WILLIAM SLADE ROBERT (to Robert:) You won't tell me no, but the Be useful and stop war will be over in a month, distracting him. and you know it will!

           LINCOLN
           (TO ROBERT:)

I've found that prophesying is one of life's less prophet-able occupations!

He accepts the gloves. Slade laughs a little, Robert scowls. Tad holds another glass negative up to the light.

           TAD

Why do some slaves cost more than others? 52.

           ROBERT

If they're still young and healthy, if the women can still conceive, they'll pay more -

           LINCOLN

Put `em back in the box. We'll return them to Mr. Gardner's studio day after next. Be careful with `em, now. (tugging at his gloves:) These things should've stayed on the calf.

           TAD

(to Slade, putting the PLATES AWAY:) When you were a slave, Mr. Slade, did they beat you?

           WILLIAM SLADE

I was born a free man. Nobody beat me except I beat them right back.

There's a knock on the door and Mrs. Keckley enters.

           ELIZABETH KECKLEY

Mr. Lincoln, could you come with me-

           WILLIAM SLADE
           (TO TAD:)

Mrs. Keckley was a slave. Ask her if she was beaten.

           TAD LINCOLN

Were you - (shakes his head) Tad.

           ELIZABETH KECKLEY
           (TO TAD:)

I was beaten with a fire shovel when I was younger than you. (TO LINCOLN:) You should go to Mrs. Lincoln. She's in Willie's room.

           ROBERT

She never goes in there.

Lincoln starts towards the door just as John Hay enters, dressed in the uniform of a Brevet Colonel. 53.

           JOHN HAY

The reception line is already stretching out the door.

Robert shoots an angry, envious glance at Hay's uniform as Lincoln, Slade, Mrs. Keckley and Hay leave. Robert calls to HIS FATHER:

           ROBERT

I'll be the only man over fifteen and under sixty-five in this whole place not in uniform.

           TAD

I'm under fifteen and I have a uniform.

Robert storms out.