INT. THE HOUSE CHAMBER - DAY
One representative's reading a paper with the headline: THE FALLEN AT WILMINGTON, followed by hundreds of names.
Pendleton and Wood are conferring.
FERNANDO WOOD
Heavy losses.
GEORGE PENDLETON
And more to come.
FERNANDO WOOD
Sours the national mood. That might suffice to discourage him -
GEORGE PENDLETON
To what? To bring this down? Not in a fight like this. This is to the death.
FERNANDO WOOD
It's gruesome!
GEORGE PENDLETON(GETTING UPSET:)
Are you despairing, or merely lazy? This fight is for The United States of America! Nothing "suffices". A rumor? Nothing! They're not lazy! They're busily buying votes! While we hope to be saved by "the national mood?!"
He looks over at Stevens, who's at his desk consulting with Ashley and Julian.
GEORGE PENDLETON (CONT'D) Before this blood is dry, when Stevens next takes the floor, taunt him - you excel at that - get him to proclaim what we all know he believes in his coal-colored heart: that this vote is meant to set the black race on high, to niggerate America.
FERNANDO WOOD
George, please. Stay on course.
GEORGE PENDLETON
Bring Stevens to full froth. I can ensure that every newspaperman from Louisville to San Francisco will be here to witness it and print it.
Colfax gavels the chamber to order, as George Yeaman approaches the podium.
SCHUYLER COLFAX
The floor belongs to the mellifluent gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. George Yeaman.
GEORGE YEAMAN
I thank you, Speaker Colfax.
The Democrats applaud as Yeaman takes his place at the podium and surveys the chamber.
GEORGE YEAMAN (CONT'D) Although I'm disgusted by slavery I rise on this sad and solemn day to announce that I'm opposed to the amendment. We must consider what will become of colored folk if four million are in one instant set free.
Cheers and boos.
ASA VINTNER LITTON They'll be free, George! That's what'll become of them! What'll become of any of us?! That's what being free means!
Schell, Latham, and Bilbo are perched in their usual gallery seats, taking notes. 66.
RICHARD SCHELL
Think how splendid if Mr. Yeaman switched.
ROBERT LATHAM
(shaking his head:) Too publicly against us. He can't change course now.
W.N. BILBO Not for some miserable little job anyways.
GEORGE YEAMAN
And, and! We will be forced to enfranchise the men of the colored race - it would be inhuman not to! Who among us is prepared to give Negroes the vote?
He's momentarily silenced by cheers and boos throughout the chamber.
GEORGE YEAMAN (CONT'D) And, and! What shall follow upon that? Universal enfranchisement? Votes for women?
Yeaman is stopped, baffled and dismayed by the explosion he's provoked.