INT. 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? 105.

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 to a vote. Do I hear a second?

ASA VINTNER LITTON I second the motion.

           SCHUYLER COLFAX

So moved, so ordered. The Clerk will now - (a rap of the gavel) Quiet please.

The noise of the chamber and balcony reduce to a rumble.

SCHUYLER COLFAX (CONT'D) The clerk will now call the roll for voting.

Thaddeus Stevens sits silently, tired, concentrated: the moment has come.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE We begin with Connecticut. Mr. Augustus Benjamin, on the matter of this amendment, how say you?

The chamber is completely silent for the first time. 106.

           AUGUSTUS BENJAMIN

Nay!

The clerk records his vote.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE Mr. Arthur Bentleigh.

           ARTHUR BENTLEIGH

Nay!

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE Mr. John Ellis, how say you?

           JOHN ELLIS

Aye!

Angry shouts from Ellis's fellow Democrats, forcing Colfax to gavel for order.

           DEMOCRATIC SENATOR

What?! Shameful!

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE Missouri next. Mr. Walter Appleton.

           WALTER APPLETON

I vote no!

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE Mr. Josiah Burton.

JOSIAH BURTON rises to his feet. He is very, very tall and thin.

           JOSIAH BURTON

Beanpole Burton is pleased to vote yea!

Mary watches from the balcony, pleased, but anxious.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE The State of New Jersey. Mr. Nehemiah Cleary.

           NEHEMIAH CLEARY

No.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE Mr. James Martinson. 107.

           JAMES ASHLEY

Mr. Martinson has delegated me to say he is indisposed and he abstains.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE Mr. Austin J. Roberts.

           JAMES ASHLEY

Also indisposed, also abstaining.

Shocked anger from the Democrats. Pendleton starts calculating votes on a sheet of paper. Wood grabs it and begins to calculate more rapidly.

In the balcony, Mary keeps track on her own list. She writes carefully next to Roberts's name: "15 TO WIN"

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE Illinois concluded. Mr. Harold Hollister, how say you?

Hollister glowers next to Hutton, who's silently praying.

           HAROLD HOLLISTER

No.

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE Mr. Hutton? Mr. William Hutton, cast your vote.

Hutton looks up from his prayer.

           WILLIAM HUTTON

William Hutton, remembering at this moment his beloved brother, Fredrick, votes against the amendment.