12 Years a Slave
FO R Y OUR CO NSID ERA TI O N BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Screenplay by John Ridley BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Screenplay by John Ridley ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. © 2012 REGENCY ENTERTAINMENT (USA), INC. AND BASS FILMS, LLC IN THE U.S. ONLY. © 2012 MONARCHY ENTERPRISES S.A.R.L. AND BASS FILMS, LLC IN ALL OTHER TERRITORIES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PORTION OF THIS SCRIPT MAY BE PERFORMED, PUBLISHED, REPRODUCED, SOLD OR DISTRIBUTED BY ANY MEANS, OR QUOTED OR PUBLISHED IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING ANY WEB SITE, WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF 2012 REGENCY ENTERTAINMENT (USA), INC. AND BASS FILMS, LLC. DISPOSAL OF THIS SCRIPT COPY DOES NOT ALTER ANY OF THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE. CARD: 1841 FADE IN: 1 INT. TOWNHOUSE/STUDY - DAY 1 -EARLY APRIL, 1841- We are close on a PAIR OF BLACK HANDS as they open A FINELY WRAPPED PACKET OF VIOLIN STRINGS. WE CUT TO the hands stringing a VIOLIN. It's not a high end piece, but it is quite nice. WE CUT TO a wide shot of the study. Sitting in a chair with violin in hand is SOLOMON NORTHUP; a man in his late twenties. Everything about Solomon, his mien and manner, is distinguished. But he, too, seems a hardy individual. Someone who has known manual labor in his time. Solomon begins to lightly play his violin, as if testing the strings, their tuning. Satisfied, Solomon begins to play vigorously. As he does, we make a HARD CUT TO: 2 INT. HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - EVENING 2 We come in on a lively affair.