The movie opens with a Union soldier strangling a Confederate soldier who is bayoneting a Union soldier who is gouging the eyes out of a Confederate soldier. They get off the subway and start fighting the Civil War.
THE CAPITOL BUILDING. Congress is in session. A bullfrog in a frock coat (Tommy Lee Jones) takes the floor and commences a stirring peroration against the evils of slavery. Every time he uses the word, “enfranchisement,” the Southern senators leap to their feet, scream and shake their fists. Secretary of State Charles Seward (David Strathairn) leans over to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (Bruce McGill) and asks,
“Why do they hate the word, ‘enfranchisement?’”
“It means giving Negroes the right to vote.”
“I thought it meant owning a MacDonald’s.”
THE WHITE HOUSE. In the Lincoln Bedroom (which was, then, just the bedroom) Abraham Lincoln is talking to a golf umbrella, which, upon closer inspection, turns out to be his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln (Sally Field) in a crinoline wider than she is tall.
“You know those splitting headaches I always get,” she says, “I find that they begin when you arrive and stop when you leave.”
“What a coincidence,” he replies, “the same is true for the pain in my ass!”
THE WHITE HOUSE. In the Oval Office, a man who could be Mark Twain’s grandfather (Hal Holbrook) tells President Lincoln, in the greatest confidence, that the Confederacy is willing to begin peace talks.
“They want to surrender?” Lincoln says, brightening.
“No, negotiate.”
“Like one country to another? That’s crazy.”
“Do you want this war to end?”
“Yeah, when all the Confederates die or they surrender. Whichever comes first.”
“You take a hard line.”
“There’s a reason I give my best speeches in cemeteries.”
WHITE HOUSE. Later that night, Abraham Lincoln talks with his
oldest son, Robert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)
“Pa, I want to enlist.”
“Do you want to die?”
“I want to serve my country.”
“You can’t serve it with a Confederate bayonet up your hoo-ha.”
“Everyone I know is in uniform.”
“They’re either soldiers or slaves. Neither of whom has a choice. You’re one of the rare – and lucky – people who do.”
“Then I’m making my choice. I choose to enlist.”
“Just kill me, instead. Take this gun and shoot me in the back of my head. Put me out of my misery.”
“Ma said I could do it.”
“Really? Your mother said you could join the army? Why do I doubt that?”
THE WHITE HOUSE. The President and Secretary of State confer in the Oval Office.
“Tell me, Charles, how close are we to passing an amendment abolishing slavery?”
“We need ten more votes, Mr. President.”
“How do we get them? I assume you’ve already asked nicely.”
“Voting in favor of the amendment could cost these men the next election. They’ll need a lot of persuading.”
“Hmmm. If we can’t get ten more votes, what if we had ten less opposing votes.”
“How do we do that?”
“We kill - ”
“It will look bad.”
“No one has to know.”
“Ten empty seats will be obvious.”
“In that case, I know some men who are very good at persuading.”
“Short of killing.”
“If necessary.”
“I’m afraid I must insist, Mr. President.”
THE CAPITOL BUILDING. Office of Representative Robert Latham. (R-West Va.) Young and impressionable, Mr. Latham (John Hawkes) doesn’t need much persuading. All it takes is the political operative, W.N. Bilbo,
twisting his arm until Latham’s face is pinned against the desk.
“You don’t need this arm to vote. All you need is to say, yea.”
“I’ll do it. I’ll do it.”
“Do what?”
“Vote for the amendment.”
Mr. Bilbo, by the way, looks like James Spader, only blown up with a pump and tied closed with a mustache.
THE WHITE HOUSE. To provide plausible deniability,President Lincoln invites a variety of congressmen and cabinet members to the White House for brandy and cigars. While there, he regales them with the sort of homespun, corn-fed stories that prove what a regular guy he is.
“There was young man from Nantucket - ”
THE CAPITOL BUILDING. Congress votes and the amendment passes. The abolition of slavery is celebrated by Republicans (that’s how long ago it was) and bemoaned by Democrats. The former sing, “Battle Cry of Freedom,” the latter pack their carpetbags and begin planning Reconstruction.
THE WHITE HOUSE. Waiting alone for the results, Abraham Lincoln is a solitary sihouette, slumped in thought. Or worry. Or regret. Possibly all three. Finally, he hears church bells. First one, then more. They are tolling a new birth a freedom. Announcing his success. Crowning his work. He moves to the window and parts the drapes. The light is so strong, it threatens to consume him, but doesn’t. It humbles and exalts him at the same time. THE MOVIE ENDS. THIS IS WHERE IT SHOULD END – AND NOT A SECOND LATER.
If you don’t know what happens next, look it up.
