Jennings: (Concerned) I see.
Lincoln: What is it, Jennings, you look pale?
Jennings: It is a rather odd question.
Lincoln: Yes, but I got a laugh off it. It was a quick answer.
Jennings: No one's denying that, Mr. Lincoln.
Lincoln: A big laugh. The whole cabinet just broke up.
Jennings: And then did the man say anything?
Lincoln: He said thank you and left.
Jennings: You never asked why he wanted to know?
Lincoln: If you must know, I was too pleased with my answer. Long enough to reach the ground. It came out so fast. I didn't hesitate.
Jennings: I know, I know. It's just, well, this whole thing's got me worried.
II
(Lincoln and Mary Todd in their bedroom, middle of the night. She in bed, Lincoln pacing nervously.)
Mary: Come to bed, Abe. What's wrong?
Lincoln: That man today. The question. I can't get it out of my mind. Jennings's opened a can of worms.
Mary: Forget it, Abe.
Lincoln: I want to, Mary. Jesus, don't you think I want to? But those haunting eyes. Imploring. What could have prompted it? I need a drink.
Mary: No, Abe.
Lincoln: Yes.
Mary: I said, no! You've been jittery lately. It's this damn civil war.
Lincoln: It's not the war. I didn't respond to the human being. I was too preoccupied with getting the quick laugh. I allowed a complex issue to elude me just so I could get some chuckles from my cabinet. They hate me anyhow.
Mary: They love you, Abe.
Lincoln: I'm vain. Still, it was a fast comeback.
Mary: I agree. Your answer was clever. Long enough to reach his torso.
Lincoln: To reach the ground.
Mary: No, you said it the other way.
Lincoln: No. What's funny about that?
Mary: To me it's a lot funnier.
Lincoln: That's funnier?
Mary: Sure.
Lincoln: Mary, you don't know what you're talking about.
Mary: The image of legs rising to a torso…
Lincoln: Forget it! Can we forget it! Where's the bourbon?
Mary: (Withholding the bottle) No, Abe, You won't drink tonight! I won't allow it!
Lincoln: Mary, what's happened to us? We used to have such fun.
Mary: (Tenderly) Come here, Abe. There's a full moon tonight. Like the night we met.
Lincoln: No, Mary. The night we met there was a waning moon.
Mary: Full.
Lincoln: Waning.
Mary: Full.
Lincoln: I'll get the almanac.
Mary: Oh Christ, Abe, forget it!
Lincoln: I'm sorry.
Mary: Is it the question? The legs? Is it still that?
Lincoln: What did he mean?
III
(The cabin of Will Raines and his wife. Haines enters after a long ride. Alice puts down her quilting basket and runs to him.)
Alice: Well, did you ask him? Will he pardon Andrew?
Wilclass="underline" (Beside himself) Oh, Alice, I did such a stupid thing.
Alice: (Bitterly) What? Don't tell me he won't pardon our son?
Wilclass="underline" Ididn't ask him.
Alice: You what!? You didn't ask him!?