All language subtitles for 1776 (1972)

Mr. Adams!

Mr. Adams!

There you are.
Didn't you hear me call you, Mr. Adams?

You could've shouted down something,
saved me climbing up four flights.

A man that likes to talk
as much as you do, I'd think...

What do you keep coming
up here for, Mr. Adams?

Afraid someone's
going to steal our bell?

Well, don't worry.

Been here more than 14 years
and ain't been carried off once.

Better get yourself
back down to Congress, Mr. Adams.

Getting ready to vote,
and they said...

they couldn't settle
such an important question...

without Massachusetts
being there.

I can just imagine.

All right, what burning issue
are we voting on this time?

On whether or not to grant
General Washington's request...

that all members of the Rhode Island
militia be required...

to wear matching uniforms.

Oh, good God.

I have come to the conclusion
that one useless man...

is called a disgrace...

that two are called
a law firm...

and that three or more
become a Congress.

And by God,
I have had this Congress.

For ten years,
King George and his parliament...

have gulled, cullied and diddled these
colonies with their illegal taxes...

Stamp Acts, Townshend Acts,
Sugar Acts, Tea Acts.

And when we dared
stand up like men...

they have stopped our trade,
seized our ships...

blockaded our ports,
burned our towns...

and spilled our blood.

And still this Congress refuses to grant
any of my proposals on independence...

even so much as the courtesy
of open debate.

Good God, what in the hell
are you waiting for?

Sit down, John
Sit down, John

- Thomas, for God's sake, listen to me.
- For God's sake, John, sit down

- Sit down, John
- I've had enough of you.

Sit down, John
For God's sake, John, sit down

- Now, listen...
- Why not open up a window

- Listen to me and forget the window.
- It's 90 degrees

Have mercy, John, please

It's hot as hell
in Philadelphia

Someone ought
to open up a window

I say vote yes

Vote yes

Vote for independency

Someone ought
to open up a window

I say vote yes

Sit down, John

Vote for independency

Someone ought
to open up a window

Too many flies
Too many flies

But it's hot as hell
in Philadelphia

- Are you gonna open up a window
- Can't we compromise here

Vote yes

No, too many flies here

Vote yes

Oh, for God's sake, John
sit down

Good God.
Consider yourselves fortunate...

that you haveJohn Adams to abuse,
for no sane man would tolerate it.

John, you're a bore
We've heard this before

Now, for God's sake, John
sit down

I say vote yes

Vote yes

Vote for independency

Someone ought
to open up a window

I say vote yes

Sit down, John

Vote for independency

Will someone shut that man up

Never!

Never!

Dear God.

For one solid year they have
been sitting here a whole year...

doing nothing.

I do believe you've laid a curse
on North America

A curse that we here now rehearse
in Philadelphia

A second flood
a simple famine

Plagues of locusts
everywhere

Or a cataclysmic earthquake
I'd accept with some despair

But no
you've sent us Congress

Good God, sir, was that fair

I say this with humility
In Philadelphia

We're your responsability
in Philadelphia

If you don't want to see us
hanging from some far-off British hill

If you don't want the voice
of independency forever still

Then God, sir.
Get thee to it

for Congress never will

You see, we piddle
twiddle and resolve

Not one damn thing
do we solve

Piddle, twiddle and resolve

Nothing's ever solved

In foul, fetid, fuming
foggy, filthy

Philadelphia

Someone ought
to open up a window

Oh, shut up!

I now call Congress attention
to the petition of Mr. Melkey O'May

Who claims 20 dollars
compensation for his dead mule

It seems the animal was employed transporting
luggage in the service of Congress

The question then
would appear to be one of the case

or if the mule expired

not by her carry
but after being unlooked

then clearly the beast
drop dead on its own time.

Oh, good God.

They may sit here for years and years
in Philadelphia

These indecisive grenadiers
of Philadelphia.

They can't agree on what is right
or wrong or what is good or bad

I'm convinced the only purpose
these congress ever had

Was to gather here specifically

to drive John Adams mad.

You see, we piddle
twiddle and resolve

Not one damn thing
do we solve

Piddle, twiddle and resolve

Nothing's ever solved

In foul, fetid, fuming
foggy, filthy

- Philadelphia.
- John, John

Is that you carrying on, John

Oh, Abigail, Abigail, I have such
a desire to knock heads together.

Then why in heaven's name
do you stay there?

Come home to Boston, John.
It's only 300 miles.

If you left tonight,
you could be here in only eight days.

How can I do that, Abigail?

I'm no further along now
than I was when I first came here.

I know, my dearest. I know.

But that's because you make
everything so complicated.

It's all quite simple, really.

Just tell the Congress
to declare

Independency

Then sign your name
get out of there

And hurry home to me

Our children
all have dysentery

Little Tom
keeps turning blue

Little Abby has the measles
and I'm coming down with flu

They say we may get smallpox

Madam, what else is new?

Abigail, in my last letter,
I wrote you...

that the king had collected 12,000
German mercenaries to send against us.

I asked you to organize the ladies
to make saltpeter for gunpowder.

- Now, have you done as I asked?
- No, John, I have not.

Well, why have you not?

Because you neglected to tell us
how saltpeter is made.

By treating sodium nitrate
with potassium chloride, of course.

- Oh, yes, of course.
- Will it be done, then?

John, I'm afraid we have
a more urgent problem.

More urgent, madam?

There's one thing every woman's missed
in Massachusetts Bay

Don't smirk at me
you egotist

Pay heed to what I say

We've gone from Framingham to Boston
and we cannot find a pin

''Don't you know there's a war on"
says the tradesman with a grin

Well, we will
not make saltpeter

Until you send us pins

Pins, madam? Saltpeter.

- Pins.
- Saltpeter.

- Pins. Pins. Pins.
- 'Peter. 'Peter. 'Peter.

Done, madam, done.

Done, John.

- Hurry home, John.
- As soon as I'm able.

Don't stop writing.
It's all I have.

Every day, my dearest friend.

Till then

I am

As I ever was

And ever shall be

Yours

Saltpeter

John

Pins

Abigail

For God's sake, John

Sit down

Franklin!

Franklin!

Where in hell are you?

I see you hiding behind that tree.
It won't do you any good.

Damn it, this is no time
for playing games.

Franklin, I have been looking
everywhere for you.

Where in God's name
have you been?

Right here, John,
being preserved for posterity.

Do you like it?

- It stinks.
- As ever, the soul of tact.

- Well, the man's no Botticelli.
- And the subject's no Venus.

Where were you last night
when I needed you?

You should have heard
what I suffered in there.

I heard, all right,
along with the rest of Philadelphia.

Lord, your voice
is piercing, John.

Well, I wish to heaven
my arguments were.

My God, Franklin, when are they
going to make up their minds?

With one hand
they can raise an army

dispatch one of their own to lead it
and cheer the news from Bunker's Hill...

and with the other,
they wave the olive branch...

begging the king for a happy
and permanent reconciliation.

Fat George has declared us
in rebellion.

- Why in bloody hell can't they?
- John, really.

You talk as if independence
were the rule.

It's never been done before.

No colony has ever broken from the
parent stem in the history of the world.

Damn it, Franklin,
you make us sound treasonous.

Do I? Treason, eh?

"Treason is a charge
invented by winners...

as an excuse
for hanging the losers."

I have more to do than stand here
listening to you quote yourself.

No, that was a new one.

Damn it, Franklin,
we're at war.

To defend ourselves,
nothing more.

We expressed our displeasure,
the English moved against us...

and we in turn have resisted.

Now our fellow congressmen
want to effect a reconciliation...

- before it becomes a war.
- Reconciliation, my ass.

The people want independence.

The people have read
Mr. Paine's "Common Sense."

- I doubt very much Congress has.
- That's true.

John, why don't you give it up?

Nobody listens to you.
You're obnoxious and disliked.

I'm not promoting John Adams.
I'm promoting independence.

Evidently, they cannot
help connecting the two.

Even your own cousin.

And if Sam Adams can't put up
with you, nobody can.

You're getting at something.

How can you tell?

All right, out with it, Franklin.
What new intrigue are you cooking up?

Let someone else
in Congress propose.

Never!

Why? Who did you have in mind?

I don't know.
I really haven't given it much thought.

You sent for me, Benjamin?

- Never.
- Hello, Johnny!

Richard.

Johnny and I need some advice.

- If it's mine to give, it's yours.
- Thank you, Richard.

The cause that we support
has come to a complete standstill.

- Why do you suppose that is?
- Simple.

- Johnny here is obnoxious and disliked.
- That's true.

What's the solution, I wonder?

Get somebody else
in Congress to propose.

Oh, Richard, that's brilliant.
Wasn't that brilliant, John?

- Brilliant.
- The question remains who can it be.

The man that we need
must belong to a delegation...

publicly committed
to support independence.

At the present time, only Massachusetts,
New Hampshire and Delaware...

- have declared our way.
- And Virginia. Don't forget Virginia.

Richard, I haven't.
How could I?

But strictly speaking, while Virginia's
views on independence are well known...

your legislature in Williamsburg
has never formerly authorized...

its delegation here in Congress
to support the cause.

If we could think of a Virginian with
enough influence to go down there...

- and persuade the House of Burgesses...
- I've thought of someone!

- Who?
- Me.

- Well, why didn't I think of that?
- I'll leave tonight.

Why, hell, I'll leave right now,
if you like.

I'll just stop off in Stratford
long enough to refresh the missus...

and then straight to the matter.

Yes, sir, I really have to compliment
you on your judgment, Johnny.

Whoa, boy. Steady.

You've come to the one colony
that can get the job done.

Virginia, the land that gave us
our glorious commander-in-chief...

George Washington...

will now give the continent
its proposal on independence.

And when Virginia proposes,
the South is bound to follow.

And where the South goes,
the middle colonies go.

Gentlemen, a salute.

To Virginia,
the mother of American independence.

Incredible. We're free
and he hasn't even left yet.

What makes you so sure
you can do it?

My name is Richard Henry Lee
Virginia is my home

My name is Richard Henry Lee
Virginia is my home

And may my horses turn to glue
if I can't deliver unto you

The resolution
on independency

For I am FFV

The first family

in the sovereign colony
of Virginia

Yes, the FFV

The oldest family

In the oldest colony in America

And may the British
burn my land

If I can't deliver
to your hand

A resolution on independency

You see, it's here a Lee
there a Lee

And everywhere a Lee, Lee

- Social
- Lee

- Political
- Lee

- Financial, natural
- Lee, Lee

- Internal, external
- Lee, Lee

- Fraternal
- Lee

- Eternal
- Lee

The FFV

The first family

In the sovereign colony
of Virginia

And may my wife
refuse my bed

If I can't deliver
as I said

A resolution on independency

Spoken modest-Lee.
God help him.

Oh, he will, John.
He will.

They say that God in heaven
is everybody's God

- Amen
- I'll admit that God in heaven

Is everybody's God

But I tell you, John
with pride

God leans a little
on the side of the Lees

The Lees of old Virginia

You see, it's here a Lee
there a Lee

And everywhere a Lee, a Lee

Here a Lee, there a Lee
and everywhere a Lee

Look out, there's Arthur Lee
Bobby Lee

General Lighthorse Harry Lee

Willie Lee, Jesse Lee

- And Richard H.
- That's me.

And may my blood
stop running blue

If I can't deliver unto you
the resolution on independency

Yes, sir, my God
it's here a Lee, there a Lee

Come on, boys!
Join in with me!

- Here a Lee, there a Lee
- When do you leave?

Immediate-Lee

- Here a Lee, there a Lee
- When will you return?

Short-Lee

Here a Lee, there a Lee
and I'll come back triumphant-Lee

Here a Lee, there a Lee
everywhere a Lee, a Lee

Forward

On

That was the most revolting
display a have ever witnessed

They are warm blooded people,
Virginians.

Oh, not him Franklin, you

You and your infernal obsession
for deviousness

Now if you come straight and ask
the man he'd be gone half hour ago

Yes and he would be doing us a favor

Cheer up John

At this very moment our cause
is again riding high

Sittin' straight in the saddle
and full gallop for Virginia

And a women are serene,

- Oh, good God
- Full-bosomed

full-bosomed

Full-bosomed Benji
Everyone a queen

Why they are Lees, dammit

Lees of old Virginia

Yes, sir! By God. It's here a Lee

There a Lee

Come on, John snuffle that old Lee

Here a Lee, there a Lee
everywhere a Lee, a Lee

Here a Lee, there a Lee
everywhere a Lee, a Lee

Forward

On

- Excuse me.
- Yes?

I'm Dr. Lyman Hall,
the new delegate from Georgia.

I'm Andrew McNair,
congressional custodian.

If you'll be wanting anything at all,
just holler out "McNair"...

as all the others do
and there won't be too long to wait.

Where does the Georgia
delegation belong?

They mill about over in that corner
near the two Carolinas.

It's after 10:00.

I was told Congress
convenes at ten.

Well, they'll be wandering in
any time now, sir...

with Old Grape 'n Guts
leading the pack.

- Old who?
- McNair!

Grape 'N Guts.

'Nair!

Fetch me a rum.

Mr. Hopkins, you'll be pleased
to meet Dr. Lyman Hall.

I don't need a doctor, damn it.

New delegate from Georgia.

Well, why didn't you say so?

I'm Stephen Hopkins,
old delegate from Rhode Island.

- McNair, fetch two rums.
- I fear it's a little early in the day.

Nonsense.

It's a medicinal fact that rum gets
a man's heart started in the morning.

I'm surprised
you didn't know that.

Speaking as the oldest man in the
Congress, I can tell you right now...

Ben Franklin is older
by almost a year.

Rum!

Tell me, Doctor.

Where does Georgia stand
on the question of independence?

With South Carolina, of course.

Needy, good morning.

Neddy, come over here and shake
the hand of Dr. Lyman Hall of Georgia.

Dr. Hall, this here
is Edward Rutledge from...

whichever Carolina
he says he's from.

- God knows I can't keep 'em straight.
- It's a pleasure, Dr. Hall.

- Your servant, Mr. Rutledge.
- You've met the long and the short...

of it now, Doctor.

Neddy here is just a lad.
He's the youngest of us.

- Except for Ben Franklin.
- McNair!

Your rum!

Where did you go
for it, man? Jamaica?

Well, now, come along,
Dr. Hall.

I know you must be anxious
to meet your colleagues from the South.

Doctor, may I present
to you Joseph Hewes.

This is Dr. Lyman Hall,
the new delegate from Georgia.

- An honor and a pleasure, gentlemen.
- Where do you stand on independence?

I'm here without
instructions, Mr. Hewes...

able to vote
my own personal convictions.

And they are?

Personal.

Now, Dr. Hall...

the Deep South
speaks with one voice.

It's traditional.

Even more, it is historical.

Enter Delaware.

Speak plain, Rutledge. You know I can't
follow a word of your damn French.

It's Latin, Colonel McKean...

a tribute to the eternal peace
and harmony of the Delaware delegation.

What are you saying, man?
You know perfectly well...

that neither Rodney nor I can stand
the sight of this louse.

- Now, Thomas...
- Gentlemen, please.

This is Dr. Lyman Hall
of Georgia.

- Caesar Rodney.
- An honor, sir.

- George Read and Colonel Thomas McKean.
- Your servant.

Dr. Hall.

I wonder if I might speak
to you for a moment in private.

By all means.

- McNair!
- I'm coming! I'm coming!

Help me. I'm stuck.

Tell me, sir.

Would you be
a doctor of medicine or theology?

Both, Mr. Rodney.
Which one can be of service?

By all means,
the physician first.

Then we shall see
about the other.

I shall call at your convenience.

I trust, Caesar,
when you're through converting...

the poor fellow
to independency...

that you'll give the opposition
a fair crack at him.

You're too late, John.

Once I get them, they're got.

Dr. Lyman Hall of Georgia,
Mr. John Dickinson of Pennsylvania.

- An honor, sir.
- Your servant, sir.

Tell me, Doctor.

- Where do you stand on the question of...
- Independence?

Treason.

I've no stomach for it.

Then be careful not to dine
with John Adams.

Between the fish
and the souffle...

You'll find yourself
hanging from an English rope.

Your servant, sir.

Judge Wilson, forgive me,
but how can anyone see you...

if you insist on standing
in Mr. Dickinson's shadow?

James Wilson,
also of Pennsylvania.

Sir.

An honor, sir.

Good morning. Good morning.

Good morning, ladies.
Good morning.

Steady, steady.

Make gangway, sir.
Make gangway!

Good morning, Mr. Wilson.
Good morning.

Watch where you're going.
Over there.

McNair, get me out of this thing.
Watch out for my foot.

- Good morning, all.
- Morning, Ben.

Here you are. Two coppers a piece.
Now, straight back to jail with you.

- Good morning, Stephen.
- Hi, Benjamin.

What are you staring at? Haven't
you ever seen a great man before?

Good Lord, sir, do you have
the honor to be Dr. Franklin?

Yes, I have that honor. Unfortunately,
the gout accompanies that honor.

Been living
too high again, pappy?

Oh, Stephen, I only wish King George
felt like my big toe all over.

McNair! Fetch a pillow
and two more rums.

Franklin, where's that idiot Lee?
Is he back yet? I don't see him.

Softly, John.
Your voice is hurting my foot.

One more day. That's how long
I'll remain silent, not a minute longer.

That strutting popinjay
was so damn sure of himself...

he's had time to bring back
a dozen proposals by now.

Tell me, James. How do you explain
the strange, monumental quietude...

that Congress has been treated to
these past 30 days?

Has the ill wind of independence
finally blown itself out?

Well, if you ask me...

For myself, I must confess that
a month free from New England noise...

is more therapeutic
than a month in the country.

- Don't you agree, James?
- Well, I feel...

Mr. Adams, pray look
for your voice, sir.

It cannot be far, and God knows we need
the entertainment in this Congress.

Congratulations. You just made your
greatest contribution to independence.

- You kept your flap shut.
- One more day, Franklin...

then I shall do the proposing.

Gentlemen, the usual
morning festivities concluded...

I will now call Congress
to order.

Mr. Thomson...

Second Continental Congress, meeting
in Philadelphia, is now in session.

Seven, June, 1776,
the 380th meeting.

SweetJesus!

The HonorableJohn Hancock
of Massachusetts Bay, president.

Thank you, Mr. Thomson.
Mr. McNair...

the stores of rum and other
drinking spirits are hereby closed...

to the colony of Rhode Island
for a period of three days.

- Yes, sir.
- Johnny, you can't do that.

Sit down, Mr. Hopkins.
You've abused the privilege.

The chair would like
to take this opportunity...

to welcome Dr. Lyman Hall of Georgia
to this Congress...

and hopes he will make
the best of it.

My God, it's hot.

The secretary will read the roll.

All members present
with the following exceptions:

Mr. Paine, Mr. Gerry,
Mr. Samuel Adams of Massachusetts...

Mr. Morton of Pennsylvania, Mr. Wythe
and Mr. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia...

and the entire delegation
of New Jersey.

I'm concerned over the continual absence
of one-thirteenth of this Congress.

Where is New Jersey?

Somewhere between
New York and Pennsylvania.

Thank you very much.

Dr. Franklin, have you heard anything?
Your son resides there.

Son, sir? What son?

The royal governor
of New Jersey, sir.

As that title
might suggest, sir...

we are not in touch
at the present time.

Yes.

Well...
Now for the weather report...

Mr. Jefferson of Virginia.

- Mr. Jefferson!
- Present, sir.

May we hear
about the weather?

As if it weren't
speaking for itself.

Eighty-seven degrees
of temperature...

30-point-aught-six inches
of mercury.

Wind...

from the southwest
for the rest of the day.

And tonight...
tonight I'm leaving for home.

- On business?
- Family business.

Give her a flourish for me,
young feller.

From the commander,
army of the United Colonies.

To New York,
dispatch number 1,137.

Ah, sweet Jesus!

To the Honorable Congress,
John Hancock, president. "Dear sir...

it is with grave apprehension
that I have learned this day...

of the sailing
from Halifax, Nova Scotia...

of a considerable force
of British troops...

in the company of foreign mercenaries
and under the command...

of General Sir William Howe.

There can be no doubt
that their destination is New York...

for to take and hold this city
and the Hudson Valley beyond...

would serve to separate New England
from the rest of the colonies...

permitting both sections
to be crushed in turn.

Sadly, I see no way of stopping them
at the present time...

as my army is
absolutely falling apart.

My military chest
is totally exhausted.

My commissary general
has strained his credit to the last.

My quartermaster has no food,
no arms, no ammunition...

and my troops are in
a state of near mutiny.

I pray God some relief arrives
before the armada, but fear it will not.

Your obedient...

G. Washington."

- Mr. President!
- Colonel McKean.

Surely we have managed to promote
the gloomiest man on this continent...

to the head of our troops.

Those dispatches are
the most depressing accumulation...

of disaster, doom and despair in
the entire annals of military history.

Colonel McKean, please!

- What?
- It's too hot.

Well, I suppose so.

General Washington will continue wording
his dispatches as he sees fit.

And I'm sure we all pray...

he finds happier thoughts
to convey in the near future.

Mr. Thomson,
are there any resolutions?

Dr. Josiah Barlett
of New Hampshire.

"Resolved: That for the duration
of the present hostilities...

the Congress discourage every type
of extravagance and dissipation...

elaborate funerals
and other expensive diversions...

especially all horse racing,
gambling...

and other forms
of sinful activity...

Fire wagon!

- Where's the fire? Can anybody tell?
- Looks like the Pepperton house.

- Couldn't be. It's brand-new.
- It might be the city tavern.

Bite your tongue, man.

Benjy, I'm back!
I'm back, Johnny!

- Lee, is it done?
- First things first.

Tom, your little bride wants to know:
"When is he coming home?"

- I leave tonight.
- Never mind that, man. Is it done?

Done? Why, certain-Lee.

Mr. President, I have returned from
Virginia with the following resolution.

"Resolved: That these united colonies
are, and of a right ought to be...

free and independent states...

that they are absolved
from allegiance to the British crown...

and that all political connection
between them and Great Britain is...

and ought to be
totally dissolved."

Mr. President,
I second the proposal.

The resolution has been
proposed and seconded.

The chair will now
entertain debate.

- Mr. Dickinson.
- Mr. President.

Pennsylvania moves,
as always...

that the question of independence
be postponed indefinitely.

I second the motion.

Judge Wilson...

in your eagerness to be loved,
you seem to have forgotten...

that Pennsylvania
cannot second its own motion.

Delaware seconds.

You would, you lousy wart.

The motion to postpone
has been moved and seconded.

Mr. Thomson.

On the motion
to postpone indefinitely...

the resolution on independency
or proceed with the debate...

all those in favor of debate say "yea,"
all those for postponement say "nay."

- New Hampshire.
- New Hampshire favors debate. Yea.

New Hampshire says yea.
Massachusetts?

Massachusetts, having borne
the brunt of the king's tyranny...

Yes, I said tyranny.

Massachusetts now
and for all time says yea.

Massachusetts says yea.

Rhode Island?

Mr. Hopkins.

- Where's Rhode Island?
- Out visiting the necessary.

After what Rhode Island's consumed,
I can't say I'm surprised.

We'll come back to him,
Mr. Thomson.

Rhode Island passes.

Connecticut.

While Connecticut has,
till now...

been against this proposal...

our legislature has instructed me
that in the event...

it is introduced by any colony
outside of New England...

we could not any longer
withhold our support.

- Connecticut says yea.
- Hear! Hear!

Connecticut says yea.
New York.

New York abstains, courteously.

- New York abstains.
- Courteously.

- New Jersey.
- Absent, Mr. Secretary.

New Jersey's absent.
Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania, for the 24th time,
says nay.

Pennsylvania says nay.
Delaware.

Delaware, as ever for independence,
says yea.

Delaware says yea.
Maryland.

Maryland would welcome independence
if it were given...

but is highly skeptical
that it can be taken.

Maryland says nay.

Maryland says nay.
Virginia.

Virginia, the first colony,
says yea.

Virginia says yea.
North Carolina.

North Carolina respectfully yields
to South Carolina.

- South Carolina.
- Mr. President...

although we of South Carolina
have never seriously considered...

the question of independence...

when a gentleman proposes it,
attention must be paid.

However, we in the Deep South...

unlike our friends
in New England...

have no cause for impatience
at the present time.

If at some future date it becomes
the wish of all our sister colonies...

to effect a separation,
we will not stand in the way.

But for the time being...

South Carolina
will wait and watch.

The vote is nay.

- North Carolina...
- Says nay. Yes, Mr. Hewes. I know.

Georgia.

Georgia.

Mr. President, Georgia seems to be split
right down the middle on this issue.

The people are against it,
and I'm for it.

However, I'm afraid
I'm not quite certain...

whether representing the people means
relying on their judgment or on my own.

In all fairness,
until I can figure that out...

I'd better lean
a little on their side.

Georgia says nay.

Georgia says nay.

Rhode Island.

Second call, Rhode Island!

Rhode Island!

I'm coming! I'm coming!

Hold your damn horses.

- We're waiting on you, Mr. Hopkins.
- Well, it won't kill you.

You'd think the Congress
would have its own privy.

All right,
where does she stand?

Five for debate, five for postponement,
one abstention and one absence.

So it's up to me, huh?

Well, I'll tell ya.

In all my years I never seen,
heard nor smelled an issue...

that was so dangerous
it couldn't be talked about.

Hell, yes. I'm for debating anything.
Rhode Island says yea.

McNair, get Mr. Hopkins a rum.

Get him the whole damn barrel
if he wants.

The chair now declares this Congress
a Committee of the Whole...

for the purpose of debating
Virginia's resolution on independence.

Mr. Dickinson.

Well, now, you've got
your way at last, Mr. Adams.

The matter
may now be discussed.

I confess
I'm almost relieved.

There's a question I've been
fairly itching to ask you.

- Why?
- Why what, Mr. Dickinson?

Well, why independence,
Mr. Adams?

For the obvious reason...

that our continued association with
Great Britain has grown intolerable.

Well, to whom, Mr. Adams?
To you?

Well, then I suggest
you sever your ties immediately.

But please be kind enough...

to leave the rest of us
where we are.

For myself,
I have no objection at all...

to being part
of the greatest empire on earth...

to enjoying its protection
and sharing its benefits.

Benefits?

What benefits?

Crippling taxes?
Cruel repressions?

Abolished rights?

Is that all England means
to you, sir?

Is that all the pride and affection
you can muster...

for the nation
that bore you...

for the noblest, most civilized
nation on the face of this planet?

What, would you have us forsake
Hastings and Magna Carta...

Strongbow and Lionheart,
Drake and Marlborough...

Tudors, Stuarts
and Plantagenets?

For what, sir?

Tell me. For what?

For you?

Some men are patriots,
like General Washington...

and some are anarchists,
like Mr. Paine.

Some even are internationalists,
like Dr. Franklin.

But you, sir...

you are merely an agitator,
disturbing the peace...

creating disorder, endangering
the public welfare, and for what?

Your petty little
personal complaints:

"Your taxes are too high."

Well, sir, so are mine.

Come, come, Mr. Adams.

If you have grievances,
and I'm sure you have...

our present system must provide
a gentler means of redressing them...

short of revolution.

Yes, that's what he wants.

Nothing less will satisfy him.

Violence, rebellion, treason.

Now, Mr. Adams...

are these the acts
of Englishmen?

Not Englishmen, Dickinson.
Americans.

No, sir. Englishmen!

Please, Mr. Dickinson, must you start
banging? How is a man to sleep?

Forgive me, Dr. Franklin,
but must you start speaking?

How is a man to stay awake?

We'll promise
to be quiet, sir.

I'm sure everyone prefers
that you remain asleep.

If I'm to hear myself
called an Englishman, sir...

I assure you I'd prefer
I'd remained asleep.

Oh, now, what's so terrible
about being called an Englishman?

- The English don't seem to mind.
- Nor would I...

were I given the full rights
of an Englishman.

But to call me one without those rights
is like calling an ox a bull.

He's thankful for the honor,
but he'd much rather have restored...

what's rightfully his.

When did you first notice
they were missing, sir?

Fortunately,
the people of these colonies...

maintain a higher regard
for their mother country.

Higher, certainly,
than she feels for them.

Never was such
a valuable possession...

so stupidly
and so recklessly managed...

than this entire continent
by the British crown.

Our industry discouraged,
our resources pillaged.

Worst of all,
our very character stifled.

We've spawned
a new race here, Mr. Dickinson...

rougher, simpler, more violent,
more enterprising, less refined.

We're a new nationality.
We require a new nation.

Well...

that may be your opinion,
Dr. Franklin, but...

as I said, the people
feel quite differently.

Now, what do you know
about the people, Dickinson?

You don't speak for the people.
You represent only yourself.

And that precious status quo...

you keep imploring the people
to preserve for their own good...

is nothing more than the eternal
preservation of your own property.

Mr. Adams, you have
an annoying talent...

for making such delightful words
as "property" sound quite distasteful.

In heaven's name,
what's wrong with property?

Perhaps you've forgotten that many
of us first came to these shores...

in order to secure rights
to property...

and that we hold these rights no less
dear than the rights you speak of.

Yes. So safe, so fat,
so comfortable in Pennsylvania.

And what is this
independence of yours...

except the private grievance
of Massachusetts?

Why is it always Boston
that breaks the king's peace?

My dear Congress,
you must not adopt this evil measure.

It is the work of the devil.

Leave it where it belongs...
in New England.

Brother Dickinson, New England has
fought the devil more than 100 years.

And as of now,
Brother Sherman...

the devil
has been winning hands down.

Why, at this very moment, he's
sitting right here in this Congress.

Don't let him deceive you.
This proposal is entirely his doing.

Oh, it may bear
Virginia's name...

but it reeks
of Adams, Adams and more Adams.

Look at him.
Ready to lead this continent...

down the fiery path
of total destruction.

Oh, good God! Why can't you acknowledge
what already exists?

It has been more than a year
since Concord and Lexington.

Damn it, man,
we're at war right now!

You may be at war.
You... Boston and John Adams.

But you will never speak
for Pennsylvania.

- Nor for Delaware.
- Mr. Read...

you represent
only one-third of Delaware.

The sensible third,
Mr. Rodney.

Sit down,
or I'll knock you down.

Sit down, all three of you! McNair,
do something about that damn dog!

- Fetch me a rum.
- Get the dog first.

I only got two hands.

Christ, it's hot!

Oh. Please do go on,
gentlemen.

You're making the only breeze
in Philadelphia.

Mr. Adams, perhaps you could
clear up something for me.

After we have
achieved independence...

who do you propose
would govern in South Carolina?

The people, of course.

Which people, sir?
The people of South Carolina...

or the people of Massachusetts?

Admit it, Neddy. You're against
independence now and you always will be.

Aye.

Gentlemen,
you refuse to understand us.

We desire independence. Yes.

For South Carolina.
That is our country.

And as such,
we don't wish to belong to anyone.

Not to England
and not to you.

We intend to have
one nation, Rutledge.

A nation of sovereign states,
Mr. Adams.

United for our mutual
protection, but...

separate for our
individual pursuits.

Now, that is what
we have understood it to be...

and that is what
we will support.

As soon as everyone
supports it.

Well, there you are,
Mr. Adams.

You must see
that we need time.

Time to make certain who we are and
where we stand in regard to one another.

For if we do not determine the nature
of the beast before we set it free...

it will end
by consuming us all.

For once in your life,
Wilson...

take a chance.

I say the time is now.

It may never come again.

Your clock is fast, Mr. Adams.

I say we're not yet ripe
for independence.

Not ripe?
Hell, we're rotting for want of it.

Gentlemen, please, what in God's name
is the infernal hurry?

Why must this question
be settled now?

What's wrong with now,
Mr. Chase?

General Washington
is in the field.

If he's defeated as it now appears,
we'll be inviting the hangman.

But if, by some miracle,
he should actually win...

we can then declare anything
we damn please.

The sentiments
of North Carolina precisely.

Has it ever occurred
to either of you...

that an army needs
something to fight for...

in order to win?

A purpose? A goal?
A flag of its own?

Mr. Adams...

how can a nation
of only two million souls...

stand up to an empire
of ten million?

Think of it. Ten million.
How do we compensate for that shortage?

It's simple, Mr. Chase.
Increase and multiply.

How's that?

We will more than compensate
with spirit.

I tell you that there is
a spirit out there among the people...

that is sadly lacking
in this Congress.

Yes, of course.
Now it's spirit.

Why didn't I think of that?

No army, no navy,
no arms, no ammunition...

no treasury, no friends.

But bless our soul, spirit.

Mr. Lee, Mr. Hopkins...

Mr. Rodney, Colonel McKean...

Dr. Franklin.

Why have you joined
this incendiary little man...

this Boston radical...

this agitator...

this demagogue...

this madman?

Are you calling me
a madman, you...

you fribble!

You and your
Pennsylvania proprietors.

Oh, you cool, considerate men.

You hang to the rear on every issue
so that if we should go under...

you'll still remain afloat.

- Are you calling me a coward?
- Yes. Coward.

- Madman!
- Landlord!

Lawyer!

Stop it! Stop it!

This is the Congress.
Stop it, I say!

- The enemy's out there.
- No, Mr. Rodney, the enemy is here.

No. I say he's out there.

England. England closing in,
cutting off our air.

There's no time!

No air.

Dr. Hall.

- Colonel McKean.
- Aye. It's the cancer.

But he should go home.

A man should die
in his own bed.

- John. John Adams.
- I'm here, Caesar.

I leave you...

a divided Delaware.

- Forgive me.
- I'll take you home, Caesar.

I'll be back within the week.

Mr. President, South Carolina
calls the question.

- What's that, Mr. Rutledge?
- I said, Mr. President...

South Carolina
desires to end the debate...

and calls the question
of independence.

- Delaware seconds.
- Thank you.

Gentlemen, please!

The question
has been called and seconded.

The secretary
will record the vote.

Franklin, do something. Think.

I'm thinking,
but nothing's coming.

All those in favor
of the resolution on independence...

as proposed by the colony of Virginia,
signify by saying...

Mr. Secretary...

would you please read
the resolution again?

What?

- I'd forgotten it.
- Now, please.

"Resolved:
These united colonies are...

and of a right ought to be
free and independent..."

Excuse me.
Is this the Continental Congress?

Well, yes, I can see
that it must be.

It's all right. We found it.

We've been looking for you
everywhere, you see.

Someone told us that you
might be at Carpenters' Hall...

and someone else
suggested Library Hall.

- So finally we asked a constable...
- Excuse me, sir, but...

if you don't mind, the Congress
is about to decide...

the question
of American independence.

How splendid.
That means we're not too late.

These gentlemen are
Mr. Francis Hopkinson...

Mr. Richard Stockton,
and I'm the Reverend John Witherspoon.

We're the new delegates
from New Jersey.

New Jersey?

Dr. Franklin, I regret that I must be
the bearer of unhappy tidings, sir...

but your son,
the royal governor of New Jersey...

has been taken prisoner...

and has been moved under guard to the
colony of Connecticut for safekeeping.

- Is he unharmed, sir?
- When last I heard, he was. Yes, sir.

Then why the long face? I hear
Connecticut is an excellent location.

Tell me. Why did they arrest
the little bastard?

Our...

New Jersey legislature has recalled
the old delegation to this Congress...

and has sent a new one.

Quickly, man, where do you
stand on independence?

Well, haven't I made that clear?
Well, I suppose I haven't.

But that's the reason
for the change.

We've been instructed
to vote for independence.

Massachusetts is now ready
for the vote on independence...

and reminds the chair of its privilege
to decide all votes that are deadlocked.

I won't forget, Mr. Adams.

The chair takes this opportunity
to welcome the New Jersey delegation...

and appoints the Reverend Witherspoon
congressional chaplain...

- if he will accept the post.
- With much pleasure, sir.

Very well. Mr. Thomson, you may now
proceed with the vote on independence.

All in favor of the resolution
on independence...

- as proposed by the colony of Virginia...
- Mr. President.

Pennsylvania moves that any vote
in favor of independence...

must be unanimous.

- What?
- I second the motion.

- Judge Wilson!
- Oh, my God.

Delaware seconds, Mr. President.

No vote has ever had to be unanimous,
Dickinson, and you know it.

- Yes, but this one must be.
- On what grounds?

That no colony be torn from its
mother country without its own consent.

Hear! Hear!

But it will never be unanimous,
damn it.

If you say so, Mr. Adams.

It has been moved and seconded
that the vote on independence...

must be unanimous
in order to carry.

All those in favor,
signify by saying yea.

Yea!

One, two, three,
four, five, six.

- Six colonies say yea. Against?
- Nay!

One, two, three,
four, five, six.

Six colonies say nay.

Mr. Secretary, New York
abstains, courteously.

Mr. Morris, why does New York
constantly abstain?

Why does New York
simply stay in New York?

Very well.
The vote is tied.

The principles of independence
have no greater advocate in Congress...

than its president...

and that is why I must join those
who vote for unanimity.

Good God, John!
What are you doing? You've sunk us.

Now, hear me out. Don't you see that
any colony who opposes independence...

will be forced to fight
on the side of England?

That we'll be setting
brother against brother...

that our new nation will carry
as its emblem the mark of Cain.

I can see no other way.

Either we all walk together
or together we must stay where we are.

- The man's from Massachusetts.
- Very well. Proceed, Mr. Thomson.

A unanimous vote
being necessary to carry...

if any be opposed
to the resolution on independence...

- as proposed by the colony of Virginia...
- Mr. President.

Oh, for heaven's sake,
let me get through it once.

Mr. President.

- I move for a postponement.
- Postponement?

I wish you the same luck
I had with it.

Mr. Adams is right.
We need a postponement.

- On what grounds?
- On what grounds?

Mr. President, how can this Congress
vote on independence...

without a written declaration
of some sort defining it?

What sort of declaration?

Well, you know. Listing
the reasons for the separation...

our purposes, goals,
so forth, so on.

- Ditto, Ditto.
- Ditto, ditto, et cetera, et cetera.

We know those, don't we?

Oh, yes, good God,
we know them.

But what about
the rest of the world?

Certainly we require
the assistance...

of a powerful nation
such as France or Spain...

and such a written declaration would
be consistent with European delicacy.

Come now, Mr. Adams.
You'll have to do better than that.

Answer straight.
What would be its purpose?

Yes. Well...

To place before mankind
the common sense of the subject...

in terms so plain and firm...

as to command their assent.

Mr. Jefferson,
are you seriously suggesting...

that we publish a paper
declaring to all the world...

that an illegal rebellion is,
in reality, a legal one?

Oh, Mr. Dickinson,
I'm surprised at you.

You should know the rebellion
is always legal in the first person...

such as our rebellion.

It's only in the third person...
"their" rebellion... that it is illegal.

Mr. President, I second the motion
to postpone the vote on independence...

for a period of time sufficient
for the writing of a declaration.

It has been moved and seconded.
Mr. Thomson.

All those in favor of the motion
to postpone, signify by saying yea.

Yea!

One, two, three,
four, five, six.

- Six colonies say yea. Against?
- Nay!

One, two, three,
four, five, six.

Six colonies say nay.

Mr. Secretary,
New York abstains, courteously.

Mr. Morris, what in hell
goes on in New York?

I'm sorry, Mr. President,
but the simple fact is that...

our legislature has never sent us
explicit instructions on anything.

Never?

That's impossible.

Mr. President,
have you ever been present...

at a meeting
of the New York legislature?

They speak very fast
and very loud...

and nobody listens
to anybody else...

with the result
that nothing ever gets done.

I beg the Congress's pardon.

My sympathies, Mr. Morris.

The vote again being tied, the chair
decides in favor of postponement.

So ruled.

A committee will now be formed
to manage the declaration.

Said document to be written, debated,
approved by the beginning ofJuly...

some three weeks hence,
at which time...

Virginia's resolution on independence
will finally be voted.

Is that clear? Very well.

Will the following gentlemen serve on
the Declaration Committee: Dr. Franklin?

Gladly.

- Mr. John Adams?
- Yes.

Mr. Sherman?

- Mr. Livingston?
- Right.

And, of course, Mr. Lee.

Oh, excuse me, but I must be returning
to the sovereign colony of Virginia...

as I have been asked
to serve as governor.

And therefore I must decline,
respectful-Lee.

Very well, Mr. Lee.
You're excused.

I supposed we could leave it
a four-man committee.

Just a moment.
This business needs a Virginian.

Therefore, I propose a replacement...
Mr. Thomas Jefferson.

- No. Mr. Adams...
- Very well. Mr. Jefferson will serve.

- I'm going home, too, to my wife.
- Move to adjourn.

- Wait.
- I second.

Mr. Hancock,
I haven't seen her for six months.

Moved and seconded.
Any objections?

I have objections.
I have lots of objections.

So ruled!
Congress stands adjourned!

John, I need to see my wife.

- It's all right. Come along.
- No. I'm going home tonight.

Of course you are. Of course.
McNair, some rum up to my office.

Don't worry, Tom.
Let me handle it.

I'll get Adams to write it.

I don't know.
He had a funny look on his face.

He always does.

All right, gentlemen,
let's get on with it.

Which of us will write
our Declaration of Independence?

Mr. Adams
I say you should write it

To your legal mind
and brilliance we defer

Is that so
Well, if I'm the one to do it

They'll run their quill pens
through it

I'm obnoxious and disliked
You know that, sir

- Yes, I know.
- I say you should write it, Franklin

- Yes, you
- Hell, no

Yes, you, Dr. Franklin, you

- But, but
- You, you

- You
- But

Mr. Adams
But, Mr. Adams

The things I write
are only light extemporanea

I won't put politics on paper
It's a mania

So I refuse to use the pen
in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania

Refuse to use the pen

Mr. Sherman
I say you should write it

You were never controversial
as it were

- That is true.
- Whereas, if I'm the one to do it

They'll run
their quill pens through it

I'm obnoxious and disliked

- You know that, sir
- Yes, I do.

So I say you should write it
Roger, yes, you

- Good heavens, no.
- Yes, you, Roger Sherman, you

- But, but
- You, you

But

Mr. Adams
But, Mr. Adams

I cannot write with any style
or proper etiquette

I don't know a participle
from a predicate

I am just a simple cobbler
from Connecticut

Connecticut
Connecticut

A simple cobbler, he

Mr. Livingston
maybe you should write it

You have many friends
and you're a diplomat

- Oh, that word.
- Whereas, if I'm the one to do it

They'll run their quill pens
through it

He's obnoxious and disliked
Did you know that

- I hadn't heard.
- So I say you should write it, Robert

- Yes, you
- Not me, Johnny

Yes, you, Robert Livingston, you

- But
- You

- But, but
- You, you

But

Mr. Adams
Dear Mr. Adams

I've been presented with a new son
by the noble stork

So I am going home to celebrate
and pop a cork

With all the Livingstons together
back in old New York

New York

Livingston's
going to pop a cork

Mr. Adams

Leave me alone

- Mr. Jefferson.
- Mr. Adams, I beg of you.

I've not seen my wife
these past six months.

"And we solemnly declare
that we will preserve our liberties...

being with one mind
resolved to die free men...

rather than to live slaves."

Thomas Jefferson, on the "Necessity
ofTaking up Arms," 1775.

Magnificent.

You write ten times better
than any man in Congress, including me.

For a man of only 33 years, you possess
a happy talent for composition...

and a remarkable felicity
of expression.

Now, then, sir.
Will you be a patriot...

or a lover?

A lover.

- But I burn, Mr. A.
- So do I, Mr.J.

- You?
- You do?

Who'd have thought it?

Mr. Jefferson

Dear Mr. Jefferson

I'm only 41
I still have my virility

And I can romp through Cupid's grove
with great agility

But life is more
than sexual combustability

- Jefferson, stop right there.
- Bustability

Bustability

- Combustabili...
- Quiet!

Now, you'll write it, Mr.J.

Who will make me, Mr. A.?

I.

You?

Yes.

How?

By physical force, if necessary.

It's your duty, damn it.
Your duty.

Mr. Adams

Damn you, Mr. Adams

You're obnoxious and disliked

That cannot be denied

Once again you stand
between me and my lovely bride

Lovely bride

Oh, Mr. Adams
you are driving me to homicide

- Jefferson, stop right there!
- Homicide

Homicide

Quiet!

The decision is yours, Mr. Jefferson.
Do as you like with it.

We may see murder yet

Damn the man.

Goddamn the man.

Sorry.

Pardon me, sir.

How are you?

What is that racket?

Latest thing from Europe, John.
It's called music.

I came here hoping to hear
a pen scratching, not a bow.

Jefferson,
I know you're in there!

Are you finished?

Well, is it written yet?

Well, you've had
a whole week, man.

Is it done?

Can I see it?

"There comes a time in the lives of men
when it becomes necessary...

to advance from that subordination
in which they have hitherto rem..."

This is terrible.
Where's the rest of it?

Do you mean to say
that it is not yet finished?

No, sir. I mean to say
that it's not yet begun.

Good God!

A whole week!

The entire earth
was created in a week.

Someday you must
tell me how you did it.

Disgusting.

Look at him, Franklin.
Virginia's most famous lover...

Virginia abstains.

Well, cheer up, Jefferson.

Get out of the dumps.
It'll come out all right, I assure you.

Now, get back to work.

Franklin, tell him
to get back to work.

I think he's asleep.

Wake up, Franklin!

View, hello!
And who, little girl, are you?

- John, who is she?
- His wife.

I hope.

What makes you think so?

- Because I sent for her.
- You what?

It simply occurred to me that
the sooner his problem was solved...

the sooner our problem
is solved.

That's good thinking, John.
Good thinking.

Madam, may I present myself?
John Adams.

Oh, and Dr. Franklin.

The inventor of the stove.

Jefferson, kindly present me
to your wife.

She is your wife, isn't she?

Of course she is.
Look at the way they fit.

Come along, John,
come along.

- Franklin, where are you going?
- Come along, John.

Come along where?
There's work to be done.

Obviously.

Good God.
You don't mean to say that...

I mean, they're not going to...

In the middle
of the afternoon?

Not everybody's from Boston, John.

Incredible.

- Well, good-bye, John.
- Uh, Franklin?

- Uh, have you eaten?
- Not yet, but...

I understand the turkey's fresh
at Bunch O' Grapes.

Well, the fact is,
I have a rendezvous, John.

I'd ask you along,
but talking makes her nervous.

Yes, of course.

Incredible.

Abigail?

I'm very lonely, Abigail.

Are you, John? Then as long as
you were sending for wives...

why didn't you
send for your own?

Oh, now, don't be
unreasonable, Abigail.

Oh, now I'm unreasonable.

- You must add that to your list.
- List?

The catalog of my faults
you included in your last letter.

Oh, they were
fondly intended, madam.

- That I play at cards badly?
- A compliment.

- That my posture is crooked?
- An endearment.

- That I read, write and think too much?
- An irony.

That I'm pigeon-toed?

Oh, well, now there
you have me, Abby.

I'm afraid
you are pigeon-toed.

Please. Come to Philadelphia.
Please come.

Oh, thank you, John.

I do want to, but you know now
it's not possible.

The children have the measles.

So you wrote.

Tom and little Abby.

Only now it's Quincy and Charles.

And it appears the farm here
in Braintree is failing, John.

The chickens and the geese
have all died.

And the apples never
survived the late frost.

How do you suppose
she managed to get away?

Well, the winters
are softer in Virginia.

And their women, John?

Fit for Virginians, madam, but pale,
puny things beside New England girls.

I thank you for that.

Abigail, how goes it with you?

Not well, John.
Not at all well.

I live like a nun
in a cloister

Solitary, celibate
I hate it

And you, John?

I live like a monk
in an abbey

Ditto, ditto
I hate it

Write to me with
sentimental effusion

Let me revel
in romantic illusion

Do you still smell
of vanilla and spring air

And is my favorite lover's pillow

Still firm and fair

What was there, John

Still is there, John

Come soon as you can
to my cloister

I've forgotten
the feel of your hand

Soon, madam, we shall walk
in Cupid's grove together

And we'll fondly survey

That promised land

Till then, till then

I am as I ever was

And ever shall be

Yours

Yours

Yours

Yours

Yours

Saltpeter

John

- What?
- What are you doing down here?

I thought you'd be up there,
cracking the whip.

- Well, the shutters are still closed.
- My word!

So they are.

- Well, as the French say...
- Oh, please, Franklin!

Spare me your bawdy mind,
first thing in the morning.

Dare we call?

A congressman dares anything.

- Go ahead.
- Me?

Your voice is more piercing.

- Oh, John, look at her.
- Oh, I am.

She's even more magnificent
than I remember.

Of course, we didn't see
much of her front last night.

- Good morrow, madam.
- Good morrow.

Is it the habit in Philadelphia
to shout at ladies from the street?

- Not really, but...
- And for men of your age...

it is not only unseemly,
it is unsightly.

Excuse me, madam,
but we met last evening.

- I spoke to no one last evening.
- Indeed, you did not.

Nonetheless, we did present ourselves.

This is Mr. John Adams.
I'm Dr. Benjamin Franklin.

The inventor of the stove.

Oh, please! I know your names
very well, but...

Well, you said you
presented yourselves last night?

It's of no matter.
Your thoughts are well-taken elsewhere.

As my husband
is not yet up.

Well, then shall we start over again?
Won't you join us?

Why, yes, of course!

No wonder
the man couldn't write.

Who would think of independence
married to her?

- I'd feel an absolute fool.
- That's good for you, John.

I tell you, Franklin,
it's positively indecent.

- John, they're young and in love.
- Not them, Franklin. Us.

Standing down here,
waiting for them to...

Well, what will people think?

Don't worry, John.
The history books will clean it up.

Well, it doesn't matter.

I'll not appear in the history books
anyway. Only you.

Franklin did this
and Franklin did that...

and Franklin did
some other damned thing.

Franklin smote the ground
and out sprang...

George Washington...

fully grown and on his horse.

Franklin then electrified him
with his miraculous lightning rod...

then the three of them...
Franklin, Washington and the horse...

conducted the entire revolution
all by themselves.

- I like it.
- I beg your pardon, gentlemen.

It is indeed an honor to meet
the two greatest men in America.

Certainly the greatest
within earshot anyway.

I'm not an idle flatterer,
Dr. Franklin.

My husband
admires you both greatly.

Then we are doubly flattered

for we admire very much
that what your husband admires.

Did you sleep well, madam?

Well, I mean, uh,
did you lie comfortably?

- Damn it, you know what I mean.
- Yes, we know what you mean.

Tell us about yourself.
We've heard precious little.

- What's your first name?
- Martha.

Martha! He might at least
have told us that.

Your husband
doesn't say very much.

Most silent man in Congress. I've never
heard him utter three sentences together.

Not every man's a talker, John.

Yes, it's true, you know.
Tom is not a talker.

Oh, he never speaks his passions

He never speaks his views

Whereas other men speak volumes

The man I love is mute

In truth I can't recall

Being wooed with words

At all

Even now

- Oh, don't stop, madam.
- No. Tell us, how did he win you?

And how does he hold on
to a bounty such as you?

Well, surely you've noticed that Tom
is a man of many accomplishments.

Author, lawyer,
statesman, architect, farmer.

And still one more
that I hesitate to mention.

- Don't hesitate, madam.
- No, tell us.

What else can that
redheaded tombstone do?

He plays the violin

He tucks it
right under his chin

And he bows

Oh, he bows

For he knows
Yes, he knows

That it's heigh, heigh
heigh diddle-diddle

'Twixt my heart
Tom and his fiddle

My strings are unstrung

Heigh, heigh, heigh

Heigh

I am undone

The violin, madam?

I hear his violin

And I get that feeling within

And I sigh
Oh, I sigh

He draws near
very near

And it's heigh, heigh
heigh diddle-diddle

And good-bye to the fiddle

My strings are unstrung

Heigh, heigh, heigh

Heigh

I'm always undone

That settles it, John.
We're taking up the violin.

Very well, madam. You have us playing
the violin. What happens next?

- Next, Mr. Adams?
- Yes. What does Tom do now?

Why, just what you'd expect.

- We dance.
- Dance?

Dance? Incredible!

One, two, three.
One, two, three.

Who's playing the violin?

Oh, John, really!

Oh, John, you can dance.

We still do a few things
in Boston, Franklin.

Heigh, heigh, heigh

Heigh

When heaven calls to me

Sing me no sad elegy

Say I died

Loving bride

Loving wife
Loving life

For it was heigh, heigh
heigh, diddle-diddle

'Twixt my heart
Tom and his fiddle

And ever 'twill be

Heigh, heigh, heigh

- Heigh
- Heigh

- Through eternity
- He plays the violin

He plays the violin

Look! Look, Franklin, he's done it.
He's written it.

"Dear Mr. Adams,
I am taking my wife back to bed.

Kindly go away.
Your obedient, T. Jefferson."

Incredible!

You know, perhaps I should have
written the declaration after all.

At my age, there's little doubt
the pen is mightier than the sword.

For it's heigh, heigh
heigh, diddle-diddle

And God bless
a man who can fiddle

And independency

Heigh, heigh, heigh

Heigh

Ya da da da la

Through eternity

He plays the violin

Violin

Pennsylvania, Delaware...

Maryland...
Virginia's absent...

and North Carolina,
South Carolina and Georgia.

And what follows is a complete
and up-to-date list...

of all the committees
of this Congress...

now sitting, about to sit
or just having sat.

"A committee formed to investigate
a complaint made against...

the quality of yeast manufactured
by Mr. Henry Pendleton's mill...

designated as the Yeast Committee.

A committee formed to consider the most
effective method of dealing with spies...

designated as
the Spies Committee.

A committee formed
to think, perhaps to do...

but in any case, to gather,
to meet, to confer, to talk...

and perhaps even to resolve
that each rifle regiment...

be allowed at least one drum and
one fife attached to each company...

designated as
the Drum and Fife Committee.

A commitee formed to..."

Where is that committee?

What do you think of it,
Doctor? Democracy.

What Plato called
"a charming form of government...

full of variety and disorder."

I never knew Plato
had been to Philadelphia.

Ben, I want you to see some cards
I've gone and had printed up.

Oughta save everybody here
a lot of time and effort...

considering the epidemic of
bad disposition that's been going on.

"Dear sir, you are, without any doubt,
a rogue, a rascal...

a villain, a thief, a scoundrel
and a mean, dirty...

stinking, sniveling, sneaking,
pimping, saqueador...

thrice double-damned
no-good son-of-a-bitch."

And you sign your name.
What do you think?

- I'll take a dozen right now.
- Aha! Here it is.

"A committee formed to answer
all congressional correspondence...

designated as the Congressional
Correspondence Committee."

All right, Franklin, enough socializing.
There's work to be done.

- Good morning, John.
- What?

- Good morning.
- Oh, good morning, good morning.

- Now, then, let's get to it.
- Get to what?

Unanimity, of course.
Look at that board.

Six nays to win over
in little more than a week.

"A commitee formed to consider
the problem of counterfeit money...

"designated as the
Counterfeit Money Committee."

- Oh, God! What...
- All right, John, all right.

- Where shall we start?
- Well, what about Delaware?

Sad thing to see them on the wrong side
after all this time.

- Any news of Rodney?
- Yes. McKean's back.

- Thomas!
- "A committee formed to study...

the causes of our military defeat
in Canada."

Thomas, how did you leave Caesar?
Is he still alive?

Aye, but the journey to Dover
was fearful hard on him.

He never complained, but I could see
the poor man was sufferin' terrible.

But you got him safely home.

I did, but I doubt he'll never
set foot out of it again.

That leaves you and Read split
down the middle. Will he come over?

I don't know.
He's a stubborn ignoramus.

Work on him. Keep after him
till you wear him down.

John, face facts, will ya? If it were
just Read standin' in our way...

it wouldn't be so bad,
but look for yourself, man.

Maryland, Pennsylvania
and the entire South. It's impossible!

Well, it's impossible if we all
stand around complaining about it.

To work, McKean!
One foot in front of the other!

I believe I put it a better way:
Never leave off until tomorrow...

Oh, shut up, Franklin.

But what good will it do?

You know Dickinson.
He'll never give in.

And you haven't heard
the last of Rutledge either.

Never mind about them.
Your job is George Read.

Talk him deaf if you have to,
but bring us back Delaware.

- There's a simpler way.
- What?

- This'll break the tie.
- All right, John, who's next?

"A committee formed
to keep secrets...

designated as
the Secrets Committee."

Pennsylvania and Maryland. I suggest
you get your own house in order...

and I'll take a crack
at old vacant-face...

Lord, look at him stuff himself.

Ah, Mr. Chase!

How about it, Chase? When are you
coming to your senses, man?

Please, Mr. Adams,
not while I'm eating.

Mr. Wilson, sir?

It's time to assert yourself.

Tell me something.
When you were a judge...

how in hell did you ever
make a decision?

The decisions I made were all based
on legality and precedence.

But there is no legality here
and certainly no precedent.

Because it's a new idea, you clot!

We'll be setting
our own precedent!

No, Mr. McKean.
No, no, no!

Damn your eyes, Read!
You come into this world screamin' no...

and you're determined to leave it
the same way, ya slimy worm!

The Congress is
waiting on you, Chase!

America is waiting!
The whole world is waiting!

What's that? Kidney?

Leave me alone, Mr. Adams!
You're wasting your time.

If I thought we could win this war,
I'd be at the front of your ranks...

but you must know
it's impossible.

You've heard
General Washington's dispatches.

His army has fallen to pieces.

Washington is exaggerating
the situation...

in order to arouse
this torpid Congress into action.

Why, as chairman of the War Committee,
I can state for a fact...

that the army has never been
in better shape.

Never have troops
been more cheerful.

Never have soldiers
been more resolute.

Never have training and discipline
been more spirited.

Oh, good God.

May we have your ears, gentlemen?
Mr. Thomson has a dispatch.

From the commander, army of
the United Colonies in New York...

dispatch number 1,157...

to the Honorable Congress,
John Hancock, President. "Dear sir...

it is with the utmost despair
that I must report to you...

the disorder and confusion
that reign in every department.

Oh, sweetJesus!

The Continental soldier
is as nothing ever seen...

in this or any other century.

He is a misfit,
ignorant of hygiene...

destructive, disorderly and
totally disrespectful of rank.

Only this last is understandable...

as there is an incredible reek
of stupidity amongst the officers.

The situation is most desperate...

at the New Jersey training ground
in New Brunswick...

where every
able-bodied whore in the..."

Whore?

"In the colonies has assembled.

There are constant reports of
drunkenness, desertion, foul language...

naked bathing
in the Raritan River...

and an epidemic...

of the French disease.

I have placed this town off-limits
to all military personnel...

with the exception of officers.

I beseech the Congress to dispatch
the War Committee to this place...

in the hope of restoring some of the
order and discipline we need to survive.

Your obedient...

G. Washington."

That man would depress a hyena.

Well, Mr. Adams, you're chairman
of the War Committee.

Do you feel up to whoring, drinking,
deserting and New Brunswick?

There must be some mistake. I have
an aunt who lives in New Brunswick.

You must tell her
to keep up the good work.

Come, come, Mr. Adams.

You must see
that it's hopeless.

Let us recall
General Washington...

and disband the Continental Army
before we're overwhelmed.

Oh, yes, indeed. The English
would like that, now, wouldn't they?

Why not ask them yourself?
They ought to be here any minute.

And when they hang you,
Mr. Adams...

I hope you will put in a good word
for the rest of us.

Face facts, Mr. Adams.

A handful of drunk and disorderly
recruits against the British Army...

the finest musket men
on earth.

How can we win?
How can we even hope to survive?

Answer me straight, Chase.

If you thought
we could beat the Redcoats...

would Maryland say yea
to independence?

- Well, I suppose...
- No supposing.

Would you or wouldn't you?

Very well, Mr. Adams.

Yes, we would.

- Then come and see for yourself.
- John, are you mad?

You heard what Washington said.
It's a shambles.

- They're pushing you into it, Johnny!
- What do you say, Chase?

Go ahead, Sam.
It sounds lively as hell up there.

All right. Why not?

And maybe it'll beJohn Adams
who comes to his senses.

Mr. President, the War Committee
will heed General Washington's request.

A party consisting of Chase, Franklin
and myself will leave immediately.

Is, uh...

Is that satisfactory with you,
Dr. Franklin?

Wake up, Franklin!
You're going to New Brunswick.

- Like hell I am. What for?
- The whoring and the drinking.

All right, Chase! Move all that lard.
Not a moment to lose.

Left, right, left, right.
Left, right, left, right.

Left, right, left!

Mr. McNair, all this talk
of independence...

has left a certain
foulness in the air.

My friends and I would appreciate it
if you could open some windows.

Well, what about the flies?

The windows, Mr. McNair.

Open the windows,
close the windows.

SweetJesus!

Oh, say, do you see
what I see

Congress sitting here
in sweet serenity

I could cheer
The reason's clear

For the first time in a year

Adams isn't here

And look
The sun is in the sky

A breeze is blowing by

And there's not a single fly

I sing, Hosanna

Hosanna

Hosanna, Hosanna

And it's cool

Come, ye cool, cool
conservative men

Our like may never, ever
be seen again

We have land
Cash in hand

Self-command
Future planned

Fortune thrives
Society survives

In neatly ordered lives

With well-endowered wives

Come sing, Hosanna

Hosanna

In our breeding
and our manner

We are cool

Come, ye cool, cool
considerate set

We'll dance together
to the same minuet

To the right
Ever to the right

Never to the left
Forever to the right

Let our creed be
never to exceed

Regulated speed

No matter what the need

Come sing, Hosanna

Hosanna

Emblazoned on our banner is
Keep cool

To the right
Ever to the right

Never to the left
Forever to the right

Hands attach
Tightly latch

Everybody match

I have a new dispatch

From the commander, army of
the United Colonies in New York...

dispatch number 1,158...

to the Honorable Congress,
John Hancock, president. "Dear sir...

I awoke this morning
to find that General Howe...

has landed 25,000 British regulars
and Hessian mercenaries...

on Staten Island...

and that the fleet, under the command
of his brother, Admiral Lord Howe...

controls not only the Hudson and
the East River, but New York Harbor...

which now looks like
all of London afloat.

I can no longer,
in good conscience...

withhold from the Congress my certainty
that the British object at this time...

is Philadelphia.

Happy should I be if I could see
the means of preventing them...

but at present,
I confess I do not.

Oh, how I wish I had never seen
the Continental Army.

I would have done better
to retire to the back country...

and to live in a wigwam.

Your obedient...

G. Washington."

What we do
we do rationally

We never, ever go off
half-cocked, not we

Why begin till we know
that we can win

And if we cannot win
why bother to begin

We say this game's
not of our choosing

Why should we risk losing

We're cool, cool men

Mr. Hancock, you're a man
of property, one of us.

Why don't you join us
in our minuet?

Why do you persist in
dancing with John Adams?

Good Lord, sir,
you don't even like him.

That is true
He annoys me quite a lot

But still I'd rather trot
to Mr. Adams new gavotte

Why? For personal glory?
For a place in history?

Be careful, sir. History will brand him
and his followers as traitors.

Traitors, Mr. Dickinson?
To what?

The British crown
or the British half crown?

Fortunately, there are not enough men of
property in America to dictate policy.

Perhaps not, but don't forget
that most men with nothing...

would rather protect the possibility
of becoming rich...

than face the reality
of being poor.

And that is why
they will follow us...

To the right
Ever to the right

Never to left
Forever to the right

Where there's gold
A market to behold

Tradition that is old

Reluctant to be bold

I sing, Hosanna

Hosanna

In a sane
and lucid manner

We are cool!

We're the cool, cool
considerate men

Whose like may never, ever
be seen again

We have land
Cash in hand

Self-command
Future planned

And we'll hold
to our gold

Tradition that is old

Reluctant to be bold

We say this game's
not of our choosing

Why should we risk losing

We're cool, cool
cool, cool, cool

Cool, cool, cool
cool, cool

Cool, cool men

How'd you like to try and borrow
a dollar from one of them?

- You want some more rum, General?
- General?

Lord, I ain't even a corporal.

Yeah, well,
what's the army know?

Here, son.
There you go.

Sit down, gentlemen. The chair rules
it's too damn hot to work.

Well, General,
what's it like out there?

You probably
know more than me.

Sittin' here?
SweetJesus...

this is the last place
to find out what's going on.

I'm aimin' to join up.

What are you talkin' about?
You don't have to join up.

- You're in Congress.
- What's that got to do with it?

Well, you don't see them
rushing off to get killed, do ya?

They sure are great ones for
sending others, I can tell ya that.

Hey, who sits here?

Caesar Rodney
of Delaware.

Where are you from,
General?

Watertown.

- Where's that?
- Massachusetts.

Well, then you
belong over there.

But be careful.

There's something about that chair
that makes a man awful noisy.

You seen any fighting?

Sure did.

I see'd my two best friends
get shot dead on the very same day.

And at Lexington it was too.

Right on the village green.

When they didn't come home, their mamas
went down the hill lookin' for 'em.

Mrs. Lowell,
she found Timothy.

Right off.

But Mrs. Pickett...

she looked near
half the night for William.

He went and crawled off
the green...

before he died.

Mama, hey, Mama

Come lookin'for me

I'm here in the meadow

By the red maple tree

Mama, hey, Mama

Look sharp

Here I be

Hey, hey

Mama, look sharp

Them soldiers, they fired

Oh, Ma, did we run

But then we turned round

And the battle begun

Then I went under

Oh, Ma, am I done

Hey, hey

Mama, look sharp

My eyes are wide open

My face to the sky

Is that you I'm hearin'

In the tall grass nearby

Mama, come find me

Before I do die

Hey, hey

Mama

Look sharp

I'll close your eyes

My Billy

Them eyes that cannot see

And I'll bury ya

My Billy

Beneath the maple tree

And

Never again

Will ya whisper to me

Hey

Oh, Mama

Look sharp

The secretary will now read the report
of the Declaration Committee.

Mr. Thomson.

"A declaration by the representatives
of the United States of America...

in general Congress assembled.

When in the course of human events
it becomes necessary for one people...

to dissolve the political bands which
have connected them with another...

and to assume among
the powers of the earth...

the separate and equal station
to which the laws of nature...

and of nature's god entitle them...

a decent respect
to the opinions of mankind...

requires that they should
declare the causes...

which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths
to be self-evident...

that all men are created equal.

They're endowed by their creator
with certain inalienable rights...

that among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness...

that we secure these rights..."

Jefferson, we're back,
and we've got Maryland.

That is, we will, as soon as Chase gets
through telling the Maryland assembly...

what we saw
in New Brunswick.

He's in Annapolis, describing a ragtag
collection of provincial militiamen...

who couldn't drill together,
train together or march together.

But when
a flock of ducks flew over...

and they saw their first meal
in three full days...

sweetJesus,
could they shoot together!

- It was a slaughter.
- A slaughter.

They're reading the declaration.

Good God!
How far have they gotten?

"To render the military independent of
and superior to the civil power."

"...independent of
and superior to the..."

Nothing to fear.
It's a masterpiece.

I'm to be congratulated.

You?

- For making him write it.
- Oh, of course.

It's a masterpiece, I say

They will cheer
every word, every letter

I wish I felt that way

I believe I can put it better

Now then attend
as friend to friend

Our Declaration Committee

For us I see immortality

In Philadelphia City

A farmer, a lawyer

And a sage

A bit gouty in the leg

You know it's quite bizarre
to think that here we are

Playing midwives to an egg

- Egg? What egg?
- America. The birth of a new nation.

If only we could be sure of what kind
of a bird it's going to be.

Tom has a point.
What sort of bird shall we choose...

as the symbol
of our new America?

- The eagle.
- The dove.

The turkey.

The eagle.

- The dove.
- The eagle.

- The eagle.
- The turkey.

The eagle is a majestic bird.

The eagle is a scavenger,
a thief and a coward.

A symbol of over ten centuries
of European mischief.

- The turkey?
- The turkey is a truly noble bird.

Native American. Source of
sustenance of our original settlers.

An incredibly brave fellow
who will not flinch...

at attacking a regiment of
Englishmen single-handedly!

Therefore, the national bird
of America is going to be...

- The eagle!
- The eagle!

We're waiting for
the chirp, chirp, chirp

Of an eaglet being born

Waiting for
the chirp, chirp, chirp

On this humid Monday morning

In this congressional incubator

God knows the temperature's
hot enough

To hatch a stone
let alone an egg

We're waiting for
the scratch, scratch, scratch

Of that tiny little fellow

Waiting for the egg to hatch

On this humid Monday morning

In this congressional incubator

God knows the temperature's
hot enough

- To hatch a stone
- But will it hatch an egg

The declaration will be a triumph.
I tell you, a triumph.

If I was ever sure of anything,
I'm sure of that.

A triumph.

And if it isn't, we still got four days
left to think of something else.

The eagle's going
to crack the shell

Of the egg that England laid

Yes, sir
we can tell, tell, tell

On this humid
Monday morning

In this congressional incubator

And just as Tom here
has written

Though its shell may
belong to Great Britain

The eagle inside
belongs to us

And just as Tom here
has written

We say to hell
with Great Britain

The eagle inside

Belongs to us

"...and to do all other
acts and things...

which independent states
may of right do.

And for the support
of this declaration...

we mutually pledge
to each other our lives...

our fortunes
and our sacred honor."

Thank you, Mr. Thomson.

The Congress has heard the report
of the Declaration Committee.

Are there any here who
wish to offer alterations...

deletions, amendments
to this declaration?

Mr. President!

Gentlemen!
Gentlemen, please!

Colonel McKean,
I saw your hand first.

Mr. Jefferson...

it's a funny paper you've written, Tom,
but somewhere in it...

you mention Scottish and foreign
mercenaries sent to destroy us.

Scottish, Tom?

That is in reference
to a Highland regiment...

which stood against us
at Boston.

It's more likely Germans wearin' kilts
to disguise their bein' there.

I ask you to remove the word and
avoid givin' offense to a good people.

Mr. Jefferson?

- The Reverend, uh...
- Witherspoon.

Mr. Jefferson, nowhere do you mention
the Supreme Being.

Surely this was an oversight, for how
could we hope to achieve a victory...

without his help?

Therefore, I suggest the following
addition to your final sentence.

"With a firm reliance on
the protection of Divine Providence."

Mr. Jefferson?

Mr. Read.

Among your charges against
the king, Mr. Jefferson...

you accuse him of depriving us
of the benefits of trial by jury.

This is untrue, sir. In Delaware,
we've always had trial by jury.

In Massachusetts,
we have not.

Well, then I suggest that the words
"in many cases" be added.

Mr. Jefferson?

"In many cases"?
Brilliant!

I suppose every time
you see those three words...

your puny chest
will swell with pride...

over your great
historical contribution.

It's more memorable than your
unprincipled whitewash of that...

race of barbarians!

Race of barbarians?
Why, I'll have you...

Colonel McKean,
Mr. Read, that's enough!

- Mr. Hopkins.
- I've no objections, Johnny.

- I'm just trying to get a drink.
- I should've known.

McNair, get him a rum.

- Mr. Barlett.
- Mr. Jefferson.

I beg you to remember that we
still have friends in England.

I see no purpose in antagonizing them
with such phrases as...

"unfeeling brethren"
and "enemies at war."

Our cause is with the British king,
not the British people.

Be sensible, Bartlett.

Remove those phrases and the entire
paragraph becomes meaningless.

And it so happens that it's
one of the most stirring and poetic...

of any passage in
the entire document. Now...

We're a Congress, Mr. Adams,
not a literary society.

- I ask that the paragraph be stricken.
- Mr. Jefferson?

Oh, good God, Jefferson, when are you
going to speak up for your own work?

I had hoped that the work
would speak for itself.

- Mr. Hancock?
- What is it, Mr. McNair?

I'm not fond of"The United States
of America" as a name for a new country.

I don't care what
you're fond of, Mr. McNair.

You're not a member
of this Congress!

Mr. Sherman.

BrotherJefferson, I noted at least
two distinct and direct references...

to the British Parliament
in your declaration.

Do you think it's wise
to alienate that august body...

in light of our contention that they've
never had any authority over us anyway?

This is a revolution,
damn it!

We're going to have
to offend somebody.

Brother Hancock!

You'll give yourself an attack
of apoplexy if you're not careful.

- Have you heard what they're doing?
- I heard.

And that's just our friends. Can you
imagine what our enemies will do?

The word "parliament" will be
removed wherever it occurs.

They won't be satisfied till they remove
one of the F's from Jefferson's name.

Courage, John.
It won't last much longer.

Mr. Dickinson.

Mr. Jefferson, I have very little
interest in your paper...

as there's no doubt in my mind that
we've all but heard the last of it...

but I am curious
about one thing.

Why do you refer
to King George as a tyrant?

Because he is a tyrant.

I remind you, Mr. Jefferson,
that this tyrant is still your king.

When a king
becomes a tyrant...

he thereby breaks the contract
binding his subjects to him.

- How so?
- By taking away their rights.

Rights that came from him
in the first place?

All except one. The right to be free
comes from nature.

And are we not free,
Mr. Jefferson?

Homes entered
without warrant.

Citizens arrested
without charge.

And in many places,
free assembly itself denied.

No one approves of such things,
but these are dangerous times.

Be careful, Mr. Dickinson.

Those who'd give up some liberty
in order to obtain temporary safety...

deserve neither liberty
nor safety.

Mr. Wilson.

Do we in Pennsylvania
consider King George a tyrant?

Well, I don't know.

He...

Oh, uh, no.
No, we don't.

He's not a tyrant...

- in Pennsylvania.
- There you are, Mr. Jefferson.

Your declaration
does not speak for us all.

- I demand the word "tyrant" be removed.
- Very well.

Just a moment,
Mr. Thomson.

I do not consent.

The king is a tyrant
whether we say so or not.

- We might as well say so.
- But I already scratched it out.

Then scratch it back in.

Put it back, Mr. Thomson.
The king will remain a tyrant.

- Mr. Hewes.
- Mr. Jefferson.

Nowhere do you mention
deep-sea fishing rights.

Oh, good God!
Fishing rights!

How long is this
piddling to go on?

We have been here
for three full days.

We have endured, by my count,
85 separate changes...

and the removal
of close to 400 words.

Now, would you whip it and beat it
till you break its spirit?

I tell you that document is a masterful
expression of the American mind!

If there are no more changes...

then I can assume the report of
the Declaration Committee has been...

- Just a moment, Mr. President.
- Look out.

I wonder if we might prevail
upon Mr. Thomson...

to read again a small portion
of Mr. Jefferson's declaration.

The one beginning
"He has waged cruel war."

Uh, "He has affected.
He's combined.

He's abdicated.
He's plundered.

He's constrained.
He's excited. He's incited.

He's waged cruel war."
Here it is.

"He has waged cruel war
against human nature itself...

in the persons of a distant people
who never offended him...

captivating and carrying them into
slavery in another hemisphere...

determined to keep open a market
where men should be bought and sold.

- He has prostituted his..."
- That will suffice, Mr. Thomson.

Mr. Jefferson, I can't quite make out
what it is you're talking about.

Slavery, Mr. Rutledge.

Oh, yes. You're referring to us
as slaves of the king.

No, sir. I'm referring
to our slaves.

Black slaves.

Black slaves.

Why didn't you say so, sir?

Were you trying to hide
your meaning?

No, sir.

Just another
literary license, then.

If you like.

I don't like at all,
Mr. Jefferson.

To us in South Carolina, black slavery
is our peculiar institution...

and a cherished way of life.

Nevertheless,
we must abolish it.

Nothing is more certainly
written in the Book of Fate...

than that this people
shall be free.

I am not concerned with the Book of Fate
right now, Mr. Jefferson.

I'm more concerned with what is
written in that little paper there.

That little paper there
deals with freedom for Americans.

Oh, really.

Mr. Adams...

is now callin' our black slaves
"Americans."

- Are they, now?
- Yes, they are.

They're people
and they're here.

If there's any other requirement,
I've never heard of it.

They are here, yes, but they are
not people. They are property.

No, sir. They are people who are
being treated as property.

I tell you, the rights
of human nature...

are deeply wounded by
this infamous practice.

Then see to your own wounds,
for you are a practitioner!

Are you not?

I have already resolved
to release my slaves.

Then I'm sorry...

for you've also resolved
the ruination of your personal economy.

Economy.
Always economy.

There's more to this
than a filthy purse string, Rutledge.

It's an offense
against man and God.

It's a stinking business,
Mr. Rutledge. A stinking business.

Is it really, Mr. Hopkins?

Then what is that I smell...

floatin' down from the North?

Could that be the aroma
of hypocrisy?

For who holds the other end
of that filthy purse string, Mr. Adams?

Our northern brethren feelin'
a bit tender toward our slaves.

They don't keep slaves.

Oh, no.

But they're willin' to be
considerable carriers...

of slaves to others.

They're willin'...

for the shillin'.

Or haven't you heard,
Mr. Adams?

Clink, clink.

Molasses to rum

To slaves

Oh, what a beautiful waltz

You dance with us

We dance with you

In molasses and rum
and slaves

Who sail the ships
out of Boston

Laden with Bibles and rum

Who drinks a toast
to the Ivory Coast

Hail, Africa
the slavers have come

New England with Bibles

And rum

Then it's off with the rum
and the Bibles

Take on the slaves
Clink, clink

Then hail and farewell
to the smell

Of the African coast

Molasses to rum
to slaves

'Tisn't morals
'Tis money that saves

Shall we dance to the sound
of the profitable pound

In molasses and rum
and slaves

Who sail the ships
out of Guinea

Laden with Bibles
and slaves

'Tis Boston can boast
to the West Indies's coast

Jamaica, we brung
what ye craves

Antigua, Barbados

We brung Bibles

And slaves

Gentlemen, you mustn't think
that our northern friends...

see our black slaves as
merely figures in a ledger.

Oh, no. They see them
as figures on a block.

Look at the faces
at the auctions, gentlemen.

White faces on African wharves.

Seafaring faces.
New England faces.

"Put them in the ships.

Cram them in the ships.

Stuff them in the ships."

Hurry, gentlemen.
Let the auction begin.

Ya ha, ya ha ma
Cundah

Gentlemen, do you hear?
That's the cry of the auctioneer.

Ya ha, ya ha ma
Cundah

Slaves, gentlemen!

Black gold!

Livin' gold!

Gold from Angola!

Guinea, Guinea, Guinea!

Blackbirds for sale

Ashanti, ebo, ebo, ebo!

Blackbirds for sale

Handle them!

Fondle them!

But don't finger them!

They're prime
They're prime

Ya ha, ya ha ma
Cundah

For the love of God,
Mr. Rutledge, please.

Molasses to rum

To slaves

Who sail the ships
back to Boston

Laden with gold
See it gleam

Whose fortunes are made
in the triangle trade

Hail, slavery
the New England dream

Mr. Adams,
I give you a toast.

Hail, Boston

Hail, Charleston

Who stinketh the most

Mr. Rutledge, please!

Mr. Hewes.

Dr. Hall.

Don't worry, John.
They'll be back.

Aye, to vote us down.

Adams! Franklin!

It's done. I have it.
And the Maryland Assembly's approved it.

I told them about one of the greatest
military engagements in history...

against a flock of, uh...

Well, what's wrong?
I thought...

You'll have to forgive them,
Mr. Chase.

They just suffered
a slight setback.

And after all,
"What is a man profited...

if he shall gain Maryland
and lose the entire South?"

Matthew, chapter 16,
verse 26.

McNair.

- Oh, I know. The flies.
- No.

The rum.

Well, what are we all
sitting around for?

We're wasting time.
Precious time.

Thomas, I want you to ride
down into Delaware...

- and fetch back Caesar Rodney.
- John, are you mad?

- It's 80 miles, and he's a dyin' man.
- No, he's a patriot.

John, what good will it do?
The South's done us in.

And suppose they
change their minds?

Can we get Delaware
without Rodney?

God!
What a bastardly bunch we are.

- Stephen, I want you to...
- I'm going to the tavern, Johnny.

If there's anything I can do
for you there, let me know.

Chase. Bartlett!

What's the use, John?
The vote's tomorrow morning.

There's less than a full day left.

- Roger.
- Face facts, John. It's finished.

I'm sorry, John.

We have no choice, John.

The slavery clause
has got to go.

Franklin, what are you saying?

It's a luxury
we can't afford.

A luxury?

A half million souls
in chains...

and Dr. Franklin
calls it a luxury.

Maybe you should've
walked out with the South.

You forget yourself, sir.

I founded the first antislavery
society on this continent.

Don't wave your credentials at me.
Perhaps it's time you had them renewed.

The issue here is independence.

Perhaps you've forgotten
that fact, but I have not.

How dare you jeopardize our cause
when we've come so far!

These men...

no matter how much
we may disagree with them...

are not ribbon clerks
to be ordered about.

They're proud, accomplished men.
The cream of their colonies.

And whether you like it or not,
they and the people they represent...

will be part of this new nation
you'd hope to create.

Now either learn how to live with them
or pack up and go home.

In any case, stop acting
like a Boston fishwife.

Good God.
What's happened to me?

John Adams.
The greatJohn Adams.

What have I come to?

Law practice down the pipe.
Farm mortgaged to the hilt.

At a stage in life
when other men prosper...

I'm reduced to living
in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia.

Abigail, what am I
going to do?

Do, John?

I need your help.

You don't usually
ask my advice.

Yes, well, there doesn't appear
to be anyone else right now.

Very well, John.
What is it?

The entire South has just
walked out of this Congress...

George Washington is on
the verge of total annihilation...

and the precious cause for which
I have labored these several years...

has come to nothing.

And it seems that I'm
obnoxious and disliked.

Nonsense, John.

That I am unwilling
to face reality.

Foolishness, John.

That I'm pigheaded.

Ah, well, there you have me, John.

I'm afraid you are pig-headed.

Well, yes.

Oh, Abby.

Has it been any kind
of a life for you?

God knows I haven't
given you very much.

I never asked for more.

After all, I am Mrs. John Adams.

That's quite a lot
for one lifetime.

- Is it, Abby?
- Well, think of it, John.

To be married to the man who is
always the first in line to be hanged.

Yes. The agitator.

Why, Abby?

You must tell me
what it is. L...

Well, I have always been dissatisfied.
I know that.

But lately, I find that I reek
of discontentment.

It fills my throat,
and it floods my brain.

Sometimes I fear
there is no longer a dream.

Only the discontentment.

Can you really know
so little about yourself?

And can you think so little of me
that you'd believe...

I'd marry the man
you've described?

Have you forgotten what
you used to say to me? I haven't.

"Commitment, Abby.

Commitment.

There are only two creatures of value
on the face of this earth...

those with a commitment...

and those who require
the commitment of others."

Do you remember, John?

Yes, I remember.

Mr. Adams!

Are you up there,
Mr. Adams?

What do you want?

There's a delivery
down here for ya.

What is it?

Where did it come from?
Who sent it?

Compliments of
the Concord Ladies'coffee club

And the Sisterhood of
the Truro Synagogue

And the Friday evening
Baptist sewing circle

And the Holy Christian
Sisters of St. Claire

All for you

John

I am, as I ever was

And ever shall be

Yours, yours, yours

Yours

Abigail,
what's in these kegs?

Saltpeter, John

McNair!

McNair, go out and buy every damned
pin you can find in Philadelphia.

Pin?
What sort of pin?

Well, I don't know. Whatever
the ladies use for their sewing.

Franklin, Jefferson, what are you all
sitting around for?

- Didn't you hear a word I said before?
- Oh, never mind about that.

- Here's what I want you to do.
- John, I'm not even speaking to you.

It's too late for that, damn it.
There's work to be done.

Jefferson, go find Rutledge.

Don't come back
until you've worn him down.

Now, you're both
southern aristocrats.

If he'll listen to anybody,
he'll listen to you.

Franklin, out of that chair!

What good is the South
if you can't deliver Pennsylvania?

Talk to Wilson.
Get him away from Dickinson.

That's the only way to do it.
Go on, now, both of you.

- John?
- Time's running out, damn it.

Now move.

I'm still from
Massachusetts, John.

You know where I stand.
I'll do whatever you say.

No. You're the president
of Congress.

You're a fair man, Hancock.
Stay that way.

Tell me, Mr. Thomson,
out of curiosity...

do you stand with Mr. Dickinson,
or do you stand with me?

I stand with the general.

Well, lately, I've had
the oddest feeling that he's been...

writing to me.

I have been in expectation

Of receiving a reply

On the subject of
my last 15 dispatches

Is anybody there

Does anybody care

Does anybody care

"Your humble and obedient..."

"Is anybody there?

Does anybody care?"

Does anybody see what I see

They want me to quit

They say
John, give up the fight

Still to England, I say

Good night forever
Good night

For I have crossed
the Rubicon

Let the bridge
be burned behind me

Come what may

Come what may
Commitment

The croakers all say
we'll rue the day

There'll be hell to pay
in fiery purgatory

Through all the gloom
Through all the gloom

I can see the rays
of ravishing light

And glory

Is anybody there?

Does anybody care?

Does anybody see
what I see?

I see fireworks

I see the pageant
and pomp and parade

I hear the bells ringing out

I hear the cannons roar

I see Americans

All Americans free

Forevermore

How quiet
How quiet the chamber is

How silent
How silent the chamber is

Is anybody there

Does anybody care

Does anybody see...

what I see?

Yes, Mr. Adams.

I do.

Dr. Hall.

I didn't know anyone was...

I'm sorry if I startled you.

I couldn't sleep.

And in trying to resolve
my dilemma...

I remembered something
I'd once read.

"That a representative
owes the people not only his industry...

"but his judgment...

and he betrays them
if he sacrifices it to their opinion."

That was written by
Edmund Burke...

a member
of the British Parliament.

Good night, Mr. Adams.

Good night.

It's never been done before.

No colony has ever broken from the
parent stem in the history of the world.

If you have grievances,
and I'm sure you have...

our present system must provide
a gentler means of redressing them...

- We've spawned a new race here.
- Revolution?

Rougher, simpler, more violent,
more enterprising, less refined.

''My quartermaster has no food,
no arms, no ammunition...

and my troops are
in a state of near mutiny.

I pray God some relief arrives before
the armada, but fear it will not. "

And when they hang you,
Mr. Adams...

I do hope you'll put in
a good word for the rest of us.

England closing in,
cutting off our air. There's no time!

Place before mankind
the common sense of the subjects.

The issue here is independence.

Perhaps you've lost sight
of that fact, but I have not.

''We mutually pledge
to each other our lives...

our fortunes
and our sacred honor. "

Can you really know
so little about yourself?

Very well.

The Congress will now vote on
Virginia's resolution on independence.

Thank you for coming, Caesar,
and God bless you, sir.

The secretary
will call the roll.

And I remind you,
gentlemen...

that a single "nay" vote...

will defeat the motion.

Mr. Thomson.

- New Hampshire.
- New Hampshire says yea.

New Hampshire says yea.
Massachusetts.

- Massachusetts says yea.
- Massachusetts says yea.

- Rhode Island.
- Rhode Island says yea.

Rhode Island says yea.
Connecticut.

- Connecticut says yea.
- Connecticut says yea.

New York.

Mr. Secretary,
New York abstains courteously.

- New York abstains.
- Courteously.

- New Jersey.
- New Jersey says yea.

New Jersey says yea.
Pennsylvania.

Mr. Secretary, Pennsylvania is not
ready. Please come back to us later.

Pennsylvania passes.
Delaware.

Delaware,
by majority vote...

- Aye.
- Says yea.

Delaware says yea.
Maryland.

- Maryland says yea.
- Maryland says yea.

- Virginia.
- Virginia says yea.

Virginia says yea.
North Carolina.

North Carolina yields
to South Carolina.

South Carolina.

Well, Mr. Adams?

Well, Mr. Rutledge?

Mr. Adams...

you must believe that I will
do what I promised to do.

What is it you want?

Remove the offending passage
from your declaration.

If we did that, we would be guilty of
what we ourselves are rebelling against.

Nevertheless, remove it...

or South Carolina
will bury now and forever...

your dream of independence.

John, I beg you,
consider what you're doing.

Mark me, Franklin...

if we give in on this issue,
posterity will never forgive us.

That's probably true, but we won't
hear a thing. We'll be long gone.

Besides, what will posterity
think we were? Demigods?

We're men... no more, no less...
trying to get a nation started...

against greater odds than a more
generous God would have allowed.

First things first, John.
Independence. America.

If we don't secure that,
what difference will the rest make?

Jefferson, say something.

What else is there to do?

Well, man,
you're the one that wrote it.

I wrote all of it, Mr. Adams.

There.
There it is, Rutledge.

You have your slavery.
Little good may it do you.

Now vote, damn you!

Mr. President, the fair colony
of South Carolina...

- says yea.
- South Carolina says yea.

- North Carolina says yea.
- North Carolina says yea.

- Georgia.
- Georgia says yea.

Georgia says yea.

Pennsylvania, second call.

Mr. President, Pennsylvania regrets
all of the inconvenience...

that such distinguished men
as Adams, Franklin and Jefferson...

were put to just now.

They might've kept their document intact
for all the difference it will make.

Mr. President,
Pennsylvania says...

Just a moment.

I ask the delegation
to be polled.

Dr. Franklin,
don't be absurd.

A poll, Mr. President.
It's a proper request.

Yes, it is. Poll the delegation,
Mr. Thomson.

- Dr. Benjamin Franklin.
- Yea.

- Mr. John Dickinson.
- Nay.

Mr. James Wilson.

Judge Wilson?

There it is, Mr. Wilson.
It's all up to you now.

The question of American independence
rests squarely on your shoulders.

An entirely new nation ready
to be born or to die at birth...

all on your say-so.

Which will it be, Mr. Wilson?

Every mapmaker in the world
is waiting for your decision.

Oh, come now, James.
Nothing has changed.

We mustn't let Dr. Franklin
create one of his confusions.

The question is clear.

Most questions are clear
when someone else has to decide them.

It'd be a pity for a man who's handed
down hundreds of wise decisions...

from the bench...

to be remembered only for the one
unwise decision he made in Congress.

James, you're
keeping everybody waiting.

The secretary has
called for your vote.

Please.

Don't push me, John.
I know what you want me to do.

But Mr. Adams is correct
about one thing.

I'm the one who'll be
remembered for it.

What do you mean?

I'm different from you, John.

I'm different from
most of the men here.

I don't want
to be remembered.

I just don't want the...

responsibility.

Yes, well, whether you
want it or not, James...

there's no way of avoiding it.

Not necessarily, John.

If I go with them,
I'll just be one among dozens.

No one will ever remember
the name ofJames Wilson.

But if I vote with you...

I'll be the man who prevented
American independence.

I'm sorry, John.

I just didn't bargain for that.

And is that how
new nations are formed?

By a nonentity
trying to preserve...

the anonymity
he so richly deserves?

Revolutions come into this world
like bastard children, Mr. Dickinson.

Half improvised
and half compromised.

Our side has provided
the compromise.

Now Judge Wilson
is supplying the rest.

James.

I'm sorry, John.

My vote is yea.

Mr. Secretary,
Pennsylvania says yea.

The count,
being twelve to none...

with one abstention...

the resolution
on independence...

is adopted.

It's done.

It's done.

Mr. Thomson, is the declaration
ready to be signed?

- It is.
- Then I suggest we do so.

And the chair further proposes,
for our mutual security and protection...

that no man sit in this Congress
without attaching his name to it.

I'm sorry, Mr. President.

I cannot, in good conscience,
sign such a document.

I will never stop hoping for our
eventual reconciliation with England.

But because...

in my own way...

I regard America no less
than does Mr. Adams...

I will join the army
and fight in her defense...

even though I believe
that fight to be hopeless.

Good-bye, gentlemen.

Gentlemen of the Congress...

I say yea,
John Dickinson.

Very well.

Are there objections to the declaration
being approved as it now stands?

- I have one, Mr. Hancock.
- You, Mr. Adams?

Yes. Mr. Jefferson...

it so happens that
the word is "unalienable,"

not "inalienable."

I'm sorry, Mr. Adams,
but "inalienable" is correct.

I happen to be a Harvard graduate,
Mr. Jefferson.

I attended William and Mary,
Mr. Adams.

Gentlemen, please! Mr. Jefferson,
will you yield to Mr. Adams's request?

No, sir, I will not.

Oh, very well.
I withdraw it.

Oh, good for you, John.

I'll speak to the printer
about it later on.

Very well, gentlemen.

We're about to brave the storm
in a skiff made of paper.

And how it shall end,
God only knows.

That's a pretty
large signature, Johnny.

So Fat George in London
can read it without his glasses.

Step right up, gentlemen. Don't miss
your chance to commit treason.

Hancock is right. This paper
is our passport to the gallows.

But there's no backing out now,
for if we do not hang together...

we shall most assuredly
hang separately.

In my case,
hangin' won't be so bad.

One snap and it'll be all over,
just like that.

But look at Read there. He'll be
dancin' a jig long after I'm gone!

Gentlemen, forgive me
if I don't join in the merriment...

but if we are arrested now...

my name is still the only one
on the damn thing!

From the commander,
army of the United Colonies in...

army of the United States
in New York...

dispatch number 1,209...

to the Honorable Congress,
John Hancock, President. "Dear sir...

I can now report
with some certainty...

that the eve of battle
is near at hand.

Toward this end, I have ordered
the evacuation of Manhattan...

and directed our defenses to take up
stronger positions on Brooklyn Heights.

At the present time, my forces consist
entirely of Haslet's Delaware Militia...

and Smallwood's Marylanders...

a total of 5,000 troops
to stand against...

25,000 of the enemy.

And I begin to notice
that many of us...

are lads under 15 and old men...

none of whom
could truly be called soldiers.

One personal note
to Mr. Lewis Morris of New York.

I must regretfully report that his
estates have been totally destroyed...

but that I have taken the liberty
of transporting Mrs. Morris...

and eight of the children
to Connecticut and safety.

The four older boys are now enlisted
in the Continental Army.

As I write these words...

the enemy is plainly in sight
beyond the river.

How it will end,
only Providence can direct.

But dear God,
what brave men...

I shall lose...

before...

this business...

ends.

Your obedient...

G. Washington."

Very well, gentlemen.

McNair.

Go ring the bell.

- Mr. President.
- Mr. Morris.

To hell with New York.
I'll sign it anyway.

Thank you, Mr. Morris.

Stephen, sit down.

I want to remember
each man's face as he signs.

Very well.

Mr. Thomson.

New Hampshire.
Dr. Josiah Bartlett.

Massachusetts.
Mr. John Adams.

Rhode Island.
Mr. Stephen Hopkins.

Connecticut.
Mr. Roger Sherman.

New York.
Mr. Lewis Morris.

New Jersey.
The Reverend John Witherspoon.

Pennsylvania.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin.

Delaware.
Mr. Caesar Rodney.

Maryland.
Mr. Samuel Chase.

Virginia.
Mr. Thomas Jefferson.

North Carolina.
Mr. Joseph Hewes.

South Carolina.
Mr. Edward Rutledge.

Georgia.
Dr. Lyman Hall.