1776
A Musical Play Based on a conception of Sherman Edwards
Book by Peter Stone Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards
Text Copyright © 1964 by Sherman Edwards: Copyright © 1969 by Peter Stone
Lyrics Copyright © 1964, 1968, 1969 by Sherman Edwards
Historical Notes Copyright © 1970 by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone
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Scene 1 |
John Adams: 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!
| Topic: Politicians
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John: [...] Why damn it, Fat George has declared us in rebellionwhy in bloody hell cant they?
Franklin: John, really! You talk as if independence were the rule! Its never been done before! No colony has ever broken from the parent stem in the history of the world!
John: Dammit, Franklin, you make us sound treasonous!
Franklin: Do I? TreasonTreason is a charge invented by winners as an excuse for hanging the losers.
John: I have more to do than stand here listening to you quote yourself.
Franklin: No, that was a new one!
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John: [...] The people want independence!
Franklin: The people have read Mr. Paines Common Sense. I doubt the Congress has.
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Scene 3 |
Rutledge: Where does Georgia stand on independence at the present time, Dr. Hall?
Hall: I am here without instructions, able to vote my own personal convictions.
Rutledge: And they are?
Hall: Personal.
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Hall: Good Lord, do you have the honor to be Dr. Franklin?
Franklin: Yes, I have that honorunfortunately the gout accompanies the honor.
Hopkins: Been living too high again, eh, Pappy?
Franklin: Stephen, I only wish King George felt like my big toeall over!
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Hancock: Im concerned over the continued absence of one-thirteenth of this Congress. Where is New Jersey?
Dickinson: Somewhere between New York and Pennsylvania.
Hancock: Thank you very much. Dr. Franklin, have you heard anything? Your son resides there.
Franklin: Son, sir? What son?
Hancock: The Royal Governor of New Jersey, sir.
Franklin: As that title might suggest, sir, we are not in touch at the present time.
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Hall: Mr. Secretary Georgia seems to be split right down the middle on this issue. The people are against itand Im for it.
But Im afraid Im not yet certain whether representing the people means relying on their judgment or on my own. So in all fairness, until I can figure it out, Id better lean a little toward their side.
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Dickinson: Whats so terrible about being called an Englishman? The English dont seem to mind.
Franklin: 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 bullhes thankful for the honor but hed much rather have restored whats rightfully his.
Dickinson: When did you first notice they were missing, sir?
Fortunately, Dr. Franklin, the people of these colonies maintain a higher regard for their mother country.
Franklin: Higher, certainly, than she feels for them. Never was such a valuable possession so stupidly and recklessly managed than this entire continent by the British Crown.
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Dickinson: 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?
Franklin: Why, Mr. Dickinson, Im surprised at you! You should know that rebellion is always legal in the first personsuch as our rebellion. It is only in the third persontheir rebellionthat it is illegal.
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Morris: Im sorry, Mr. President, but the simple fact is that our legislature has never sent us explicit instructions on anything.
Hancock: Never? Thats impossible!
Morris: Have you ever been present at a meeting of the New York legislature? They speak very fast and very loud and nobody pays any attention to anybody else, with the result that nothing ever gets done.
| Topic: Rhetoric
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Scene 4 |
John: [...] Do you mean to say its not finished?
Jefferson: No, sirI mean to say its not begun.
John: Good God! A whole week! The entire earth was created in a week!
Jefferson: Some day you must tell me how you did it.
| Topic: Writing
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John: Dont be unreasonable, Abigail.
Abigail: Now Im unreasonableyou must add that to your list.
John: List?
Abigail: The catalogue of my faults you included in your last letter.
John: They were fondly intended, madame!
Abigail: That I play at cards badly?
John: A compliment!
Abigail: That my posture is crooked?
John: An endearment!
Abigail: That I read, write, and think too much?
John: An irony!
Abigail: That I am pigeon-toed?
John: Ah, well, there you have me, AbbyIm afraid you are pigeon-toed.
| Topic: Compliments
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John: [...] I mean, what will people think?
Franklin: Dont worry, John. The history books will clean it up.
John: It doesnt matter. I wont appear in the history books, anywayonly you. Franklin did this, Franklin did that, 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, and the three of themFranklin, Washington, and the horseconducted the entire Revolution all by themselves.
Franklin: I like it!
| Topic: History
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Scene 5 |
Dickinson: [...] Be careful, sir. History will brand him and his followers as traitors!
Hancock: Traitors to what, Mr. Dickinsonthe British Crown? Or the British half-crown? Fortunately, there are not enough men of property in America to dictate policy.
Dickinson: Perhaps not, but dont 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 . . .
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Scene 7 |
Sherman: Brother Jefferson, I noted at least two distinct and direct references to the British Parliament in your Declaration. Do you think its wise to alienate that august body in light of our contention that they never had any direct authority over us anyway?
John: This is a revolution, dammit! Were going to have to offend somebody!
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Rutledge: Oh, really! Mr. Adams in now callin our black slaves Americans. Are-they-now?
John: They are! Theyre people and theyre hereif there is any other requirement, Ive never heard of it.
Rutledge: They are here, yes, but they are not people, sir, they are property.
Jefferson: 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!
Rutledge: Then see to your own wounds, Mr. Jefferson, for you are apractitioner, are you not?
Jefferson: I have already resolved to release my slaves.
Rutledge: Then Im sorry, for you have also resolved the ruination of your personal economy.
John: Economy. Always economy. Theres more to this than a filthy purse-string, Rutledge. Its an offense against man and God.
Hopkins: Its a stinking business, Mr. Rutledgea stinking business!
Rutledge: Is it really, Mr. Hopkins? Then whats that I smell floatin down from the Northcould it be the aroma of hy-pocrisy? For who holds the other end of that filthy purse-string, Mr. Adams? Our northern brethren are feelin a bit tender toward our slaves. They dont keep slaves, no-o, but theyre willin to be considerable carriers of slavesto others!
| Topic: Slavery
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John: The entire South has walked out of this Congress, George Washington is on the verge of total annihilation, the precious cause for which Ive labored these several years has come to nothing, and it seemsit seems I am obnoxious and disliked.
Abigail: Nonsense, John.
John: That I am unwilling to face reality.
Abigail: Foolishness, John.
John: That I am pig-headed.
Abigail: Ah, well, there you have me, John. Im afraid you are pig-headed.
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John: Mark me, Franklin, if we give in on this issue, posterity will never forgive us.
Franklin: Thats probably true. But we wont hear a thing, Johnwell be long gone. And besides, what will posterity think we weredemigods? Were menno more, no lesstrying to get a nation started against greater odds than a more generous God would have allowed.
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Wilson: Im different from you, John. Im different from most of the men here. I dont want to be remembered. I just dont want the responsibility!
Dickinson: Yes, well, whether you want it or not, James, theres no way of avoiding it.
Wilson: Not necessarily. If I go with them, Ill only be one among dozens; no one will ever remember the name of James Wilson. But if I vote with you, Ill be the man who prevented American independence. Im sorry, JohnI just didnt bargain for that.
Dickinson: And is that how new nations are formedby a nonentity trying to preserve the anonymity he so richly deserves?
Franklin: Revolutions come into this world like bastard children, Mr. Dickinsonhalf improvised and half compromised. Our side has provided the compromise; now Judge Wilson is supplying the rest.
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Historical Note by the Authors |
Certainly a few changes have been made in order to fulfill basic dramatic tenets. To quote a European dramatist friend of ours, God writes lousy theater. [...] But none of them, either separately or in accumulation, has done anything to alter the historical truth of the characters, the times, or the events of American independence.
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But by far the most frustrating reason for deleting a historical fact was that the audiences would never have believed it. The best example of this is John Adams reply (it was actually Cousin Sam who said it) to Franklins willingness to drop the anti-slavery clause from the Declaration. Mark me, Franklin, he now says in Scene 7, if we give in on this issue, posterity will never forgive us. But the complete line, spoken in July 1776, was If we give in on this issue, there will be trouble a hundred years hence; posterity will never forgive us. And audiences would never forgive us. For who could blame them for believing that the phrase was the authors invention, stemming from the eternal wisdom of hindsight?
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text checked (see note) Feb 2005
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