1776 Page #7

"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' 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 of July,

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 then.

I suppose 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. Adams.

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, come along.

No. I'm going

home tonight.

Of course you are.

Of course.

McNair, some rum

up to my office.

Oh, 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

But I say you should

write it, Franklin, yes you

Hell no!

Yes, you, Dr. Franklin, you

But...

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

Refuse to use the pen

Mr. Sherman,

I say you should write it

You are 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...

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

A simple cobbler, he

Ah.

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...

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 the 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

of Taking Up Arms," 1775.

Magnificent.

You write 10 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.

No.

But I burn, Mr. A.

So do I, Mr. J.

You?

You do?

John.

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 combustibility

Jefferson, stop right there.

'Bustability

Combustibili...

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.

God damn the man.

Sorry.

Pardon me, sir.

Step aside. Step aside.

How are you?

Franklin.

Jefferson!

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!

Ah! Jefferson,

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..."

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!

Hello! And whose

little girl are you?

John, who is she?

His wife.

I hope.

What makes you think so?

Because I sent for her.

You what?

Well, it simply

occurred to me that

the sooner his problem

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