Hamilton

one-eighth brain tapping him on the forehead and seven-eighths the way you use it. I’m going to send you out onto that balcony to cool down. Going up toward C. window. Zekiel I jes’ got some mo’ suppah ready to brung up. Schuyler Getting above centre table. Well, bring it in, Zekiel, and the country be hanged. Hamilton Coming down R. of Schuyler and taking his arm. Father, I wonder if they feel as strongly as you do about the location of the Capital. Schuyler Raising his hand to strike the small table and breaking out. Why, any man with an ounce of⁠— Hamilton Out in the cool air, father. Pushes him on to the balcony. Oh, General, I’ve noticed that there sometimes comes a moment in diplomatic conferences when a little diversion is most valuable. Should I call for you, come in Schuyler grunts⁠—and look pleasant. I’ll see them, Zekiel. Zekiel exits R. Hamilton goes to his table and picking up manuscript of his bill returns to window and calls. Father, if I could only get hold of Jefferson and Monroe! Schuyler To back your Assumption Bill? Hamilton Yes. Schuyler If you could only get hold of the moon! He goes out, closing the windows. Hamilton, with sudden resolution, comes down left of his table and is facing R. when Zekiel brings in Monroe and Jefferson. They bow to each other. Zekiel crosses at back to L. Zekiel Sect’y Jeff’son and Sentah Monroe. Hamilton Bowing to them. Mr. Jefferson. Senator Monroe. Monroe L. of Jefferson. Howdo, Hamilton. Jefferson Advancing to C. Citizen Secretary, I trust we do not call at an inconvenient or unseasonable hour. Hamilton Your time, gentlemen, could not have been better chosen. Zekiel, a bottle of wine. Zekiel A bottle of wine and a sangwidge. Yes, sah. Exit Zekiel, L. Jefferson Mrs. Hamilton is not back yet? Hamilton Getting behind chair R. of large table and indicating it to Jefferson. No, my wife will not return, I fear, for a month or more. Will you take this chair, Mr. Jefferson? Jefferson sits R. of table. Will you take this one, Senator? Monroe crosses and sits in large armchair. That is the chair General Washington always sits in when he is here. Monroe rises uncomfortably then sits again. I’lll sit here at my desk, if you don’t mind. There is general constraint. Jefferson You are still working even at this late hour, Citizen Hamilton? Hamilton Oh, no. This is my recreation. Puts hand on pile of manuscript. Monroe And what is your recreation? Hamilton The establishment of a National Bank. Monroe It’s not constitutional. Hamilton It will be necessary for the full development of my Bill for the Government Assumption of States’ Debts. Monroe and Jefferson cough uncomfortably. Jefferson is bland. Jefferson A very charming room you have here. Hamilton Very charming. Monroe Devilish hot, though. Hamilton Allow me to open this window. Going to balcony window. I should mention that General Schuyler is on the balcony, if our business is private. Jefferson No, no, not in the least. Pray consider our visit as quite informal. Hamilton opens window. Monroe We came to have a little friendly chat with you. Hamilton Returning to table. Gentlemen, I am indeed relieved to find that you have come in this friendly spirit. It gives me courage to approach you in a perfectly friendly way on a very urgent matter. Jefferson catches Monroe’s eye. Jefferson I trust it may be within our power to be of use to you. Monroe Without sacrificing the principles for which we stand. Jefferson Of course. Hamilton Sitting back of table. President Washington is deeply concerned at the country’s neglect to pay its debts⁠—the debts incurred during the war. Monroe You mean the neglect of certain states to pay their debts? Hamilton I mean the neglect of the nation. Monroe Virginia has paid every cent she owes. Hamilton That saves the honor of Virginia, but not the honor of the nation. Gentlemen, my Bill provides that these debts shall be assumed by the central government. Why do you continue to oppose it? All I need is the support of Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. Jefferson What you suggest would be making Virginia help to pay the debt of South Carolina. Monroe And South Carolina has three times the debt of Virginia. Hamilton To Monroe. Incurred in gaining Virginia her freedom. Gentlemen, if the interests of the thirteen states continue to clash, there is no hope of established independence. I appeal to you both, as patriots, not to squander the time of the country by the discussion of party interests. We are builders of a nation; let us build strongly, let us build on the foundation stone of honor. The nations of the world are watching us. Let them sneer at our youth, let them sneer at our poverty, but let them never cast a slur upon our honesty. Jefferson You plead merely for the honor of the nation: I plead also for the rights of the individual. Monroe Do you realize that the rights of the people are at stake? Hamilton To Monroe. The right of the people is the right to cast aside personal interests for the greater good of the nation. The only safety for any people is in a government that can command the respect of the world. Striking the table. Monroe Angrily. You mean a Monarchy? Hamilton I mean a Republic. Monroe Rising, coming to L. corner of table and pounding it. George Washington is trying to set up a Monarchy and make himself King. Returning to Washington’s chair. He gives it a vicious push with his knee and crosses to R. Hamilton Rising and crossing to R. with Monroe. Take this chair. I think you’ll be more comfortable. Gives Monroe another chair from back of sofa. It is a hard uncomfortable