Hamilton

doesn’t need you. He never needed you less. If you can’t appreciate his courage and bravery, you are no fit mate for him. God knows there are few enough men who are willing to sacrifice everything for the truth. If you’re going, go. Go and join those men in there who are all waiting to take a peck at him. Schuyler Angelica! Angelica I know. Alexander’s done a wicked, disgraceful thing. That’s what makes the difference between a human being and a whitewashed saint. I’m a human being myself, and I’m going to wait here for Alexander. Enter Zekiel, L. Schuyler Well? Zekiel It’s a lady callin’, Mis’ Betsy. Betsy Interested. Who is it? Zekiel Lamely. It’s a⁠—Mrs. Reynolds, ma’am. Schuyler
Angelica Together; indignantly. What? Betsy Tell her Mr. Hamilton is out. Zekiel She wants to see you, Mis’ Betsy. Angelica Indignant. I never in all my life! Schuyler About to go toward L. I’ll soon settle her. Betsy Wait a moment, father. I’ll see her. Zekiel going. Angelica No, no, Zekiel. Betsy Firmly. Show her in, Zekiel. Zekiel exits L. Angelica Do you mean to say you’re going to see that disgraceful woman? Betsy Yes. Will you and father go away, please? Angelica But why? Why do you want to see her? Betsy I want to see what she looks like. Perhaps there’s something of the human being in me, too. Schuyler Come on, Angelica. Angelica crosses to R. and opens door. I’ve got two daughters and your dear mother at home, but I’ll be hanged if I understand the first thing about women. Exeunt Angelica and Schuyler. Betsy, in front of harpsichord, waits somewhat nervously. Enter Zekiel with Mrs. Reynolds. Zekiel Mrs. Reynolds. Mrs. Reynolds enters, pretty and demure. She waits for Zekiel to go, looking to see that he’s gone before she speaks. Zekiel goes off. Betsy stands looking at Mrs. Reynolds. Mrs. Reynolds L. C. You’re Mrs. Hamilton, aren’t you? Mighty nice of you to see me. Betsy What do you want? Mrs. Reynolds Why⁠—of course, you’ve seen the newspaper. Betsy Yes. Mrs. Reynolds With conscious pride. Yes, it’s made quite a stir, hasn’t it? I came because I thought you might feel badly about it. I thought you might feel angry with him. Betsy With whom? Mrs. Reynolds Why, with Mr. Hamilton. I don’t see how anyone could⁠—he’s so nice, but⁠— Betsy What is it you want to say? Mrs. Reynolds Well, I wouldn’t like you to be cross with him. You mustn’t blame him because it wasn’t his fault. Betsy Whose fault was it? Mrs. Reynolds Well, it was mine in the end, but at first it was Reynolds’. Betsy Reynolds? Mrs. Reynolds Yes, Reynolds arranged it because some of his friends⁠—political gentlemen⁠—wanted to get Mr. Hamilton talked about. And of course when I went I hadn’t an idea what he was like⁠—and when I found he was so nice, I half wished I hadn’t said I’d do it. But I’d given my word, you see⁠—and then you were away, and I’d never seen you. Coming closer to look at her. You’re pretty, too, aren’t you, only in a different way from me, and older. Don’t you hate to think of growing old? Betsy Mrs. Reynolds, have you no sense of right and wrong? Mrs. Reynolds Oh, yes, I know⁠—I know when I’m doing wrong⁠—but you see I have nobody to keep me straight. A little to C. Betsy Do you realize that you have broken this home and ruined a man’s life? Isn’t the thought of that enough to keep you straight? Mrs. Reynolds Turning and coming back. Oh, you’re not going to leave him! You can’t do that. That’s why I came, because I thought you might be cross with him. Betsy Have you no decency? Your name flaming in the newspaper⁠—your shame on the lips of every man and woman in the city! Mrs. Reynolds Well, yes, of course it is bad in a sense, but then it’s different for me to what it is for you, because it does give me a sort of a position. You see I’ve never had any position before, and now my name being in the paper coupled with Alexander Hamilton⁠— Betsy Stifled. Oh⁠— Mrs. Reynolds It’ll make Reynolds behave a good deal better to know me, I know. Mean old thing! Of course you’re good, with a good husband, and you don’t understand. I suppose everything depends on the way you’re brought up, doesn’t it? I don’t mean to be wicked⁠—I wish I wasn’t! Betsy Good morning, Mrs. Reynolds. Mrs. Reynolds Naively. Oh, that means I’m to go. But you won’t leave him, will you? Betsy We have nothing more to discuss. Mrs. Reynolds Coming beside her and placing hand on chair. Mrs. Hamilton, I didn’t want to come here today and face you. It took some courage, I can tell you. But when I saw his confession this morning, I reckoned that took some courage too. I knew you had come home and that you’d see it all in the paper, and I made up my mind that you should know it was all a planned thing. I was set on to get him, anyway; but when I saw him and spoke to him and he thought I was in trouble and was so kind to me, I just fell in love with him and I didn’t mean to let him go. Betsy How can you stand there and tell me that? Mrs. Reynolds Because I don’t want you to be hard on him. He’s a good man⁠—but I made up my mind that he shouldn’t get away from me, so he isn’t to blame, is he? Enter Schuyler and Angelica hurriedly, R. Angelica goes up to R. C. at back. Schuyler remains at door. Schuyler Alexander has left his room. I think it would be better if I let this young woman out by the side door. This way, please.