Hamilton

Schuyler. Uncle, I thought you knew I was expecting the General. Zekiel I don’ know nothin’ ’cept what you tells me, so help me, Marse Ham’ton. Shuts street door and returns, closing room door also. Hamilton I’m sorry, father, but you see as Secretary of the Treasury I’m a target for all kinds and conditions of people. Placing the chair R. of table a little further out for Schuyler. Schuyler Sitting L. C. People who come to borrow money, eh? Hamilton Giving Schuyler’s hat to Zekiel. Exactly. That’s why I have to be “out, out, out.” You see there is still a large section of the public who regard the Treasury as a sort of savings-bank, from which they can withdraw money without the preliminary inconvenience of depositing it. Helping Schuyler off with his cloak and giving it to Zekiel. Schuyler Having risen to take off cloak, sits again. Well, the people are slow to understand. It’s only the last few years that we’ve had a Treasury. Hamilton C. Yes, we have a Treasury, but we haven’t any treasure. How’s the gout? Schuyler How do I find Colonel Hamilton? That’s what I want to know. Hamilton I’m perfectly well⁠—puts his hand across his eyes but I believe I’m tired. Crossing down L. Zekiel Advancing to R. C. from behind sofa. He ain’ had no victals sence mawnin’, Gen’l. Hamilton Ah, perhaps that’s it. I believe I’m hungry. Schuyler Turning angrily to Zekiel. Didn’t Mrs. Hamilton charge you before she went away to see that the Colonel ate his meals regularly? Hamilton, laughing, passes up between Schuyler and table, giving Schuyler an affectionate shake as he passes, then puts away papers. Zekiel Yes, sah, Mis’ Betsy she charge me, but ’fo’ Gawd, Marse Schuylah, I cain’ get him to eat scarcely a mouf’ful. Schuyler So that’s the way you look after your master, is it? Zekiel Sometimes, Gen’l, yo’ kin tak’ an’ lead a mule up to de troff⁠—Hamilton, lying up papers, protests, laughingly but eff he tak’ it into his haid not to drink⁠—wall⁠—yo’ cain’ do nothin’ ’bout it. Hamilton Uncle, you never said a word about drink. You’ve been warning me to eat all day. To Schuyler. What do you think I’ve been doing, father? Schuyler The Lord knows! Everybody’s work, as usual, I suppose. Hamilton I’ve been building a National Bank. Placing hand on large bundle of manuscript. Schuyler Well, you can’t do it on an empty stomach. Hamilton Why not? I’m doing it on an empty Treasury. Goes up to escritoire with papers. Schuyler To Zekiel, who is going toward door R. Uncle Zeke, you go and get up the best supper you know how, and I’ll see that the Colonel eats it. And a bottle of wine. Zekiel puts cloak and hat down on chair R. of bookcase at back wall and brings small table from at wall R. and places it C. beside Schuyler. Hamilton At escritoire up L. You’ll join me in that? Schuyler No, I’ve got a milk-fed foot. Hamilton Laughing. Milk for General Schuyler. Zekiel Yassah. Zekiel exits L. happy. Hamilton Sitting on edge of table L. of Schuyler. Well, what news? You saw General Washington? Schuyler He’s in the lowest depths of depression, Alexander. Hamilton About the financial conditions. Schuyler He’s not as young as you, you know. He was born to fight⁠—but not to fight politicians. Hamilton Well, I’m going to do the fighting now. Picks up pens. Here’s a whole new bundle of pens and I’m going to stick a man with every one of them. Schuyler The opposition have half a dozen bundles to your one, and they poison the points. Hamilton That’s just it. They use too many pens and so the poison fails to take effect. I’ve got them sticking all over me, and I can’t even feel them. Schuyler But Washington feels them. They’re always attacking him. The latest is an accusation that he is drawing more salary than he is entitled to! Hamilton Whose work is that, Tom Paine’s? Schuyler No, the clerk of the house. But Tom Paine has written him a letter, too, accusing him of incompetence, calling him “Treacherous in private friendship, a hypocrite in public life.” Hamilton Sounds like Tom Paine. Schuyler And heaven knows what besides. Hamilton Ungrateful scoundrels! Schuyler The thing that hits him hardest is their everlasting hooting about the army. George Washington loves his army as he would have loved an only child. Hamilton He has beggared himself in an attempt to meet the country’s promise to pay. It’s the old story. The greater the achievement of the man, the more violent his detractors. Enter Zekiel, L., with tray containing chicken, bread and butter, jug of milk, glass, bottle of wine, wineglass, napkin and white cloth on tray. Now they are shouting “Dictator” and accusing him of trying to make himself king. And they know it’s a lie. Crossing down L. angrily. Schuyler Of course it’s a lie⁠—that’s why the politicians glory in it. Hamilton You can’t lead the people with a lie. The truth. Takes more papers from table and puts them away in escritoire. Schuyler Uncle Zeke, I hope you hear your master talking about the value of telling the truth. It will do you good. Zekiel Having placed tray on table C. ‘Fo’ Gawd, Marse Gen’l, the only lie I evah tell is to say Marse Ham’ton’s out when he’s in⁠—an’ shorely that’s a mighty white lie. Schuyler For a gentleman of your color. Hamilton Well, Zekiel, if anyone calls, I’m in for tonight. Schuyler Unless they want money out of the Treasury. Zekiel Taking chair from L. of bookcase at back and placing it back of table C. Very well, Marse Hamilton, yo’s in fo’ tonight. Now yo’ eat that thar dinnah, an’ I’ll bring yo’ mo’ to follow. Exit Zekiel, R., taking Schuyler’s hat