CHAPTER 1
ACT I
Scene 1
Music cue: Beethoven Symphony No. 9, the Overture, Coriolan. Lights fade up slowly on: Washington's Headquarters, Bristol, Pennsylvania just outside of Trenton. Christmas Eve, 1776. Washington is pacing and listening as Billy reads slowly. He is not a good reader but he is getting the words right.
BILLY
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this chris-is shrink from the service of his country."
WASHINGTON
Good. Now William, this word is crisis. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of his country. So.. .what is the name of the book?
Music fades out.
BILLY
The ... AH- mer – ree- kan. ... Crisis.
WASHINGTON
That is very good. Very good. I'm proud of you.
BILLY
Massa George, I'm reading better than the last time, huh? WASHINGTON
Yes, William. Your progress is admirable. I am fascinated by your sudden interest and diligence in reading.
BILLY
Well, everybody's talking about this here war and I think it would help me better to know what we fighting for.
There is a knock at the door.
WASHINGTON
Come in. It will ... and I think you should pay particular attention to the writings of the Bible.
Alexander Hamilton enters.
BILLY
Yes Sir.
WASHINGTON
But for now I want you to read the rest of that page.
ALEXANDER
Merry Christmas, Your Excellency. I think my time could have been better served, but I finished passing out the pamphlets of The American Crisis as you ordered.
WASHINGTON
Alexander, I've been watching the weather.
ALEXANDER
Yes Sir. The men are freezing and the food is low.
WASHINGTON
I think this may work to our advantage.
ALEXANDER
General, I don't see how low morale, inadequate clothing, and empty bellies can help our cause.
WASHINGTON
Perfect time for a battle. I want to attack Trenton.
ALEXANDER
But, General, it's Christmas and it's snowing.
WASHINGTON
The best time to fight those Hessians.
ALEXANDER
I don't understand, General? Won't Colonel Rall have his men posted?
WASHINGTON
I hope to catch that "Old Lion" sleeping. Traditionally the Hessians like to celebrate Christmas. They will not be expecting a battle. I have it on good authority from one of my spies ...
ALEXANDER
Has he been accurate in the past?
WASHINGTON
John Honeyman, a local farmer, an immigrant, Scotch-Irish--no love for the British there. Colonel Rail has been underpaying him for meat and produce supplies. Honeyman has given me precise information on how many soldiers are in Trenton, which houses they are staying in, and how many sentries are sent out each evening--also where they patrol.
George hands the papers to Alexander.
ALEXANDER
Sounds promising. But what about Cornwallis' troops in New Brunswick?
WASHINGTON
They are fifteen miles away. I don't think they will be prepared to march on Trenton. By the time they arrive, we will be gone.
ALEXANDER
Those Hessians are well-trained ...
WASHINGTON
The Hessians like a good Christmas feast. Lots of drink, lots of food. A full belly and a noggin full of Madeira take the edge off of a soldier's wits. I'm hoping they will not be in any physical condition to do battle. I want to cross the Delaware tonight.
ALEXANDER
Your Excellency, may I speak unencumbered?
WASHINGTON That is why you are one of my aides.
ALEXANDER
General, we've been fighting for two years. We haven't won a battle since Bunker Hill. New York was a disaster. There are desertions every day. The army is ragged. Men are marching with no shoes, thin clothing, and are poorly armed. Everyone is hungry. It may be presumptuous of me, but I think the men need to rest. This is the perfect time to do it. The Hessians are not going to attack us. We need this time to lick our wounds and recuperate.
WASHINGTON
Necessity, dire necessity will--nay, must justify this attack.
ALEXANDER
You want to cross the Delaware in the dead of winter and at night? I think attacking Trenton is a bad idea.
WASHINGTON
Alexander, we must inspire the men. We win this battle--they will be wearing Hessian boots on their feet instead of rags.
ALEXANDER And beef in their bellies?
George crosses back to the maps on his desk.
WASHINGTON
Exactly. I've got Henry Knox and you with the artillery. I will cross at Mc Konkey's Ferry with Nathaniel Greene. I want Sullivan to lead his soldiers down River Road, closer to the Delaware. General Greene and I will take Pennington Road and we'll wait for the sound of gunfire from Sullivan's men as a sign that his army is ready to assault Trenton.
ALEXANDER
Aren't you worried about General Howe?
WASHINGTON
I have it on good authority that he is on his way back to New York to have a dalliance with a married woman named Elizabeth Loring.
ALEXANDER
Ahh, the spoils of war. Where will you want me to gather the men so that you can speak to them?
WASHINGTON
I'm not going to speak to the men.
ALEXANDER
Your Excellency, the men are going to need words of encouragement. The thought of attacking Hessians may unnerve some of the men, especially after the failures in New York.
WASHINGTON
I am not an orator. I am a general. They won't know who we're attacking 'till we get there.
ALEXANDER
Please forgive me General for speaking so boldly, but these men need a morale booster--and that can only come from you.
WASHINGTON
What do you think of Tom Paine?
ALEXANDER
Common Sense is the Bible for most of the patriots. It's clear, well written, and precise.
WASHINGTON
Inspirational?
Washington hands the pamphlet to Alexander.
ALEXANDER
Well, yes ... inspirational.
WASHINGTON
Did you read his new pamphlet, The American Crisis?
ALEXANDER
Yes Sir, as I was passing them out. "These are the times that try men's souls."
WASHINGTON
Words cannot be more eloquent than these. The men will pass these pages among themselves. That will be our morale booster. I want you to bring the other officers here within the hour. I will lay out my plans in detail and we will discuss our options. Tarry not.
ALEXANDER
Yes, General.
Alexander starts to leave.
WASHINGTON
Alexander, we must learn not to look back. The future holds victory.
Alexander leaves.
BILLY
Massa George, you gone let everyone talk?
WASHINGTON
What?
BILLY
When you have meetings with your soldiers.. .you let everybody talk. Colonels, Captains, Lieutenants. Everybody has a say. Why? You the leader. You the General. Why you let Mr. Hamilton question your orders?
WASHINGTON
I am just having a conference with the Generals.
Washington pulls a book out of his desk that he has been reading.
WASHINGTON
Can you pronounce the title of this book?
BILLY
Lee- Mort- Tee. Dee -Art- Her.
WASHINGTON
Le Morte D'Arthur....
