ACT 1

2. Aaron Burr, Sir

COMPANY
1776. New York City.

HAMILTON
Pardon me. Are you Aaron Burr, sir?

BURR
That depends. Who’s asking?

HAMILTON
Oh, well, sure, sir,
I’m Alexander Hamilton, I’m at your service, sir.
I have been looking for you.

BURR
I’m getting nervous.

HAMILTON
Sir…
I heard your name at Princeton. I was seeking an accelerated course of study when I got sort
of out of sorts with a buddy of yours. I may have punched him. It’s a blur, sir. He handles
the financials?

BURR
You punched the bursar.

HAMILTON
Yes!
I wanted to do what you did. Graduate in two, then join the revolution. He looked at me like
I was stupid, I’m not stupid.

So how’d you do it? How’d you graduate so fast?

BURR
It was my parents’ dying wish before they passed.

HAMILTON
You’re an orphan. Of course! I’m an orphan.

1
God, I wish there was a war!
Then we could prove that we’re
worth more than anyone bargained
for…

BURR
Can I buy you a drink?

HAMILTON
That would be nice.

BURR
While we’re talking, let me offer you some free advice.
Talk less.

HAMILTON
What?

BURR
Smile more.

HAMILTON
Ha.

BURR
Don’t let them know what you’re against or what you’re for.

HAMILTON
You can’t be serious.

BURR
You wanna get ahead?

HAMILTON
Yes.

BURR
Fools who run their mouths off wind up dead.

LAURENS
Yo yo yo yo yo!
What time is it?

LAURENS/LAFAYETTE/MULLIGAN

2
Show time!

BURR
…like I said…

LAURENS
Show time! Show time! Yo!
I’m John Laurens in the place to be!
Two pints o’ Sam Adams, but I’m workin’ on three, uh!
Those redcoats don’t want it with me!
Cuz I will pop chick-a pop these cops till I’m free!

LAFAYETTE
Oui oui, mon ami, je m’appelle
Lafayette! The Lancelot of the
revolutionary set!
I came from afar just to say
“Bonsoir!” Tell the King
“Casse toi!” Who’s the best?
C’est moi!

MULLIGAN
Brrrah brraaah! I am Hercules Mulligan,
Up in it, lovin’ it, yes I heard ya mother said
“Come again?” Lock up ya daughters and
horses, of course it’s hard to have intercourse
over four sets of corsets…

LAURENS
No more sex, pour me another brew, son!
Let’s raise a couple more…

LAURENS/LAFAYETTE/MULLIGAN
To the revolution!

LAURENS
Well, if it ain’t the prodigy of Princeton college!

MULLIGAN
Aaron Burr!

LAURENS
Give us a verse, drop some knowledge!

3
BURR
Good luck with that: you’re takin’ a stand.
You spit. I’m ‘a sit. We’ll see where we land.

LAFAYETTE/MULLIGAN
Boooo!

LAURENS
Burr, the revolution’s imminent. What do you stall for? HAMILTON
If you stand for nothing, Burr,
what’ll you fall for?

5. The Schuyler Sisters

BURR
There’s nothing rich folks love more than going
downtown and slummin’ it with the poor. They pull
up in their carriages and gawk at the students in the
common Just to watch them talk.
Take Philip Schuyler: the man is loaded. Uh-oh,
but little does he know that his daughters,
Peggy, Angelica, Eliza sneak into the city just to
watch all the guys at—

COMPANY
Work, work!

ANGELICA
Angelica!

COMPANY
Work, work!

ELIZA
Eliza!

PEGGY
And Peggy!

COMPANY
Work, work!
The Schuyler sisters!

4
ANGELICA
Angelica!

PEGGY
Peggy!

ELIZA
Eliza!

COMPANY
Work!

PEGGY
Daddy said to be home by sundown.

ANGELICA
Daddy doesn’t need to know.

PEGGY
Daddy said not to go downtown.

ELIZA
Like I said, you’re free to go.

ANGELICA
But—look around, look around, the revolution’s
happening in New York.

ELIZA/PEGGY New
York.

COMPANY
Angelica

SCHUYLER SISTERS AND COMPANY

Work!

PEGGY
It’s bad enough daddy wants to go to war.

ELIZA
People shouting in the square.

5
PEGGY
It’s bad enough there’ll be violence on our shore.

ANGELICA
New ideas in the air.

ANGELICA AND MALE ENSEMBLE

Look around, look around—

ELIZA
Angelica, remind me what we’re looking for…

ALL MEN
She’s lookin’ for me!

ANGELICA COMPANY
Eliza, I’m lookin’ for a mind at work. Work, work! I’m lookin’ for
a mind at work! Work, work!
I’m lookin’ for a mind at work! Work, work!
Whooaaaaa!
ELIZA/ANGELICA/PEGGY Whooaaaaa!
Work! Work!

BURR
Wooh! There’s nothin’ like summer in the city.
Someone in a rush next to someone lookin’ pretty.
Excuse me, miss, I know it’s not funny
But your perfume smells like your daddy’s got money.
Why you slummin’ in the city in your fancy heels You
searchin for an urchin who can give you ideals?

ANGELICA
Burr, you disgust me.

BURR
Ah, so you’ve discussed me.
I’m a trust fund, baby, you can trust me!

ANGELICA
I’ve been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine.
So men say that I’m intense or I’m insane. You
want a revolution? I want a revelation So listen to
my declaration:

6
ELIZA/ANGELICA/PEGGY
“We hold these truths to be self-evident
That all men are created equal”

ANGELICA
And when I meet Thomas Jefferson,

COMPANY
Unh!

ANGELICA
I’m ‘a compel him to include women in the sequel!

WOMEN
Work!

ELIZA
Look around, look around at how Lucky
we are to be alive right now!

ELIZA/PEGGY
Look around, look around at how Lucky
we are to be alive right now!

ELIZA/ANGELICA/PEGGY
History is happening in Manhattan and we just happen to be in the greatest city in the world!

SCHUYLER SISTERS AND COMPANY

In the greatest city in the world!

ANGELICA ELIZA/PEGGY MEN

Cuz I’ve been reading Common Look around, look around Sense Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
by Thomas Paine.
So men say that I’m intense or I’m
insane. The revolution’s happening in— Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

ANGELICA ELIZA/PEGGY New

You want a revolution? York!
I want a revelation WOMEN
Look around, look around the
In New York!
So listen to my declaration: revolution’s happening

ANGELICA/ELIZA/PEGGY
We hold these truths to be self FEMALE ENSEMBLE
evident that all men are created Look around Hey! Hey!

7
equal Look around Hey! Hey!
Whoo!
At how lucky we are to be alive Hey! Hey!
right now
Hey! Hey!

FULL COMPANY
Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now!
History is happening in Manhattan and we just happen to be

ALL WOMEN
In the greatest city in the world

ALL MEN
In the greatest city—

COMPANY
In the greatest city in the world!

COMPANY
Work, work!

Work, work!

Work, work!

Work, work!
Work, work!

Work, work!

Work, work!

ANGELICA
Angelica!

ELIZA
Eliza!

8
PEGGY
And Peggy!

ANGELICA/ELIZA/PEGGY
The Schuyler sisters!

We’re looking for a mind at work! Hey!

COMPANY ANGELICA ELIZA/PEGGY

Work, work! Whoa! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Work, work!
In the greatest
Work, work! In the greatest
city in the world city in the world

COMPANY
In the greatest city in the world!

Hey!
12. The Story of Tonight (Reprise)

LAURENS
I may not live to see our glory!

MULLIGAN/LAFAYETTE
I may not live to see our glory!

LAURENS
But I’ve seen wonders great and small.

MULLIGAN/LAFAYETTE
I’ve seen wonders great and small.

LAURENS
Cuz if the tomcat can get married,

MULLIGAN/LAFAYETTE
If Alexander can get married—

9
LAURENS
There’s hope for our ass, after all!

LAFAYETTE
Raise a glass to freedom.

LAURENS/MULLIGAN
Hey!
Something you will never see again!

MULLIGAN
No matter what she tells you.

LAFAYETTE
Let’s have another round tonight!

LAURENS
Raise a glass to the four of us!

LAFAYETTE/HAMILTON
Ho!

MULLIGAN
To the newly not poor of us!

LAURENS/LAFAYETTE/HAMILTON Woo!

LAFAYETTE
We’ll tell the story of tonight.

LAURENS
Let’s have another round—

HAMILTON
Well, if it isn’t Aaron Burr.

BURR
Sir!

HAMILTON
I didn’t think that you would make it.

BURR
To be sure.

10
MULLIGAN/LAFAYETTE
Burr!

BURR
I came to say congratulations.

MULLIGAN
Spit a verse, Burr!

BURR
I see the whole gang is here.

LAFAYETTE
You are the worst, Burr!

HAMILTON
Ignore them. Congrats to you, Lieutenant Colonel.
I wish I had your command instead of manning George’s journal.

BURR
No, you don’t.

HAMILTON
Yes, I do.

BURR
Now, be sensible.
From what I hear, you’ve made yourself indispensable.

LAURENS
Well, well, I heard you’ve got a special someone on the side, Burr.

HAMILTON
Is that so?

LAURENS
What are you tryin’ to hide, Burr?

BURR
I should go.

HAMILTON
No, these guys should go.

11
LAFAYETTE
What?

LAURENS
No!

HAMILTON
Leave us alone.

MULLIGAN
Man…

HAMILTON
It’s alright, Burr. I wish you’d brought this girl with you tonight, Burr.

BURR
You’re very kind, but I’m afraid it’s unlawful, sir.

HAMILTON
What do you mean?

BURR
She’s married.

HAMILTON
I see.

BURR
She’s married to a British officer.

HAMILTON
Oh shit…

BURR
Congrats again, Alexander. Smile more.
I’ll see you on the other side of the war.

HAMILTON
I will never understand you.
If you love this woman, go get her! What are you waiting for?

BURR
I’ll see you on the other side of the war.

12
HAMILTON
I’ll see you on the other side of the war.

13. Wait For It

BURR
Theodosia writes me a letter ev’ry day.
I’m keeping her bed warm while her husband is away.
He’s on the British side in Georgia.
He’s tryin’ to keep the colonies in line.
He can keep all of Georgia.
Theodosia, she’s mine.

Love doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and the

saints, it takes and it takes and it takes and we keep loving
anyway. We laugh and we cry and we break and we make
our mistakes. And if there’s a reason I’m by her side when
so many have tried then I’m willing to wait for it.
I’m willing to wait for it.

BURR
My grandfather was a fire and
brimstone preacher MEN
Preacher, preacher,
preacher

But there are things that the

homilies and hymns won’t teach ya
Teach ya, teach
ya,
teach ya
My mother was a genius
WOMEN
My father commanded respect Genius

Respect, respect
When they died they left no
instructions.
Just a legacy to protect.

13
BURR/ENSEMBLE
Death doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and
the saints, it takes and it takes and it takes and we
keep living anyway. We rise and we fall and we
break and we make our mistakes.
And if there’s a reason I’m still alive when everyone who loves
me has died I’m willing to wait for it.
I’m willing to wait for it.

Wait for it

ENSEMBLE
Wait for it
Wait for it
Wait for it

BURR
I am the one thing in life I can control

ENSEMBLE
Wait for it
Wait for it
Wait for it
Wait for it

BURR
I am inimitable
I am an original

ENSEMBLE
Wait for it
Wait for it
Wait for it
Wait for it

BURR
I’m not falling behind or running late

ENSEMBLE
Wait for it
Wait for it
Wait for it
Wait for it

14
BURR
I’m not standing still,
I am lying in wait

ENSEMBLE
Wait
Wait
Wait

BURR
Hamilton faces an endless uphill climb

ENSEMBLE
Climb
Climb
Climb

BURR
He has something to prove
he has nothing to lose

ENSEMBLE
Lose
Lose
Lose
Lose

BURR
Hamilton’s pace is relentless, he wastes no time

ENSEMBLE
Time
Time
Time

BURR
What is it like in his shoes?

Hamilton doesn’t hesitate.

He exhibits no restraint. He takes and he takes and he
takes and he keeps winning anyway.
He changes the game.
He plays and he raises the stakes. And if there’s a reason

15
he seems to thrive when so few survive, then Goddamnit—
Wait for
BURR it...
I'm willing to wait for it.
COMPANY
I'm willing to wait for it
I'm willing to wait for it… Wait for it
Life doesn’t discriminate Wait for…
between the sinners and the I'm willing to— Life doesn’t
saints, it takes and it takes discriminate between the
and it takes. sinners and the saints,
it takes and it takes and it takes and we keep
We living anyway, we rise and we fall and we
rise break and we make our mistakes. and if
We there’s a reason I’m still alive when so many
fall have died, then I’m willin’ to—
and if there’s a reason I’m still alive when so
many have died, then I’m willin’ to—

BURR MEN
Wait for it… WOMEN Wait for it…
Wait for it...

Wait for it... Wait for it...

Wait for it…
Wait for it...
Wait for it...

Wait for it...

Wait for
it... Wait...

14. Stay Alive

ELIZA
Stay alive…

ELIZA/ANGELICA/ENSEMBLE WOMEN
Stay alive…

HAMILTON
I have never seen the General so despondent.
I have taken over writing all his
correspondence. Congress writes, “George,

16
attack the British forces.” I shoot back, we have
resorted to eating our horses. Local merchants
deny us equipment, assistance, they only take
British money, so sing a song of sixpence.

WASHINGTON
The cavalry’s not coming.

HAMILTON
Sir!

WASHINGTON
Alex, listen. There’s only one way for us to win this.
Provoke outrage, outright.

HAMILTON
That’s right.

WASHINGTON
Don’t engage, strike by night.
Remain relentless ‘til their troops take flight.

HAMILTON
Make it impossible to justify the cost of the fight.

WASHINGTON
Outrun.

HAMILTON
Outrun.

WASHINGTON
Outlast.

HAMILTON
Outlast.

WASHINGTON
Hit ‘em quick, get out fast.

HAMILTON
Chick-a-plao!

WASHINGTON

17
Stay alive ‘til this horror show is past.
We’re gonna fly a lot of flags half-mast.

HAMILTON/LAURENS/LAFAYETTE
Raise a glass!

MULLIGAN
I go back to New York and my apprenticeship.

LAFAYETTE
I ask for French aid, I pray that France has sent a ship.

LAURENS
I stay at work with Hamilton,
we write essays against slavery,
and every day’s a test of our
camaraderie and bravery.

HAMILTON
We cut supply lines, we steal contraband, we
pick and choose our battles and places to take a
stand.
And ev’ry day,
“Sir, entrust me with a
command,” and ev’ry day,

WASHINGTON
No.

HAMILTON
He dismisses me out of hand.

HAMILTON ELIZA/ANGELICA
Instead of me, Stay alive...
he promotes LEE
Charles Lee. Charles Lee.
Makes him second-in-command:

LEE
I’m a General. Whee!!!!

HAMILTON
Yeah. He’s not the choice I would have gone with.

18
HAMILTON/LAURENS/LAFAYETTE
He shits the bed at the Battle of Monmouth.

WASHINGTON
Ev’ryone attack!

LEE
Retreat!

WASHINGTON
Attack!

LEE
Retreat!

WASHINGTON
What are you doing, Lee? Get back on your feet!

LEE
But there’s so many of them!

WASHINGTON
I’m sorry, is this not your speed?!
Hamilton!

HAMILTON
Ready, sir!

WASHINGTON
Have Lafayette take the lead!

HAMILTON
Yes, sir!

LAURENS
A thousand soldiers die in a hundred degree heat.

LAFAYETTE
As we snatch a stalemate from the jaws of defeat.

HAMILTON
Charles Lee was left
behind without a pot to
piss in.

19
He started sayin’ this to anybody who would listen:

LEE
Washington cannot be left alone to his devices
indecisive, from crisis to crisis. The best thing
he can do for the revolution is turn n’ go back
to plantin’ tobacco in Mount Vernon.

COMPANY
Oo!!

WASHINGTON
Don’t do a thing. History will prove him wrong.

HAMILTON
But, sir!

WASHINGTON
We have a war to fight, let’s move along.

LAURENS
Strong words from Lee, someone oughta hold him to it.

HAMILTON
I can’t disobey direct orders.

LAURENS
Then I’ll do it.
Alexander, you’re the closest friend I’ve got.

HAMILTON
Laurens, do not throw away your shot.

15. Ten Duel Commandments

MEN
One, two, three, four

FULL COMPANY
Five, six, seven, eight, nine…

BURR/HAMILTON/LAURENS/LEE

20
It’s the Ten Duel Commandments.

FULL COMPANY
It’s the Ten Duel Commandments.
Number one!

LAURENS
The challenge: demand satisfaction.
If they apologize, no need for further action.

COMPANY
Number two!

LAURENS
If they don’t, grab a friend, that’s your second.

HAMILTON
Your lieutenant when there’s reckoning to be reckoned.

COMPANY
Number three!

LEE
Have your seconds meet face to face.

BURR
Negotiate a peace…

HAMILTON
Or negotiate a time and place.

BURR
This is commonplace, ‘specially ‘tween recruits.

COMPANY
Most disputes die, and no one shoots.
Number four!

LAURENS
If they don’t reach a peace, that’s alright.
Time to get some pistols and a doctor on site.

HAMILTON
You pay him in advance, you treat him with civility.

21
BURR
You have him turn around so he can have deniability.

COMPANY
Five!

LEE
Duel before the sun is in the sky.

COMPANY
Pick a place to die where it’s high and
dry, number six!

HAMILTON
Leave a note for your next of kin.
Tell ‘em where you been. Pray that hell or heaven lets you in.

COMPANY
Seven!

LEE
Confess your sins, ready for the moment of adrenaline when you finally face your opponent.

COMPANY
Number eight!

LAURENS/LEE/HAMILTON/BURR
Your last chance to negotiate.
Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight…

BURR
Alexander.

HAMILTON
Aaron Burr, sir.

BURR
Can we agree that duels are dumb and immature?

HAMILTON
Sure.
But your man has to answer for his words, Burr.

22
BURR
With his life? We both know that’s absurd, sir.

HAMILTON
Hang on, how many men died because Lee was inexperienced and ruinous?

BURR
Okay, so we’re doin’ this.

COMPANY
Number nine!

HAMILTON
Look ‘em in the eye, aim no higher.
Summon all the courage you require.
Then count

MEN
One two three four

FULL COMPANY
Five six seven eight nine

HAMILTON/BURR
Number

COMPANY
Ten paces!

HAMILTON/BURR
Fire!

16. Meet Me Inside

HAMILTON
Lee, do you yield?

BURR
You shot him in the side!
Yes, he yields!

LAURENS
I’m satisfied.

23
BURR
Yo, we gotta clear the field!

HAMILTON
Go! We won.

COMPANY
Here comes the General!

BURR
This should be fun.

WASHINGTON
What is the meaning of this? Mr. Burr, get a medic for the General.

BURR
Yes, sir.

WASHINGTON
Lee, you will never agree with me, but
believe me, these young men don’t speak
for me.
Thank you for your service.

BURR
Let’s ride!

WASHINGTON
Hamilton!

HAMILTON
Sir!

WASHINGTON
Meet me inside.

COMPANY
Meet him inside! Meet him inside!
Meet him inside, meet him, meet him inside!

WASHINGTON
Son—

24
HAMILTON
Don’t call me son.

WASHINGTON
This war is hard
enough without
infighting—

HAMILTON
Lee called you out. We called his bluff.

WASHINGTON
You solve nothing, you aggravate our allies to the south.

HAMILTON
You’re absolutely right. John should have shot him in the mouth.
That would’ve shut him up.

WASHINGTON
Son—

HAMILTON
I’m notcha son—

WASHINGTON
Watch your tone.
I am not a maiden in need of defending, I am grown.

HAMILTON (OVERLAPPING)
Charles Lee, Thomas Conway,
these men take your name and
they rake it through the mud.

WASHINGTON
My name’s been through a lot, I can take it.
HAMILTON
Well, I don’t have your name. I don’t have your titles.
I don’t have your land.
But, if you—

WASHINGTON
No—

HAMILTON

25
If you gave me command of a battalion, a group of men to lead, I could fly above my station
after the war.

WASHINGTON
Or you could die and we need you alive.

HAMILTON
I’m more than willing to die—

WASHINGTON
Your wife needs you alive, son, I need you alive—

HAMILTON
Call me son one more time—

WASHINGTON
Go home, Alexander.
That’s an order from your commander.

HAMILTON
Sir—

WASHINGTON
Go home.

17. That Would Be Enough

ELIZA
Look around, look around at how lucky
we are to be alive right now.
Look around, look around…

HAMILTON
How long have you known?

ELIZA
A month or so.

HAMILTON
Eliza, you should have told me.

ELIZA
I wrote to the General a month ago.

26
HAMILTON
No.

ELIZA
I begged him to send you home.

HAMILTON
You should have told me.

ELIZA
I’m not sorry.

ELIZA
I knew you’d fight HAMILTON until the war was
won The war’s not done.
But you deserve
a chance to meet
your son. Look
around, look
around at how
lucky we are to
be alive right
now.

HAMILTON
Will you relish being a poor man’s
wife, unable to provide for your life?
ELIZA
I relish being your wife.
Look around, look around…

Look at where you are.

Look at where you started.
The fact that you’re alive is a miracle.
Just stay alive, that would be enough.

And if this child Shares a fraction

of your smile or a fragment of
your mind, look out world!
That would be enough.

I don’t pretend to
know the

27
challenges you’re
facing.
The worlds you keep erasing and creating in your mind.

But I’m not afraid.

I know who I married.
So long as you come home at the end of the
day that would be enough.

We don’t need a legacy.

We don’t need money.
If I could grant you peace of mind,

If you could let me inside

your heart… Oh, let me be a
part of the narrative in the
story they will write someday.
Let this moment be the first chapter:
where you decide
to stay and I
could be enough
and we could be
enough that
would be
enough.

18. Guns and Ships

BURR
How does a ragtag volunteer army in need of a shower
somehow defeat a global superpower?
How do we emerge victorious from the quagmire?
Leave the battlefield waving Betsy Ross’ flag higher?
Yo. Turns out we have a secret weapon!
An immigrant you know and love who’s unafraid to step in!
He’s constantly confusin’, confoundin’ the British henchmen.
Ev’ryone give it up for America’s favorite fighting Frenchman!

COMPANY
Lafayette!

LAFAYETTE

28
I’m takin this horse by the reins makin’
redcoats redder with bloodstains.

COMPANY
Lafayette!

LAFAYETTE
And I’m never gonna stop until I make
‘em drop and burn ‘em up and scatter their
remains, I’m

COMPANY
Lafayette!

LAFAYETTE
Watch me engagin’ em! Escapin’ em!
Enragin’ em! I’m—

COMPANY
Lafayette!

LAFAYETTE
I go to France for more funds.

COMPANY
Lafayette!

LAFAYETTE
I come back with more
LAFAYETTE AND ENSEMBLE
Guns
And ships
And so the balance shifts.

WASHINGTON
We rendezvous with Rochambeau, consolidate their gifts.

LAFAYETTE
We can end this war at Yorktown, cut them off at
sea, but for this to succeed, there’s someone else we
need:

WASHINGTON
I know.

29
WASHINGTON AND COMPANY
Hamilton!

LAFAYETTE
Sir, he knows what to do in a trench.
ingenuitive and fluent in French, I
mean—

WASHINGTON AND COMPANY

Hamilton!

LAFAYETTE
Sir, you’re gonna have to use him eventually,
what’s he gonna do on the bench? I mean—

WASHINGTON AND COMPANY

Hamilton!

LAFAYETTE
No one has more resilience
or matches my practical tactical brilliance—

WASHINGTON AND COMPANY

Hamilton!

LAFAYETTE
You wanna fight for your land back? COMPANY
Hamilton!
WASHINGTON Ha—
I need my right hand man back! ha—!
WOMEN
LAFAYETTE Hamilton! WASHINGTON
Ah! Uh, get ya right hand Alexander Hamilton,
man back you know you troops are waiting in the
gotta get ya right hand field for you. If you join
man back us right now, together
we can turn the tide.
I mean you gotta put some Oh, Alexander Hamilton,
thought into the letter but the sooner I have
the Hamilton! soldiers
better to get your right hand who will
man back! yield for
Hamilton, Hamilton! you. If

30
we manage to get this right,
they’ll surrender by early light.
The world will never be the same, Alexander…

MEN
Get your right hand man back!

Your right hand man back!

Hamilton!
Ha—
Ha—
Hamilton, Hamilton!
Ha— ha—!

31
19. History Has Its Eyes On You

WASHINGTON
I was younger then you are now when
I was given my first command.
I led my men straight into a massacre.
I witnessed their deaths firsthand.
I made every mistake,
I felt the shame rise in me,
And even now I lie awake,

WASHINGTON LAURENS/MULLIGAN
Knowing history has its eyes on me. Whoa…
Whoa…
Whoa…
Yeah

HAMILTON/WASHINGTON COMPANY
History has its eyes on me. Whoa…
Whoa…
Whoa…
Yeah

WASHINGTON
Let me tell you what I wish I’d known
when I was young and dreamed of glory:
You have no control:

WASHINGTON AND COMPANY

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story.

WASHINGTON
I know that we can win.
I know that greatness lies in you.
But remember from here on in,

WASHINGTON/HAMILTON AND MEN

History has its Eyes ENSEMBLE
on you. Whoa…
Whoa…
Whoa…

FULL COMPANY
History has its eyes on you.

32
20. Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)

COMPANY
The battle of Yorktown. 1781.

LAFAYETTE
Monsieur Hamilton.

HAMILTON
Monsieur Lafayette.

LAFAYETTE
In command where you belong.

HAMILTON
How you say, no sweat.
We’re finally on the field. We’ve had quite a run.

LAFAYETTE
Immigrants:

HAMILTON/LAFAYETTE
We get the job done.

HAMILTON
So what happens if we win?

LAFAYETTE
I go back to France,
I bring freedom to my people if I’m given the chance.

HAMILTON
We’ll be with you when you do.

LAFAYETTE
Go lead your men.

HAMILTON
See you on the other side.

LAFAYETTE
‘Til we meet again, let’s go!

ENSEMBLE

33
I am not throwin’ away my shot!
I am not throwin’ away my shot! Hey yo,
I’m just like my country, I’m young, scrappy
and hungry and I’m not throwin’ away my
shot!
I am not throwin’ away my shot!

HAMILTON
‘Til the world turns upside down…

ENSEMBLE
‘Til the world turns upside down!

HAMILTON
I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory.
This is where it gets me: on my feet, the enemy
ahead of me.
If this is the end of me, at least I have a friend with me, weapon
in my hand, a command, and my men with me.
Then I remember my Eliza’s expecting me...
not only that, my Eliza’s expecting. We
gotta go, gotta get the job done, gotta start a
new nation, gotta meet my son!
Take the bullets out your gun!

ENSEMBLE
What?

HAMILTON
The bullets out your gun!

ENSEMBLE
What?

HAMILTON
We move under cover and we move as one through the
night, we have one shot to live another day.
We cannot let a stray gunshot give us away.
We will fight up close, seize the moment and stay in it.
It’s either that or meet the business end of a bayonet.
The code word is ‘Rochambeau,’ dig me?
ENSEMBLE
Rochambeau!

34
HAMILTON
You have your orders now, go, man, go! And so
the American experiment begins with my
friends all scattered to the winds. Laurens is in
South Carolina, redefining brav’ry.

HAMILTON/LAURENS
We’ll never be free until we end slavery!

HAMILTON
When we finally drive the British away,
Lafayette is there waiting—

HAMILTON/LAFAYETTE
In Chesapeake Bay!

HAMILTON
How did we know that this plan would work?
We had a spy on the inside. That’s right,

HAMILTON/COMPANY
Hercules Mulligan!

MULLIGAN
A tailor spyin’ on the British government!
I take their measurements, information and then I smuggle it!

COMPANY
Up

MULLIGAN
To my brother’s revolutionary covenant I’m runnin’
with the Sons of Liberty and I am lovin’ it!
See, that’s what happens when you up against the ruffians.
We in the shit now, somebody gotta shovel it! Hercules
Mulligan, I need no introduction, when you knock me
down I get the fuck back up again!

COMPANY
Left! Right! Hold!
Go!
What! What! What!

HAMILTON

35
After a week of fighting, a young man in a red coat stands on a parapet.

LAFAYETTE
We lower our guns as he frantically waves a white handkerchief.

MULLIGAN
And just like that, it’s over. We tend to our wounded, we count our dead.

LAURENS
Black and white soldiers wonder alike if this really means freedom.

WASHINGTON
Not. Yet.

HAMILTON
We negotiate the terms of surrender.
I see George Washington smile.
We escort their men out of Yorktown.
They stagger home single file.
Tens of thousands of people flood the streets.
There are screams and church bells ringing.
And as our fallen foes retreat,
I hear the drinking song they’re singing…

ALL MEN
The world turned upside down.

FULL COMPANY
The world turned upside down,
the world turned upside down, the
world turned upside down,
down, down, down,
down.

LAFAYETTE
Freedom for America, freedom for France!

COMPANY
Down, down, down.

HAMILTON
Gotta start a new nation, gotta
meet my son.

36
COMPANY
Down, down, down.

MULLIGAN
We won!

LAFAYETTE We
won!

MULLIGAN/LAFAYETTE/LAURENS We
won!

MULLIGAN/LAFAYETTE/LAURENS/HAMILTON/WASHINGTON
We won!

COMPANY
The world turned upside down!

37
21. What Comes Next?

KING GEORGE
They say the price of my war’s not a price that they’re
willing to pay.
Insane.
You cheat with the French, now I’m fighting with France and with Spain.
I’m so blue.
I thought that we’d made an arrangement
when you went away, You
were mine to subdue.
Well, even despite our estrangement, I’ve got a
small query for you:

What comes next?

You’ve been freed.
Do you know how hard it is to lead?

You’re on your own.

Awesome. Wow.
Do you have a clue what happens now?

Oceans rise.
Empires fall.
It’s much harder when it’s all your call.

All alone, across the sea.

When your people say they hate you, don’t come
crawling back to me.

Da da da dat da dat da da da
Da ya da
Da da dat Da
da ya da...

You’re on your own…

22. Dear Theodosia

BURR
Dear Theodosia, what to say to you?
You have my eyes. You have your mother’s name.

38
When you came into the world, you cried and it broke my heart.

I’m dedicating every day to you.

Domestic life was never quite my style.
When you smile, you knock me out, I fall apart.
And I thought I was so smart.

You will come of age with our young nation.

We’ll bleed and fight for you, we’ll make it right for you.
If we lay a strong enough foundation we’ll pass it on to
you, we’ll give the world to you,
and you’ll blow us all away…
someday, someday. Yeah,
you’ll blow us all away,
someday, someday.

HAMILTON
Oh Philip, when you smile I am undone.
My son.
Look at my son. Pride is not the word I’m looking for.

There is so much more inside me HAMILTON

now. I’ll do whatever it
Oh Philip, you outshine the morning takes.
sun.
My son.
When you smile, I fall apart. BURR
And I thought I was so smart. I’ll be around for
My father wasn’t around. you.

BURR
My father wasn’t around.

HAMILTON
I swear that I’ll be
around for you.
BURR
I’ll make a million mistakes.

BURR/HAMILTON
I’ll make the world
safe and sound for
you… …will come

39
of age with our
young nation.
We’ll bleed and fight for you, we’ll make it right for you.

If we lay a strong
enough foundation
we’ll pass it on to
you, we’ll give the
world to you, and
you’ll blow us all
away... someday,
someday. Yeah,
you’ll blow us all
away, someday,
someday.

40
23. Non-Stop

BURR
After the war I went back to New York.

HAMILTON
A-after the war I went back to New York.

BURR
I finished up my studies and I practiced law.

HAMILTON
I practiced law, Burr worked next door.

BURR
Even though we started at the very same time,
Alexander Hamilton began to climb.
How to account for his rise to the
top? Maaaaan, the man is non-stop!
ENSEMBLE
Non-stop!

HAMILTON
Gentlemen of the jury, I’m curious, bear with me.
Are you aware that we’re making hist’ry?
This is the first murder trial of our brand-new nation.

HAMILTON
The liberty behind deliberation— ENSEMBLE
Non-stop!

HAMILTON
I intend to prove
beyond a shadow
of a doubt with
my assistant
counsel—

BURR
Co-counsel.
Hamilton, sit down.
Our client Levi Weeks is innocent. Call your first witness.
That’s all you had to say!

41
HAMILTON
Okay!
One more thing—

BURR
Why do you assume you’re the smartest in the room?
Why do you assume you’re the smartest in the room?
Why do you assume you’re the smartest in the room?
Soon that attitude may be your doom!

E
N
S
E
M
B
L
E

A
w
w
w
w
!

BURR ENSEMBLE
Why do you write like you’re running out of time? Why do you write
like you’re running out of time?
Write day and night like
you’re running out of
time? Ev’ry day you fight,
like you’re running out of
time.
Ev’ry day you fight, like you’re running out of time.
Keep on fighting. In
the meantime—

Non-stop!

HAMILTON
Corruption’s such an old song
that we can sing along in
harmony and nowhere is it

42
stronger than in Albany. This
colony’s economy’s increasingly
stalling and

HAMILTON
Honestly, that’s why public service seems BURR AND ENSEMBLE
to be calling me. He’s just
Non-stop!

HAMILTON
I practiced the law, I practic’ly perfected it.
I’ve seen injustice in the world and I’ve corrected it.
Now for a strong central democracy,
If not, then I’ll be Socrates

HAMILTON
Throwing verbal rocks
at these mediocrities. ENSEMBLE
Awww!

BURR
Hamilton, at the Constitutional Convention:

HAMILTON
I was chosen for the Constitutional Convention.

BURR
There as a New York junior delegate:

HAMILTON
Now what I’m going to say may sound indelicate…
COMPANY
BURR Awwww!
Goes and proposes his
own form of
government! His
own plan for a new form
of government!
What?

What?

BURR Talks for six hours! The

convention is listless!

43
 HAMILTON
ENSEMBLE MAN Aaron Burr, sir.
Bright young man…
BURR
ANOTHER ENSEMBLE MAN It’s the middle of the night.
Yo, who the f is this?
HAMILTON
BURR Can we confer, sir?
Why do you always say what you
believe? Why do you always say what BURR
you believe? Ev’ry proclamation Is this a legal matter?
guarantees free ammunition for your
enemies! HAMILTON
Yes, and it’s important to me.
BURR AND MEN
Why do you BURR
write like it’s What do you need?
going out of
style? Write HAMILTON
day and night Burr, you’re a better lawyer than
like it’s going me.
out of style?
BURR
BURR AND COMPANY Okay.
Ev’ry day you fight
like it’s going out of HAMILTON
style. I know I talk too much, I’m
Do what you do. abrasive.
You’re incredible in court.
BURR You’re succinct, persuasive.
Alexander? My client needs a strong
defense. You’re the solution.

COMPANY BURR
Why do you always say what you Who’s your client?
believe?
HAMILTON
The new U.S. Constitution?
Awww!
BURR
ALL WOMEN No.
Going out of style, hey!
HAMILTON
Going out of style, hey! Hear me out.

44
 No way!
BURR
HAMILTON
A series of essays,
anonymously
published, defending
the document to the
public.

BURR
No one will read it.

HAMILTON
I disagree.

BURR
And if it fails?

HAMILTON
Burr, that’s why we need it.

BURR
The constitution’s a mess.

HAMILTON
So it needs amendments.

BURR
It’s full of contradictions.

HAMILTON
So is independence.
We have to start somewhere.

BURR
No. No way.

HAMILTON
You’re making a mistake.

BURR
Good night.

HAMILTON

45
Hey.
What are you waiting for?
What do you stall for?

BURR
What? ENSEMBLE
W
HAMILTON a
We won the war. i
What was it all for? t
Do you support this constitution?
f
BURR o
Of course. r

HAMILTON i
Then defend it. t
,
BURR
And what if you’re backing the wrong w
horse? a
i
HAMILTON t
Burr, we studied and we fought and we
killed for the notion of a nation we now f
get to build. o
For once in your life, take a stand with r
pride. I don’t understand how you stand
to the side. i
t
,
BURR
I’ll keep all my plans
w
close to my chest.
a
i
t
I’ll wait here and see
…
which way the wind
will blow. I’m taking
my time, watching
W
the afterbirth of a
h
nation, watching the
i
tension grow.
c
h

46
way the wind
will blow. I’m
taking my
time,
watching the
afterbirth of a
nation,
watching the
tension grow.

ANGELICA
I am sailing off to London. I’m
accompanied by someone who
always pays.
I have found a
wealthy husband
who will keep
me in comfort
for all my days.
He is not a lot of
fun, but there’s
no one who can
match you for
turn of phrase.
My Alexander.

HAMILTON
Angelica.

ANGELICA
Don’t forget to write.

ELIZA
Look at where you are.
Look at where you started.
The fact that you’re alive is a miracle.
Just stay alive, that would be enough.
And if your wife could
share a fraction of your
time, if I could grant
you peace of mind,
would that be enough?

47
BURR
Alexander joins forces with James Madison and John Jay to write a
series of essays defending the new United States Constitution, entitled
The Federalist Papers. The plan was to write a total of twenty-five
essays, the work divided evenly among the three men. In the end, they
wrote eighty-five essays, in the span of six months. John Jay got sick
after writing five. James Madison wrote twenty-nine. Hamilton wrote the
other fifty-one!

BURR
How do you write like you’re running ALL WOMEN
out of time? Running out of time?
Write day and night like you’re running
out of time? running out of time?

BURR AND MEN

Ev’ry day you fight,
like you’re running
out of time, like running out of time,
you’re running out
of time, are you running out of time,
running out of
time? Awwww!

FULL COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON)

How do you write like tomorrow won’t arrive?
How do you write like you need it to survive?
How do you write ev’ry second you’re alive?
Ev’ry second you’re alive? Ev’ry second you’re alive?

WASHINGTON
They are
asking me
to lead. I
am doing
the best I
can to get
the people
that I need,
I’m asking
you to be
my right
hand man.

HAMILTON

48
Treasury or State?

WASHINGTON
I know it’s a lot to ask,

HAMILTON
Treasury or State?

WASHINGTON
To leave behind the world you know…

HAMILTON
Sir, do you want me to run the Treasury or State department?

WASHINGTON
Treasury.

HAMILTON
Let’s go.

ELIZA
Alexander…

HAMILTON
I have to leave.

ELIZA
Alexander—

HAMILTON
Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now.

ELIZA
Helpless…
H
A
M
I
L
T
O
N

49
 h
e
y

a
r
e

a
s
k
i
n
g

m
e

t
o

l
e
a
d
.

ELIZA
Look around, isn’t this enough?

50
ANGELICA
He will never be
satisfied, ELIZA
he will never be satisfied, What would be enough

To be
satisfied,
satisfied, satisfied,
satisfied… WASHINGTON
satisfied…
History has its eyes…
on… you!

BURR
Look around, Why do you assume you’re
the smartest in the room? Why do you
look around! assume you’re the smartest
WASHINGTON/ in the room? ENSEMBLE Why
He will never be
satisfied, MULLIGAN/ do you assume Non-stop!
LAURENS/ you’re the smartest in the room?
satisfied, LAFAYETTE Non-stop!
Isn’t this enough?
History has its eyes… Soon that attitude’s gonna be your
What would be enough?
satisfied… on… you... doom! Non-stop! Why do you
Why do you fight like
history has its eyes on fight like you’re running out of
Why do you fight like history has its eyes on
you... Non-stop! time?
you...
history has its eyes on
you…
Why do you fight like history has its
eyes on history has its eyes on you… you...
HAMILTON MEN
I am not throwin’ away Just you wait!
my shot!
FULL COMPANY
I am not throwin’ away Just you wait!
my shot! Alexander Hamilton
I am Hamilton, just you wait!
Alexander Hamilton!

I am not throwin’ away

my shot!

51
ACT 2

1. What’d I Miss

COMPANY
Seventeen. Se- se- seventeen...
Se- se- seventeen…

BURR
1789.
How does the bastard orphan, immigrant decorated
war vet unite the colonies through more debt? Fight
the other founding fathers til he has to forfeit? Have
it all, lose it all, you ready for more yet?
Treasury Secretary. Washington’s the President, ev’ry
American experiment sets a precedent.
Not so fast. Someone came along to resist him.
Pissed him off until we had a two-party system.
You haven’t met him yet, you haven’t had the chance,
‘cause he’s been kickin’ ass as the ambassador to France but
someone’s gotta keep the American promise.
You simply must meet Thomas. Thomas!

COMPANY
Thomas Jefferson’s coming home!
Thomas Jefferson’s coming home!
Thomas Jefferson’s coming home!
Thomas Jefferson’s coming home! Thomas
Jefferson’s coming home Lord he’s been off
in Paris for so long!
Aaa-ooo!
Aaa-ooo!

JEFFERSON
France is following us to revolution, there
is no more status quo.
But the sun comes up and the world still spins.

ENSEMBLE
Aaa-ooo!

JEFFERSON

1
I helped Lafayette draft a declaration, then
I said, ‘I gotta go.
I gotta be in Monticello.’ Now the work at
home begins…

ENSEMBLE
Aaa-ooo!

JEFFERSON
So what’d I miss?
What’d I miss?
Virginia, my home sweet home, I wanna give you a kiss.
I’ve been in Paris meeting lots of different ladies...
I guess I basic’lly missed the late eighties...
I traveled the wide, wide world and came back to this…

ENSEMBLE
Aaa-ooo!

JEFFERSON
There’s a letter on my desk from the President.
Haven’t even put my bags down yet.
Sally be a lamb, darlin’, won’tcha open it? It
says the President’s assembling a cabinet and
that I am to be the Secretary of State, great!
And that I’m already Senate-approved...
I just got home and now I’m headed up to New York.

ENSEMBLE
Headin’ to New York!
Headin’ to New York!

JEFFERSON
Lookin’ at the rolling fields I ENSEMBLE
can’t believe that we are free. Believe that we are free

Ready to face
whatever’s awaiting me
in N.Y.C. Me in N.Y.C.

JEFFERSON
But who’s waitin’ for me when I step in the place?
My friend James Madison, red in the face.

2
JEFFERSON
He grabs my arm and
I respond,
“What’s goin’ on?” ENSEMBLE
Aaa-ooo!

MADISON
Thomas, we are engaged in a battle for our nation’s very soul.
Can you get us out of the mess we’re in?

ENSEMBLE
Aaa-ooo!

MADISON
Hamilton’s new financial plan is nothing less than
government control.
I’ve been fighting for the South alone.
Where have you been?

JEFFERSON
ENSEMBLE Uh...France.
Aaa-ooo!

MADISON
We have to win.

JEFFERSON
What’d I miss? ENSEMBLE
Wha? Wha? What’d I miss?
What’d I miss?
I’ve come home to this?
Headfirst into a political abyss!
Headfirst, into the abyss!
I have my first cabinet meeting today,
Chik-a-pow!
I guess I better think of something to say,
I’m already on my way, let’s On my way
get to the bottom of this…
What did I miss?
Ahhh ah!
WASHINGTON
Mr. Jefferson, welcome home.

3
HAMILTON
Mr. Jefferson? Alexander Hamilton.

WASHINGTON AND ENSEMBLE

Mr. Jefferson, welcome home.

COMPANY
Mr. Jefferson, welcome home
Sir, you’ve been off in Paris for so long!

JEFFERSON
So what did I miss?

4
2. Cabinet Battle #1

WASHINGTON
Ladies and gentlemen, you coulda been anywhere in the world tonight, but you’re here with us in New
York City. Are you ready for a cabinet meeting???

The issue on the table: Secretary Hamilton’s plan to assume state debt and establish a national bank.
Secretary Jefferson, you have the floor, sir.

JEFFERSON
‘Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’
We fought for these ideals; we shouldn’t settle for less.
These are wise words, enterprising men quote ‘em.
Don’t act surprised, you guys, cuz I wrote ‘em.

JEFFERSON/MADISON
Oww

JEFFERSON
But Hamilton forgets his plan would have the
government assume state’s debts.
Now, place your bets as to who that benefits: the
very seat of government where Hamilton sits.

HAMILTON
Not true!

JEFFERSON
Ooh, if the shoe fits, wear it. If New York’s in debt— why
should Virginia bear it? Uh! Our debts are paid, I’m afraid.
Don’t tax the South cuz we got it made in the shade.
In Virginia, we plant seeds in the ground.
We create. You just wanna move our money around. This
financial plan is an outrageous demand, and it’s too
many damn pages for any man to understand. Stand with
me in the land of the free and pray to God we never see
Hamilton’s candidacy.
Look, when Britain taxed our tea, we got frisky.
Imagine what gon’ happen when you try to tax our whisky.

WASHINGTON
Thank you, Secretary Jefferson. Secretary Hamilton, your response.

HAMILTON

5
Thomas. That was a real nice declaration.
Welcome to the present, we’re running a real nation.
Would you like to join us, or stay mellow,
Doin’ whatever the hell it is you do in Monticello?
If we assume the debts, the union gets A new line
of credit, a financial diuretic.
How do you not get it? If we’re aggressive and competitive
The union gets a boost. You’d rather give it a sedative? A
civics lesson from a slaver. Hey neighbor, Your debts are
paid cuz you don’t pay for labor.
“We plant seeds in the South. We create.”
Yeah, keep ranting, we know who’s really
doing the planting.
And another thing, Mr. Age of Enlightenment, Don’t
lecture me about the war, you didn’t fight in it.
You think I’m frightened of you, man? We almost
died in a trench while you were off getting high with
the French. Thomas Jefferson, always hesitant with
the President, reticent—there isn’t a plan he doesn’t
jettison.
Madison, you’re mad as a hatter, son, take your medicine.
Damn, you’re in worse shape than the national debt is in, sittin’
there useless as two shits.
Hey, turn around, bend over, I’ll show you where
my shoe fits.

WASHINGTON
Excuse me? Jefferson, Madison, take a walk! Hamilton, take a walk! We’ll reconvene after a brief recess.
Hamilton!

HAMILTON
Sir!

WASHINGTON
A word.

MADISON
You don’t have the votes.

JEFFERSON/MADISON
You don’t have the votes.

JEFFERSON
Aha-ha-ha ha!

6
JEFFERSON/MADISON
You’re gonna need congressional approval and you don’t have the votes.

JEFFERSON
Such a blunder sometimes it makes me wonder why I even bring the thunder.

MADISON
Why he even brings the thunder…

WASHINGTON
You wanna pull yourself together?

HAMILTON
I’m sorry, these Virginians are birds of a feather.

WASHINGTON
Young man, I’m from Virginia, so watch your mouth.

HAMILTON
So we let Congress get held hostage by the South?

WASHINGTON
You need the votes.

HAMILTON
No, we need bold strokes. We need this plan.

WASHINGTON
No, you need to convince more folks.

HAMILTON
James Madison won’t talk to me, that’s a nonstarter.

WASHINGTON
Winning was easy, young man. Governing’s harder.

HAMILTON
They’re being intransigent.

WASHINGTON
You have to find a compromise.

HAMILTON

7
But they don’t have a plan, they just hate mine!

WASHINGTON
Convince them otherwise.

HAMILTON
What happens if I don’t get congressional approval?

WASHINGTON
I imagine they’ll call for your removal.

HAMILTON
Sir—

WASHINGTON
Figure it out, Alexander. That’s an order from your commander.

8
2. Take a Break

ELIZA
Un deux trois quatre Cinq PHILIP
six sept huit neuf. Un deux trois quatre
Cinq six sept huit neuf.
Good! Un deux trois quatre Cinq
six sept huit neuf. Un deux trois quatre
Cinq six sept huit neuf.
Sept huit neuf—
Sept huit neuf—
Sept huit neuf—
Sept huit neuf—

ELIZA AND PHILIP

One two three four five six seven eight nine!

HAMILTON
My dearest, Angelica,
“tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty
pace from day to day” I trust you’ll understand the reference
to another Scottish tragedy without my having to name the
play.
They think me Macbeth, and ambition is my folly,
I’m a polymath, a pain in the ass, a massive pain,
Madison is Banquo, Jefferson’s Macduff
And Birnam Wood is Congress on its way to Dunsinane.

HAMILTON/ANGELICA
And there you are, an ocean away.
Do you have to live an ocean away?
Thoughts of you subside, then I get
another letter,
I cannot put the notion away…

ELIZA
Take a break.

HAMILTON
I am on my way.

ELIZA
There’s a little surprise before supper and
it cannot wait.

9
HAMILTON
I’ll be there in just a minute, save my plate.

ELIZA
Alexander—

HAMILTON
Okay, okay—

ELIZA
Your son is nine years old today. has
something he’d like to say.
He’s been practicing all day.
Philip, take it away—

PHILIP
Daddy, daddy, look— My
name is Philip.
I am a poet.
I wrote this poem just to
show it.
And I just turned nine.
You can write rhymes, but
HAMILTON
you can’t write mine.
What!
I practice French and play
piano with my mother.
Uh-huh!
I have a sister but I want a little brother. Okay!
My daddy’s trying to start America’s bank.
Un deux trois quatre cinq! Bravo!

ELIZA
Take a break.

HAMILTON
Hey, our kid is pretty great.

ELIZA
Run away with us for the summer.
Let’s go upstate.

10
HAMILTON
Eliza, I’ve got so much on my plate.

ELIZA
We can all go stay with my father.
There’s a lake I know…

HAMILTON
I know.

ELIZA
In a nearby park.

HAMILTON
I’d love to go.

ELIZA
You and I can go when the night gets dark…

HAMILTON
I will try to get away.

ANGELICA
My dearest Alexander,
You must get through to Jefferson. Sit down with him
and compromise, don’t stop ‘til you agree your fav’rite
older sister, Angelica, reminds you there’s someone in
your corner all the way across the sea.

In a letter I received from you two weeks ago I

noticed a comma in the middle of a phrase.
It changed the meaning. Did you intend this?
One stroke and you’ve consumed my waking days.
It says:

HAMILTON/ANGELICA
“My dearest Angelica”

ANGELICA
With a comma after “dearest.” You’ve written HAMILTON AND ANGELICA
“My dearest, Angelica.”

ANGELICA

11
Anyway, all this to say I’m coming home this
summer at my sister’s invitation, I’ll be there
with your fam’ly if you make your way
upstate. I know you’re very busy, I know your
work’s important, but I’m crossing the ocean
and I just can’t wait.

HAMILTON AND ANGELICA

You won’t be an ocean away.
You will only be a moment away…

ELIZA
Alexander, come downstairs. Angelica’s arriving today!

ELIZA
Angelica!

ANGELICA
Eliza!

HAMILTON
The Schuyler sisters!

ANGELICA
Alexander.

HAMILTON
Hi.

ANGELICA
It’s good to see your face.

ELIZA
Angelica, tell this man John Adams spends the summer with his family.

HAMILTON
Angelica, tell my wife John Adams doesn’t have a real job anyway.
ANGELICA
…you’re not joining us? Wait.

HAMILTON
I’m afraid I cannot join you upstate.

ANGELICA

12
Alexander, I came all this way.

ELIZA
She came all this way—

ANGELICA
All this way—

ELIZA AND ANGELICA

Take a break.

HAMILTON
You know I have to get my plan through Congress.

ELIZA AND ANGELICA

Run away with us for the summer.
Let’s go upstate.

HAMILTON
I lose my job if I don’t get my plan through Congress.
Eliza’s right— Take a
ELIZA AND ANGELICA break.
We can all go stay with our father.
Run away with us for the summer— Let’s go
ELIZA upstate.
There’s a lake I know
We can all go stay with our father,
In a nearby park
Look around, look around at how lucky we are
You and I can go to be alive right now—

Take a break and get away— We can go—

When the night gets dark.
Take a break.
Let’s go upstate where we
can stay. HAMILTON
I have to get my plan through Congress.
ANGELICA if you take your time—
I know I’ll miss your face—
you will make your mark. Close your
Screw your courage to the sticking eyes and dream—
place—
when the night gets dark.
Take a break.

13
I can’t stop until I get this plan through Congress.

14
4. Say No To This

BURR
There’s nothing like summer in the city.
Someone under stress meets someone looking pretty.
There’s trouble in the air, you can smell it. and Alexander’s by
himself. I’ll let him tell it.

HAMILTON
I hadn’t slept in a week.
I was weak, I was awake. You never seen a
bastard orphan more in need of a break.
Longing for Angelica.
Missing my wife.
That’s when Miss Maria Reynolds walked into my life, she said:

MARIA
I know you are a man of honor, I’m so sorry to
bother you at home
but I don’t know where to go, and I came here all alone…

HAMILTON
She said:

MARIA
My husband’s doin’ me wrong beatin’ me, cheatin’ me,
mistreatin’ me...
Suddenly he’s up and gone.
I don’t have the means to go on.

HAMILTON
So I offered her a loan, I offered to walk her home, she said

MARIA
You’re too kind, sir.

HAMILTON
I gave her thirty bucks that I had socked away, she lived a block
away, she said:

MARIA
This one’s mine, sir.

HAMILTON

15
Then I said, “well, I should head back home,” she turned red,
she led me to her bed, let her legs spread and said:

MARIA
Stay?

HAMILTON
Hey…

MARIA
Hey…

HAMILTON
That’s when I began to pray: Lord, show me
how to say no to this. I don’t know how to
say no to this.

But my God, she looks so helpless

And her body’s saying, “hell, yes”

MARIA
Whoa…

HAMILTON
Nooo, show me how to

HAMILTON/ENSEMBLE
Say no to this.

HAMILTON
I don’t know how to

HAMILTON/ENSEMBLE
Say no to this.

HAMILTON
In my mind, I’m tryin’ to go

ENSEMBLE
Go! Go! Go!

HAMILTON
Then her mouth is on mine, and I don’t say…

16
ENSEMBLE
No! No!
Say no to this! No! No!
Say no to this! No! No!
Say no to this! No! No!
Say no to this!

HAMILTON
I wish I could say that was the last time.
I said that last time. It became a pastime. A month into this
endeavor I received a letter from a Mr. James Reynolds, even
better, it said:

JAMES
Dear Sir, I hope this letter finds you in good health, and in a
prosperous enough position to put wealth in the pockets of people
like me: down on their luck.
You see, that was my wife who you decided to

HAMILTON
Fuuuu—

JAMES
Uh-oh! You made the wrong sucker a cuckold, so time to pay the
piper for the pants you unbuckled. And hey, you can keep seein’ my
whore wife if the price is right: if not I’m telling your wife.

HAMILTON
I hid the letter and I raced to her place, screamed “How could
you?!” in her face, she said:

MARIA
No, sir!

HAMILTON
Half dressed, apologetic. A mess, she looked pathetic, she cried:

MARIA
Please don’t go, sir!

HAMILTON
So was your whole story a setup?

MARIA

17
I don’t know about any letter!

HAMILTON
Stop crying Goddamnit, get up!

MARIA
I didn’t know any better

HAMILTON
I am ruined...

MARIA
Please don’t leave me with him HAMILTON helpless. I am helpless—how could I do this?
Just give him what he wants and you can have me.

Whatever you want, I don’t want you

I don’t want you

MARIA HAMILTON
If you pay, You I don’t…
can stay.
Lord, show me how to ENSEMBLE say no to
this. Say no to this! I don’t know how to
Tonight say no to this. Say no to this!
Cuz the situation’s helpless.

Helpless. And her body’s screaming, “Hell, yes”

No, show me how to say no to this.

Whoa!
Say no to this!
How can I
How can you

say no to this?

Yes.

HAMILTON Yes.
Yes. Say no to this? Say no to this!
There is nowhere I can go.
Go! Go! Go!
When her body’s on mine I do
Yes. not say…

18
 No!
Yes! Say no to this!
MARIA No!
Yes! Say no to this!
Yes! No!
this! Yes! Say no to this!

HAMILTON
Say no to this… MARIA
I don’t say no to this, there Don’t say no to this.
is nowhere I can go.
ENSEMBLE
Go go go...

JAMES
So?

HAMILTON
Nobody needs to know.

5. The Room Where It Happens

BURR
Ah, Mister Secretary.

HAMILTON
Mister Burr, sir.

BURR
Didja hear the news about good old General Mercer?

HAMILTON
No.

BURR
You know Clermont Street?

HAMILTON
Yeah.

BURR
They renamed it after him. The Mercer legacy is secure.

19
HAMILTON
Sure.

BURR
And all he had to do was die.

HAMILTON
That’s a lot less work.

BURR
We oughta give it a try.

HAMILTON
Ha.

BURR
Now how’re you gonna get your debt plan through?

HAMILTON
I guess I’m gonna fin’ly have to listen to you.

BURR
Really?

HAMILTON
Talk less. Smile more.

BURR
Ha.

HAMILTON
Do whatever it takes to get my plan on the Congress floor.

BURR
Now, Madison and Jefferson are merciless.

HAMILTON
Well, hate the sin, love the sinner.

MADISON
Hamilton!

HAMILTON
I’m sorry Burr, I’ve gotta go.

20
BURR
But—

HAMILTON
Decisions are happening over dinner.

BURR
Two Virginians and an immigrant walk into a room.

BURR AND ENSEMBLE

Diametric’ly opposed, foes.

BURR
They emerge with a compromise, having opened doors that were

BURR AND ENSEMBLE

Previously closed,

ENSEMBLE
Bros.
BURR
The immigrant emerges with unprecedented financial power, a
system he can shape however he wants.
The Virginians emerge with the nation’s capital.
And here’s the pièce de résistance:

BURR No one else was in the room where it

happened. The room where it happened.
The room where it happened.
No one else was in ENSEMBLE
the room where it happened. The room where it happened. The room where it
happened.
The room where it happened. The room where it happened.
No one really knows how the game is played, The art of
the trade,
how the sausage gets made. How the sausage gets made.
We just assume that it happens. Assume that it happens.
But no one else is in the room where it happens. The room where it happens.

BURR AND COMPANY

Thomas claims—

JEFFERSON

21
Alexander was on Washington’s doorstep one day in
distress ‘n disarray.

BURR AND COMPANY

Thomas claims—

JEFFERSON
Alexander said—

HAMILTON
I’ve nowhere else to turn!

JEFFERSON
And basic’ly begged me to join the fray.

BURR AND COMPANY

Thomas claims—

JEFFERSON
I approached Madison and saids—
“I know you hate ‘im, but let’s hear what he has to say.”

BURR AND COMPANY

Thomas claims—

JEFFERSON
Well, I arranged the meeting.
I arranged the menu, the venue, the seating,

BURR
But!
No one else was in—

BURR AND COMPANY

The room where it happened.
The room where it happened.
The room where it happened.

BURR
No one else was in—

BURR AND COMPANY

The room where it happened.
The room where it happened.

22
The room where it happened.

BURR
No one really knows how the parties COMPANY
get to yesssss. Parties get to yesssss.
The pieces that are sacrificed in ev’ry
game of chesssss. Ev’ry game of chesssss.
We just assume that it happens. Assume that it happens.
But no one else is in the room
The room where it happens.
where it happens.

BURR AND COMPANY

Meanwhile—

BURR
Madison is grappling with the fact that not ev’ry issue can be settled by committee.
COMPANY
Meanwhile—

BURR
Congress is fighting over where to put the capital—

Company screams in chaos.

BURR
It isn’t pretty.
Then Jefferson approaches with a dinner and invite, And
Madison responds with Virginian insight:

MADISON
Maybe we can solve one problem with another and win a victory for the Southerners, in other words—

JEFFERSON
Oh-ho!

MADISON
A quid pro quo.

JEFFERSON
I suppose.

MADISON
Wouldn’t you like to work a little closer to home?

23
JEFFERSON
Actually, I would.

MADISON
Well, I propose the Potomac.

JEFFERSON
And you’ll provide him his votes?

MADISON
Well, we’ll see how it goes.

JEFFERSON
Let’s go.

BURR
No!

COMPANY
—one else was in the room
where it happened.

BURR AND COMPANY

The room where it happened.
The room where it happened.
No one else was in the room
where it happened.
The room where it happened. The
room where it happened.

BURR
My God!

BURR AND COMPANY

In God we trust.
But we’ll never really know what got discussed.
Click-boom then it happened.

BURR
And no one else was in the room where it happened.

COMPANY
Alexander Hamilton!

24
BURR
What did they say to you to get you to sell New York City down the river?

COMPANY
Alexander Hamilton!

BURR
Did Washington know about the dinner?
Was there Presidential pressure to deliver?

COMPANY
Alexander Hamilton!

BURR
Or did you know, even then, it doesn’t matter where you put the U.S. Capital?
HAMILTON
Cuz we’ll have the banks, we’re in
the same spot.

BURR
You got more than you gave.

HAMILTON
And I wanted what I got.
When you got skin in the game, you stay in the game.
But you don’t get a win unless you play in the game.
Oh, you get love for it. You get hate for it.
You get nothing if you…

HAMILTON AND COMPANY

Wait for it, wait for it, wait!

HAMILTON
God help and forgive me, I
wanna build something
that’s gonna outlive me.

HAMILTON/JEFFERSON/
MADISON/WASHINGTON COMPANY
What do you want, Burr? What do you want, Burr?
What do you want, Burr? What do you want, Burr?

If you stand for nothing, What do you want, Burr?

25
Burr, then what do you fall for? What do you want?

BURR
I
wanna be in the room where it
happens. The room where it
happens.
I
wanna be in the room where it
happens. The room where it
happens.

BURR COMPANY
I I wanna be in
wanna be The room where it happens.
In the room where it happens.
I wanna be in
I the room
where it
I wanna be in the room…. happens.
Oh The room where it happens.
Oh The room
where it
I wanna be happens. I
I wanna be wanna be
in the room
I’ve got to be I’ve got to be where it
in that room happens
in that big ol’ room The room
where it
COMPANY happens. The
The art of the compromise— room where it
happens.
BURR
Hold your nose and close your eyes. I wanna be
in the
COMPANY room
We want our leaders to save the day— the room where it
where it happens. happens.
The room where it happens. The room where it happens.
The room where it happens.

BURR
But we don’t get a say in what they trade away.

26
COMPANY
We dream of a brand new start—

BURR
But we dream in the dark for the most part.

BURR AND COMPANY

Dark as a tomb where it happens.

BURR
I’ve got to be in COMPANY the room… The room where it
happens
I’ve got to be...
The room where it happens
I’ve got to be...
The room where it happens
Oh, I’ve got to be in
the room where it happens… The room where it happens
I’ve got to be, I’ve gotta be, I’ve gotta be… The room where it happens
in the room! I wanna be in the room where it happens!
Click-boom! Click-boom!

27
6. Schuyler Defeated

PHILIP
Look! Grampa’s in the paper! ‘War Hero Philip Schuyler
loses Senate seat to young upstart Aaron Burr!’ Grampa
just lost his seat in the Senate.

ELIZA
Sometimes that’s how it goes.

PHILIP
Daddy’s gonna find out any minute.

ELIZA
I’m sure he already knows.

PHILIP
Further down,

PHILIP AND ELIZA

Further down,

PHILIP
“Let’s meet the newest Senator from New York…”

ELIZA
New York—

PHILIP AND ELIZA

Our Senator!...

HAMILTON
Burr!

HAMILTON
Since when are you a Democratic-Republican?

BURR
Since being one put me on the up and up again.

HAMILTON
No one knows who you are or what you do.

BURR

28
They don’t need to know me. They don’t like you.

HAMILTON
Excuse me?

BURR
Oh, Wall Street thinks you’re great.
You’ll always be adored by the things you create.
But upstate,

HAMILTON
Wait.

BURR
People think you’re crooked!
And Schuyler’s seat was up for grabs, so I took it.

HAMILTON
I’ve always considered you a friend.

BURR
I don’t see why that has to end!

HAMILTON
You changed parties to run against my father-in-law.

BURR
I changed parties to seize the opportunity I saw.
I swear, your pride will be the death of us all!
Beware: it goeth before the fall…

7. Cabinet Battle #2

WASHINGTON
The issue on the table: France is on the verge
of war with England. Do we provide aid and
troops to our French allies or do we stay out of
it? Remember, my decision on this matter is
not subject to congressional approval.
The only person you have to convince is me.
Secretary Jefferson, you have the floor, sir.

JEFFERSON

29
When we were on death’s door, when we were needy, we
made a promise, we signed a treaty.
We needed money and guns and half a chance.
Who provided those funds?

MADISON
France.

JEFFERSON
In return, they didn’t ask for land, only a promise that
we’d lend a hand and stand with them if they fought
against oppressors, and revolution is messy but now is
the time to stand. Stand with our brothers as they fight
against tyranny. I know that Alexander Hamilton is
here and he would rather not have this debate. I’ll
remind you that he is not Secretary of State. He knows
nothing of loyalty, smells like new money, dresses like
fake royalty, desperate to rise above his station,
everything he does betrays the ideals of our nation.

ENSEMBLE
Ooh!!

JEFFERSON
Hey, and if ya don’t know, now ya know, Mr. President.

WASHINGTON
Thank you, Secretary Jefferson. Secretary Hamilton, your response.

HAMILTON
You must be out of your Goddamn mind if you think
the President is gonna bring the nation to the brink of
meddling in the middle of a military mess, a game of
chess, where France is Queen and Kingless.
We signed a treaty with a King whose head is now in a basket.
Would you like to take it out and ask it?
“Should we honor our treaty, King Louis’ head?”
“Uh… do whatever you want, I’m super dead.”

WASHINGTON
Enough. Hamilton is right.

JEFFERSON
Mr. President—

30
WASHINGTON
We’re too fragile to start another fight.

JEFFERSON
But sir, do we not fight for freedom?

WASHINGTON
Sure, when the French figure out who’s gonna lead ‘em.

JEFFERSON
The people are leading—

WASHINGTON
The people are rioting.
There’s a difference. Frankly, it’s a little disquieting you would let your ideals blind you to reality.
Hamilton.

HAMILTON
Sir.

WASHINGTON
Draft a statement of neutrality.

JEFFERSON
Did you forget Lafayette?

HAMILTON
What?

JEFFERSON
Have you an ounce of regret?
You accumulate debt, you accumulate power, yet
in their hour of need, you forget.

HAMILTON
Lafayette’s a smart man, he’ll be fine.
And before he was your friend, he was mine.
If we try to fight in every revolution in the world, we never stop.
Where do we draw the line?

JEFFERSON
So quick-witted.

31
HAMILTON
Alas, I admit it.

JEFFERSON
I bet you were quite a lawyer.

HAMILTON
My defendants got acquitted.

JEFFERSON
Huh. Well, someone oughta remind you.

HAMILTON
What?

JEFFERSON
You’re nothing without Washington behind you.

WASHINGTON
Hamilton!

JEFFERSON
Daddy’s calling.
8. Washington On Your Side

BURR
It must be nice, it must be nice to have
Washington on your side
It must be nice, it must be nice to have Washington
on your side.

JEFFERSON
Ev’ry action has its equal, opposite reactions.
Thanks to Hamilton, our cab’net’s fractured into factions.
Try not to crack under the stress, we’re breaking down like fractions.
We smack each other in the press, and we don’t print retractions.
I get no satisfaction witnessing his fits of passion.
The way he primps and preens and dresses like the pits of fashion.
Our poorest citizens, our farmers, live ration to ration as Wall
Street robs ‘em blind in search of chips to cash in.
This prick is askin’ for someone to bring him to task.
Somebody gimme some dirt on this vacuous mass so we can at last unmask him.
I’ll pull the trigger on him, someone load the gun and cock it.
While we were all watching, he got Washington in his pocket.

32
JEFFERSON AND BURR
It must be nice, it must be nice to have Washington
on your side.
It must be nice, it must be nice to have Washington
on your side.

Look back at the Bill of Rights.

MADISON
Which I wrote.

JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
The ink hasn’t dried.
It must be nice, it must be nice to have Washington
on your side.

MADISON
So he’s doubled the size of the government.
Wasn’t the trouble with much our previous government size?

BURR
Look in his eyes!

JEFFERSON
See how he lies.

MADISON
Follow the scent of his enterprise.

JEFFERSON
Centralizing national credit and making
American credit competitive.

MADISON
If we don’t stop it we aid and abet it.

JEFFERSON
I have to resign.

MADISON
Somebody has to stand up for the South!

BURR

33
Somebody has to stand up to his mouth!

JEFFERSON
If there’s a fire you’re trying to douse,

MADISON AND JEFFERSON

You can’t put it out from inside the house.

JEFFERSON
I’m in the cabinet. I am complicit in watching
him grabbin’ at power and kiss it. If
Washington isn’t gon’ listen to disciplined
dissidents, this is the difference:
This kid is out!

MADISON/BURR/JEFFERSON
Oh!
This immigrant isn’t somebody we chose.
Oh!
This immigrant’s keeping us all on our toes.
Oh!
Let’s show these Federalists who they’re up against! Oh!

JEFFERSON/MADISON
Southern motherfuckin’—

JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
Democratic-Republicans!

JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR/ENSEMBLE
Oh!

JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
Let’s follow the money and see where it goes.

ENSEMBLE
Oh!

JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
Because every second the Treasury grows.

ENSEMBLE
Oh!

34
JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
If we follow the money and see where it leads, get
in the weeds, look for the seeds of Hamilton’s
misdeeds.

JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
It must be nice. It must be nice.

MADISON
Follow the money and see where it goes.

JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
It must be nice. It must be nice.

JEFFERSON
The emperor has no clothes.

JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
We won’t be invisible. We won’t be denied.
Still, it must be nice, it must be nice to
have Washington on your side.

9. One Last Time

HAMILTON
Mr. President, you asked to see me?

WASHINGTON
I know you’re busy.

HAMILTON
What do you need, sir? Sir?

WASHINGTON
I wanna give you a word of warning.

HAMILTON
Sir, I don’t know what you heard, But
whatever it is, Jefferson started it.

WASHINGTON
Thomas Jefferson resigned this morning.

35
HAMILTON
You’re kidding.

WASHINGTON
I need a favor.

HAMILTON
Whatever you say, sir, Jefferson will pay for his behavior.

WASHINGTON
Shh. Talk less.

HAMILTON
I’ll use the press,
I’ll write under a pseudonym, you’ll see what I can do to him—

WASHINGTON
I need you to draft an address.

HAMILTON
Yes! He resigned. You can finally speak your mind—

WASHINGTON
No, he’s stepping down so he can run for President.

HAMILTON
Ha. Good luck defeating you, sir.

WASHINGTON
I’m stepping down. I’m not running for President.

HAMILTON
I’m sorry, what?

WASHINGTON
One last time. Relax, have a drink with me one
last time. Let’s take a break tonight and then
we’ll teach them how to say goodbye, to say
goodbye.
You and I.

HAMILTON
No, sir, why?

36
WASHINGTON
I wanna talk about neutrality.

HAMILTON
Sir, with Britain and France on the verge of war, is this the best time—

WASHINGTON
I want to warn against partisan fighting.

HAMILTON
But—

WASHINGTON
Pick up a pen, start writing.
I wanna talk about what I have learned.
The hard-won wisdom I have earned.

HAMILTON
As far as the people are concerned, you have to
serve, you could continue to serve—
WASHINGTON
No! One last time the people
will hear from me
one last time and if we get this
right we’re gonna teach ‘em how
to say goodbye. You and I—

HAMILTON
Mr. President, they will say you’re weak.

WASHINGTON
No, they will see we’re strong.

HAMILTON
Your position is so unique.

WASHINGTON
So I’ll use it to move them along.

HAMILTON
Why do you have to say goodbye?

WASHINGTON
If I say goodbye, the nation learns to move on.

37
It outlives me when I’m gone.
Like the scripture says:
“Everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
and no one shall make them afraid.” They’ll
be safe in the nation we’ve made.
I wanna sit under my own vine and fig tree.
A moment alone in the shade, at home in
this nation we’ve made.
One last time.

HAMILTON
One last time.

HAMILTON
Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am
nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. I
shall also carry with me

HAMILTON The hope

The hope that my country
will view them with View them with indulgence
indulgence; And that,
after forty-five years of my life dedicated to its After forty-five years of my life dedicated to its
service with an upright zeal the faults of service with an upright zeal
incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion,
as I myself must soon be to the mansions of rest. Consigned to oblivion, as I myself must soon be to
I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in the mansions of rest.
which I promise myself to realize the sweet I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in
enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my which I promise myself to realize the sweet
fellowcitizens, the benign influence of good laws enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my
Under a free government, the ever-favorite object of fellowcitizens, the benign influence of good laws
my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, Of our Under a free government, the ever-favorite object of
mutual cares, labors, and dangers. my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, Of our
WASHINGTON mutual cares, labors, and dangers.
WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON You and I
One last time.
Going home
ALL WOMEN
George Washington’s going home! History has its eyes on you

HAMILTON We’re gonna teach ‘em how to say

Teach ‘em how to say goodbye. goodbye! Teach ‘em how to say
goodbye! To say goodbye!

38
 George Washington’s going home
Say goodbye!
Teach ‘em how to say goodbye!
One last time!
COMPANY Teach ‘em how!
George Washington’s going home
Say goodbye!
George Washington’s going home
Say goodbye!
George Washington’s going home
One last time!
10. I Know Him

KING GEORGE
They say
George Washington’s yielding his power and stepping away.
‘Zat true?
I wasn’t aware that was something a person could do.
I’m perplexed.
Are they gonna keep on replacing whoever’s in charge?
If so, who’s next?
There’s nobody else in their country who looms quite as large…

A sentinel whispers in King George’s ear.

John Adams?!
I know him.
That can’t be.
That’s that little guy who spoke to me all those
years ago.
What was it, eighty-five?
That poor man, they’re gonna eat him alive!
Oceans rise.
Empires fall.
Next to Washington, they all look small. All
alone, watch them run.
They will tear each other into pieces, Jesus
Christ, this will be fun!

Da da da dat da dat da da da da ya da Da da da
dat dat da ya daaaaa!

“President John Adams” Good Luck.

39
11. The Adams Administration
BURR
How does Hamilton, the short-tempered,
protean creator of the Coast Guard, Founder of
the New York Post, ardently abuse his cab’net
post, destroy his reputation?
Welcome, folks, to

BURR/COMPANY
The Adams administration!

BURR
Jefferson’s the runner-up, which makes him the Vice President.

JEFFERSON
Washington can’t help you now, no more mister nice President.

BURR
Adams fires Hamilton.
Privately calls him “creole bastard” in his taunts.

JEFFERSON
Say what?!

BURR
Hamilton publishes his response.

HAMILTON
Sit down, John, you fat motherf—

BURR
Hamilton is out of control.

MADISON
This is great! He’s out of power. He holds no office.
And he just destroyed President John Adams, the
only other significant member of his party.

JEFFERSON
Hamilton’s a host unto himself. As long as he can
hold a pen, he’s a threat. Let’s let him know what we
know.

40
12. We Know

HAMILTON
Mr. Vice President.
Mr. Madison.
Senator Burr.
What is this?

JEFFERSON
We have the check stubs. From separate accounts…

MADISON
Almost a thousand dollars, paid in different amounts…

BURR
To a Mr. James Reynolds way back in seventeen
ninety-one.

HAMILTON
Is that what you have? Are you done?

MADISON
You are uniquely situated by virtue of your position—

JEFFERSON
Though ‘virtue’ is not a word I’d apply to this situation—

MADISON
To seek financial gain, to stray from your sacred mission—

JEFFERSON
And the evidence suggests you’ve engaged in speculation—

BURR
An immigrant embezzling our government funds—

JEFFERSON/MADISON
I can almost see the headline, your career is done.

BURR
I hope you saved some money for your daughter and sons.

BURR/JEFFERSON/MADISON
Ya best g’wan run back where ya come from.

41
HAMILTON
Ha! You don’t even know what you’re asking me to confess.

JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
Confess.

HAMILTON
You got nothing. I don’t have to tell you anything at all.
Unless.

JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
Unless?

HAMILTON
If I can prove that I never broke the law, do you promise not
to tell another soul what you saw?

BURR
No one else was in the room where it happened.

HAMILTON
Is that a yes?

JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
Um, yes.

BURR
“Dear Sir, I hope this letter finds you in good health and in
a prosperous enough position to put wealth in the pockets
of people like me: down on their luck.
You see, it was my wife who you decided to—”

JEFFERSON
Whaaaat—

HAMILTON
She courted me.
Escorted me to bed and when she had me in a corner that’s
when Reynolds extorted me for a sordid fee. I paid him
quarterly.
I may have mortally wounded my prospects but my
papers are orderly!

42
As you can see I kept a record of every check in my checkered
History. Check it again against your list n’ see consistency. I never
spent a cent that wasn’t mine, you sent the dogs after my scent, that’s
fine. Yes, I have reasons for shame but I have not committed treason
and sullied my good name.
As you can see I have done nothing to provoke legal action.
Are my answers to your satisfaction?

JEFFERSON My God.

MADISON
Gentlemen, let’s go.

HAMILTON
So?

JEFFERSON AND MADISON

The people won’t know what we know.

HAMILTON
Burr!
How do I know you won’t use this against me the next
time we go toe to toe?

BURR
Alexander, rumors only grow. And we both know what
we know.

13. Hurricane

HAMILTON
In the eye of a hurricane there
is quiet for just a moment, a
yellow sky.

When I was seventeen a hurricane destroyed my

town.
I didn’t drown.
I couldn’t seem to die.

I wrote my way out, wrote everything down far

as I could see.
I wrote my way out.

43
I looked up and the town had its eyes on me.

They passed a plate around. Total strangers moved

to kindness by my story. Raised enough for me to
book passage on a
ship that was New York bound…

I wrote my way out of hell.

I wrote my way to revolution.
I was louder than the crack in the bell.
I wrote Eliza love letters until she fell.
I wrote about The Constitution and defended it well. And in the
face of ignorance and resistance, I wrote financial systems into
existence. And when my prayers to God were met with
indifference, I picked up a pen, I wrote my own deliverance.

In the eye of a hurricane there

is quiet for just a moment, a
yellow sky.

I was twelve when my mother died.

She was holding me.
We were sick and she was holding me.
I couldn’t seem to die.

BURR
Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it…
HAMILTON
BURR AND ENSEMBLE I’ll write my way out…
Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it…

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it, Write ev’rything down, far as I can
wait… see… WASHINTON/ELIZA/ ANGELICA/MARIA
History has its eyes on you.
I’ll write my way out…
Overwhelm them with honesty.

HAMILTON
This is the eye of the hurricane, this is the only
way I can protect my legacy…

COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON)

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it, wait…

44
HAMILTON
The Reynolds Pamphlet.

14. The Reynolds Pamphlet

FULL COMPANY
The Reynolds Pamphlet.

JEFFERSON/MADISON/ANGELICA
Have you read this?

BURR/JEFFERSON/MADISON
Alexander Hamilton had a torrid affair.
And he wrote it down right there.

MADISON
Highlights!

HAMILTON/JEFFERSON
“The charge against me is a connection with one JAMES
James Reynolds! James Reynolds!
For purposes of
improper speculation. BURR
My real crime is an My real crime is an
amorous connection with his wife amorous connection with his wife
for a considerable time with his knowing consent

MADISON/BURR/JEFFERSON Damn!

HAMILTON/JEFFERSON/MADISON
“I had frequent meetings with her. Most of
them at my own house.”

BURR
At his own house!

MADISON
At his own house!

DEEP VOICE Damn!

HAMILTON/JEFFERSON

45
“Mrs. Hamilton with our children being absent on a visit
to her father.”
MADISON/BURR
No…

COMPANY
Boooo!

MADISON/BURR
Have you read this?

JEFFERSON
Well, he’s never gon’ be President now.

MADISON/BURR
Never gon’ be President now.

JEFFERSON
Well, he’s never gon’ be President now.

MADISON/BURR
Never gon’ be President now.

JEFFERSON
He’s never gon’ be President now.

MADISON/BURR
Never gon’ be President now.

JEFFERSON
That’s one less thing to worry about.

JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
That’s one less thing to worry about!

ANGELICA
I came as soon as I heard.

JEFFERSON What?!

HAMILTON
Angelica—

COMPANY

46
All the way from London?! God, I hope you’re satisfied.
Damn.
JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
HAMILTON Well, he’s never gon’ be President
Angelica, thank God. Someone who understands now.
what I’m struggling here to do.
Well, he’s never gon’ be President
ANGELICA now.
I’m not here for you.
Well, he’s never gon’ be President
ENSEMBLE now.
Oooooh!
That’s one less thing to worry about.
ANGELICA
I know my sister like I know my own mind, you will never find ENSEMBLE MEN
anyone as trusting or as kind. I love my sister more than Never gon’ be President now.
anything in this life, I will choose her happiness over mine
every time. Never gon’ be President now.
Put what we had aside.
I’m standing at her side. Never gon’ be President now.
You could never be satisfied.
JEFFERSON/
MADISON HAMILTON
Hey! Hey! ENSEMBLE WOMEN
At least he was At least I was honest with our Well he’s never gon’ be
money! honest with our money! President now. ENSEMBLE MEN
Well he’s never gon’ be President
now.
Well he’s never gon’ be
President now. Well he’s never gon’ be
President now.
Well he’s never gon’ be
Hey! Hey! President now.
At least he was At least he was Well he’s never gon’ be honest with our money! honest with our
money! President now.

That’s one less thing to worry

about.
That’s one less thing to worry about.

FULL COMPANY
That’s one less thing to worry about!
The Reynolds Pamphlet.

47
JEFFERSON/MADISON/BURR
Have you read this?
You ever see somebody ruin their own life?

COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON/ELIZA)

His poor wife.

48
15. Burn

ELIZA
I saved every letter you wrote me.
From the moment I read them I
knew you were mine.
You said you were mine.
I thought you were mine.

Do you know what Angelica said when

we saw your first letter arrive?
She said,

“Be careful with that one, love.

He will do what it takes to survive.”

You and your words flooded my senses.

Your sentences left me defenseless. You
built me palaces out of paragraphs, you
built cathedrals. I’m re-reading the letters
you wrote me. I’m searching and
scanning for answers
in every line, for some
kind of sign, and when
you were mine
the world seemed to

Burn.
Burn.

You published the letters she wrote you. You

told the whole world how you brought this girl
into our bed.
In clearing your name, you have ruined our lives.
Do you know what Angelica said When
she read what you’d done?
She said,
“You have married an Icarus.
He has flown too close to the sun.”

You and your words, obsessed with your legacy...

Your sentences border on senseless, and you are
paranoid in every paragraph how they perceive
you,

49
You, you, you…

I’m erasing myself from the narrative. Let

future historians wonder how Eliza reacted
when you broke her heart.
You have torn it all apart. I
am watching it burn.
Watching it burn.
The world has no right to my heart. The
world has no place in our bed.
They don’t get to know what I said.
I’m burning the memories,
Burning the letters that might have redeemed you.
You forfeit all rights to my heart.
You forfeit the place in our bed.
You sleep in your office instead,
with only the memories of when
you were mine.
I hope that you burn.

16. Blow Us All Away

PHILIP
Meet the latest graduate of King’s College!
I prob’ly shouldn’t brag, but, dag, I amaze and astonish!
The scholars say I got the same virtuosity and brains as my pops!
The ladies say my brain’s not where the resemblance stops!
I’m only nineteen but my mind is older, gotta be my own
man, like my father, but bolder.
I shoulder his legacy with pride, I
used to hear him say that
someday
I would—

ENSEMBLE
Blow us all away.

PHILIP
Ladies, I’m lookin for a Mr. George Eacker.
Made a speech last week, our Fourth of July speaker.
He disparaged my father’s legacy in front of a crowd.
I can’t have that, I’m making my father proud.

50
MARTHA
I saw him just up Broadway a couple of blocks.
He was goin’ to see a play.

PHILIP
Well, I’ll go visit his box.

DOLLY
God, you’re a fox.

PHILIP
And y’all look pretty good in ya’ frocks.
How ‘bout when I get back, we all strip down to our socks?

BOTH
Ok!

COMPANY
Blow us all away!

PHILIP
George!

GEORGE
Shh.

PHILIP George!

GEORGE
Shh! I’m tryin’ to watch the show!

PHILIP
Ya’ shoulda watched your mouth before you talked
about my father though!

GEORGE
I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.
You father’s a scoundrel, and so, it seems, are you.

ENSEMBLE
Ooooooooooh!

PHILIP
It’s like that?

51
GEORGE
Yeah, I don’t fool around.
I’m not your little schoolboy friends.

PHILIP
See you on the dueling ground.
That is, unless you wanna step outside and go now.

GEORGE
I know where to find you, piss off.
I’m watchin’ this show now.

PHILIP
Pops, if you had only heard the shit he said about you
I doubt you would have let it slide and I was not about to—

HAMILTON
Slow down.

PHILIP
I came to ask you for advice. This is my very first duel.
They don’t exactly cover this subject in boarding school.

HAMILTON
Did your friends attempt to negotiate a peace?

PHILIP
He refused to apologize, we had to let the peace talks cease.

HAMILTON
Where is this happening?

PHILIP
Across the river, in Jersey.

HAMILTON/PHILIP
Everything is legal in New Jersey…

HAMILTON
Alright. So this is what you’re gonna do:
Stand there like a man until Eacker is in front of you.
When the time comes, fire your weapon in the air.
This will put an end to the whole affair.

52
PHILIP
But what if he decides to shoot? Then I’m a goner.

HAMILTON
No. He’ll follow suit if he’s truly a man of honor.
To take someone’s life, that is something you can’t shake.
Philip, your mother can’t take another heartbreak.

PHILIP
Father—

HAMILTON
Promise me. You don’t want this young
man’s blood on your conscience.

PHILIP
Okay, I promise.

HAMILTON
Come back home when you’re done.
Take my guns. Be smart. Make me proud, son.

PHILIP
My name is Philip
I am a poet
I’m a little nervous, but I can’t show it.
I’m sorry, I’m a Hamilton with pride.
You talk about my father, I cannot let it slide.
Mister Eacker! How was the rest of your show?

GEORGE
I’d rather skip the pleasantries.
Let’s go.
Grab your pistol.

PHILIP
Confer with your men.
The duel will commence after we count to ten.

ENSEMBLE
Count to ten!

PHILIP

53
Look ‘em in the eye, aim no higher.
Summon all the courage you require.
Then slowly and clearly aim your gun towards the sky—

MALE ENSEMBLE
One two three four

FULL ENSEMBLE
Five six seven—

17. Stay Alive (Reprise)

ENSEMBLE WOMEN
Stay alive… HAMILTON
Stay alive… Where’s my son? DOCTOR
I know, I know. Shh. I
know, I know.
Shh. I know you did ev’rything just
right.
Stay alive... Is he alive?
Shh.
DOCTOR
Yes. But you have to understand the I know, I know.
bullet entered just above his hip and I know, I know.
lodged in his right arm. I know,

HAMILTON Save your strength and

Can I see him please? Mr. Hamilton, come in. They
brought him in a half an hour ago.
DOCTOR He lost a lot of blood on the way
I’m doing ev’rything I can but the wound was over.
already infected when he arrived—

HAMILTON
Philip.

PHILIP
Pa.
I did exactly as you said, Pa.
I held my head up high.

HAMILTON

54
 I was aiming for the sky.
PHILIP
High. I was aiming for the sky.

Even before we got to ten— ENSEMBLE MEN

stay alive… Stay alive...

ELIZA No!

HAMILTON
Eliza.

ELIZA ENSEMBLE MEN

Is he breathing? Is he going to survive this? Stay alive...

ELIZA
Who did this, Alexander, did you know?

PHILIP
Mom, I’m so sorry for forgetting what you taught me.

ELIZA
My son—

PHILIP We played piano.

ELIZA
I taught you piano.

PHILIP
You would put your hands on mine.

ELIZA
You changed the melody every time.

PHILIP
Ha. I would always change the line.

ELIZA
Shh. I know, I know.

PHILIP

55
I would always change the line.

ELIZA
I know, I know.

ELIZA
Un deux trois quatre PHILIP
Cinq six sept huit neuf. Un deux trois quatre
Cinq six sept huit neuf.
Good.
Un deux trois quatre PHILIP Cinq six sept Un deux trois…
Huit neuf.
Sept huit neuf—
Sept huit…

56
18. It’s Quiet Uptown

ANGELICA
There are moments that the words don’t reach. There is suffering
too terrible to name. You hold your child as tight as you can and
push away the unimaginable. The moments when you’re in so
deep, it feels easier to just swim down.

ANGELICA/ENSEMBLE
The Hamiltons move uptown and learn to live with the
unimaginable.

HAMILTON
I spend hours in the garden. I walk alone to the store, and it’s
quiet uptown. I never liked the quiet before. I take the
children to church on Sunday, a sign of the cross at the door,
and I pray.
That never used to happen before.

ANGELICA AND WOMEN

If you see him in the street, walking by himself, talking to himself,
have pity.

HAMILTON
Philip, you would like it uptown.
It’s quiet uptown.

ANGELICA AND WOMEN

He is working through the unimaginable.

ALL MEN (EXCEPT HAMILTON)

His hair has gone grey. He passes every day.
They say he walks the length of the city.

HAMILTON
You knock me out, I fall apart.

COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON AND ELIZA)

Can you imagine?

HAMILTON
Look at where we are.
Look at where we started.
I know I don’t deserve you, Eliza.

57
But hear me out. That would be enough.

If I could spare his life, If I could trade his life for mine, he’d be
standing here right now and you would smile, and that would be
enough. I don’t pretend to know the challenges we’re facing. I know
there’s no replacing what we’ve lost and you need time. But I’m not
afraid, I know who I married. Just let me stay here by your side,
That would be enough.

COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON AND ELIZA)

If you see him in the street, walking by her side, talking by her side,
have pity.

HAMILTON
Eliza, do you like it uptown? It’s quiet uptown.

COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON AND ELIZA)

He is trying to do the unimaginable. See them walking in the
park, long after dark, taking in the sights of the city.

HAMILTON
Look around, look around, Eliza.

COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON AND ELIZA)

They are trying to do the unimaginable.

ANGELICA
There are moments that the words don’t reach.
There is a grace too powerful to name. We push away what we
can never understand, we push away the unimaginable. They are
standing in the garden, Alexander by Eliza’s side.
She takes his hand.

ELIZA
It’s quiet uptown.

COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON AND ELIZA)

Forgiveness. Can you imagine? Forgiveness. Can you
imagine? If you see him in the street, walking by her side,
talking by her side, have pity. They are going through the
unimaginable.

58
19. The Election of 1800

FULL COMPANY
The election of 1800.

JEFFERSON
Can we get back to politics?

MADISON
Please?

JEFFERSON
Yo. Ev’ry action has an equal, opposite reaction.
John Adams shat the bed. I love the guy, but he’s in traction.
Poor Alexander Hamilton? He is missing in action.
So now I’m facing—

JEFFERSON AND MADISON

Aaron Burr!

JEFFERSON
With his own faction.

MADISON
He’s very attractive in the North. New Yorkers like his chances.

JEFFERSON
He’s not very forthcoming on any particular stances.

MADISON
Ask him a question: it glances off, he obfuscates, he dances.

JEFFERSON
And they say I’m a Francophile: at least they know I know where France is!

MADISON
Thomas that’s the problem, see, they see Burr as a less extreme you.

JEFFERSON
Ha!

MADISON
You need to change course, a key endorsement might redeem you.

59
JEFFERSON
Who did you have in mind?

MADISON
Don’t laugh.

JEFFERSON
Who is it?

MADISON
You used to work on the same staff.

JEFFERSON
Whaaaat.

MADISON
It might be nice, it might be nice to get Hamilton on
your side.

JEFFERSON AND MADISON

It might be nice, it might be nice To get Hamilton on
your side.

BURR
Talk less! ENSEMBLE
Burr!
Smile more!
Burr!
Don’t let ‘em know what you’re against or what you’re for!
Burr!
Shake hands with him!
Burr!
Charm her!
Burr!
It’s eighteen hundred, ladies, tell your husbands: vote for Burr!
Burr!

MALE VOTER
I don’t like Adams.

FEMALE VOTER
Well, he’s gonna lose, that’s just defeatist.

60
ANOTHER MALE VOTER
And Jefferson—

TWO MEN
In love with France!

ANOTHER FEMALE VOTER

Yeah, he’s so elitist!

TWO WOMEN
I like that Aaron Burr!

A WOMAN
I can’t believe we’re here with him!

A MAN
He seems approachable…?

ANOTHER MALE VOTER

Like you could grab a beer with him!

ENSEMBLE
Dear Mr. Hamilton: your fellow Fed’ralists would like to know how you’ll be voting.

HAMILTON
It’s quiet uptown.

ENSEMBLE
Dear Mr. Hamilton: John Adams doesn’t stand a chance, so who are you promoting?

HAMILTON
It’s quiet uptown.

MEN
Jefferson or Burr? WOMEN
Jefferson or Burr?
We know it’s lose-lose. We know it’s lose-lose.
Jefferson or Burr?
Jefferson or Burr?
But if you had to choose But if you had to choose

EVEN MORE VOTERS MEN

Dear Mr. Hamilton: Jefferson or Burr?

61
John Adams doesn’t stand a We know it’s lose-lose. chance so
who are you promoting? Jefferson or Burr? Jefferson or Burr?
But if you had to choose But if you had to choose
But if you had to choose

HAMILTON
Well, if it isn’t Aaron Burr. Sir!

BURR
Alexander!

HAMILTON
You’ve created quite a stir, sir!

BURR
I’m going door to door!

HAMILTON
You’re openly campaigning?

BURR
Sure!

HAMILTON
That’s new.

BURR
Honestly, it’s kind of draining.

HAMILTON
Burr—

BURR
Sir!

HAMILTON
Is there anything you wouldn’t do?

BURR
No. I’m chasing what I want.
And you know what?
WOMEN
Jefferson or Burr?
We know it’s lose-lose.

62
HAMILTON
What?

BURR
I learned that from you.

ENSEMBLE
If you had to choose
If you had to choose

MADISON
It’s a tie!

ENSEMBLE
If you had to choose
If you had to choose

JEFFERSON
It’s up to the delegates!

ENSEMBLE
If you had to choose
If you had to choose

JEFFERSON/MADISON
It’s up to Hamilton!

VOTERS
If you had to choose, MADISON/ENSEMBLE
If you had to choose, Jefferson or Burr? ENSEMBLE
If you had to Jefferson or Burr?
Choose, Choose, Choose,
Choose, Choose, Choose,
Choose! Choose! Choose!

HAMILTON
Yo.

ENSEMBLE
Oh!

HAMILTON
The people are asking to hear my voice
ENSEMBLE

1
Oh!

HAMILTON
For the country is facing a difficult choice.

ENSEMBLE
Oh!

HAMILTON
And if you were to ask me who I’d promote—

ENSEMBLE
Oh!

HAMILTON
—Jefferson has my vote.

JEFFERSON/MADISON/ENSEMBLE
Oh!

HAMILTON
I have never agreed with Jefferson once.

JEFFERSON/MADISON/ENSEMBLE
Oh!

HAMILTON
We have fought on like seventy-five diff’rent fronts.

JEFFERSON/MADISON/ENSEMBLE
Oh!

HAMILTON
But when all is said and all is done, Jefferson
has beliefs. Burr has none.

ENSEMBLE
Oooooooooooooh.

MADISON AND JEFFERSON

Well, I’ll be damned.
Well, I’ll be damned.
MADISON
Hamilton’s on your side.

2
ENSEMBLE
Well, I’ll be damned.
Well, I’ll be damned.

JEFFERSON And?

MADISON
You won in a landslide.

BURR
Congrats on a race well-run.
I did give you a fight.

JEFFERSON
Uh-huh.

BURR
I look forward to our partnership.

JEFFERSON
Our partnership?

BURR
As your vice-President.

JEFFERSON
Ha. Yeah, right.
You hear this guy? Man openly campaigns against me, talkin’ bout, “I look forward to our partnership.”

MADISON
It’s crazy that the guy who comes in second becomes vice President.

JEFFERSON
Yeah, you know what? We can change that. You know why?

MADISON Why?

JEFFERSON
‘cuz I’m the President. Hey, Burr, when you see Hamilton, thank him for the endorsement.
20. Your Obedient Servant

BURR

3
How does Hamilton, an arrogant,
immigrant, orphan, bastard, whoreson,
somehow endorse Thomas Jefferson, his
enemy, a man he’s despised since the
beginning, just to keep me from winning?
I wanna be in the room where it happens—

BURR AND COMPANY

The room where it happens.
The room where it happens.

BURR
You’ve kept me from—

BURR AND COMPANY

The room where it happens.

BURR
For the last time.

Dear Alexander:

I am slow to anger, but I toe the line as I reckon

with the effects of your life on mine. I look back
on where I failed, and in every place I checked,
the only common thread has been your disrespect.
Now you call me “amoral,” a “dangerous
disgrace,” if you’ve got something to say, name a
time and place, face to face.

I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant, A

dot Burr.

HAMILTON
Mr. Vice President,
I am not the reason no one trusts you. No one knows
what you believe. I will not equivocate on my opinion,
I have always worn it on my sleeve. Even if I said what
you think I said, you would need to cite a more
specific grievance. Here’s an itemized list of thirty
years of disagreements.

BURR
Sweet Jesus.

4
HAMILTON
Hey, I have not been shy.
I am just a guy in the public eye Tryin’
to do my best for our republic.
I don’t wanna fight,
But I won’t apologize for doing what’s right.

I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant, A

dot Ham.

BURR
Careful how you proceed, good man.
Intemperate indeed, good man. Answer for the
accusations I lay at your feet or prepare to
bleed, good man.

HAMILTON
Burr, your grievance is legitimate.
I stand by what I said, every bit of it.
You stand only for yourself.
It’s what you do.
I can’t apologize because it’s true.

BURR
Then stand, Alexander.
Weehawken. Dawn.
Guns. Drawn.

HAMILTON
You’re on.

BURR AND HAMILTON

I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant,

HAMILTON
A dot Ham.

BURR
A dot Burr.

5
21. Best of Wives and Best of Women

ELIZA
Alexander, come back to sleep.

HAMILTON
I have an early meeting out of town.

ELIZA
It’s still dark outside.

HAMILTON
I know. I just need to write something down.

ELIZA
Why do you write like you’re running out of time?

HAMILTON
Shhh.

ELIZA
Come back to bed. That would be enough.

HAMILTON
I’ll be back before you know I’m gone.

ELIZA
Come back to sleep.

HAMILTON
This meeting’s at dawn.

ELIZA
Well, I’m going back to sleep.

HAMILTON
Hey. Best of wives and best of women.

22. The World Was Wide Enough

MALE COMPANY
One two three four

6
FULL COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON AND BURR)
Five six seven eight nine—

BURR
There are ten things you need to know.

COMPANY
Number one!

BURR
We rowed across the Hudson at dawn.
My friend, William P. Van Ness signed on as my—

BURR AND COMPANY

Number two!

BURR
Hamilton arrived with his crew:
Nathaniel Pendleton and a doctor that he knew.

COMPANY
Number three!

BURR
I watched Hamilton examine the terrain.
I wish I could tell you what was happ’ning in his brain.
This man has poisoned my political pursuits!

COMPANY
Most disputes die and no one shoots!
Number four!

BURR
Hamilton drew first position.
Looking, to the world, like a man on a mission.
This is a soldier with a marksman’s ability. The
doctor turned around so he could have
deniability.

COMPANY But we were—

Five!
BURR AND PHILIP
BURR
Now I didn’t know this at the time

7
Near the same spot your son died, is why—
that
why—

COMPANY
Six!

BURR
He examined his gun with such rigor?
HAMILTON
Near the same spot my
son died, is that
I watched as he methodically fiddled with the trigger.

COMPANY
Seven!

BURR
Confession time? Here’s what I got:
My fellow soldiers’ll tell you I’m a terrible shot.

COMPANY
Number eight!

BURR/HAMILTON/ENSEMBLE MEN
Your last chance to negotiate.
Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight.

BURR
They won’t teach you this in your classes, but look it up, Hamilton was wearing
his glasses.
Why? If not to take deadly aim?
It’s him or me, the world will never be the same.
I had only one thought before the slaughter:
This man will not make an orphan of my daughter.

COMPANY
Number nine!

BURR
Look him in the eye, aim no higher.
Summon all the courage you require.
Then count:

8
COMPANY
One two three four five six seven eight nine Number ten paces! Fire!—

HAMILTON
I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory.
Is this where it gets me, on my feet, sev’ral feet ahead of me?
I see it coming, do I run or fire my gun or let it be?
There is no beat, no melody. Burr, my first friend, my enemy,
maybe the last face I ever see,
If I throw away my shot, is this how you remember me?
What if this bullet is my legacy?

Legacy. What is a legacy?

It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.
I wrote some notes at the beginning of a song someone will sing for me.
America, you great unfinished symphony, you sent for me.
You let me make a difference. A place where even orphan immigrants
can leave their fingerprints and rise up.
I’m running out of time. I’m running, and my time’s up.
Wise up. Eyes up.
I catch a glimpse of the other side.
Laurens leads a soldiers’ chorus on the other side.
My son is on the other side.
He’s with my mother on the other side.
Washington is watching from the other side.

Teach me how to say goodbye.

Rise up, rise up, rise up,

Eliza,

My love, take your time.

I’ll see you on the other side.
Raise a glass to freedom…

BURR AND COMPANY

He aims his pistol at the sky—

BURR
Wait!

BURR
I strike him right between his ribs.
I walk towards him, but I am ushered away.

9
They row him back across the Hudson.
I get a drink.

COMPANY
Aaaah
Aaaah
Aaaah

BURR
I hear wailing in the streets.

COMPANY
Aaaah
Aaaah
Aaaah

BURR
Somebody tells me, “You’d better hide.”

COMPANY
Aaaah
Aaaah
Aaaah

BURR
They say

BURR AND ANGELICA

Angelica and Eliza—

BURR
Were both at his side when he died. Death doesn’t discriminate
between the sinners and the saints, it takes and it takes and it takes.
History obliterates.
In every picture it paints, it paints me with all my mistakes.
When Alexander aimed
at the sky, he may have been the first one to die, but I’m the one who
paid for it.

I survived, but I paid for it.

Now I’m the villain in your history.

10
I was too young and blind to see... I should’ve known. I should’ve known the world
was wide enough for both Hamilton and me. The world was wide enough for both
Hamilton and me.

11
23. Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story

WASHINGTON
Let me tell you what I wish I’d known when I was young and dreamed of
glory.
You have no control:

WASHINGTON AND COMPANY

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?

BURR
President Jefferson:

JEFFERSON
I’ll give him this: his financial system is a work of genius. I couldn’t undo it if
I tried.
And I tried.

WASHINGTON AND COMPANY

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?

BURR
President Madison:

MADISON
He took our country from bankruptcy to prosperity. I hate to admit it, but he
doesn’t get enough credit for all the credit he gave us.

WASHINGTON AND COMPANY

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?

ANGELICA
Every other founding father story gets told.
Every other founding father gets to grow old.

BURR
And when you’re gone, who remembers your name?
Who keeps your flame? WOMEN
Eliza.
BURR AND MEN
Who tells your story? ELIZA
I put myself back in the narrative.
Who tells your story?
WOMEN

12
Eliza. FULL COMPANY
Eliza.
ELIZA
I stop wasting time on tears. ELIZA
I live another fifty years.
It’s not enough. ANGELICA AND WOMEN
Who tells your story?
Your story?
I interview every soldier who fought by your side.

MULLIGAN/LAFAYETTE/LAURENS
She tells our story.

ELIZA
I try to make sense of your thousands of pages of writings.
You really do write like you’re running out of—

ELIZA AND COMPANY

Time.

ELIZA
I rely on—

ELIZA AND ANGELICA

Angelica.

ELIZA
While she’s alive—

ELIZA AND ANGELICA

We tell your story.

ELIZA
She is buried in Trinity Church,

ELIZA AND ANGELICA

Near you.

ELIZA
When I needed her most, she was right on—

ELIZA AND COMPANY

Time.

13
ELIZA
And I’m still not through.
I ask myself, “What would you do if you had more—”

ELIZA AND COMPANY

Time.

ELIZA
The Lord, in his kindness, He gives me what you always
wanted.
He gives me more—

ELIZA AND COMPANY

Time.

ELIZA
I raise funds in D.C. for the Washington Monument.

WASHINGTON
She tells my story.

ELIZA
I speak out against slavery.
You could have done so much more if you only had—

ELIZA AND COMPANY

Time.

ELIZA
And when my time is up, have I done enough?

ELIZA COMPANY
Will they tell our story? Will they tell your story?

ELIZA
Oh. Can I show you what I’m proudest of?

COMPANY
The orphanage.

ELIZA
I establish the first private orphanage in New York City.
The orphanage.
COMPANY

14
ELIZA ELIZA And when my
I help to raise hundreds of children. time is up, Have I
I get to see them growing up. done enough?
Will they tell my story?
COMPANY
The orphanage. ELIZA
Oh, I can’t wait to see you again.
ELIZA It’s only a matter of—
In their eyes I see you, Alexander.
I see you every— ELIZA AND COMPANY
Time.
ELIZA AND COMPANY
Time.
COMPANY
Will they tell your story?

COMPANY
Will they tell your story? COMPANY
Time…
Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?
Time…
Will they tell your story?
Time...
Who lives, who dies—

FULL COMPANY
Who tells your story?

15