1776 John Adams - Scene 4a- 4c

(burst in)

Jefferson, are you finished, man! (beat.) You’ve had a whole week, is it done? Can I see it?

(Pick up paper)

There comes a time in the lives of men when it becomes necessary to advance from that subordination in which they have hitherto remained… this is terrible. Where’s the rest of it? Do you mean to say it’s not finished?

“I mean to say it’s not begun.”

Good God! A whole week! The entire Earth was created in a week!

“Some day you must tell me how you did it.”

Disgusting. Look at him, Franklin, Virginia’s most famous lover--

“Virginia abstains.”

Cheer up, Jefferson, get out of the dumps. It’ll come out right, I promise you. Now get back to work. Franklin, tell him to get back to work.

“John, who is she?”

His wife. I hope.

“What makes you think so?”

Because I sent for her.

“You what?!”

It simply occurred to me that the sooner his problem was solved, the sooner our problem was solved. 

“Good thinking, John, good thinking.”

Madame, may i present myself. John Adams. Adams, John Adams. And Dr. Franklin. Inventor of the stove! Jefferson, would you kindly present me to your wife?! She is your wife, isn’t she?

“Come along, John, come along,”

Come along where? There’s work to be done!

“Obviously.”

Good God! You mean they… They’re going to… In the middle of the afternoon?!

“Not everyone’s from Boston, John.”

Incredible.

“Good night, John.”

Have you eaten, Franklin?

“Not yet, but…”

I hear the turkey’s fresh at the Bunch o’ Grapes--...

(He Plays the Violin solo)

Incredible. (beat) Oh, Abigail. I’m very lonely, Abigail.

“... why didn’t you send for your own?”

Don’t be unreasonable, Abigail.

“... you must add that to your list.”

List?

“The catalog of my faults you included in your last letter.”

They were fondly intended, Madame!

“That I play at cards badly?”

A compliment!

“That my posture is crooked?”

An endearment!

“That I read, write, and think too much?”

An irony!

“That I’m pigeon toed?”

Ah, well. There you have me, Abby. I’m afraid you are pigeon toed. Come to Philadelphia, Abigail. Please come.

“... the children have the measles.”

Yes, so you wrote. Tom and little Abby.

“... how do you suppose she managed to get away?”

The winters are softer in Virginia.

“And their women, John?”

Fit for Virginians, Madame, but pale, puny things beside New England girls.

“John! I thank you for that.”

How goes it with you, Abigail?

“Have you been here long?”

Oh. Not long.

“... I expected you’d be up there cracking the whip.”

The shutters are still closed.

“... Well, as the French say…”

Oh, please, Franklin! Spare me your bawdy mind first thing in the morning! (beat.) Dare we call?

“A Congressman dares anything. Go ahead.”

Me?

“Your voice is more piercing.”

Maybe we’d better come back later.

“What?”

Well, it’s positively indecent!

“..they’re in love.”

Not them, Franklin! Us! Standing out here… waiting for them to… I mean- what will people think?

“... the history books will clean it up.”

It doesn’t matter, I won’t appear in the history books, anyway, only you. Franklin did this, Franklin did that, Franklin did some other damned thing, Franklin smote the ground and out sprang George Washington, fully grown and on his horse. Franklin then electrified him with his miraculous lightning rod and the three of them, Franklin, Washington, and the horse, conducted the entire revolution all by themselves. 

“Look at her John. Just look at her!”

I am…

“... good morrow madame!”

Good morrow!

“... it’s unsightly.”

Excuse me, madame, but we met last evening.

“... that which your husband admires.”

Did you sleep well madame? (beat) I mean, did you lie comfortably? (beat) Oh, damn! You know what I mean!

“... your husband doesn’t say very much.”

He’s the most silent man in Congress. I’ve never heard him utter three sentences together.

“Even now…”

Go on Madame!

“... I hesitate to mention…”

Don’t hesitate, madame, don’t hesitate!

“That settles it, John, we’re taking up the violin!”

Very well, madame, you’ve got us playing the violin! What happens next?

“Next, Mr. Adams?”

Yes! What does Tom do now?

“We dance!”

Dance?!

(Dancing)

Who’s playing the violin?

“John, you can dance!”

We still do a few things in Boston, Franklin!

(Jefferson drops a piece of paper)

Franklin, look, he’s written something- he’s done it! Dear Mr. Adams: I am taking my wife back to bed. Kindly go away. Your Obedient, T. Jefferson. Incredible.