Hamilton (2020)

Daveed Diggs: Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson

Photos 

Quotes 

• Marquis de Lafayette : Monsieur Hamilton.

  Alexander Hamilton : Monsieur Lafayette.

  Marquis de Lafayette : In command, where you belong.

  Alexander Hamilton : How you say? No sweat. We're finally on the field/We've had quite a run.

  Marquis de Lafayette : Immigrants.

  Alexander Hamilton , Marquis de Lafayette : We get the job done.

  Alexander Hamilton : So, what happens if we win?

  Marquis de Lafayette : I go back to France/I bring freedom to my people/If I am given the chance.

  Alexander Hamilton : We'll be with you when you do.

  Marquis de Lafayette : Go, lead your men.

  Alexander Hamilton : See you on the other side.

  Marquis de Lafayette : 'Til we meet again.

• George Washington : Let me tell you what I wish I'd known/When I was young and dreamed of glory/You have no control/Who lives? Who dies? Who tells your story?

  Aaron Burr : President Jefferson.

  Thomas 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.

  Aaron Burr : President Madison.

  James 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 that he gave us.

• Aaron Burr : Congrats on a race well-run. I did give you a fight.

  Thomas Jefferson : Uh-huh.

  Aaron Burr : I look forward to our partnership.

  Thomas Jefferson : Our partnership?

  Aaron Burr : As your vice president.

  Thomas Jefferson : Ha! Yeah, right.

  [to Madison] 

  Thomas Jefferson : You hear this guy? Man openly campaigns against me, talkin' 'bout "I look forward to our partnership."

  James Madison : It is crazy that the guy who comes in second gets to be vice president.

  Thomas Jefferson : Ooh. You know what? We can change that. You know why?

  James Madison : Why?

  Thomas Jefferson : 'Cause I'm the president. Burr, uh, when you see Hamilton, thank him for the endorsement.

• Thomas Jefferson : Did you forget Lafayette?

  Alexander Hamilton : What?

  Thomas Jefferson : Have you an ounce of regret? You accumulate debt/You accumulate power/Yet in their hour of need, you forget.

  Alexander 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?

  Thomas Jefferson : So quick-witted.

  Alexander Hamilton : Alas, I admit it.

  Thomas Jefferson : I bet you were quite a lawyer.

  Alexander Hamilton : My defendants got acquitted.

  Thomas Jefferson : Well, someone ought to remind you.

  Alexander Hamilton : What?

  Thomas Jefferson : You're nothing without Washington behind you.

  George Washington : Hamilton.

  Thomas Jefferson : Daddy's calling.

• Marquis de Lafayette : I dream of France without a monarchy/The unrest in France will lead to "onarchy"/Onarchy? How you say? How you... oh, anarchy!

• George Washington : The issue on the table: France is on the verge of war with England. Now, do we commit money and aid 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 one you have to convince is me. Secretary Jefferson, you have the floor, sir.

  Thomas Jefferson : 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/Uh, who provided those funds?

  James Madison : France.

  Thomas 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/Ay, and if you don't know, now you know, Mr. President.

  George Washington : Thank you, Secretary Jefferson. Secretary Hamilton, your response.

  Alexander Hamilton : You must be outta your god damn 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? Oh, should we honor our treaty, King Louis' head?/"Ah, do whatever you want/I'm super dead."

• George Washington : Hamilton is right.

  Thomas Jefferson : Mr. President...

  George Washington : We're too fragile/To start another fight.

  Thomas Jefferson : Sir, do we not fight for freedom?

  George Washington : Sure, when the French figure out/Who's gonna lead 'em.

  Thomas Jefferson : The people are leading.

  George 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?

  Alexander Hamilton : Sir.

  George Washington : Draft a statement of neutrality.

• Aaron Burr : Hamilton's out of control.

  James 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.

  Thomas Jefferson : Hamilton is a host unto himself. As long as he can hold a pen, he's a threat. Let's let him know what we know.

• Aaron Burr : How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman/Dropped in the middle/Of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean/By providence, impoverished, in squalor/Grow up to be a hero and a scholar?

  John Laurens : The ten-dollar Founding Father/Without a father/Got a lot farther/By working a lot harder/By being a lot smarter/By being a self-starter/By 14, they placed him in charge of a trading charter.

  Marquis de Lafayette : And every day, while slaves were being slaughtered/And carted away across the waves/He struggled and kept his guard up/Inside, he was longing for something to be a part of/The brother was ready to beg, steal, borrow, or barter.

  Hercules Mulligan : Then a hurricane came/And devastation reigned/Our man saw his future/Drip-dripping down the drain/Put a pencil to his temple/Connected it to his brain/And he wrote his first refrain/A testament to his pain.

  Aaron Burr : Well, the word got around/They said, "This kid is insane, man"/Took up a collection/Just to send him to the mainland/Get your education/Don't forget from whence you came/And the world's gonna know your name/What's your name, man?

  Alexander Hamilton : Alexander Hamilton/My name is Alexander Hamilton/And there's a million things I haven't done/But just you wait/Just you wait.

• Alexander Hamilton : Mr. Vice President. Mr. Madison. Senator Burr. What is this?

  Thomas Jefferson : We have the check stubs from separate accounts.

  James Madison : Almost a thousand dollars paid in different amounts.

  Aaron Burr : To a Mr. James Reynolds way back in 1791.

  Alexander Hamilton : Is that what you have? Are you done?

  James Madison : You are uniquely situated by virtue of your position...

  Thomas Jefferson : Though "virtue" is not a word I'd apply to this situation.

  James Madison : To seek financial gain/To stray from your sacred mission.

  Thomas Jefferson : And the evidence suggests/You've engaged in speculation.

  Aaron Burr : An immigrant embezzling our government funds.

  Thomas Jefferson , James Madison : I can almost see the headline/Your career is done.

  Aaron Burr : I hope you saved some money/For your daughter and sons.

  Aaron Burr , Thomas Jefferson , James Madison : You best g'wan run back where you come from.

  Alexander Hamilton : Ha! You don't even know what you're asking me to confess.

  Aaron Burr , Thomas Jefferson , James Madison : Confess.

  Alexander Hamilton : You have nothing/ I don't have to tell you anything at all/Unless...

  Aaron Burr , Thomas Jefferson , James Madison : Unless...

  Alexander Hamilton : If I can prove/That I never broke the law/Do you promise not to tell/Another soul what you saw?

  Aaron Burr : No one else was in the room where it happened.

  Alexander Hamilton : Is that a yes?

  Aaron Burr , Thomas Jefferson , James Madison : Um, yes.

• Aaron Burr : The ship is in the harbor now/See if you can spot him/Another immigrant coming up from the bottom/His enemies destroyed his rep/America forgot him.

  Marquis de Lafayette , Hercules Mulligan : We fought with him.

  John Laurens : Me, I died for him.

  George Washington : Me, I trusted him.

  Peggy Schuyler , Angelica Schuyler , Eliza Hamilton : Me, I loved him.

  Aaron Burr : And me/I'm the damn fool that shot him.

• Alexander Hamilton : I'mma get a scholarship/To King's College/I probably shouldn't brag/But dag, I amaze and astonish/The problem is I got a lot of brains/But no polish/I gotta holler just to be heard/With every word I drop knowledge/I'm a diamond in the rough/A shiny piece of coal/Tryin' to reach my goal/My power of speech, unimpeachable/Only 19, but my mind is older/These New York City streets get colder/I shoulder every burden/Every disadvantage/I have learned to manage/I don't have a gun to brandish/I walk these streets famished/The plan is to fan this spark into a flame/But damn, it's getting dark/So let me spell out the name/I am the

  Alexander Hamilton , Marquis de Lafayette , Hercules Mulligan , John Laurens : A-L-E-X-A-N-D/E-R/We are meant to be.

  Alexander Hamilton : A colony that runs independently/Meanwhile, Britain keeps shittin' on us endlessly/Essentially, they tax us relentlessly/Then King George turns around/Runs a spending spree/He ain't never gonna/Set his descendants free/So there will be a revolution in this century/Enter me.

  Marquis de Lafayette , Hercules Mulligan , John Laurens : He says in parentheses.

  Alexander Hamilton : And don't be shocked/When your history book mentions me/I will lay down my life/If it sets us free/Eventually you'll see my ascendancy/And I am not throwing away my shot.

• Aaron Burr : [reading James Reynolds' extortion letter]  "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..."

  Thomas Jefferson : [in surprise and shock]  Whaaaat?

  Alexander 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/As you can see, I kept a record of every check in my checkered history/Check it against your list and 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?

  Thomas Jefferson : My God.

  James Madison : Gentlemen, let's go.

  Alexander Hamilton : So?

  Thomas Jefferson , James Madison : The people won't know what we know.

  Alexander Hamilton : Burr. How do I know you won't use this against me/The next time we go toe to toe?

  Aaron Burr : Alexander, rumors only grow. And we both know what we know.

• Aaron Burr : Meanwhile, Madison is grappling with the fact/That not every issue can be settled by committee/Congress is fighting over where to put the capital/It isn't pretty/Then Jefferson approaches with a dinner and invite/And Madison responds with Virginian insight.

  James Madison : Maybe we can solve one problem with another/And win a victory for the Southerners/In other words...

  Thomas Jefferson : Oh, ho.

  James Madison : A quid pro quo.

  Thomas Jefferson : I suppose.

  James Madison : Wouldn't you like to work a little closer to home?

  Thomas Jefferson : Actually, I would.

  James Madison : Well, I propose the Potomac.

  Thomas Jefferson : And you'll provide him his votes?

  James Madison : Well, we'll see how it goes.

  Thomas Jefferson : Let's go.

  Aaron 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 the room where it happened/The room where it happened/The room where it happened/My God!/In God we trust/But we'll really never know what got discussed/Ha!/Click, boom, then it happened/And no one else is in the room where it happened.

• Aaron Burr : Two Virginians and an immigrant/Walk into a room/Diametrically opposed, foes/They emerge with a compromise/Having opened doors that were previously closed/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 piece de resistance/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 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/We just assume that it happens/But no one else is in the room where it happens./Thomas claims:

  Thomas Jefferson : Alexander was on Washington's doorstep one day/In distress and disarray.

  Aaron Burr : Thomas claims:

  Thomas Jefferson : Alexander said...

  Alexander Hamilton : I have nowhere else to turn.

  Thomas Jefferson : And basically begged me to join the fray.

  Aaron Burr : Thomas claims:

  Thomas Jefferson : I approached Madison and said "I know you hate him, but let's hear what he has to say."

  Aaron Burr : Thomas claims:

  Thomas Jefferson : Well, I arranged the meeting/I arranged the menu/The venue, the seating.

  Aaron Burr : But 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 the room where it happened/The room where it happened/The room where it happened/No one really knows how the parties get to yes/The pieces that are sacrificed in every game of chess/We just assume that it happens/But no one else was in the room where it happens.

• Aaron Burr : How does Hamilton, the short-tempered Protean creator of the Coast Guard, founder of the New York Post/Ardently abuse his Cabinet post/Destroy his reputation?/Welcome, folks, to the Adams administration!/Jefferson's the runner-up, which makes him the Vice President.

  Thomas Jefferson : Washington can't help you now/No more Mr. Nice President.

  Aaron Burr : Adams fires Hamilton/Privately calls him "Creole bastard" in his taunts.

  Thomas Jefferson : Say what?

• Thomas Jefferson : Yo, every action has its 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...

  Thomas Jefferson , James Madison : Aaron Burr.

  Thomas Jefferson : With his own faction.

  James Madison : He's very attractive in the north/New Yorkers like his chances.

  Thomas Jefferson : He's not very forthcoming/On any particular stances.

  James Madison : Ask him a question, it glances off/He obfuscates, he dances.

  Thomas Jefferson : And they say I'm a Francophile. At least they know I know where France is.

  James Madison : Thomas, that's the problem, see/They see Burr as a less extreme you.

  Thomas Jefferson : Huh?

  James Madison : You need to change course/A key endorsement might redeem you.

  Thomas Jefferson : Who did you have in mind?

  James Madison : Don't laugh.

  Thomas Jefferson : Who is it?

  James Madison : You used to work on the same staff.

  Thomas Jefferson : Whaaaat?

  James Madison : It might be nice/It might be nice/To get Hamilton on your side.

  Thomas Jefferson , James Madison : It might be nice/It might be nice/To get Hamilton on your side.

• Thomas Jefferson : [slow and bluesy]  France is following us to revolution/There is no more status quo/But the sun comes up/And the world still spins/I helped Lafayette draft a declaration/Then I said "I gotta go"/"Got to be in Monticello."/Now the work at home begins.

  [the music turns upbeat and ragtime-y] 

  Thomas 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 basically missed the late '80s/I traveled the wide, wide world/And came back to this/There's a letter on my desk from the president/Haven't even put my bag 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/Lookin' at the rolling fields/I can't believe that we are free/Ready to face whatever's awaiting me in NYC/But who's waitin' for me/When I step in the place?/My friend James Madison/Red in the face/He grabs my arm/And I respond "What's goin' on?"

  James 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?/Hamilton's new financial plan is nothing less than government control/I've been fighting for the South alone/Where have you been?

  Thomas Jefferson : France.

• George Washington : Ladies and gentlemen, you could've been anywhere in the world tonight, but you're here with us in New York City. Are you ready for a Cabinet meeting?

  [loud cheers from the audience] 

  George Washington : 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.

  Thomas 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/'Cause I wrote 'em/Ow, but Hamilton forgets/His plan would have the government/Assume states' debts/Now, place your bets as to who that benefits/The very seat of government/Where Hamilton sits.

  Alexander Hamilton : Not true!

  Thomas 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/'Cause 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/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 whiskey.

  George Washington : Thank you, Secretary Jefferson. Secretary Hamilton, your response.

  Alexander Hamilton : 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/'Cause 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 hasn't jettisoned/Madison, you 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.