Thomas Paine and the American Revolution
A Screenplay
by
George Ford Smith
FADE IN:
EXT. COLONIAL BOSTON - OLD SOUTH CHURCH - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Boston
December 16, 1773
Church bells ring with a vengeance throughout the
city on a cold and drizzly day.
Merchants, artisans, dock workers, loiterers,
lawyers and others crowd into the entrance of Old
South buzzing about tea and taxes.
A group of TOUGHS shouts:
TOUGHS
Rally, Mohawks, bring out your
axes, tell King George we'll pay no
taxes!
INT. OLD SOUTH CHURCH - DAY
The restless crowd pays scant attention to JOSIAH
QUINCY, JR., early 30s, shouting from the podium.
Outside, the toughs' rally swells in volume.
QUINCY
We will not terminate the conflict
with Britain by shouting popular
slogans! Our enemies, both here
and abroad, public and private, are
moved by an insatiable revenge!
They will not back down without
engaging us in bloody conflict!
Seated along an aisle near the back is SAMUEL
ADAMS, early 50s. Adams, of medium build, gray
and palsied, might pass for a kindly professor if
not for the intensity of his eyes. He wears his
signature threadbare red suit.
Heads turn as someone enters from the back.
Adams stands.
QUINCY
We are about to face the most
terrible struggle this country has
even seen!
A forlorn FRANCIS ROTCH, 40s, heads for Adams.
The toughs follow him a ways then stop. The
meeting of Rotch and Adams brings every breath to
a halt.
ROTCH
I have just met with the governor.
He flatly refuses to send the tea
back to England. Boston is obliged
to pay the tax and unload it.
ADAMS
(to room at large)
This meeting can do nothing more to
save the country.
An Indian WAR WHOOP sounds from the back of the
hall. The Old South roars.
EXT. BOSTON - STREET - NIGHT
A nearly full moon bathes the city on a clear,
cold night.
TWO PATRIOTS disguised as Mohawks approach a
BRITISH OFFICER. The officer starts to draw his
sword but stops when he sees a pistol sticking in
his chest.
MOHAWK ONE
The path is wide enough for all if
no one gets pushy.
The Mohawks move on.
The officer watches helplessly as other men move
by him silently, their faces blackened.
Some are dressed as Mohawks, others wear old
clothes and red woolen caps. Nearly all carry a
hatchet or ax.
One is not even a man. She is HANNA FORTUNE,
mid-20s and attractive, decked out as a dock
worker with a blackened face.
EXT. GRIFFIN'S WHARF - BOSTON HARBOR - NIGHT
LENDALL PITTS, 30s, leads two columns of 75 men
onto the wharf, then stops. He speaks to the men
immediately behind him.
PITTS
Remember, tea only. Nothing else
gets harmed. Pass it down.
His message makes its way down the line.
Three British merchant ships lie quietly at dock
ahead of them.
The Mohawks split into three groups and approach
the ships. They board in silent unison.
EXT. BOSTON HARBOR - MERCHANT SHIP - NIGHT
Pitts approaches a tense-looking FIRST MATE.
PITTS
We will need candles and a key to
the hold. Unless you prefer we
take a different approach.
The mate hands him his keys.
EXT. MERCHANT SHIP - LATER
A Mohawk splits a tea chest open with a
resounding WHACK.
Axes crack open other chests.
EXT. BOSTON HARBOR - TEA SHIPS - NIGHT
Men shovel tea from the chests over the bulwarks.
When they empty enough of it, they hoist the
chests over the side and go back for more.
The tea gradually forms mounds on the water
surface.
A growing crowd of curious townsfolk gather on
the wharf. Among them is DR. WILLIAM FORTUNE,
40s and elegant.
He places a comforting hand on an incensed Hanna
standing in front of him. She throws his hand
off and folds her arms.
EXT. ENGLAND - PALACE OF WESTMINSTER - DAY
TITLE OVER:
English Parliament
March, 1774
INT. WESTMINSTER - HALLWAY - DAY
A self-possessed CLERK carries a tray of tea down
the hall. His face suddenly turns sour, as if a
large bug were scurrying into his path.
His attention is fixed on THOMAS PAINE, 37 and
slim, with flashing dark eyes and a bounce to his
step. Paine cradles bound manuscripts in one
arm.
PAINE
May I ask, sir, the whereabouts of
Lord North's office?
The clerk raises an eyebrow without stopping.
Paine walks with him.
PAINE
I have something for his Lordship's
urgent attention.
CLERK
Leave it with the librarian.
PAINE
I seek an audience with him. I've
been trying for months.
CLERK
I'm not surprised.
Paine grabs his elbow and stops him.
PAINE
I am the guest of Dr. Franklin.
The clerk glares at Paine and thrusts his hand in
the air, snapping his fingers impatiently. Then
he moves to a door and raps quickly before
opening it.
INT. WESTMINSTER - COMMITTEE ROOM - DAY
LORD NORTH and BEN FRANKLIN are holding a
discussion. North is too agitated to notice the
clerk entering. His oversized tongue thickens
his speech.
LORD NORTH
The king will bring Boston to its
knees and leave it there to bleed.
He will order Boston's port closed,
its assembly moved to Salem—
Franklin sees Paine staring at him from the hall
with his mouth agape. North turns to the hallway
and squints.
LORD NORTH
Who is there?
CLERK
You needn't concern yourself, my
Lord. I've ordered his removal.
Two guards come up on either side of Paine, but
he breaks into the room and moves directly to
Franklin.
PAINE
Dr. Franklin, I apologize for the
inter—
The guards are on him in a heartbeat, knocking
his manuscripts to the floor.
FRANKLIN
Wait! Let him finish!
PAINE
I represent the Excise Corps and
have come to petition for better
wages.
FRANKLIN
Perhaps you should take it up with
Lord North.
Paine turns in astonishment, gaping at North.
PAINE
Lord North!
LORD NORTH
Who are you?
PAINE
Thomas Paine, from Lewes. I—
North waves his hand impatiently.
LORD NORTH
No, no, I've had enough audacity.
You're interrupting us. Be gone.
Paine fetches the manuscripts.
PAINE
Please, sir. If I may leave these
with you.
LORD NORTH
Are they a proposal to destroy
Boston?
PAINE
They're a proposal on how to stop
corruption among excise men.
LORD NORTH
By paying them more?! And you
would have us coddle Boston, too, I
suppose.
Paine is winging it.
PAINE
Boston deserves justice, sir.
LORD NORTH
What they deserve is irrelevant.
The king's dignity has been
affronted. Remove him!
Franklin extends his hand to Paine.
FRANKLIN
Leave one with me.
Paine quickly hands him a manuscript but it flips
into the air before it reaches Franklin's grasp.
The guards are yanking him away.
North and Franklin are alone again with the door
closed.
FRANKLIN
My lord, not to be disagreeable,
but I believe the colonies will
prove resistant to further
interference. Samuel Adams'
Committees of Correspondence will
unite them behind Boston.
LORD NORTH
We'll see how united they are when
the heads of Adams and Hancock are
mounted on Beacon Hill.
INT. LONDON - LODGING ROOM - NIGHT
Paine writes at a desk.
PAINE (V.O.)
My Dear Elizabeth, How long it has
been since I have seen you. I fear
my efforts here in London have been
in vain, however.
EXT. ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE - CARRIAGE - DAY
A ramshackle coach bounces along a road.
PAINE (V.O.)
I have run out of money and so will
be leaving in a few days to return
home. With kind affection, Your
Thomas.
INT. CARRIAGE - DAY
Paine, staring out the window, sits with other
male passengers.
A MERCHANT, 30s, reading a newspaper speaks to no
one in particular.
MERCHANT
The king has signed Boston's death
warrant. The port will be closed
starting June 1st. If you ask me,
they've got it coming. Filling
their harbor with East India's tea
because of a puny tax and some
nonsense about a monopoly. Who do
they think they are?
Paine snaps out of his reverie.
PAINE
Freemen.
MERCHANT
Freemen? Free to starve, is what
it will be. The other colonies
won't rush to Boston's defense.
They know where their revenue lies,
and it's not in defying the king.
EXT. CONNECTICUT - TOWN SQUARE - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Farmington, Connecticut
May 19, 1774
A large crowd gathers to hear a PATRIOT speak.
Next to him is a tall pole and the town's hooded
HANGMAN holding a blazing torch.The patriot holds
a document aloft for all to see.
PATRIOT TWO
This is the king's act closing the
port of Boston. I commit this
monstrous law to the flames.
The hangman torches the bill to resounding
cheers.
The patriot pulls out a handbill and waves it to
quiet the crowd.
PATRIOT TWO
I urge you, my fellow neighbors in
Connecticut, to support these
resolves.
He reads from the handbill.
PATRIOT TWO
First -- that as long as our parent
state secures our liberties, we are
ready with our lives and property
to support it.
Cheers and whistling from the crowd.
PATRIOT TWO
Second -- that the present
ministry, being instigated by the
devil, have a design to take away
our liberties and properties and to
enslave us forever!
The cheering gets rowdy.
PATRIOT TWO
Third -- that we and every American
are sharers in the insults offered
to the town of Boston!
More noise from his listeners.
PATRIOT TWO
And finally -- we scorn the chains
of slavery! We despise every
attempt to rivet them upon us! We
are the sons of freedom and resolve
that, till time shall be no more,
godlike virtue shall blazon our
hemisphere!
Pandemonium erupts.
EXT. LEWES - BULL HOUSE STORE - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Lewes, England
Spring, 1774
The carriage starts off, leaving Paine and his
traveling bag behind.
He smiles and hustles to the BULL HOUSE, a place
that sells "Every Article of Grocery Except Tea"
according to a sign hanging above the door.
Then he sees a crude notice in the window and
stops dead:
LIQUIDATION SALE
INT. BULL HOUSE - DAY
Paine comes in and drops his bag. He's stunned.
The place looks more like a warehouse than a
store. Almost everything is in boxes or crates.
PAINE
Elizabeth!
He makes his way through the store.
PAINE
Elizabeth!
He hears footsteps coming down stairs. A door
opens, and ELIZABETH, late 20s, steps inside the
store.
Her good looks are worn with fatigue. She holds
a letter in one hand. She looks at Paine without
joy.
Hello.
ELIZABETH
Hello.
Paine shifts his attention to the room at large.
PAINE
What's happening?
ELIZABETH
What does it look like?
PAINE
How could it fail? We were doing
okay.
ELIZABETH
Things changed. I wrote you.
PAINE
I didn't get your letter.
ELIZABETH
You can't abandon a business and
expect it to survive, Thomas. Or a
marriage.
PAINE
What are you talking about?
ELIZABETH
I'm moving in with my brother.
She hands him the letter.
ELIZABETH
From your excise corps supervisor.
He reads it then tears it in half.
PAINE
They can't fire me! I've got a
good work record!
He kicks a box over.
ELIZABETH
I imagine they were wondering why
you were in London these last few
months instead of in Lewes
collecting excises. So was I,
actually.
PAINE
You knew why I went.
ELIZABETH
You've been gone for over five
months.
PAINE
Yes, like a fool! I was trying to
call dogs without a bone in my
hand. Parliament doesn't act
unless they're bribed.
ELIZABETH
Thomas, our business has failed,
and you've lost your job. We have
no means of support, and I won't
have you putting me up for sale.
She turns and heads back upstairs.
INT. BULL HOUSE - STAIRWAY - DAY
Paine rushes to the bottom of the stairs.
PAINE
Elizabeth! I have no future
without you. I can't fail again.
We've got to work this out!
She pauses at the top of the stairs.
ELIZABETH
You're not a failure, Thomas. You
can always go back to making
women's corsets.
EXT. LEWES - CARRIAGE DEPOT - DAY
Paine assists Elizabeth into a rundown closed
carriage. She wears a plain dress and white
bonnet.
PAINE
There are opportunities in London.
As soon as I find work I'll send
you money.
She regards him with disgust.
The carriage pulls away.
EXT. BOSTON HARBOR - GRIFFIN'S WHARF - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Boston
June 1, 1774
British warships clog the harbor. Led by
DRUMMERS, REDCOATS march down gangplanks onto the
wharf.
EXT. BOSTON - STREET - DAY
The king's soldiers march past shops shuttered
closed, flags lowered to half-mast. Church bells
peal constantly.
INT. BOSTON - GREEN DRAGON TAVERN - DAY
Samuel Adams, JOHN HANCOCK, JOSEPH WARREN, and
William Fortune are holding a quiet meeting at a
corner table.
The slim, clean-featured Hancock, mid-30s, looks
out of place in his brocaded waistcoat.
Warren, early 30s, blond with blue eyes, quietly
fumes.
The sound of British boots carries from the
street outside.
WARREN
We should have heard from our
southern riders by now. Where are
they?
DR. FORTUNE
Maybe they're waiting for the
redcoats to finish awing us with
their march through the city.
ADAMS
Our committees are strong in the
other colonies. They will not let
us down.
HANCOCK
Assuming our Tea Party didn't scare
them off, Samuel.
ADAMS
If it did, it's best we find out
now. But I don't think our
countrymen are sheep, Mr. Hancock.
WARREN
Some sheep make a good living
licking the king's boots.
ADAMS
And it's our job to make sure it
gives them a rancid taste. As we
did last December in the harbor.
They laugh. The marching outside grows distant.
HANCOCK
Merchants have no reason to fear
acts like the Tea Party. East
India Company is a firm that courts
the government instead of the
market. They are an arm of
Parliament posing as merchants.
WARREN
Will Americans make that
distinction?
ADAMS
If they don't it's not because we
haven't made it for them many
times.
A soft bleating sound emerges from outside and
grows closer.
DR. FORTUNE
Good God! Are the British putting
on a farce?
They jump from their seats and rush for the door.
EXT. BOSTON - STREET - DAY
Standing in the middle of the street laughing is
PAUL REVERE, late 30s and rugged, marching among
a flock of sheep with other residents.
The men from the tavern look on in disbelief.
WARREN
Revere!
REVERE
My good doctor Warren! Adams! Can
you believe this?
Revere makes his way to the men.
REVERE
These animals have walked all the
way from Connecticut! In a show of
support! Complements of a
patriotic old war horse!
He laughs then pulls letters from a pouch.
REVERE
Listen to these! A message from
the planters of South Carolina:
"Don't pay for one ounce of the
damned tea!" They're sending a
shipload of rice.
Warren swings a fist in the air.
WARREN
Yes!
REVERE
Virginia says, "We look upon
ourselves as bound by the most
sacred ties to support you!"
Virginia! The largest colony!
ADAMS
Are they sending us tobacco?
REVERE
Better! A man stood up in their
legislature and declared he would
raise a thousand men at his expense
and lead them here to fight the
British.
WARREN
Who is this man?
Revere scans the letter for the name.
REVERE
A colonel named George Washington.
WARREN
We may have to talk to this Colonel
Washington.
ADAMS
Gentlemen, I believe I hear
Philadelphia calling us.
EXT. BOSTON - TOM CUSHING'S MANSION - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Boston
August, 1774
A crowd of townspeople gather around a
magnificent four-horse coach in front of
Cushing's mansion.
Four armed SERVANTS are on horseback next to the
coach. Two black FOOTMEN in livery, their arms
folded, perch in back.
A footman jumps down and opens the door for the
approaching delegates. Their attire is as
fastidious as the carriage.
They bask in applause: JOHN ADAMS, 38, medium
height and rotund, moves with quick confidence.
ROBERT PAINE, 43 and slim-faced, walks less
energetically, as does TOM CUSHING, 49 and tall.
Dr. Fortune steps forward and clasps hands with
Samuel Adams, the last delegate.
DR. FORTUNE
We will see you in Philadelphia.
Godspeed!
ADAMS
It will be comforting having a
trusted physician on call, Dr.
Fortune. And please, tell your
daughter she has captured my heart
with her radicalism.
DR. FORTUNE
Alas, you are not radical enough
for her, Samuel, though she
supports your efforts.
ADAMS
We'll look for you both in
Philadelphia. Godspeed!
The footman guides Adams into the coach and
closes the door.
The DRIVER lifts his whip and cracks the horses
forward. Well-wishers chase along while the
coach picks up speed.
INT. BOSTON - CARRIAGE - DAY
Samuel and John Adams sit side-by-side facing Bob
Paine and Cushing.
CUSHING
Gentlemen, if this congress is to
succeed, we must never talk of
independence.
EXT. LEWES - MAIN STREET - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Lewes, England
August, 1774
A coach with no elegance whatsoever leaves town.
INT. ENGLAND - COACH - DAY
The coach carries two men, Tom Paine and an OLD
MAN.
OLD MAN
If I may say so, Thomas, Lewes will
not be the same without you. You
were the town's best debater. How
often did you win the Most
Obstinate award?
PAINE
More than anyone else, I suppose.
OLD MAN
The whole tavern could hear your
arguments. They were quite moving.
PAINE
Yes. So moving I was nominated to
address Parliament. And now I'm
moving again.
OLD MAN
Whatever you do, keep talking. You
never know who'll be listening.
Thunder rumbles up ahead.
EXT. ENGLAND - RUTTED ROAD - DAY
Rain falls in sheets, thunder and lightning spook
the horses. The carriage sinks in mud and halts.
The DRIVER cracks his whip harder, cursing the
animals.
A door swings open and Paine jumps out.
PAINE
Stop it! Don't you know that
hurts?
Paine makes his way to the front of the horses
and pulls on their harnesses. He talks to them
gently but they refuse to budge.
DRIVER
Get out of my way and let me handle
it, you damn fool!
Paine slips behind the horses and whacks them on
their rumps.
PAINE
Yo!
The animals get their legs moving. Paine spanks
them again. The coach slowly breaks free from
the mud.
Paine clambers inside the carriage while it's
rolling.
DRIVER
You'll be cleaning out the mess you
tracked in there!
EXT. LONDON - THE STRAND - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Outside London, England
Coaches roll along the street amidst artisans and
college students.
Paine heads on foot for Ferguson's Globe Shop and
goes inside.
INT. FERGUSON'S SHOP - DAY
Paine enters a galaxy of globes and pauses to
admire a large one. JAMES FERGUSON raises his
head from the paper he's reading and smiles in
recognition.
FERGUSON
The name escapes me but never the
eyes.
Paine smiles and walks over to the venerable
Ferguson, 64.
PAINE
Thomas Paine, Dr. Ferguson. I
would rather be remembered for my
eyes than my name.
FERGUSON
The eyes reflect the soul. You had
a good mind for science.
PAINE
After all you taught me, I regret
to say I had to sell my globes. I
liquidated my old life and am now
looking for a new one. Preferably
one that produces income.
FERGUSON
Refresh me. Your education is—?
PAINE
Self-administered.
FERGUSON
Ah! That makes matters
challenging. I am about to meet a
gentleman for dinner. If you will
join us, we can continue our
discussion with him.
Paine looks hesitant.
FERGUSON
He's a fellow scientist who somehow
manages to be older than me.
Ferguson hands him the newspaper.
FERGUSON
He even made the London Chronicle
today.
PAINE
(reading)
"Causes of the American Discontents
before 1768" by Benjamin Franklin.
Paine stares at Ferguson.
INT. LONDON - TAVERN - DAY
Franklin, Fergy, and Paine drink and dine.
FRANKLIN
Your father is a Quaker, your
mother an Anglican, and you once
dabbled as a Methodist preacher.
PAINE
John Wesley's followers were
attempting to do with religion what
Dr. Ferguson was doing with
Newton's science -- reach out to
commoners.
FRANKLIN
A good thing?
PAINE
Very. It kindles rebellion against
an oppressive state.
FRANKLIN
But that's treason, is it not?
PAINE
Absolutely. When a state practices
oppression it is treason, and the
citizens are under no obligation to
support it.
Franklin turns to a smiling Ferguson.
FERGUSON
Isn't he refreshingly seditious?
FRANKLIN
(to Paine)
You must be unhappy with our
present state.
PAINE
It would take a book to do justice
to its transgressions.
FRANKLIN
Which in England would only get you
hanged. Excuse me, but I know you
from somewhere. Was it one of
Fergy's lectures?
PAINE
No, sir. I stumbled into an office
while you were conversing with Lord
North. I was—
FRANKLIN
You left me a copy of a manuscript!
PAINE
Yes.
FRANKLIN
What bravado! Did you get anywhere
with it?
PAINE
No, sir. It was fundamentally
flawed. It made no offer to line
the ministry's pockets.
FERGUSON
Tom sees things in their nakedness.
That's why he would make a good
scientist.
Franklin's wheels are turning.
FRANKLIN
Indeed.
PAINE
I was much conflicted as a tax
collector. I'm glad those days are
behind me. But I have not
progressed very far finding new
employment.
FRANKLIN
Perhaps it is more accurate to say
you have not progressed far enough.
PAINE
Sir?
FRANKLIN
Have you thought about the American
colonies?
PAINE
I have no contacts there.
FRANKLIN
And if you had?
PAINE
At this point I'd swim over.
FRANKLIN
Sailing over can be almost as hard.
Come by my place later, and I'll
have a letter ready for you.
PAINE
You don't know me.
FRANKLIN
Mr. Paine, the government ships its
criminals to the colonies. Surely,
I can do little harm by sending
you.
EXT. SHIP - AT SEA - DAY
The "London Packet" rolls over rising waves as
THREE CREW MEMBERS slide a corpse over the side.
A very sick-looking Paine and a male PASSENGER
watch.
PASSENGER
At the rate we're dying, we'll dock
in Philadelphia with a procession
of overstuffed sharks in our wake.
Paine collapses to the deck.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - DOCK - LONDON PACKET - DAY
An AUCTIONEER conducts an auction of INDENTURED
SERVANTS on deck. Men are separated from the
women, and all are white.
Merchants, farmers, artisans, and others inspect
the indentees as they might inspect cattle or
horses.
Mouths are pried open, feet lifted up, orders
given to see if they can walk.
The voyage over has left them near-naked and
half-starved.
Paine lies semiconscious on deck. Buyers and
crew shuffle around him as if he were refuse.
The CAPTAIN watches the cattle sale from the
forecastle. One of the buyers calls up to him.
BUYER
(re: Paine)
Hey, Captain! Here's one for the
fishies.
A few laughs greet the buyer's witticism.
A stretcher lands next to Paine and hardened
hands ease him onto it.
DR. JOHN KEARSLEY, 30s, leads two SERVANTS off
deck with Paine in tow.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - DOCK - DAY
The servants drop Paine in the back of a wagon
and get moving.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - KEARSLEY'S HOUSE - DAY
The servants ease Paine out of the wagon.
ESTHER, 20s, a house servant, leads them toward
the house.
KEARSLEY
(to Esther)
We need to relieve his fever.
INT. KEARSLEY'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY
Esther dips a cloth in a bowl of water and pats
Paine's face. The patient acts mildly delirious.
Kearsley hangs Paine's coat on a hook. He
notices something in the inside pocket and
removes a letter.
He reads it, glances at Paine then grimly puts it
back.
He goes to a window and cracks it to let in air.
KEARSLEY
If he becomes lucid, offer him
chamomile or water.
ESTHER
Yes, Dr. Kearsley.
KEARSLEY
And of course, if he dies—
Kearsley leaves.
INT. KEARSLEY'S HOUSE - STUDY - NIGHT
Kearsley writes by candlelight. Esther comes to
the doorway.
ESTHER
Doctor, Mr. Paine is asking
questions.
INT. KEARSLEY'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Kearsley and Esther come to his bedside on
separate sides of the bed. Paine looks confused
and keeps wetting his lips. Esther lifts a glass
to his mouth and helps him drink.
He jerks his head away from the drink, coughing.
PAINE
Where's Elizabeth?
KEARSLEY
There's no Elizabeth here, Mr.
Paine. You're in Philadelphia.
PAINE
Where?
KEARSLEY
Philadelphia. You fell sick on the
voyage, but you'll be fine.
Paine reaches for the water. Esther gives him
more. He plops back on the pillow and closes his
eyes. His breathing is labored.
PAINE
Philadelphia's in America. I'm in
America.
KEARSLEY
Yes, you finally arrived.
PAINE
There's no king here.
KEARSLEY
No king.
Paine looks at Kearsley.
PAINE
Who are you?
KEARSLEY
I'm your doctor, John Kearsley.
And this is Esther, my assistant.
PAINE
I don't know you.
KEARSLEY
No, but we all know Dr. Franklin.
Paine closes his eyes, choked up.
PAINE
Elizabeth . . . Oh, God.
Kearsley places his hand on Paine's forehead.
KEARSLEY
Try to sleep. One of us will check
on you periodically.
Kearsley and Esther leave quietly.
INT. KEARSLEY'S HOUSE - DAY
Esther carries a tray of tea and biscuits to the
door of Paine's room and knocks before opening
it.
INT. KEARSLEY'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY
She sets the tray on his nightstand. He wakes
with a start and struggles to sit up. The food
looks good to him.
She heads for the door.
PAINE
Esther, can you bring me a cane?
She does a little curtsy and leaves.
INT. KEARSLEY'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY
Paine takes a few tentative steps with a cane.
He finds it exhausting and drops to the bed.
INT. KEARSLEY'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAYS LATER
Paine is sitting up in bed reading. Esther
wrings a cloth out over a bowl of water. She
starts to wash Paine's face but he takes her hand
gently and removes the cloth.
He wipes his face.
PAINE
Are you indentured?
She nods. He hands her the cloth.
PAINE
Thank you.
INT. KEARSLEY'S HOUSE - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
The dining table is set with dishes of hot soup,
pork, and potatoes.
Kearsley sits in front of a clean plate tapping
his fingers together. Across from him is another
table setting.
Esther sets a pitcher on the table. They hear a
thump - thump - thump sound getting closer.
Paine appears at the end of the stairway resting
on his cane, smiling. Esther holds a chair for
him.
Paine tosses the cane, takes a few steps then
stops.
PAINE
(to Esther)
Will you not be joining us?
Esther casts her eyes down and hurries off.
Paine takes his seat. Her departure leaves him
puzzled.
KEARSLEY
Esther is indentured to me, Mr.
Paine. She's not part of the
family.
PAINE
The last few days she's seemed like
an angel to me.
KEARSLEY
(re: food)
Please -- help yourself.
Kearsley begins ladling himself soup. Paine
ignores the food.
PAINE
Dr. Kearsley, I cannot possibly
begin to thank you. You've saved
my life—
KEARSLEY
We're a friendly city, Mr. Paine,
but I appreciate your gratitude.
PAINE
--You and Esther both.
Kearsley notices Paine's idle hands and sighs.
KEARSLEY
Esther! Esther come here, please!
INT. KEARSLEY'S HOUSE - DINING ROOM
Esther dines in obvious discomfort with Paine and
Kearsley.
EXT. KEARSLEY'S HOUSE - GARDEN - DAY
Paine walks along one of the neat stone pathways
of Kearsley's garden. Shrubs are arranged
geometrically and in small plots.
A white shingled gazebo overlooks the garden.
Kearsley comes up the main path to Paine.
KEARSLEY
Mr. Paine, my wife and son will be
back in two days. Another doctor
has offered to put you up and
assist in your convalescence.
PAINE
Another friend of Dr. Franklin's?
KEARSLEY
I don't know. He came down from
Boston with the Massachusetts
delegates. He decided to stay
since the second congress will
convene in early May.
Paine seems to have missed a beat.
KEARSLEY
You'll be in good hands. His place
is very rustic.
PAINE
The colonies held another congress?
KEARSLEY
Oh, yes. They gathered here at
Carpenter's Hall for two months.
They made a lot of noise then
declared war against the British --
our merchants against theirs. The
idea is, we stop doing business
with them and see who can suffer
the longest. Sam Adams says their
merchants will go broke first,
therefore we will win. What a
coincidence that Sam Adams is not a
merchant. If later today will be
convenient, we can move you then.
PAINE
Yes, of course. Thanks.
KEARSLEY
Oh, if the subject should come up,
the tea you had here was strictly
for medicinal purposes.
Kearsley leaves.
EXT. FORTUNE'S FARM - HOUSE - DAY
One of Kearsley's servants leaves Paine and his
luggage bag in front of the farmhouse. A DOG
barks somewhere behind it.
The servant climbs back in the wagon.
PAINE
Are you sure I'm in the right
place?
The man turns the wagon around and leaves.
Paine goes to the door and knocks. He waits and
knocks again. The dog's barking gets more
intense.
He moves to the edge of the house and looks
around.
He casts a concerned look at the overcast sky and
cups his hands around his mouth.
PAINE
Hello!!
A snarling German shepherd dragging a long rope
from its neck comes flying out of a barn in back.
Paine is horrified. He grabs a big stick from
the ground but it crumbles from rot. He braces
for the attack.
HANNA FORTUNE breaks from the barn and lets fly a
piercing WHISTLE. The dog halts instantly. She
runs after him and picks up the rope.
She wears tattered men's clothes which fail to
camouflage her rough good looks.
The dog snarls at Paine, waiting on permission to
shred him.
HANNA
Satan! Stop that!
(to Paine)
Are you okay?
Paine is removing his heart from his mouth and is
not yet able to respond.
HANNA
I'm Hanna. You must be here for my
father.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - KITCHEN - DAY
The kitchen is spacious and functional. A fire
glows in the fireplace.
Hanna brings two mugs to the table and sits.
HANNA
He didn't mention anything about an
English house guest, Mr. Paine, but
I'm sure he just forgot. His mind
is still in Boston.
PAINE
Rightfully so. All that's wanting
up there is a well-placed spark.
HANNA
Father almost went back with the
delegates. But he thought it would
be best to wait until they return
in May. Or until shooting breaks
out.
PAINE
Let's pray it will be resolved
among lawyers rather than generals.
HANNA
Believe me, Mr. Paine, there is no
hope for reconciliation. The king
is determined to subdue us by
force.
PAINE
But congress still hopes for peace.
Outside, Satan barks briefly, though neither
Hanna nor Paine notice.
HANNA
They think if they say the right
words and cut back on trade, George
will call the troops home. They're
fools.
PAINE
Hanna, England is always poking its
nose in places. Some other crisis
could render this one
insignificant. The king could
always die. Conditions change,
options open up. More reasonable
minds might decide the colonies are
better left alone.
Dr. Fortune comes into the room and stops.
HANNA
And if we're attacked we either
fight back or submit. What would
you do?
PAINE
England is the most powerful
military force in the world. It
would be sheer folly to fight back.
HANNA
Tell me, Englishman, did you bring
your shackles or are you planning
to buy new ones?
Fortune forces a cough. They turn to him.
DR. FORTUNE
I see my daughter is offering you
our hospitality. Are you Mr.
Paine?
PAINE
I believe so, sir. My pleasure.
Paine rises and shakes Fortune's hand.
HANNA
He's not sure who he is.
DR. FORTUNE
We try to minimize pretenses here.
I hope you won't feel
uncomfortable.
PAINE
I should only need a day or two to
recover my strength, then I can
find lodging in town.
She stands.
HANNA
Perhaps you can ride with me into
town tomorrow, when I go to work.
I know a few places you can try.
PAINE
That's very kind—
HANNA
(to her father)
--I have work to finish outside.
I'll be in shortly.
She leaves.
DR. FORTUNE
My daughter should have been a man.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - MARKET STREET - DAY
Paine and Hanna ride down Market's cobblestone
road in a one-horse wagon.
Paine is well-groomed, his brown hair pulled back
in a gray-streaked short ponytail. Hanna wears a
colorful dress. Neither speaks or looks at the
other.
Hanna brings the horse to a stop.
HANNA
You might look around here for a
place to stay. There are some
interesting shops, too.
He climbs down.
HANNA
I'll be two blocks down on Second
Street at City Tavern. Come by
when you're done.
He nods and watches her ride off.
EXT. MARKET STREET - DAY
Paine strolls the brick sidewalk on Market
Street, nodding at friendly passersby.
He comes to Front Street, crosses, and stops at
Robert Aitken's bookstore. The window display of
books intrigues him.
INT. AITKEN'S BOOKSTORE - DAY
Paine comes inside and finds a rich offering of
books.
In the back of the shop, ROBERT AITKEN, Scottish
and mid-40s, holds a discussion with a young
APPRENTICE at a printing press.
Aitken sees Paine and comes forward.
AITKEN
Greetings, greetings. How are you
today, sir? Are you new in town, I
don't believe I've seen you here
before?
PAINE
This is my first visit to the city.
I find your shop quite seductive.
AITKEN
Seductive? God forbid a Quaker
should ever be seductive.
PAINE
For the sake of posterity, God
forbid a Quaker should never be
seductive.
They laugh.
AITKEN
What brings you to Philadelphia?
PAINE
Dr. Franklin. He recommended I
come here and apply for work. I
hope to meet with his son-in-law
about a possible tutoring position.
(Off Aitken's
surprise)
What is it?
AITKEN
Do you write well?
PAINE
I write.
AITKEN
How about writing for a living?
I'm starting a magazine and I need
an editor. Do you have something
of yours I can read?
EXT. CITY TAVERN - DAY
Paine whistles a tune and swings up the stairs
into the three-story all-brick tavern.
INT. CITY TAVERN - DAY
Paine comes into the foyer and sees Hanna.
HANNA
I didn't expect you quite so—
He grabs her by the waist and spins her around.
She shrieks.
PAINE
Oysters and a draft, Miss! This is
a fine day!
She tries to compose herself.
HANNA
This way.
She turns to lead him to the bar, but Paine turns
her back.
PAINE
How many men who come in here have
half your brains?
Her face is inscrutable.
HANNA
I'll give your order to your
waiter.
INT. CITY TAVERN - FOYER - DAY - LATER
Hanna hears piano music and turns into the
sitting room.
She sees Paine standing behind the piano holding
a draft and picking a tune at the keyboard.
The tune is a haunting, uplifting melody called
"The Death of General Wolfe.”
(Note: Listen to a MIDI file of this tune at http://
www.contemplator.com/america/wolfe.html)
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - MARKET STREET - DAY
Paine holds the reins and leads them out of the
city. He whistles the General Wolfe tune softly.
HANNA
Don't you think it's a little early
to celebrate? He hasn't seen your
writing yet.
PAINE
You're right, Hanna. I'm assuming
a happy outcome, and there's no
reason to.
HANNA
You're like a child, getting
excited about something that might
not happen.
PAINE
Sometimes you just need to feel
good. Imagine how I'd be if you
hadn't brought me into town with
you today. I'd be lying in bed,
miserable. But thanks to your
thoughtfulness, I stand a chance of
getting a decent job.
Paine tries hard not to grin.
HANNA
You know very well why I brought
you with me today.
PAINE
Well, it worked. I'm a big step
closer to moving out. You should
be happy.
HANNA
I am. I'm happy for both of us.
PAINE
If I work for Aitken, I can come by
the tavern for dinner.
She shoots him a humorless look.
HANNA
Just get us home. I'm cold.
Paine resumes whistling then stops.
PAINE
Well, there was one thing. Aitken
asked me to write a blurb for the
cover of his magazine, and he was
thrilled with what I came up with.
Want to know what it was?
She turns to him sharply and tears the reins from
his hands. She HOLLERS at the horse and gives
him a shake. The wagon picks up speed.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - BARN - DAY
Hanna brings the wagon to a halt. She hops down
and starts to free the horse. Paine assists from
the other side.
PAINE
What's eating you?
She leads the horse into a stall. Paine grabs
her wrist to keep her from leaving.
PAINE
Talk to me.
HANNA
That job you're about to get could
have been mine.
PAINE
Why wasn't it?
HANNA
You can't be serious!
She pulls her arm away and runs toward the house.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - KITCHEN - DAY
Paine, Hanna, and Dr. Fortune are holding a tense
supper.
DR. FORTUNE
(to Paine)
Robert Aitken's the city's most
ambitious publisher. He might not
be easy to work for, but his
magazine would be a good start for
you.
PAINE
I think so. He already has six
hundred subscribers, and he hasn't
published the first issue yet.
HANNA
What will you write?
PAINE
I don't know, but I'm never at a
loss for words. He wants to avoid
controversy. But that's too
boring.
HANNA
So you're going to light it up?
PAINE
A little heat won't hurt. There
are too many unjust laws. They
need to be scrapped. The people
suffering under them need a voice.
HANNA
You're going to pick on Britain?
PAINE
I'll leave that to congress.
HANNA
Congress?
(laughs)
Congress met to cut deals with one
another. They stuffed their fat
faces with free food and drink. In
a fit of daring they sent the
overseas tyrant a holy petition
proclaiming our righteous
indignation.
DR. FORTUNE
While letting Boston come rapidly
to a boil.
EXT. LEXINGTON, MA - VILLAGE GREEN - DAY
TITLE OVER:
John Parker's Lexington Militia
Winter, 1775
Captain JOHN PARKER, mid-40s and rugged, leads a
company of MILITIA through drills on the green.
The men shoulder muskets and wear work clothes.
A FIFE and DRUM play as they march.
Except for the drilling militia, Lexington is
idyllic.
The green is a two-acre triangle of grass and
dandelions bordered by two roads on the sides, a
two-and-a-half story meetinghouse on one end, and
a connecting road on the other.
Houses and yards populate the sides of the green
behind the roads.
EXT. CAMBRIDGE, MA - MEETING HOUSE - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Cambridge, Massachusetts
A battalion of British regulars march past
houses, shops, and a meetinghouse - an awesome
spectacle of military precision. They continue
out into the countryside.
Hancock, Adams, Warren, and Revere come out of
the meetinghouse and watch the soldiers fade into
the distance.
ADAMS
Are the military stores at
Worcester and Concord still secure?
HANCOCK
My spies tell me they are. We can
move them at a moment's notice if
Gage gets wise.
ADAMS
We need to stay alert to all troop
movements.
REVERE
Excuse me, Samuel, but ordnance is
Gage's second choice. What he
really wants is your heads.
Without the three of you, there is
no cause.
WARREN
That's kind of you, Revere. But I,
for one, hope to die up to my knees
in British blood.
ADAMS
Gage knows he can't take us without
the whole countryside rushing to
our defense. He'll need troop
movements for that, too.
REVERE
The redcoats are always marching.
Who's to know when a routine march
will turn into a raid?
ADAMS
That's why we sleep with our eyes
open, Paul.
EXT. BOSTON - WARREN'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Revere and Warren arrive in front of the house on
horseback.
REVERE
See you in the morning.
WARREN
Right.
Revere starts to get his horse moving.
WARREN
Revere! I meant what I said about
dying!
Revere pulls up.
REVERE
I know.
WARREN
But I refuse to fight the British
without a full set of teeth.
Revere brings his horse close to Warren.
REVERE
Open wide.
He inspects Warren's mouth, squinting in the dim
light.
REVERE
I think two will fix you up. We'll
get started tomorrow.
WARREN
Good night, Revere.
REVERE
Good night, doc.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - COMMON - DAY
A company of ragged MILITIA drill. They narrowly
miss colliding with another company drilling in
the same area.
PHILADELPHIANS in fine clothes watch from the
perimeter. Paine and Hanna watch from a wagon,
then move out.
EXT. MARKET STREET - WAGON - DAY
Hanna guides the wagon home with Paine next to
her.
PAINE
Did you have a good day at the
tavern?
HANNA
I stayed busy.
PAINE
We're getting our first issue ready
for publication. It's almost as tedious
as making ladies' corsets.
She glances at him.
PAINE
Which I used to do.
HANNA
I have no doubt.
PAINE
I also found a place to stay.
Right next to Aitken's. It belongs
to an old German woman who likes
neatness.
The news seems to sober her.
HANNA
That will be convenient.
PAINE
Until she finds out I'm less than
neat. I move in tomorrow. I'll
bring my belongings with me when we
ride in.
They ride for awhile in silence.
She pulls the wagon off the main road under a
tree. She speaks without looking at him.
HANNA
I want to apologize. You've been
quite decent but I haven't been
fair to you. You've been deathly
sick from the voyage, you're new to
this country, without friends here.
And I haven't been very
considerate.
There's a moment of silence. She turns to him.
HANNA
I thought you were never at a loss
for words.
PAINE
I'm not used to apologies.
HANNA
I'm not used to making them.
She gets the wagon going.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - MARKET STREET - DAY
FARMERS, some speaking German, hawk their
products in the covered marketplace.
Hanna buys sacks of flour and rice from a SELLER,
whose SERVANT loads it in her wagon. She climbs
aboard and heads out.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - MARKET & FRONT STREETS - DAY
She reaches the end of Market Street and starts
to make a U-turn on Front. She sees Aitken's
bookshop and stops.
Another BUGGY swings around her while she
hesitates about parking the wagon. KIDS scurry
about chasing one another.
She lifts the reins and shakes them twice. The
horse starts to move.
HANNA
Watch out, kids!
Paine shoots out from Aitken's shop.
PAINE
Hanna! Wait!
He disappears inside. He comes out carrying a
green-covered pamphlet and runs it to her.
PAINE
Our first issue. Think about
writing for it.
INT. CITY TAVERN - BAR - DAY
Paine stands at the bar eating oysters and
drinking punch. He sees Hanna approaching.
HANNA
I found your publication quite
interesting.
She keeps her eyes alert to her surroundings,
watching for needy customers.
HANNA
I've never seen a magazine that
included a character sketch of
Voltaire, a report on North
American beavers, and a discourse
on suicide. In the same issue. Is
that your doing?
Paine clears his throat.
PAINE
We're still discovering our
readers' interests.
HANNA
Wait.
She slips away to seat a MERCHANT, then returns.
HANNA
I thought you were going to write
about the legally oppressed.
PAINE
It's only the first issue.
HANNA
No need to rush -- we can wait.
She turns away, muttering and scolding herself.
HANNA
Oh, God, there I go again.
Paine is amused.
HANNA
You didn't put your name on
anything, I noticed. Not that it
mattered.
(recalling)
"There is a happy something in the
climate of America that disarms
foreign vices of all their power."
Or some such thing. Only a recent
arrival would write something like
that. You realize, I hope, how
potentially seditious that is.
PAINE
When will I get a submission from
you?
HANNA
I don't know. You condemned one of
your correspondents in print --
right where everyone could read it!
-- for submitting a dull satire.
I'm not sure I'm ready for that.
PAINE
With Voltaire in the same issue,
his mediocrity would have been
glaring. Give me seven hundred
words. Say, in two weeks. No
more, no later.
HANNA
Well—
PAINE
And no promises.
EXT. BOSTON - GOVERNOR'S MANSION - DAY
TITLE OVER: Governor Thomas Gage's Mansion
Boston
Two British OFFICERS head down the long walkway
to the entrance of the three-story brick mansion.
A vast sweep of lawn fronts the building.
A gilt-bronzed statue of an Indian, with bow and
arrow drawn, surmounts the building's cupola.
INT. BOSTON - GOVERNOR'S MANSION - GAGE'S OFFICE
- DAY
The portly GENERAL THOMAS GAGE remains seated
behind his desk when the two officers enter.
Gage bears a striking resemblance to Samuel
Adams.
The two men proceed to his desk and salute. Gage
gives a little wave in return. He acts more like
a calm administrator then a general.
GAGE
We're going to arrest Adams,
Hancock, and Warren.
Gage pauses. His guests like what they heard.
GAGE
Tomorrow, Sunday, is the
anniversary of the rebels' precious
Massacre. Which means they will do
their celebrating on Monday. That
is when you will take them.
Without bloodshed.
BRITISH OFFICER 1
Very good, General Gage.
GAGE
The prisoners will be transported
back to England to be tried for
high treason. The crown will see
they get a fair trial, after which
they will be hanged.
Gage waves them off.
EXT. BOSTON - OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE - DAY
Spirited TOWNSFOLK crowd the entrance and file
inside.
INT. BOSTON - OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE - DAY
Adams and Hancock gather at the podium looking
over the crowd. People fill the front seats
first, working their way back.
HANCOCK
(to Adams)
Maybe our information was wrong.
A contingent of BRITISH OFFICERS enter the
building and swagger down the main aisle.
HANCOCK
Guess not. The haughty bastards.
Adams steps down from the podium and stops at the
head of the aisle, addressing the people in front
like a kindly preacher.
ADAMS
Folks, we have some special guests
here today. Would you mind giving
up your seats?
The people in front grudgingly move to the back.
The redcoats act like such treatment is due them.
Revere and Warren come into the church. They
pause to watch the redcoats. Revere turns and
slips out. Warren walks to the front with a look
of defiance.
Adams meets Warren at the podium and speaks
discreetly.
ADAMS
Remember, Joseph, they need a
pretense to arrest us. Don't give
it to them.
WARREN
They need to know we're not afraid
of them.
Warren moves abruptly to the lectern and prepares
to speak.
Hancock shoulders Adams to the side.
HANCOCK
I don't think he'll do anything
rash. Revere still owes him two
teeth.
He loses Adams on that one.
INT. OLD SOUTH - PODIUM - LATER
Officers hoot, cough, laugh, and talk loudly
among themselves while Warren sputters his words
out behind the lectern.
The scene is more like a fraternity initiation
than a speech. Several officers sit on the edge
of the podium because of the overflow crowd.
Warren's patience is faltering. Townsfolk in
back HOLLER at the British for quiet.
WARREN
We wildly stare about . . . and
with amazement ask, 'Who has spread
this ruin around us?’
An officer rises confidently and addresses his
comrades.
BRITISH OFFICER 1
Do you see any ruin here,
gentlemen?
The others stand and look around, uttering that
they see no ruin.
BRITISH OFFICER 1
Perhaps he needs a pair of
Franklin's glasses.
The British laugh. Someone in back yells at them
to shut up.
WARREN
Who has shut down our port, made a
farce of our laws, subjected our
women to perpetual terror—
Another officer jumps up.
BRITISH OFFICER 2
Oh! Oh! I'm so afraid! You nasty
British are such animals! My
husband's not home. Won't you come
in for tea?
His mates applaud and laugh.
WARREN
Who has denied us a voice in our
own government?
The British start coughing. An OFFICER on the
podium raps the lectern to get Warren's
attention.
Warren looks down. The Brit shows him a handful
of musket balls and glares at Warren menacingly.
Warren gets bolder, moving about on the stage as
he talks, but staying close to the lectern. The
British spice his comments with random sounds.
WARREN
I repeat, who has spread this ruin?
Is it France? Is it Spain? Is it
the Indians? No, none of these!
Warren pulls a handkerchief from his coat pocket.
WARREN
Pardon me.
He turns his back and gives his nose a good
honking. The British laugh. One of them hurls
an apple at him that rattles off his back.
Warren turns around. When he speaks, his voice
BOOMS.
WARREN
It is none of these! Then who is
it?
He turns to the officer by the podium, grabs his
wrist and yanks it up. The officer stumbles to
his feet, the musket balls tumbling from his
hand.
WARREN
It is the hand of Britain that
inflicts these wounds!
And with that, Warren slaps his snot rag into the
officer's hand.
The townsfolk ROAR with delight.
The insulted officer grabs Warren and wrestles
him down.
Adams rushes to the lectern and raises his hand.
ADAMS
I propose that a speaker be
appointed for next year's
commemoration!
Some of the officers in front burst out
defiantly:
OFFICERS
(several)
Fie! Fie! Fie!
Which reaches New England ears in back with an
entirely different meaning:
TOWNSMAN
Fire! They're about to fire! It's
another massacre! Stop them!
Pandemonium erupts. Cursing provincials brawl
with the officers. Others, including British,
break for the exits.
A cadre of townsmen hustle Adams, Warren, and
Hancock to a window and shove them outside.
EXT. MEETING HOUSE - DAY
Revere rides up with horses to meet them. They
mount and take off.
EXT. BOSTON - STREET - DAY
The men ride at a decent clip on the cobblestone
street, dodging carts, children, and startled
laborers.
REVERE
(to Warren beside
him)
How'd the speech go?
WARREN
The audience went wild!
Adams glances behind them. British soldiers are
mounting and coming after them.
ADAMS
(to Revere)
Where are you taking us?!
REVERE
Get out of town! I'll distract
them here!
Adams throws a glance at Hancock then hollers at
Revere.
ADAMS
We'll be at the parsonage in
Lexington!
Revere slows up. The others ride ahead.
THREE ROUSTABOUTS pull a wagon of fish and fish
netting along the street ahead of Revere.
Revere hollers out to them.
REVERE
Cross over!
Quite nonchalantly they turn sharply and capsize,
strewing fish and net in Revere's path.
The British slow and rear up. The workers fumble
around trying to sweep the fish aside. Revere
gets off his horse to help and mock-scold.
REVERE
(to roustabouts)
You idiots! You're impeding the
progress of our occupiers!
The roustabouts, and Revere, are all thumbs and
humility. The British trot through the mess,
cursing them.
REVERE
(to British)
A thousand apologies, gentlemen. I
would try the Green Dragon, if I
were you. You know how rebels like
to drink.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - AITKEN'S BOOKSHOP - DAY
Paine rushes out the door, nearly colliding with
two elegant WOMEN walkers.
He jogs down Front Street swerving around people,
horses, and manure, his short ponytail bouncing.
EXT. CITY TAVERN - DAY
He scoots past the tent sign in front advertising
the day's specials and takes the stairs up two at
a time.
INT. CITY TAVERN - DAY
He slips around a crowd of well-dressed men
headed out and looks for Hanna. He heads for the
bar in back.
INT. CITY TAVERN - BAR
BARTENDER
Get you a draft, Tom?
PAINE
Not now, Richard.
He turns into the sitting room.
INT. CITY TAVERN - BASEMENT - DAY
Hanna leaves a dining room and starts to head up
the stairs.
Halfway up she hears a tune playing on the piano
and pauses.
INT. CITY TAVERN - SITTING ROOM - DAY
Hanna approaches the piano where Paine picks out
"Death of General Wolfe." He stops playing when
he sees her.
HANNA
That's pretty, but very haunting.
PAINE
Finished?
HANNA
Yes. I'll get it for you.
PAINE
I meant were you through for the
day. But I do want to see what you
wrote.
She checks the grandfather clock in the corner
behind her.
HANNA
I have another hour before I can
leave.
PAINE
It feels like May outside. What a
pity not to be strolling along the
Schuylkill.
HANNA
Are you inviting me to walk with
you?
PAINE
Yes.
HANNA
Then invite me.
PAINE
Hanna, I would be honored if—
HANNA
--Invite me, dammit.
PAINE
Good God, woman -- let's go for a
walk! Now!
HANNA
It's a slow afternoon. Let me see
what I can arrange.
PAINE
Don't forget your essay.
EXT. SCHUYLKILL RIVER - FERRY LANDING - DAY
Two DRIVERS pole the ferry to a dock. Several
people get off, including Paine and Hanna.
EXT. SCHUYLKILL RIVER - DAY
Paine and Hanna stroll near the water. Other
couples dot the area sitting, frolicking, or
walking without a care.
The only glitch in the peacefulness is the sound
of fifes and drums in the distance.
She sticks her essay in his hand quickly.
HANNA
Here.
Her abruptness puzzles him.
HANNA
(off his look)
I don't like deadlines.
He starts reading.
HANNA
Don't read it now!
PAINE
(reading)
"The Contradictions of Colonial
Liberty." How can I resist?
She bolts for a nearby bench and sits.
HANNA
I'll wait here. Keep walking.
He moves away from her towards the river and sits
on the bank reading. She watches him restlessly.
EXT. SCHUYLKILL RIVER - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
Hanna plops down beside him.
HANNA
Where are you?
He shows her. She points to another section.
HANNA
I need to rewrite this part here,
so when you come to it, just skip
it.
PAINE
This is my second time through.
HANNA
Why are you reading it twice?
PAINE
To see if I can come up with a
gentler title.
(off her look)
For Aitken. It's too radical.
HANNA
It fits the article.
PAINE
It'll upset too many readers. If
we can ease them into it they would
be less gastric.
She takes the pages from him.
HANNA
I'll come up with something better.
"Less gastric.”
PAINE
Otherwise it's great.
HANNA
Lie back.
Paine does. She rests her head on his chest and
sighs.
Everyone and everything seems relaxed, except for
the sounds of men drilling somewhere across the
river.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - STABLE - DAY
Hanna climbs into the wagon and takes the reins.
She looks at Paine.
PAINE
Have a good evening.
He starts to turn away.
HANNA
I suppose you'll be eating at one
of the local pubs tonight.
PAINE
Probably.
HANNA
I was just wondering how you ate
your evening meal.
PAINE
I've eaten with my landlady a few
times.
HANNA
Oh.
PAINE
She made fastnachts the other
morning. Pure heaven. So now you
know.
HANNA
Know what?
PAINE
About my eating. You better get
going before it gets dark.
She snaps the reins and gets the horse moving.
Paine senses he missed something, but he's not
sure what.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - FRONT STREET - DAY
Paine passes TWO WORKERS arguing along the edge of
the cobbled street.
WORKER ONE
I tell you, the Brits have already
declared war!
WORKER TWO
How can there be war without no
one's done any shooting?
WORKER ONE
They invaded our country! We
didn't ask for no redcoats!
WORKER TWO
Until blood flows they's just
guests without an invite. You show
me a war where no one does any
shooting!
WORKER ONE
You think the Brits came over to
serve us tea?
Their talk fades.
TWO GENTLEMEN stroll towards him.
GENTLEMAN ONE
A quilt?!
GENTLEMAN TWO
A quilt! Much better than the
engrossed petition Congress sent
him. Our women could've done a
splendid job.
GENTLEMAN ONE
You must think the king a
sentimental fool!
Horses and carts rumble along the street. Hanna
pulls up next to him from behind.
HANNA
I want you to come home with me
tonight.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - KITCHEN - NIGHT
A fire crackles in the fireplace.
Across the room, Paine and Hanna are busy
garnishing meat strips with shallots, garlic, and
wine.
HANNA
So, father will rush to Boston as
soon as fighting breaks out and
leave me here.
She pauses to face him.
HANNA
That's where you come in. If
you're willing.
PAINE
You want me to talk your father
into letting you go with him.
She laughs.
HANNA
No, he would never hear of it.
He'd try to stick me with some nice
family in town and rent this place.
Unless he had another option.
PAINE
Leave you here.
She sips from the wine bottle. She offers him
some, but he shakes his head.
HANNA
You know, father respects you.
You're mature, you came recommended
from Dr. Franklin. You're half
Quaker. If you were willing to
live here while he's gone he'd let
you.
(Off his look)
As a friend and protector.
PAINE
I live next to where I work. Why
would I want to inconvenience
myself?
HANNA
Because I could cook for both of us
and save you money.
PAINE
You understand, I still love my
wife.
HANNA
I hope you always do. If you
didn't I'm not sure I could make
the offer. We're friends helping
each other out.
PAINE
There will be gossip.
HANNA
There'll be sunrises. They're
nicer.
PAINE
I'm suddenly struck with a deep
sympathy for your father.
EXT. FORTUNE'S FARM - NIGHT
With Hanna next to him, Paine gets the wagon
going then stops. Dr. Fortune charges up on his
horse.
DR. FORTUNE
We need rum and blankets! Hurry!
Paine jumps down and heads inside.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
Fortune leads them down a rough road. They pull
off near a clearing where a horse and a MAN lie
on the ground.
Fortune rears his horse and dismounts.
EXT. CLEARING - NIGHT
Fortune, Hanna, and Paine rush to the man, ISSY
BISSEL, young and exhausted. The horse lying
next to him is dead.
Bissel forces himself to sit up. He groans.
DR. FORTUNE
Easy! You've had a horse collapse
on you!
BISSEL
Water. Please.
Paine brings a jug of rum to his lips.
Bissel drinks and winces.
PAINE
At least it's wet.
DR. FORTUNE
(to Paine)
Bring the wagon closer so we can
lift him on it.
BISSEL
No. Not yet. This is the second
horse that has died on me in the
last five days.
DR. FORTUNE
Who are you?
BISSEL
Issy Bissel. I'm a post rider from
Boston. Boston is under
siege.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - SITTING ROOM - LATER
Bissel recovers in a chair while sipping a drink.
He's exhausted but determined to talk.
Paine, Hanna, and Dr. Fortune are attentive to
his every word.
BISSEL
General Gage sent out seven hundred
regulars around midnight to capture
the military stores at Concord.
Their march took them through
Lexington. They met the local
militia on the green and did what
comes naturally to long-suffering
soldiers.
PAINE
Seven hundred regulars -- how many
militia?
BISSEL
Maybe seventy. Hard to say. There
might not have been any if Revere
and other alert riders hadn't
spread the word.
DR. FORTUNE
The regulars fired first?
BISSEL
History will have two versions, I'm
sure.
PAINE
It matters little. No one would
have fired a shot if the king's
troops hadn't been there.
DR. FORTUNE
(to Bissel)
I'm afraid to ask.
BISSEL
Seven colonials dead, maybe another
nine wounded. One Brit got a
scratch, I think.
He knocks down some rum. Hanna pours him more.
EXT. BOSTON - CHARLES RIVER BEACH - NIGHT
A full moon bathes British Regulars as they climb
into longboats lined up on the beach.
BISSEL
(V.O.)
The British decided to cross by
boat into Cambridge. They were
short of boats and short of
leaders.
The soldiers overcrowd some boats and underfill
others. It's every man for himself.
EXT. BOSTON - CHARLES RIVER - NIGHT
Colonials watch British LONGBOATS cross the river
past a big man-of-war that's moored protectively
at the mouth of the Charles.
British sailors tow the longboats by ropes in
strings of three or four.
BISSEL
(V.O.)
But they weren't short of
protection.
EXT. CHARLES RIVER - NIGHT
Two MEN row Revere across the Charles past the
ominous cannons of the man-of-war.
Behind him twin lanterns flash from the church in
Boston.
BISSEL
(V.O.)
Revere got a kid named Newman to
swing a couple of lanterns from Old
North. Somehow Revere managed to
slip past the warship and reach
Cambridge.
Revere waves at the sailors on ship. One mate
returns his wave.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
ALERT RIDERS see the lanterns across the river in
Boston and mount up.
They take off in a group then split where the
road divides ahead.
BISSEL
(V.O.)
Our alert riders took Newman's
signal to the countryside.
EXT. CHARLESTOWN - ROAD - NIGHT
Revere rides at a canter as the surroundings
change from houses to woods.
BISSEL
(V.O.)
The British had officers hiding
along the roads to try to stop
them. Two of them pounced on
Revere just as he left Cambridge.
Two BRITISH OFFICERS charge out of the darkness.
One aims straight for him, the other targets a spot
further down Revere's path.
INTERCEPTING OFFICER
Halt in the name of the king!
Revere spurs his animal and streaks ahead. He
eludes the sword-brandishing Brit closing in on
him and cuts sharply to the right to avoid the
second one.
The British SCREAM THREATS as they gallop after
him down a path through the woods.
A stream cuts across his path, with sand on both
sides of the water.
BISSEL
(V.O.)
But their parade horses were no
match for Revere's mare.
Revere's mare soars over the stream, scarcely
slowing up.
The British parade horses hit the water full tilt
and sink deeply. One horse tosses its rider into
the brink.
Revere returns to the main road and slows to a
canter. He pats his horse gratefully.
EXT. MASSACHUSETTS - SMALL TOWN - NIGHT
Revere slows in front of houses and taverns to
SCREAM his alert. Most of the places show lights
burning inside.
REVERE
The regulars are marching! They're
crossing at Cambridge! Beat the
drums! The regulars are coming!
MINUTE MEN appear in his wake with muskets in
hand.
EXT. CHARLESTOWN - ROAD - NIGHT
The regulars march in companies, three abreast
and about a dozen deep. The line seems endless.
Scouts patrol the surrounding woods ahead of the
marchers.
BISSEL
(V.O.)
The British finally got marching.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
Bissel takes a sip of rum.
PAINE
They must've known they might
encounter resistance.
BISSEL
If you mean farmers shooting at the
king's troops, no. A bluff maybe,
but not resistance. Besides, a lot
of our militia assumed the British
would only fire powder, not ball.
PAINE
But Gage had them load up.
BISSEL
Gage needed to let the rebels know
government was serious. That's
what the king wanted.
EXT. LEXINGTON - VILLAGE GREEN - NIGHT
Revere tears across the green and pulls up in
front of a two-story parsonage.
BISSEL
(V.O.)
When he got to Lexington, Revere
went straight to the parsonage.
Seven GUARDS raise their muskets.
REVERE
Hancock! Adams!
An upstairs window flies open. Hancock pokes his
head out.
REVERE
They're marching!
Hancock thinks for a moment.
HANCOCK
Then I need to borrow your horse.
EXT. PARSONAGE - NIGHT
Revere and Samuel Adams watch Hancock ride off
across the green to Buckman's Tavern.
BISSEL (V.O)
Here's an odd part. The Lexington
militia had heard rumors about the
redcoats being out and voted to lay
low.
EXT. LEXINGTON - VILLAGE GREEN - NIGHT
A young DRUMMER summons Minute Men to the green
under CAPTAIN PARKER’S command. They spread out in two
thin lines facing the meetinghouse.
BISSEL (V.O)
But Hancock convinced Captain
Parker to make an appearance -- not
to resist, but to show the British
they weren't afraid.
EXT. BRIDGE - NIGHT
The regulars have doubled their pace.
EXT. PARSONAGE - NIGHT
In front of the parsonage, Hancock and Adams
climb in a CHAISE and start to ride off, with
Revere mounted on a fresh horse next to them.
BISSEL
(V.O.)
Adams and Hancock didn't waste a
minute getting out.
Hancock suddenly reins to a halt.
HANCOCK
Revere, there's a trunk at the
tavern. It has papers
incriminating dozens of patriots—
Revere wheels around.
REVERE
--I'll catch up with you.
HANCOCK
Second floor, rear!
The chaise heads off, while Revere races past
Parker's militia to the tavern.
INT. BUCKMAN TAVERN - NIGHT
Revere bounds up the stairs.
INT. BUCKMAN TAVERN - ROOM - NIGHT
He charges into the room, finds the trunk and
discovers it's too heavy. He yanks the bedspread
off the bed and lays it on the floor in front of
the trunk.
He tips the trunk's contents onto the spread then
ties the cloth into a big sack. He hears noises
outside and goes to the window.
The British are fast-stepping around the
meetinghouse.
EXT. BUCKMAN TAVERN - NIGHT
Revere mounts his horse with the sack over his
shoulder. British regulars are shouting CURSES
at Parker's men.
He ambles past the redcoats. He sees several
officers ride close to Captain Parker and halt.
BRITISH MAJOR JOHN PITCAIRN, 30s and intense,
brandishes his sword and moves closer to Parker.
PITCAIRN
Lay down your arms and disperse,
you damn rebels. Or you're all
dead men!
Revere moves slowly past the militia and stops.
The regulars continue their taunts. He sees
Parker turn to his men and speak in a BOOMING
voice.
CAPTAIN PARKER
Hold your fire and disband!
The militiamen grudgingly break rank and head for
the sides of the green. But not a man drops his
musket.
Revere exhales. The crisis is passing. He turns
his horse around and moves on.
Then a shot rings out behind him.
He twists in his saddle and sees a haze of white
smoke in front of the regulars.
Then the moment explodes into a ROUT.
More British guns fire, then more, and some of
Parker's men fall. Two fire back. The rest flee
for the houses. Regulars scream and chase them
with bayonets.
Pitcairn and other officers try to get their men
to stop, but their commands are lost in the
bedlam.
Lexington's green is quickly defiled with corpses
and crawling wounded under a dissipating cloud of
smoke.
Revere, outraged and horrified, turns and rides
off.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
BISSEL
Later on, Concord turned deadly for
the British. Our militia drove
them all the way back to Boston,
shooting at them from the woods.
We lost some, but they lost a lot
more.
DR. FORTUNE
What a devastating defeat for Gage.
BISSEL
And he'll be reminded of it every
day.
Bissel fishes a note from his pocket and hands it
to Fortune.
BISSEL
From Joseph Warren. He wants every
available man to come to Cambridge.
From what I've seen on my trip
down, the whole country will be
descending on Boston.
DR. FORTUNE
The siege.
Hanna sees her father's wheels churning. She
knows what this means for him, and it scares her.
PAINE
The showdown has arrived.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - STATE HOUSE COURTYARD - DAY
Paine and Hanna stand at the back of a crowd
listening to a well-dressed SPEAKER.
SPEAKER
Last fall, we petitioned the
ministry for peace. On April 19th,
they answered our petition in
blood. The carnage at Lexington
and Concord is a grim reminder they
will stop at nothing to subdue us.
As men of peace, we tremble at the
thought of war. But as men
entrusted with heaven's gift of
liberty, we are determined to live
free or die!
The crowd CHEERS robustly, including Paine and
Hanna.
SPEAKER
It is time to reconcile with our
king, so that both sides may avoid
a further effusion of blood.
The crowd cheers, but a few boos are mixed in.
Paine and Hanna walk away disgusted.
SPEAKER
Reconciliation is the only sane
policy either side may pursue.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Paine, Hanna, and Dr. Fortune are eating supper.
DR. FORTUNE
I should have gone back to Boston
sooner.
(to Paine)
Are you sure you'll be okay if I
leave you with my daughter?
INT. AITKEN'S BOOKSTORE - DAY
Paine writes at his desk as Aitken approaches
him. The dim sound of fifes and drums carries
across town.
AITKEN
Liberty, Paine. Always think
liberty. Liberty and prudence, as
New Yorkers say.
PAINE
Liberty needs no qualifiers.
BENJAMIN RUSH, well-dressed and 30s, comes into
the bookshop and begins to browse the books.
AITKEN
Prudence recognizes that Boston is
a powder keg. And this magazine
should do nothing to ignite it.
PAINE
No need to. The torchers in London
will take care of that.
Rush tunes in to their conversation.
AITKEN
Why do you have such little faith
in Congress? The king knows we
will fight. Another war would be
too costly to him. He will welcome
peaceful solutions.
PAINE
Since when has this king shown an
inclination for peace?
AITKEN
You're forgetting Parliament.
PAINE
Parliament's a commodity.
AITKEN
A commodity?
PAINE
Yes. Something useful that can be
turned to commercial advantage. A
luxury commodity, since they demand
such a high price for their
services.
AITKEN
That may be true, but this magazine
will take a more optimistic
viewpoint.
Aitken finally notices his distinguished guest.
AITKEN
Dr. Rush! So glad to see you
again. Please excuse our quarrel
-- the underside of putting out a
magazine.
RUSH
And a very good one.
Rush looks at Paine.
AITKEN
Dr. Benjamin Rush -- my editor,
Thomas Paine.
Paine stands and the two men clasp hands.
PAINE
An honor, Dr. Rush.
RUSH
I've been wanting to meet you, sir.
The boldness of your writing
energizes the reader.
PAINE
You're very kind. Though I wasn't
aware my pen names were so
transparent.
RUSH
Mr. Paine, some pens can't be
hidden. Congress has a handful of
radicals that I should like you to
meet when it convenes shortly.
(to Aitken)
Not to cause trouble for your
magazine, Mr. Aitken.
AITKEN
Not at all, doctor. Popular
opinion favors reconciliation. A
magazine has to stay ahead of
popular opinion, but within the
bounds of common sense.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Hanna takes a plate of oysters and a small bucket
of soup and sets them in her wall oven by the
fireplace.
HANNA
It shouldn't take long for these to
warm up.
PAINE
It's like having City Tavern in
your kitchen. What luxury.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Paine and Hanna dine at the table.
HANNA
The radicals are a small group.
And none of them talks about
independence publicly. I wonder
why Rush wants you to meet them.
PAINE
Our mutual education.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - SITTING ROOM - LATER
Hanna comes into the room carrying a lit candle.
Paine's getting comfortable on the sofa.
HANNA
There are real beds upstairs.
PAINE
This sofa has all the reality I
need right now.
HANNA
Good night.
PAINE
Good night.
She heads upstairs.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - STATE HOUSE COURTYARD - DAY
A battalion of militia drill in the yard, their
cockaded hats topped with bucktails.
Elegant carriages pull up front and discharge
congressional delegates in aristocratic attire.
John Adams steps out of a coach with Samuel Adams
and Hancock.
JOHN ADAMS
By God, have you ever seen such
martial spirit in a city? Soldiers
are everywhere.
ADAMS
Dear cousin, it won't be long
before redcoats are everywhere, too.
They see BEN FRANKLIN, wearing a brown Quaker
suit, get slowly out of a coach with BENJAMIN
RUSH and other delegates.
Further down, another carriage lets out several
men, including GEORGE WASHINGTON, 43 and tall.
Washington stuns onlookers with his uniform -- a
blue and buff coat, a small sword at his side and
a black cockade in his hat.
HANCOCK
(re: Washington)
Who's that?
JOHN ADAMS
A Virginian named Washington who
holds the rank of colonel -- lest
anyone in Congress should forget.
HANCOCK
The man has no shame.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - THE GROVES - DAY
A crowd gathers at a field lined with ancient
trees to watch backcountry rifle companies go
through their exercises. PAINE and numerous
delegates are among the spectators.
The riflemen have a Davy Crockett look, with
tomahawks hanging from their belts.
One company slips from behind trees, lines up in
the open, and fires at targets 100 yards away.
The targets are logs stood on end with red cloth
wrapped around them. The logs topple. The
marksmen return to the grove to reload.
Another group practices with tomahawks. On cue,
they slip from behind trees and fling their
weapons at boards nailed to trees.
The loud CRACK of splitting wood draws approvals
from the crowd.
Paine moves among the onlookers and comes to
delegate JOHN DICKINSON, 43, tall, slender, and
pale as ashes.
PAINE
With men like these, we can
separate from our bloody tyrant.
DICKINSON
With men like these, we can restore
harmony with our king.
Dickinson walks away indignant. Benjamin Rush
comes up behind Paine while the crowd marvels at
the riflemen's prowess.
RUSH
Let me guess -- you hinted at
independence.
Rush surprises him.
PAINE
Dr. Rush. A hint not unlike a
hammer, yes.
RUSH
You just offended John Dickinson,
Congress's leading spokesman for
conciliation.
PAINE
Dickinson. In England, he was once
regarded as radical as Sam Adams.
RUSH
Philadelphia's Tories took care of
that. He's given up fighting for
pleading.
PAINE
And when that fails, groveling.
RUSH
He doesn't see it that way, of
course.
PAINE
I would imagine he sees it as the
price of civilization. Most slaves
do.
RUSH
The British didn't expect
resistance at Concord, Tom. Next
time they won't take us so lightly.
If they smash us in battle, what
does that do for colonial
independence?
PAINE
Makes it more precious still when
we finally win.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - CITY TAVERN - DAY
A small crowd and a band gather to send
Washington and his staff off to Boston.
Washington stands by his horse talking to John
Adams. Two major generals, CHARLES LEE, 44, and
PHILIP SCHUYLER, 42, are mounted next to
Washington's steed.
Behind the generals are mounted Congressional
DELEGATES. A mounted militia unit heads the
train.
Benjamin Rush and Paine watch the sendoff.
PAINE
What would John Adams be telling
Washington?
RUSH
Perhaps that the king is sending
thirty thousand more troops, that
Washington will not have half that
number, and the ones he does have
will go home at year's end when
their enlistments are up.
PAINE
I wonder if he knew all that when
he accepted command of the army.
A somber Washington mounts up. Adams goes to his
horse in the rear.
A mounted COURIER, dirty and fatigued, rides up
to Washington just as he gets underway. The band
stops playing. A hush falls over the gathering.
The courier gives Washington news. The crowd
starts to buzz.
A group of MEN next to Paine and Rush pick up
some of it.
MAN
(to others nearby)
Something about a hill on
Charlestown.
EXT. BOSTON - CHARLES RIVER - DAY
TITLE OVER: June 17, 1775
Charles River
Between Charlestown and Boston
In the half-light of dawn a British LOOKOUT on
the mast of the frigate LIVELY sees something
alarming and SCREAMS.
LOOKOUT
REBELS!!!
EXT. BOSTON - CHARLES RIVER - DAY
The Lively shells rebel entrenchments on a hill
overlooking Charlestown.
EXT. CHARLESTOWN - HILL - DAY
Several hundred militiamen dig a long arrow-
shaped trench while CANNON FIRE from the Lively
explodes below them.
Colonel WILLIAM PRESCOTT, 40s, tall, with a
commanding presence, walks among the men
supervising their activities and keeping watch on
the harbor.
The raw provincials -- farmers with muskets --
cower at the thunderous sound of the cannons.
SALEM PRINCE, 30s and husky, is one of the fort's
few blacks.
INT. BOSTON - GOVERNOR'S MANSION - DAY
General Gage holds a briefing with General
WILLIAM HOWE, 46, tall and florid. Outside,
cannons roar in the distance.
GAGE
Nine or ten more hours to land the
troops? While we wait for high
tide?
HOWE
The rebels are a tad too elevated
for our ships' cannons to take out.
But they'll keep them unnerved
until the troops get there.
GAGE
I hate the thought of giving the
rebels that much more time.
HOWE
Dear General, it will give them
time to finish digging their
graves.
GAGE
If we don't scare them off the hill
first. When they see two thousand
regulars land, I can't imagine
they'll stay for the show.
HOWE
Yes, it could be comic. But I
think most will stay to die for
their cause. And this tantrum they
call a rebellion will likely be
over.
That possibility brightens Gage.
GAGE
Before you take Bunker Hill,
General Howe, I want Charlestown
incinerated. I don't want the
rebels sniping at us. We want to
minimize our losses.
EXT. BOSTON - COMMON - DAY
With a spyglass pressed to one eye, Gage watches
troops land in small boats at MORTON'S POINT
across the river near Charlestown. Next to him
is an AIDE.
The Lively and other British warships continue
pounding American entrenchments on Bunker Hill.
Most of the shots hit below the fortification. A
thick haze envelopes the provincials.
Gage changes view to the blazing inferno of
Charlestown below the hill.
He switches back to the American redoubt and sees
a tall man giving orders while moving among the
men.
He hands the glass to his aide.
GAGE
Do you know that rebel, the one in
command?
The aide studies the hill.
AIDE
Good God!
He returns the lens to Gage.
AIDE
Sir, he's my brother-in-law,
William Prescott.
Gage puts the spyglass to his eye.
GAGE
Prescott. Will he fight?
AIDE
I cannot answer for his men, but
Prescott will fight you to the
gates of hell.
EXT. HILL - ENTRENCHMENT - DAY
Joseph Warren appears out of the haze like an
apparition. He carries a musket and wears fine
clothes, his manner somber.
Prescott sees him and hustles over to salute.
PRESCOTT
General Warren, good to see you,
sir. I am relieved of my command
and will obey your orders.
WARREN
Press on, Colonel Prescott. You're
in charge. I'm here to show these
bastards that Yankees will fight.
EXT. HILL - BRITISH POSITIONS - DAY
Led by Howe, Regulars plod up the hill, sweating
under a hot afternoon sun and the weight of their
backpacks. They wade through grass above their
knees and vault low stone walls.
Ahead, eyes watch them approach from behind a
hayrack and wall made of loose stone.
EXT. HILL - ENTRENCHMENT - DAY
American militiamen wait, as tense as cats about
to pounce.
MILITIAMAN
They crossed the line.
EXT. HILL - BRITISH POSITIONS - DAY
A row of muskets rise behind the wall. A blast
of musket shot rips into the British, cutting
them down.
A second wave of regulars step over the fallen
bodies. The wounded SHRIEK.
A different row of muskets rise behind the wall
and unload. Redcoats take a heavy hit.
The survivors retreat. Some rush back to the
boats and scramble to get in. Officers SWEAR and
GESTURE WILDLY with swords to drive them back
into formation.
EXT. BOSTON - COMMON - DAY
Gage lowers his lens to his chest. He can barely
get his words out.
GAGE
British regulars running from
rabble.
EXT. HILL - ENTRENCHMENT - DAY
Prescott moves among his men shouting
encouragement. One man holds up a musket ball
with a look of DESPERATION.
MILITIAMAN
Colonel!
Prescott understands, glances up the hill behind
him.
PRESCOTT
More ammunition's coming, soldier.
(to all)
Don't waste a shot! Don't fire
'til you see the blood in their
eyes!
Warren leaps to his feet and takes Prescott
aside. He speaks in a low voice.
WARREN
Colonel, the top of this hill was
crawling with reinforcements.
What's the delay?
PRESCOTT
The men won't come down unless
someone leads them. And for that
we will lose this hill.
EXT. HILL - BRITISH POSITIONS - DAY
A drummer's TATTOO calls the Regulars to
formation. Many are bleeding and bandaged. The
heat from the burning town and the sun weakens
the ranks. Some men collapse.
Major Pitcairn, who led the redcoats at
Lexington, calls his men together. Other
officers do the same.
The British begin their advance on the redoubt.
The troops are packed in lines that look
impossibly deep. Their bayonets gleam.
They trample through grass streaked with blood
and patches of scarlet cloth.
Again the Americans wait, and again they CUT DOWN
the advance fodder.
The British stagger. They stumble and step over
fallen comrades as if they were logs of wood.
Another volley DECIMATES the front troops. The
survivors retreat but Pitcairn and other officers
drive them back.
The field in front of the redoubt is swollen with
British wounded and dead. Another red wave rolls
up behind them.
Fewer muskets rise from the entrenchment this
time, and fewer British fall. The redcoats push
ahead.
Americans rise on the redoubt and hurl rocks at
the approaching troops. The regulars, goaded by
the rebels' desperation, HOWL and CHARGE.
EXT. HILL - ENTRENCHMENT - DAY
The British attack and stab rebels with their
bayonets. Americans defend themselves with
swords, muskets, and fists.
Prescott swipes British bayonets back with his
blade. Americans start abandoning the fort.
Warren knocks a redcoat down. Another Brit
shoots Warren in the back of the head, killing
him instantly.
Pitcairn cuts down a rebel with his sword, then
sees Salem Prince aiming at him. Prince FIRES.
Pitcairn collapses into the arms of a JUNIOR
OFFICER.
JUNIOR OFFICER
Father!
EXT. HILL - DAY
Prescott and other officers lead a quasi-orderly
retreat from the entrenchment.
Provincials run uphill away from the British,
fall in formation and fire. Then they run again.
The redcoats have no heart left for vigorous
pursuit.
EXT. CITY TAVERN - NIGHT
Paine hustles up the steps just as Benjamin Rush
comes out.
PAINE
Wrong way, Dr. Rush. We have a
glorious defeat to celebrate.
RUSH
Sam Adams is taking it hard. I'm
going to try to find him.
Paine looks puzzled.
RUSH
Joseph Warren is missing.
Paine turns around.
PAINE
I'm coming with you.
EXT. WATERFRONT - NIGHT
Sam Adams sits on the end of a dock casting coins
into the water. Three DOCK WORKERS walk by on
the street behind him.
DOCK WORKER 1
It'll take 'em all summer just to
bury their dead!
DOCK WORKER 2
Maybe we can sell 'em another hill
at the same price!
They laugh and disappear down the street. Adams
tosses another coin in the brink.
Paine and Rush come up to Adams and sit on either
side of him. Adams scarcely notices.
ADAMS
Warren is missing, all right. He's
missing from the living. He fought
aggressive government -- for what?
He chuckles.
ADAMS
So congress could pray -- pray that
tyranny repudiates aggression.
Another coin takes a bath.
He glances at Rush, then does a double-take when
he looks at Paine.
ADAMS
You're Franklin's friend.
PAINE
And a great admirer of yours, Mr.
Adams.
ADAMS
You write. That's good. Here's
something for you to write about,
Mr. Paine -- corrupt government.
It annihilates the brave few so it
can enslave the rest.
He flings a coin far out in the river. He winds
up for another throw, but Paine gently arrests
his arm.
PAINE
Mr. Adams -- save it for the brave
few.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Paine and Hanna are eating together.
HANNA
We have plenty of lamp oil. Father
saw to that. Why do you ask?
PAINE
I'll need it. For a personal
project.
(off her look)
It's still taking shape. It will
be a series of newspaper articles.
Or possibly a pamphlet.
HANNA
About what?
PAINE
Preparing an asylum. For mankind.
INT. AITKEN'S BOOKSTORE - DAY
Aitken hands Paine his pay in cash. Paine hands
some of it back.
AITKEN
What's this?
PAINE
For paper and ink. I want to buy
some.
INT. CITY TAVERN - SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
Paine, Franklin, Rush, and Samuel Adams sit in
Windsor chairs around a small pine table. Across
the room, a MAN plays the piano softly.
FRANKLIN
I think a history of the conflict
would be splendid. I have
materials you can use.
PAINE
Dr. Franklin, a history by itself
tells us where we've been. I have
in mind using history to illuminate
where we ought to go.
RUSH
No.
Rush's flat statement startles them.
RUSH
You're much too good. And too
radical. This is not the right
time.
PAINE
The right time has already passed.
I'm trying to do something before
it's too late.
FRANKLIN
You wield a pen of proven
influence, Thomas. How many
editors can triple the subscriber
base of their magazine in three
months? You need to use your
skills wisely.
Paine gets loud.
PAINE
What are you all saying? That
America is not ready for
independence?
Heads turn and the music stops, but only for a
moment.
PAINE
The whole world has its eyes on us.
If we capitulate to the king, we
might as well crawl back into the
caves.
ADAMS
Do us a favor?
PAINE
What?
ADAMS
Let us read it before showing it to
the world.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
Paine sits at a small desk with quill in hand and
a blank sheet of paper in front of him. He
anguishes.
He appears to get a spark and writes furiously.
He pauses to read, balls it up and tosses it.
Hanna steps into the room in time to have it
bounce off her head. She looks down. The floor
is littered with discards.
HANNA
Can you help me bring in some
firewood?
Paine eagerly drops his quill and jumps up.
PAINE
Of course.
HANNA
Am I interrupting anything?
PAINE
Not a thing.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Paine unloads logs into a bin near the fireplace.
HANNA
Thanks.
PAINE
Anything else?
HANNA
No, you can go back to your
writing.
PAINE
Very good.
But he makes no move to leave. She's puzzled.
HANNA
Is there a problem?
PAINE
Help.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
Paine paces. Hanna sits at the desk and
scribbles notes.
HANNA
But people need a king. If we
break with Britain we'll have a
king here.
PAINE
Yes. And in America the law will
be king.
HANNA
And who will decree that?
PAINE
The people through their
representatives.
HANNA
Our militia taunt the redcoats by
shouting, "King Hancock forever!"
They want a real king.
PAINE
Neither nature nor Scripture exalts
one man's rights over another’s.
HANNA
So what? People want one.
PAINE
Then they'll get one. In the same
way kings first arose in antiquity.
As the principal ruffian of some
savage gang. And once he has
seized power, the quiet multitude
will purchase their safety through
frequent tributes.
HANNA
It's effective.
PAINE
The safety they purchase is safety
from him. In England he's paid
eight hundred thousand sterling a
year and worshipped in the bargain.
Hanna writes briskly.
HANNA
That was -- eight hundred thousand?
PAINE
Yes. At least. I need some rum.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Fatigue shows on their faces. They sip rum from
the same cup.
PAINE
Thanks for rescuing me. Argument
brings me alive.
HANNA
Is that all that brings you alive?
He leans over and kisses her gently.
PAINE
No.
He kisses her again, more passionately.
He takes another drink and leaves.
She takes a longer drink.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
Paine puts thoughts to paper.
PAINE (V.O.)
The nearer any government
approaches to a republic, the less
business there is for a king.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - SITTING ROOM - LATER
Paine reads to Hanna while she crochets.
PAINE
And it is easy to see that when
republican virtues fail, slavery
ensues . . .
MOMENTS LATER
PAINE
Of more worth is one honest man to
society, and in the sight of God,
than all the crowned ruffians that
ever lived.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
Paine's shirt is unbuttoned, his eyes are dark
sockets of exhaustion. His surroundings abound
with crumpled paper.
PAINE (V.O.)
The sun never shone on a cause of
greater worth.
MOMENTS LATER
PAINE (V.O.)
This new world has been the asylum
for the persecuted lovers of civil
and religious liberty from every
part of Europe.
He pauses to get more ink and loses control of
the quill. It falls into the paper clutter at
this feet.
Zombie-like, he reaches for another quill and
continues writing.
PAINE (V.O.)
Hither have they fled, not from the
tender embraces of the mother, but
from the cruelty of the monster.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - MARKET STREET - DAY
Paine reads while Hanna guides the wagon taking
them into town. The rough ride plays havoc with
his reading.
HANNA
Go over the part about evil being
at a distance.
PAINE
(reading)
It is the good fortune of many to
live distant from the scene of
present sorrow--
HANNA
Boston.
PAINE
(reading)
The evil is not sufficiently
brought to their doors to make them
feel the precariousness with which
all American property is possessed.
HANNA
If only father lived distant from
it.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - STATE HOUSE COURTYARD - DAY
Paine strolls the courtyard reading aloud with
Benjamin Rush and Samuel Adams.
PAINE
(reading)
Nothing can settle our affairs so
expeditiously as an open and
determined Declaration for
Independence.
Rush laughs.
PAINE
What's funny?
RUSH
That is probably the only time a
declaration for independence will
ever be heard in this courtyard.
PAINE
Good God! Conciliation is out of
the question! The king has
declared the colonies in a state of
rebellion and ordered all-out war.
ADAMS
And state legislatures are
quivering. They've told Congress
utterly to reject any proposal that
might lead to further isolation
from Britain.
RUSH
The more tyrannical the king
becomes, the more craven our
official response.
ADAMS
Thomas, if the pleaders in Congress
had the power, they would burn this
and you with it.
PAINE
Then it's time to take my case to
the people.
INT. AITKEN'S BOOKSTORE - DAY
Aitken reads Paine's document with HORROR.
AITKEN
Publish this? You must be mad!
EXT. CITY TAVERN - DAY
Paine and Rush come down the stairs and walk
together.
RUSH
Actually, I know someone who might
publish it. Robert Bell. Do you
know him?
PAINE
The auctioneer?
RUSH
And a publisher who's not afraid to
take a chance. I'll introduce you.
By the way, what have you titled
your essay?
PAINE
"Plain Truth."
RUSH
Interesting.
They arrive at a corner. The area bustles with
activity.
RUSH
Back to Congress with me. Good day
to you.
Paine gives him a little wave. Rush starts to
cross the street while Paine heads a different
way on the sidewalk.
Rush suddenly stops while crossing and calls out
to Paine.
RUSH
Common Sense!
Paine stops and turns. He likes what he heard.
PAINE
Common Sense!
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - MARKET STREET - DAY
Paine holds the reins as he and Hanna head out of
the city.
HANNA
Common Sense. It fits. Are you
going to use it?
PAINE
No.
(off her look)
Probably not.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - BELL'S PRINT SHOP - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Mid-January, 1776
Paine hustles past pedestrians and pauses at
Bell's window. A sign says, "Common Sense, by an
Englishman. Two shillings."
INT. BELL'S PRINT SHOP - DAY
Paine comes into the store and is greeted by a
TOWER OF PAMPHLETS moving to the table near the
entrance.
As soon as the stack lands, four MEN peel off
copies and lay down coins. The stack is half-
gone when they leave.
ROBERT BELL and two printer's HELPERS slave
furiously at presses in a back room, visible
through an open door.
The APPRENTICE who carried the stack scoops up
the money. Paine helps himself to a copy.
APPRENTICE
Your name, sir?
PAINE
Tom Paine.
APPRENTICE
Are you on our list, Mr. Paine?
Paine stares at him. Two more MEN come into the
store, take copies, pay, and leave.
PAINE
I don't understand.
APPRENTICE
These are pre-ordered. I can put
you down for one later, if you
like.
PAINE
That's okay.
He sets the pamphlet back.
PAINE
Tell Mr. Bell I said hi.
INT. SCHOOLHOUSE - DAY
A thirties male SCHOOLTEACHER paces in front of
his students, clutching a copy of The PAMPHLET.
SCHOOLTEACHER
Which is easier, independence or
reconciliation, the writer asks.
Independence is contained within
us. Reconciliation requires the
interference of a treacherous,
capricious court.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - RIFLEMEN CAMP - DAY
Riflemen lounge about the ground while their
OFFICER reads to them.
OFFICER
Every thing that is right or
reasonable pleads for separation.
The blood of the slain, the weeping
voice of nature cries, 'TIS TIME TO
PART.
Several men howl and jump up. Soon they're all
on their feet, rifles pointed skyward.
OFFICER
Don't waste your gunpowder!
They fire and howl.
INT. GERMAN BAKERY - DAY
A BAKER kneads dough while his flour-dusted
ASSISTANT reads.
ASSISTANT
America would have flourished as
much, and probably much more, had
no European power taken any notice
of her. The commerce by which
she's enriched herself are the
necessaries of life, and will
always have a market while eating
is the custom of Europe.
INT. CAMBRIDGE, MA - WASHINGTON'S QUARTERS - DAY
TITLE OVER:
General Washington's Headquarters
Cambridge, Massachusetts
An AIDE with a pamphlet in his hand comes
abruptly to the General's doorway and stops.
AIDE
Sir, a report from General Lee.
Washington is deep into writing.
WASHINGTON
Yes?
AIDE
General Lee wishes me to advise
you, sir, that men are arriving
back in camp to reenlist. In
droves.
Washington looks up, shocked.
WASHINGTON
What changed their minds?
AIDE
A call for independence, sir.
The aide hands him a copy of Paine's pamphlet.
AIDE
And the unfriendly greetings they
received on their march back home.
WASHINGTON
"Written by an Englishman." Who?
AIDE
General Lee has narrowed his
guesses down to either Ambassador
Franklin or John Adams.
WASHINGTON
Damn! Congress has finally done
something useful!
Washington's outburst shocks the aide.
WASHINGTON
Under no circumstances, corporal,
did you ever hear me say that.
AIDE
Yes, sir.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - SITTING ROOM
Hanna rocks in a rocker and crochets. Paine
glances over various newspapers and pamphlets at
the desk.
PAINE
The written attacks on Common Sense
are so gorged with absurdities they
defy rational reply.
HANNA
Think of the effort they spare you.
Paine grabs a newspaper and walks over to her.
PAINE
There's one, from a dunce named
"Cato," that Rush tells me is
causing a stir. I need to answer
him.
HANNA
Will you get paid?
PAINE
Quite decently. A group of
"private gentlemen" are funding me
.
HANNA
If only those gentlemen were around
for Common Sense.
Paine laughs.
PAINE
Even the few who favored
independence tried to keep it a
secret.
HANNA
And now printers are cleaning up
from something you wrote.
PAINE
Look what that something is doing.
HANNA
It's creating a lot of debate, but
will it ever move Congress?
INT. ROOM - NIGHT
RICHARD HENRY LEE, 43 and slim, stands before a
mirror, his left hand wrapped in a black
handkerchief.
He clears his throat and lifts his chin. He
experiments with placing his hands in different
positions.
He settles on his right hand in front of his
chest, his left hand behind him.
RICHARD HENRY LEE
Resolved: These United Colonies ARE
. . . Resolved: These UNITED
COLONIES . . . Resolved: These
United Colonies are, and of right
OUGHT to be . . .
INT. STATE HOUSE - ASSEMBLY ROOM - DAY
TITLE OVER:
June 7, 1776
In Congress Assembled
Lee finishes his speech in front of the other
delegates.
RICHARD HENRY LEE
. . . Free and independent states,
that they are absolved from all
allegiance to the British Crown,
and that all political connection
between them and the state of Great
Britain is, and ought to be,
totally dissolved.
The delegates EXPLODE with shouts of support and
opposition -- mostly support.
John Hancock, presiding, raps his gavel for
order. John Dickinson jumps up.
DICKINSON
Pennsylvania will secede! So will
the other middle colonies!
John Adams is instantly on his feet.
JOHN ADAMS
Declaring our independence is no
more than declaring a fact that
already exists!
Hancock out-shouts them.
HANCOCK
Sit down! We will debate the
resolve according to procedure!
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - MARKET STREET - DAY
Paine and Hanna head out of town in their horse-
drawn wagon.
Another rider suddenly catches up to them. Paine
recognizes him at once and reins to a stop.
PAINE
Virginian!
JEFFERSON
Englishman!
THOMAS JEFFERSON, 33, tall with red hair, smiles
at Paine.
JEFFERSON
I see you finally had the fortitude
to put your name on your pamphlet.
PAINE
Pure vanity. I got tired of people
thinking the author was Franklin or
John Adams.
JEFFERSON
I believe it, Paine.
Jefferson smiles at Hanna and bows.
JEFFERSON
Thomas Jefferson of Virginia,
madam.
HANNA
My pleasure, Mr. Jefferson. I'm
Mr. Paine's conscience, Hanna
Fortune.
JEFFERSON
If all men had such an attractive
conscience, the world would be a
far more civilized place.
PAINE
I understand Congress is in recess
until July first. What will you do
with yourself?
JEFFERSON
I thought I'd do a little writing.
PAINE
(to Hanna)
He never stops trying.
(to Jefferson)
What will it be this time?
JEFFERSON
You got the natives so worked up
about independence, Congress has
been pressured into answering you.
My job is to write the answer.
PAINE
For or against?
JEFFERSON
Please, Paine.
(to Hanna)
A pleasure meeting you, madam. In
your capacity as his conscience,
you have my deepest sympathy.
PAINE
Listen, Jefferson, whatever you
write, keep it lucid. It's
impossible to go wrong if you write
clearly enough.
Jefferson shoots a smile at Hanna.
JEFFERSON
Then I'll ask the real Common Sense
author to review it when I finish.
PAINE
Where are you headed?
JEFFERSON
Joseph Graff's new brick house.
I've rented his second floor while
I'm here in Congress. Plenty of
windows for ventilation.
PAINE
That will leave you with few
excuses.
JEFFERSON
I'll still have one good one.
Graff's baby boy cries at odd
hours.
PAINE
They could be inspiring sounds for
someone writing a birth
announcement.
JEFFERSON
I'll try to remember that when he
wakes me at 3 a.m. Good evening.
He rides off.
PAINE
We met last year while I was
pecking a tune at the piano. He
had his violin and managed to keep
up.
HANNA
Why didn't Congress come to you for
the writing assignment?
Paine raises the reins.
PAINE
No need to. They have Jefferson.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - STATE HOUSE - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Monday, July 1, 1776
Pennsylvania State House
Under a cloudless sky the State House STORMS with
the voices of angry speakers. Passersby outside
are drawn to their indistinct rumblings.
INT. STATE HOUSE - ASSEMBLY ROOM - DAY
Delegate faces sweat profusely. The men seem not
to notice.
DICKINSON
We have no voice for a declaration
of independence. The people have
not spoken . . .
INT. STATE HOUSE - ASSEMBLY ROOM - LATER
RICHARD HENRY LEE
The voice of the people is clear;
it is their state assemblies who
are slow to listen . . .
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - STATE HOUSE - DAY
Dark clouds gather over the city. Thunder rolls
in the distance.
INT. STATE HOUSE - ASSEMBLY ROOM - DAY
GEORGE WYTHE, 50, speaks to the delegates.
GEORGE WYTHE
The king has declared us out of his
protection. It is an axiom of law
that allegiance and protection are
reciprocal, the one ceasing when
the other is withdrawn. . . .
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - STATE HOUSE - NIGHT
LIGHTNING falls to earth in sheets of fire.
THUNDER booms like a thousand cannons. Lights
burn inside the assembly room.
INT. STATE HOUSE - ASSEMBLY ROOM - NIGHT
Benjamin Rush addresses irritable delegates.
RUSH
That people embrace independence
can be seen by the popularity of
the pamphlet that so eloquently
calls for it. Nor has their
enthusiasm diminished by the
vociferous attacks on it. For
those of you still hoping for
conciliation from the king, Thomas
Paine points out what we have seen
all too brutally -- that cannon are
the barristers of crowns -- and the
sword, not of justice, but of war,
decides the outcome. Americans
have died at Lexington, Concord,
and the bloody hill on Charlestown.
For what, Thomas Paine asks. Did
we take up arms merely to enforce
the repeal of a pecuniary law? If
we did, wasting our lives.
The independence of America dates
from the first musket fired against
her. It is the responsibility of
this body to recognize it and act
accordingly.
EXT. STATE HOUSE - NIGHT
TITLE OVER:
July 4, 1776
Delegates CELEBRATE inside. With a GUARD at his
side, Jefferson hurries out of the State House
carrying an envelope.
INT. JOHN DUNLAP'S PRINT SHOP - NIGHT
JOHN DUNLAP, 30, Irish and strapping, tears open
the envelope and pulls out a hand-written
document. A weary Jefferson watches Dunlap read.
DUNLAP
Good God.
He looks at Jefferson with tears running down his
face.
JEFFERSON
Let's tell the world, Mr. Dunlap.
DUNLAP
You'll have 200 copies before
daybreak.
EXT. FORTUNE'S FARM - NIGHT
Jefferson rides up to the house. Satan announces
his arrival from the barn, and Paine throws open
the front door.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Hanna, Paine, and Jefferson sit at the table
drinking from goblets. Jefferson's been through
an ordeal.
JEFFERSON
Count your blessings that Common
Sense didn't need approval from
Congress.
Paine and Hanna laugh.
PAINE
What an obscene thought. I'll
probably have nightmares.
JEFFERSON
I've just been through one.
Without John Adams, the Declaration
would have been twisted into
another petition for forgiveness.
He was our colossus on the floor.
PAINE
Now that the formality of declaring
independence is over, what will you
do?
JEFFERSON
My term in Congress expires next
month, and there's plenty of
unfinished work in Virginia. And
you?
PAINE
We have a war that needs finishing.
I want to help finish it.
JEFFERSON
If Washington can do in New York
what he did in Boston, it will be
over soon enough.
Jefferson goes distant suddenly.
HANNA
You don't look happy.
JEFFERSON
When this war concludes, the
country will head downhill. The
shackles that remain will be made
heavier and heavier. We'll either
throw off those shackles or make
universal slavery the norm.
HANNA
Posterity will throw them off, as
we are doing now. Americans will
never be subordinate to their
government.
JEFFERSON
I must get back.
Jefferson finishes his drink and stands. Paine
rises, and the two Founders exchange robust hugs.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - CHURCH TOWER - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Monday, July 8, 1776
The tower's bell PEALS furiously, joining a
CHORUS of other nearby bells.
Excited Philadelphians pour through the streets
to the State House Yard.
EXT. STATE HOUSE - COURTYARD - DAY
A round scaffold rises from the yard supporting a
railed platform on top. From behind the railing,
colonel JOHN NIXON, 43, BOOMS the words of a
broadside he holds in one hand.
Members of congress, a formation of troops, and
citizens gather to hear him, separated in
distinct groups.
Two MALE CITIZENS try to weave through the troops
to get closer to the platform. Four SOLDIERS
usher them back to maintain the pecking order.
NIXON
We hold these truths to be self-
evident: that all men are created
equal . . .
EXT. CHARLESTON, SC - COURTYARD - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Charleston, South Carolina
A crowd has gathered in front of a podium to
hear a CLERGYMAN speak. The sweltering weather
Has brought out the sun umbrellas and fans.
CLERGYMAN
. . . To be self-evident: that all
men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable rights . . .
Standing behind the clergyman, fanning him while
shading him with an umbrella, is a BLACK SLAVE.
EXT. NEW YORK CITY - CITY HALL - DAY
TITLE OVER:
New York City
A throng has gathered at the foot of Broadway
late in the day. An OFFICER of the Continental
army SHOUTS the words of the Declaration from the
balcony.
OFFICER
And for the support of this
Declaration, with a firm reliance
on the protection of divine
Providence, we mutually pledge to
each other our Lives, our Fortunes
and our sacred Honor.
Cannons fire from the common.
The crowd cheers and disperses. Many of them run
off in packs like rioters.
EXT. NEW YORK - BOWLING GREEN PARK - NIGHT
A raucous crowd carrying torches tears down the
equestrian statue of George III with ropes and
poles. One MAN chops off the king's head.
EXT. NEW YORK - COMMON - NIGHT
Bonfires surround a standing army regiment.
Washington, on horseback, trots slowly before
them.
WASHINGTON
You have heard the words. You know
now what we are fighting for. But
words alone will not win our
freedom. The future of our country
will now depend solely on the
success of our arms.
The Continentals ROAR THREE CHEERS.
INT. PHILADELPHIA - GUNSMITH SHOP - DAY
A GUNSMITH, 50s, hands Paine a new musket. Paine
tries to pay him but he shakes his head solemnly.
GUNSMITH
No way I'm taking money from the
guy who rammed a bee up Congress's
behind. Tell the Brits I said hi,
if I don't see ‘em first.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - STREET - DAY
Paine walks along a bustling, buzzing street with
the musket shouldered. An ARTISAN chatting with
friends suddenly points at him.
Moments later many heads are turned, watching
him. One of the people staring is ESTHER, Dr.
Kearsley's indentured aide.
Paine turns a corner. Esther comes running up
breathlessly.
ESTHER
Mr. Paine!
Paine turns.
PAINE
Esther! My goodness—
He sets the musket down. She can't help smiling.
ESTHER
--I'm getting married next month.
PAINE
Well!
ESTHER
And Dr. Kearsley released me from
all obligations. I still work for
him, but I'm no longer indentured.
PAINE
Your news is more glorious than a
sunrise.
She struggles with the words.
ESTHER
You -- you helped change him, I
believe.
PAINE
He read my pamphlet?
ESTHER
I don't know about a pamphlet. The
way you were. Standing up for me.
PAINE
You freed me from death's grip.
She kisses him on the cheek.
ESTHER
Thank you.
She hurries off.
EXT. FORTUNE'S FARM - CORN FIELD - DAY
A YOUNG MAN in farmer's garb fires his musket at
a melon on a fence thirty yards away and blows it
to smithereens.
Two more melons rest on the same fence awaiting a
similar fate.
The shooter reloads.
Paine runs up behind him and stops.
PAINE
Hey!
The farmer stuffs his musket with shot and
stands. A quick aim, a squeeze of the trigger
and melon number two is gone.
He turns to face Paine.
PAINE
Good work, son -- Good God!
It's Hanna.
HANNA
See if you can knock off the last
one.
Paine guesses what she's up to.
PAINE
No.
HANNA
We have a fight on our hands and I
can help. You're not stopping me.
PAINE
If it's the last thing I do, I'll
stop you.
HANNA
Go to hell.
Paine measures her.
PAINE
You got the first two pretty good.
Think you can do the same on the
third?
HANNA
Damn right.
PAINE
In war, they don't shoot melons.
Paine walks to the fence, knocks the third melon
off, and stands in its place.
PAINE
Shoot!
HANNA
Don't be ridiculous.
Paine picks a chunk of the melon up and balances
it on his head.
PAINE
I'll make it easier.
She frowns.
PAINE
Shoot! Shoot soldier! The enemy's
charging with bayonet!
HANNA
The enemy's standing there like an
idiot.
PAINE
Time's running out.
Piqued, she kneels and begins reloading.
HANNA
You think I wouldn't shoot a
radical pamphleteer? The king
might even knight me.
She stands and aims.
HANNA
Sir Bitch in the making.
The musket fires. The melon explodes. Paine's
eyes are saucers.
HANNA
Whaddaya know? I missed.
INT. FORTUNE'S FARM - KITCHEN - DAY
Paine slugs down some rum. He tops off his
goblet with more and sits. His hands fall short
of surgical steadiness.
Hanna sits across from him.
PAINE
Just tell me why.
HANNA
American independence.
PAINE
Women aren't included.
HANNA
They will be. Jefferson was very
inclusive in the Declaration. If I
shoot at the British, it would be
hard not to include us.
PAINE
The British shoot back.
HANNA
"Shoot" is right -- they don't aim.
Paine drinks.
PAINE
Damn it! What if I told you I
loved you?
HANNA
That's your business.
PAINE
I do. Though this is a hell of a
way to bring it up.
HANNA
What if I told you the feeling was
mutual?
PAINE
How sweet -- you just came within a
whisker of blowing my head off.
HANNA
Remember that. And remember this.
She leans and kisses him. Then he kisses her
passionately.
EXT. LONG ISLAND - HILL - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Long Island
August, 1776
A RIFLEMAN in an outhouse bumps around inside
singing to himself.
His face appears at the half-moon bay then
disappears. His crooning continues for a moment
then halts.
His face comes back to the bay in a panic. The
door flies open as he busts out. He can't
believe what he's seeing.
EXT. LONG ISLAND HARBOR - DAY
British WARSHIPS and troop transports are filling
the harbor.
Longboats bring redcoats from ships to the
beaches.
HESSIANS arrive in separate boats. They step out
wearing blue coats with black fronts, yellow
breeches and high pointed hats.
Several have their hair queued tight to their
scalps and sticking out in back like skillet
handles.
EXT. LONG ISLAND - WOODS - DAY
Scores of riflemen move out of the woods into an
open area. A road and an INN lie ahead of them.
They stop. Beyond the inn the countryside is
painted red and blue with enemy colors, moving
their way.
The Americans scramble back and take cover behind
a bluff.
British MORTAR blast away at the Americans.
Casualties mount. Some men are cut in half.
The Americans retreat. The enemy charges.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Riflemen fire at charging Hessians and redcoats.
They score a high number of hits, but more troops
are coming.
The outnumbered Americans grab their rifles and
begin swinging them like clubs at the enraged
enemy, who fight with bayonets.
The encounter turns into a rout. Americans are
slaughtered.
EXT. HILL - DAY
Washington and aides, mounted, watch soldiers
straggle into the American fortification. The
men are dirty, wounded, and demoralized.
Washington looks devastated.
EXT. COUNTRY - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Late November 1776
New Jersey
TWO FARMERS walk toward a barn, chatting.
Suddenly they stop.
On a nearby road they see men approaching -- the
beaten remnants of Washington's army.
Their wagons groan through the mud, cutting the
road to pieces.
They make no attempt to keep cadence. They are
men on the run, miserable, ragged, bleeding.
FARMER #1
The Tea Party's final chapter.
EXT. AMERICAN CAMP - NIGHT
Washington goes into a tent under a light
drizzle.
INT. TENT - NIGHT
General NATHANIEL GREENE, 30s, solid and
handsome, rises from behind a crude desk to greet
the General.
GREENE
Sir!
WASHINGTON
General Greene, we will have to do
without reinforcements. General
Lee refuses to send any.
GREENE
Excuse me, sir, but I find it
appalling that Lee disobeys your
command.
Washington smiles mirthlessly.
WASHINGTON
In Charles Lee's world no one is
qualified to give him orders. He
is incapable of insubordination.
Paine comes into the tent.
GREENE
General, you have met my aide-de-
camp, Thomas Paine?
Washington nods at Paine.
WASHINGTON
Indeed I have.
(to Greene)
I'm sending a post rider to
Congress with an exact account of
when each battalion is due to go
home. Maybe they can pull
replacements out of a hat. If they
can't -- well, they can’t.
Washington moves to the door.
WASHINGTON
In the meantime we need to keep
moving. Howe might try another
flanking movement to cut us off --
if Cornwallis does not catch us
first. Good night, gentlemen.
He leaves.
PAINE
Trifles will never subdue his mind,
thank goodness.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
The weather is overcast and cold.
General Howe and his entourage ride along in no
particular hurry. British regulars march behind
them.
OFFICER
(to Howe)
General, these rebels will neither
fight nor totally run away. But
they keep at such a distance that
we are always above a day's march
from them. We seem to be playing
at Bo-Peep.
The men laugh, except for Howe.
GENERAL HOWE
Just remember, gentlemen, the
Virginian we are hunting was raised
among foxes.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
Americans are on the march. Paine trudges
alongside a soldier whose clothes are little more
than rags.
SOLDIER
This ain't no way to wage a war.
We joined to fight. All we do is
run.
PAINE
We either run or get slaughtered.
Washington's trying to keep us
around to fight later, like Fabius
did.
SOLDIER
Who?
PAINE
Fabius -- the Roman general who
delayed confrontation with
Hannibal.
SOLDIER
Fabius. (Spits)
You like these shoes? I'm gettin'
'em tender for supper tonight. Me
and the boys will be gone soon, and
you and Fabulous can keep running.
EXT. CAMP - NIGHT
Men huddle close to campfires to keep warm. Most
have no blankets.
Paine walks among them and comes to a shivering
TEENAGE BOY. He points to a DRUM by his side.
PAINE
I'll bring this back.
The boy hardly notices him. Paine takes the
drum.
EXT. CAMP - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER
A campfire burns outside a small tent. The flaps
of the tent are thrown open, and Paine sits near
the fire Indian style, writing something on his
newly acquired “desk."
HANNA lies on blankets next to him, her face near
the fire.
Paine puts the quill down and rubs his hands. He
reaches back into the tent and puts on some
mittens.
He smiles at Hanna, then looks at the mittens and
works his hands to thaw them.
He pulls the mittens off and goes back to
writing.
A tall visitor arrives. WASHINGTON squats and
speaks to Paine.
WASHINGTON
Can you do it twice?
EXT. CAMP - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER
Washington and Paine stroll away from camp.
WASHINGTON
I can't get Lee to send his men. I
can't get the British to go home.
I can't get Congress to raise
troops or send supplies.
He stops and turns to Paine.
WASHINGTON
I can't even keep the troops we
have from leaving at year's end.
The only thing I might affect is
their morale. But I am no man of
words.
Paine nods.
WASHINGTON
You don't have much time.
EXT. CAMP - DAY
WINTER has struck hard. Winds whip snow around
the camp.
Paine kisses Hanna and mounts a horse. He starts
to ride off, then dismounts and runs back to her.
He hugs her hard.
PAINE
You better be here when I come
back.
HANNA
If I'm not it's because I'm looking
for you.
They kiss. He climbs on his horse and disappears
in the blinding white.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
Paine pushes on through the snowstorm.
EXT. PHILADELPHIA - FRONT STREET - DAY
Paine enters a glum city. People are leaving
town in wagons and on horseback.
Shops are closed. Some display huge "Welcome
General Howe" signs.
EXT. PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL NEWSPAPER - DAY
Paine dismounts and heads inside carrying a
satchel.
INT. PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL NEWSPAPER - DAY
An aging EDITOR glances at hand-written pages.
Paine thaws slowly in front of him.
EDITOR
If you want my opinion, it's too
late. You see what's happening around
here. People want this thing over
with. Independence is too costly.
PAINE
Will you print it?
EDITOR
As long as you've got the money.
Did you hear, Congress has packed
and left.
The news stuns Paine.
EDITOR
Took off for Baltimore, like rats
jumping a sinking ship. But I'll
print this, if you like.
(He attention shifts to Paine’s
manuscript)
Good opening line.
INT. MCKONKEY'S FERRY, PENNSYLVANIA - KEITH HOUSE
- DAY
Washington writes at his desk. A SENTRY enters.
SENTRY
General, two of our lookouts have
captured a suspicious character.
WASHINGTON
Bring him in.
MOMENTS LATER.
A ragged JOHN HONEYMAN, 30s, glares at
Washington. The General goes nose to nose with
him.
They speak in low voices.
WASHINGTON
What have you got for me, John?
HONEYMAN
Howe is suspending military
operations for the winter.
WASHINGTON
I heard he was waiting for the
Delaware to freeze so he can march
across it and capture Philadelphia.
HONEYMAN
The only river he'll cross is the
one taking him to a Mrs. Loring in
New York, where he's now headed.
WASHINGTON
I should like to thank this Mrs.
Loring. His troops?
HONEYMAN
Scattered at various outposts.
Cornwallis is headed back to
England to visit his wife. Howe
left James Grant at Princeton to
oversee Jersey.
WASHINGTON
Who's at Trenton?
HONEYMAN
A fool of equal magnitude. A
German colonel named Johann Rall.
Likes to drink, gamble, and run his
mouth. No respect for Americans.
He has forbidden his men to dig
entrenchments.
WASHINGTON
How many men?
HONEYMAN
Fifteen hundred Hessians.
Washington muses for a moment.
WASHINGTON
When you talk to this Colonel Rall,
put in a good word for us.
HONEYMAN
The rebels have one foot in the
grave and the other well on the
way.
Washington smiles. He steps away and acts
serious.
WASHINGTON
Guard!
Honeyman strikes a look of defiance. Three
sentries rush in.
WASHINGTON
Take this swine to the guardhouse.
The sentries hustle him out of the room.
EXT. GUARDHOUSE - DAY
Guards shove Honeyman into the log guardhouse.
EXT. GUARDHOUSE - NIGHT
A SENTRY stands duty near the guardhouse door.
Fifty yards away some hay catches FIRE. Soldiers
shouting an alarm rush to disperse it.
The sentry leaves his post to lend a hand.
EXT. HAY FIRE - NIGHT
Soldiers throw snow on the flames and scatter the
hay.
EXT. GUARDHOUSE - NIGHT
The sentry returns and panics when he sees the
door ajar.
EXT. CAMP - NIGHT
Honeyman hurries through camp. HANNA has a fire
going near her tent and sees him. Something
doesn't look right.
She jumps up and follows him.
EXT. DELAWARE RIVER - MCKONKEY'S FERRY - NIGHT
A lone figure hopscotches across the Delaware's
cracking ice.
Thirty feet behind him Hanna gives chase. The
ice beneath her caves, and she disappears.
On the American bank, soldiers look on in HORROR.
EXT. MCKONKEY'S FERRY - KEITH HOUSE - DAY
Sleet falls on already deep snow. Paine rides up
to the entrance and dismounts.
INT. WASHINGTON'S OFFICE - KEITH HOUSE - DAY
Washington reads a pamphlet at his desk. Paine
waits.
The General sets the paper aside, stands and
moves around.
WASHINGTON
Rall and his men will be
celebrating Christmas at Trenton.
They will celebrate hard all day
Christmas Day and into the night.
On the morning after Christmas most
will be in bed sleeping it off.
They know they'll be vulnerable to
an attack. But they're not
worried. The rebels have lost the
will to fight. They're not a
threat. Two months ago -- maybe
one month -- the men would've died
for an opportunity like this.
Literally. But now -- now they
have only a few days until their
enlistments expire at year's end.
The cause is hopeless, and they're
exhausted, starving, and homesick.
The lucky ones are.
Washington picks up the pamphlet and reads
briefly.
WASHINGTON
If I try to send them across an
ice-choked river to march ten miles
through the snow in the middle of
the night, they'll mutiny!
He flings the pamphlet across the room and
thrusts a finger at it.
WASHINGTON
That is our last hope.
EXT. CAMP - DAY
Men huddle in small groups around feeble fires.
The area looks like a refugee camp.
Paine sees the spot where he and Hanna had thrown
up their tent.
He starts to run as he gets closer. The tent is
there, but no sign of an occupant.
He gazes at the snow near the tent. Smooth, no
footprints.
Paine takes off running.
INT. HEATH HOUSE - GREENE'S OFFICE - DAY
Paine bursts into Greene's office.
PAINE
General Greene!
Greene's face tightens.
GREENE
Sit down, Tom.
EXT. CAMP - DAY
TITLE OVER:
Christmas Day, 1776
Wind whips snow on miserable men wandering away
from the river in hordes.
OFFICERS try to coax or threaten them back. The
men keep moving, hunched and ragged, their eyes
vacant.
Washington rides up on his horse and calls to an
officer, 18-year-old JAMES MONROE.
WASHINGTON
Lieutenant Monroe, I ordered the
Paine pamphlet read to the men!
What's happening?
MONROE
Sir, we never received the
pamphlet. We thought you had
rescinded the order.
Washington takes off on a gallop.
INT. WASHINGTON'S OFFICE - DAY
Washington storms into the room and bellows to an
AIDE.
WASHINGTON
Where are the pamphlets?!
AIDE
I sent them out with riders this
morning.
WASHINGTON
Where?
AIDE
To the officers.
Washington bolts to leave.
AIDE
They should've been delivered hours
ago, sir.
EXT. CAMP - DAY
Washington makes his way on horseback among
abandoned campsites. Visibility is near zero as
SNOW SWIRLS FURIOUSLY.
WASHINGTON
Paine! Thomas Paine!
He gets his horse moving and continues to search.
A faint figure moves ahead of him on foot.
Washington moves his horse up next to him.
Paine stops and stares at the General. Paine's
eyes have lost their fire.
Washington dismounts. The wind whips them
without mercy.
WASHINGTON
I am sorry. I am truly sorry.
PAINE
Yeah.
Paine tries to move on, but Washington grabs him.
WASHINGTON
Your pamphlets got lost. The
officers never got them.
PAINE
(Smiles ruefully)
That's perfect. Do you see how
perfect that is?
Washington restrains Paine's effort to move.
WASHINGTON
The men are walking out of camp.
If we can't turn them around, the
game is up.
PAINE
Go home, General. Mount Vernon
will have a warm fire waiting.
Washington SLUGS him. Paine falls to the ground.
He stands up, swaying. Blood trickles from his
mouth.
WASHINGTON
You goddamn weakling! You're as
common as the money Congress
prints!
PAINE
That's all I've ever been, General.
Sorry if you thought otherwise.
Washington knocks him down again. Paine gets up
and tackles him. They roll in the snow, slugging
each other. Washington's horse gets agitated.
Paine suddenly leaps up. The fury is back in his
eyes.
PAINE
You want to go out a fool? Then
let's do it!
EXT. FIELD - DAY
A row of officers that includes Washington sit
mounted before the men. The snow falls, and the
wind howls.
Paine rides up between the officers and the
standing troops.
PAINE
Listen to me! All of you!
Especially you in back! General
Washington has asked me to speak to
you and by God, I will -- and you
will listen! You will listen
because you are men!
He works his horse among the troops as he talks,
centering his position among them.
PAINE
You know and I know, these are the
times that try men's souls! The
summer soldier and sunshine patriot
left camp long ago! Did you think
a tyranny like Britain would be
prayers! Freedom is too celestial
an article to go for a cheap price!
Swear allegiance to the king and
you swear allegiance to a stupid,
worthless, brute! If you think
these times are trying, imagine
praising a monster like that for
the rest of your days!
All the British have done this past
month has been more a ravage than a
conquest! The English army, after
once ravaging the kingdom of
France, was driven back in fear by
a woman, Joan of Arc.
He pauses to collect himself.
PAINE
We had a woman among us who gave
her life for our cause! You who
are so eager to leave -- are you
willing to carry that home in your
heart? I am not! Your next step
will determine the verdict on your
souls!
Paine gets his horse moving toward the river.
The men slowly turn and follow.
EXT. RIVER - NIGHT
Sixty-foot DURHAM BOATS manned by seamen in white
caps and blue jackets carry troops across the
raging river.
Ice surges downstream like white torpedoes and
smashes the sides of the boats.
EXT. RIVER BANK - NIGHT
Washington, wrapped in a cape, watches the boats
land and disgorge the men.
EXT. RIVER ROAD - NIGHT
The troops march through a blinding sleet storm.
Washington, on his chestnut horse, rides up and
down the lines.
TEXT OVER:
The American dream of independence did not vanish
on the winds of winter. The victories at Trenton
and Princeton, though minor militarily, kept the
cause alive for Saratoga and Yorktown.
FADE OUT:
