Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Eyes of Fire: Thomas Paine and the American Revolution (long version)


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:

Eyes of Fire: Thomas Paine and the American Revolution (long version)

Thomas Paine and the American Revolution                                 A Screenplay by George Ford Smith FADE IN: EXT. COLONIAL BOSTON - O...