Leslie Odom Jr.
Ten Things One Thing (2014 Workshop)
[MALE COMPANY]
One two three four
[FULL COMPANY (EXCEPT HAMILTON AND BURR)]
Five six seven eight nine-
[BURR]
There are ten things you need to know
[COMPANY]
Number one!
[BURR]
We rode across the Hudson at dawn
My friend, William P. Van Ness signed on as my-
[COMPANY]
Number two!
[BURR]
Hamilton arrived with his crew
Nathaniel Pendleton and a doctor that he knew
[COMPANY]
Number three!
[BURR]
I watched Hamilton examine the terrain
I wish I could tell you what was happ'ning in his brain
Just apologize, we have worthier pursuits!
[COMPANY]
Most disputes die and no one shoots!
Number four!
[BURR]
Hamilton drew first position
Looking, to the world, like a man on a mission
This is a soldier with a marksman's ability
The doctor turned around so he could have deniability
[COMPANY]
Five!
[BURR]
Now, I didn't know this at the time
But we were-[BURR]
In the same spot
Your son died, is that why[HAMILTON]
In the same spot
My son died, is that why[COMPANY]
Six!
[BURR]
He examined his gun with such rigor?
I watched as he methodically fiddled with the trigger
[COMPANY]
Seven!
[BURR]
Confession time? Here's what I got:
My fellow soldiers'll tell you I'm a terrible shot
[COMPANY]
Number eight!
[BURR/HAMILTON/ENSEMBLE MEN]
Your last chance to negotiate
Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight
[BURR]
They won't teach you this in your classes
But look it up, Hamilton was wearing his glasses
Why? If not to take deadly aim?
That's when I realized this was not a game
I had only one thought before the slaughter:
This man will not make an orphan of my daughter
[COMPANY]
Number nine!
[BURR]
Look him in the eyes, aim no higher
Summon all the courage you require
Then count:
[COMPANY]
One two three four five six seven eight nine
[BURR AND COMPANY]
He aims his pistol at the sky-
[BURR]
Wait!
[COMPANY]
Nine eight seven six five
[MALE COMPANY]
Four three two-
[HAMILTON]
One last thought
[COMPANY]
Number one!
[HAMILTON]
Before we got in the boat to cross the Hudson
I stopped to write a note
Actually I wrote-
[HAMILTON AND COMPANY]
Two!
[HAMILTON]
Just in case I didn't make it through
I want the world to know what I intended to do
[COMPANY]
Number three!
[HAMILTON]
If I shoot first, and throw it away
He has to yield, we both get to live another day
I know this puts me in a difficult spot
But I've got to throw away my shot
[COMPANY]
Number four!
[HAMILTON]
I get lucky, I draw first position
I stand facing east as I load my ammunition
The sun is in my eyes, I am almost giddy
As I watch it slowly rise over my New York City
[COMPANY]
Five!
[HAMILTON]
I start to shake when I realize
That we are-[HAMILTON]
In the same spot
My son died, is that why[BURR]
In the same spot
Your son died, is that why[COMPANY]
Six!
[HAMILTON]
I examine the gun that we shared?
Philip never hurt a soul, he must've been so scared
[COMPANY]
Seven!
[HAMILTON]
My Eliza is still asleep
I left her a letter, I could've written it better
[COMPANY]
Number eight!
[BURR/HAMILTON/ENSEMBLE MEN]
Your last chance to negotiate
Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight
[HAMILTON]
I put on my glasses, so I can see if Burr is softening
I see him glaring back at me
He's always hated dueling, hated confrontation
I never had his instinct for self-preservation
I feel a sense of calm fill me
It's not in his political interest to kill me
[COMPANY]
Nine!
[HAMILTON]
My last thought is of Eliza
Maybe I can get back home before she opens her eyes
They put us through our paces, we count to ten
God, I can't wait to see her again
[COMPANY]
One two three four five six seven eight nine
[BURR AND COMPANY]
He aims his pistol at the sky-
[BURR]
Wait!