1776 (1972)
Ron Holgate: Richard Henry Lee (VA)
Photos
Quotes
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Richard Henry Lee : You've come to the one colony that can get job done: Virginia. The land that gave us our glorious commander in chief, George Washington, will now give the congress its proposal on independence. Where Virginia goes the south is bound to follow. And where the south goes, the middle colonies go! Gentlemen, a salute to Virginia, the mother of American independence!
John Adams : Incredible, we're free and he hasn't even left yet!
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Richard Henry Lee : Therefore I must decline. Respectful..."lee".
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Richard Henry Lee : I'll leave tonight! Why, hell, I'll leave right now if you like! I'll just stop off in Stratford long enough to refresh the missus, and then straight to the matter!
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Richard Henry Lee : [starts singing "The Lees of Old Virginia"] My name is Richard Henry Lee, Virginia is my home, My name is Richard Henry Lee, Virginia is my ho-ome, / And may my horses turn to glue, if I can't deliver up to you, the resolution on indepdendency! / For I am F.F.V., the First Family, in the sovereign colony of Virginia, / Yes the F.F.V., the oldest family, in the oldest colony in America, / And may the British burn my land, if I can't deliver to your hand, the resolution on independency! / You see, it's here a Lee, there a Lee, and everywhere a Lee, a Lee,
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Social...
Richard Henry Lee : Lee,
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Political...
Richard Henry Lee : Lee,
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Financial...
Richard Henry Lee : Lee,
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Natural...
Richard Henry Lee : Lee,
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Internal...
Richard Henry Lee : Lee,
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : External...
Richard Henry Lee : Lee,
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Fraternal...
Richard Henry Lee : Lee,
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Eternal...
Richard Henry Lee : Lee!
Richard Henry Lee , Dr. Benjamin Franklin : The F.F.V., the first family, in the sovereign colony of Virginia, /
Richard Henry Lee : And may my wife refuse the bed, if I can't deliver as I said, the resolution on independency!
John Adams : Spoken modest-Lee, God help us!
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Oh, He will, John, He will.
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Richard Henry Lee : [continues singing "The Lees of Old Virginia"] They say that God in Heaven is everybody's God,
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Amen!
Richard Henry Lee : [sung] I'll admit that God in Heaven is everybody's God, / But I tell you John, with pride, God leans a little on the side, of the Lees, the Lees of old Virginia! / You see, it's here a Lee, there a Lee, and everywhere a Lee, a Lee, / Here a Lee, there a Lee, and everywhere a Lee - Look out!
Richard Henry Lee : There's Papa Lee, Mama Lee, General Lighthorse Harry Lee, Willie Lee, Jesse Lee,
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : And Richard H.
Richard Henry Lee : That's me!
Richard Henry Lee : [sung] And may my blood stop running blue, if I can't deliver up to you, the resolution on independency! / Yes sir, by God, it's here a Lee, there a Lee, come on boys, join in with me!
Richard Henry Lee , Dr. Benjamin Franklin , John Adams : Here a Lee, there a Lee...
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : When do you leave?
Richard Henry Lee : Immediate-Lee!
Richard Henry Lee , Dr. Benjamin Franklin , John Adams : Here a Lee, there a Lee...
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : When will you return?
Richard Henry Lee : Short-Lee!
Richard Henry Lee , Dr. Benjamin Franklin , John Adams : Here a Lee, there a Lee...
Richard Henry Lee : And I'll come back triumphant-Lee!
Richard Henry Lee , Dr. Benjamin Franklin , John Adams : [Lee backs up near the fountain, then walks away and gets on his horse] Here a Lee, there a Lee, everywhere a Lee, a Lee...
Richard Henry Lee : Forward... hooo!
[Lee rides away on his horse as the song ends]
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Chorus : [starts singing "Sit Down, John"] Sit down, John, sit down, John, For God's sake, John, sit down! / Sit down, John, sit down, John, For God's sake, John, sit down!
John Adams : Listen...
Samuel Chase : Someone ought to open up a window...
Chorus : It's 90 degrees, have mercy, John please, it's hot as hell in Philadelphia,
Samuel Chase : Someone ought to open up a window...
John Adams : I say vote yes, vote yes, vote for independency
Chorus : Someone ought to open up a window
John Adams : I say vote yes...
Chorus : Sit down, John!
John Adams : Vote for independency!
Richard Henry Lee : Someone ought to open up a window...
Chorus : No, no, no! Too many flies, too many flies, / But it's hot as hell in Philadelphia / Are you going to open up a window? / Can't we compromise here?
John Adams : Vote yes...
Chorus : No, too many flies here
John Adams : Vote yes...
Chorus : Oh, for God's sake, John, sit down!
[the song pauses]
John Adams : Good God! Consider yourselves fortunate that you have John Adams to abuse, for no sane man would tolerate it!
Chorus : [the song resumes] John, you're a bore, we've heard this before, / Now for God's sake, John, sit down!
John Adams : I say vote yes...
Chorus : No!
John Adams : Vote yes...
Chorus : No!
John Adams : Vote for independency!
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Richard Henry Lee : [Richard Lee comes riding into the courtyard] You sent for me, Benjamin?
John Adams : Never.
Richard Henry Lee : Helloooo, Johnny!
[Lee stops his horse and dismounts]
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Richard, uh... Johnny and I need some advice.
Richard Henry Lee : If it's mine to give, it's yours, you know that!
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Thank you, Richard, thank you. You know, the cause that we support has come to a complete standstill. Now why do you suppose that is?
Richard Henry Lee : Simple: Johnny here's obnoxious and disliked.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : That's true. Now what's the solution, I wonder?
Richard Henry Lee : Get somebody else in Congress to propose!
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Oh, Richard, that's brilliant! Wasn't that brilliant, John?
John Adams : Brilliant.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Yes, now, the question remains: who can it be? The man we need must belong to a delegation publicly committed to support independence. At the present time, only Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Delaware declared our way.
Richard Henry Lee : Virginia. Don't forget Virginia, Benjy.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Oh Richard, I haven't. How could I? But strictly speaking, Virginia's views on independence are well-known. Your legislature in Williamsburg has never formally authorized its delegation here in Congress to support the cause. Now, if we could think of a Virginian with enough influence to go down there and persuade the House of Burgesses...
Richard Henry Lee : Damn me if I haven't thought of someone!
John Adams , Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Who?
Richard Henry Lee : Me.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Oh, why didn't I think of that?
Richard Henry Lee : [Lee mounts his horse] I'll leave tonight. Why hell, I'll leave right now, if you like! I'll just stop off in Stratford long enough to refresh the missus, and then straight to the matter! Yes sir, I really have to complement you on your judgment, Johnny. Whoa boy, steady! You've come to the one colony that can get the job done: Virginia!
Richard Henry Lee : [a drumroll and pause is heard before George Washington's name is mentioned] The land that gave us our glorious commander-in-chief... George Washington, will now give the continent its proposal on independence! And when Virginia proposes, the South is bound to follow! And where the South goes, the middle colonies go! Gentlemen, a salute to Virginia, the mother of American independence!
