1776 (1972)
Howard Caine: Lewis Morris (NY)
Photos
Quotes
-
Lewis Morris : [as John Hancock is about to swat a fly] Mr. Secretary, New York abstains, courteously.
[Hancock raises his fly swatter at Morris, then draws back]
John Hancock : Mr. Morris,
[pause, then shouts]
John Hancock : WHAT IN HELL GOES ON IN NEW YORK?
Lewis Morris : I'm sorry Mr. President, but the simple fact is that our legislature has never sent us explicit instructions on anything!
John Hancock : NEVER?
[slams fly swatter onto his desk]
John Hancock : That's impossible!
Lewis Morris : Mr. President, have you ever been present at a meeting of the New York legislature?
[Hancock shakes his head "No"]
Lewis Morris : They speak very fast and very loud, and nobody listens to anybody else, with the result that nothing ever gets done.
[turns to the Congress as he returns to his seat]
Lewis Morris : I beg the Congress's pardon.
John Hancock : [grimly] My sympathies, Mr. Morris.
-
[repeated lines]
Lewis Morris : New York abstains, courteously.
Charles Thomson : [recording vote] New York abstains.
Lewis Morris : Courteously.
-
Lewis Morris : Mr. President?
Hancock : Mr. Morris?
Lewis Morris : [after abstaining throughout the whole movie] To hell with New York. I'll sign it anyway.
Hancock : Thank you, Mr. Morris.