1776 (1972)
John Myhers: Robert Livingston (NY)
Quotes
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Hopkins : [Running out to watch a fire down the street] What's afire? Can anybody tell?
Robert Livingston : Looks like the Pemberton house!
George Read : It couldn't be, it's brand new!
Roger Sherman : Might be the city tavern.
Hopkins : [grabs Sherman] You bite your tongue, man.
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John Adams : All right, gentlemen. Let's get on with it. Which of us will write our Declaration of Independence?
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : [singing] Mr. Adams, I say you should write it. To your legal mind and brilliance we defer.
John Adams : Is that so? Well, if I'm the one to do it, they'll run their quill pens through it. I'm obnoxious and disliked, you know that, sir.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Yes, I know.
John Adams : But I say you should write it, Franklin. Yes, you.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Hell no!
John Adams : Yes, you, Dr. Franklin, you...
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : But...
John Adams : You...
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : But...
John Adams : You...
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : But... Mr. Adams, but, Mr. Adams, the things I write are only light extemporania. I won't put politics on paper, it's a mania. So I refuse to use the pen in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin , Thomas Jefferson , Robert Livingston , Roger Sherman : Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. Refuse to use the pen!
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John Adams : Why, you write 10 times better than any man in Congress, including me. For a man of only 33 years, you possess a happy talent for composition, and a remarkable felicity of expression. Now then, sir: will you be a patriot... or a lover?
Thomas Jefferson : A lover.
John Adams : No.
Thomas Jefferson : But I burn, Mr. A.
John Adams : So do I, Mr. J.
Robert Livingston : [surprisedly] You?
Roger Sherman : You do?
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : John, who'd have thought it?
John Adams : [Adams resumes singing] Mr. Jefferson, dear Mr. Jefferson, I'm only 41, I still have my virility, / And I can romp through Cupid's grove with great agility, / But life is more than sexual combustibility,
John Adams : [spoken quickly as Adams abruptly stops singing to call after Jefferson] Jefferson, stop right there!
Dr. Benjamin Franklin , Robert Livingston , Roger Sherman : [sung as a chorus] Combustibility, combustibility, combustibili...
John Adams : [Adams abruptly stops the chorus, ending the song] Quiet!
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John Adams : [Adams resumes singing "But, Mr. Adams"] Mr. Jefferson, dear Mr. Jefferson, I'm only 41, I still have my virility, / And I can romp through Cupid's grove with great agility, / But life is more than sexual combustility,
John Adams : [spoken rapidly] Jefferson, stop right there!
Dr. Benjamin Franklin , Roger Sherman , Robert Livingston : [sung] Combustibility, combustibility, combustibili...
John Adams : [Adams glares angrily at Franklin, Sherman, and Livingston] Quiet!
John Adams : Now, you'll write it, Mr. J.
Thomas Jefferson : Who will make me, Mr. A.?
John Adams : I.
Thomas Jefferson : You?
John Adams : Yes.
Thomas Jefferson : [Jefferson looks down at Adams] How?
John Adams : By physical force, if necessary. It's your duty, damnit, your duty!
Thomas Jefferson : [Jefferson resumes singing "But, Mr. Adams"] Mr. Adams, damn you, Mr. Adams, / You're obnoxious and disliked, that cannot be denied, / Once again, you stand between me and my lovely bride,
Dr. Benjamin Franklin , Roger Sherman , Robert Livingston : [sung] Lovely bride,
Thomas Jefferson : [sung] Oh, Mr. Adams, you are driving me to homicide,
John Adams : [Jefferson walks away] Jefferson, stop!
Dr. Benjamin Franklin , Roger Sherman , Robert Livingston : [sung] Homicide, homicide...
John Adams : Quiet!
John Adams : [Adams runs down the stairs, and hands the pen to Jefferson] The decision is yours, Jefferson, do as you like with it!
Dr. Benjamin Franklin , Roger Sherman , Robert Livingston : [Jefferson takes the pen from Adams; Franklin, Sherman and Livingston resume singing, concluding the song] We may see murder yet!
