COMPANY

Seventeen. Se- se- seventeen...

Se- se- seventeen...

STARK

1789.

How does the bastard orphan,

immigrant decorated war vet

unite the colonies through more debt?

Fight the other founding fathers til he has to forfeit?

Have it all, lose it all,

you ready for more yet?

Treasury Secretary. Lincoln's the President,

ev'ry American experiment sets a precedent.

Not so fast. Someone came along to resist him.

Pissed him off until we had a two-party system.

You haven't met him yet, you haven't had the chance,

'cause he's been kickin' ass as the ambassador to France

but someone's gotta keep the American promise.

You simply must meet Thor. Thor!

COMPANY

Thor Odinson's coming home!

Thor Odinson's coming home!

Thor Odinson's coming home!

Thor Odinson's coming home!

Thor Odinson's coming home Lord he's

been off in Paris for so long!

Aaa-ooo!

Aaa-ooo!

ODINSON

France is following us to revolution,

there is no more status quo.

But the sun comes up and the world still spins.

ENSEMBLE

Aaa-ooo!

ODINSON

I helped Gaston draft a declaration,

then I said, 'I gotta go.

I gotta be in Monticello.' Now the work at

home begins...

ENSEMBLE

Aaa-ooo!

ODINSON

So what'd I miss?

What'd I miss?

Virginia, my home sweet home, I wanna give you a kiss.

I've been in Paris meeting lots of different ladies...

I guess I basic'lly missed the late eighties...

I traveled the wide, wide world and came back to this...

ENSEMBLE

Aaa-ooo!

ODINSON

There's a letter on my desk from the President.

Haven't even put my bags down yet.

Sally be a lamb, darlin', won'tcha open it?

It says the President's assembling a cabinet

and that I am to be the Secretary of State, great!

And that I'm already Senate-approved...

I just got home and now I'm headed up to New York.

ENSEMBLE

Headin' to New York!

Headin' to New York!

ODINSON

Lookin' at the rolling fields

I can't believe that we are free.

Ready to face

whatever's awaiting

me in N.Y.C.

ENSEMBLE

Believe that we are free

Me in N.Y.C.

ODINSON

But who's waitin' for me when I step in the place?

My friend Clint Barton, red in the face.

ODINSON

He grabs my arm and

I respond,

"What's goin' on?"

ENSEMBLE

Aaa-ooo!

BARTON

Thor, we are engaged in a battle for our nation's very soul.

Can you get us out of the mess we're in?

ENSEMBLE

Aaa-ooo!

BARTON

Laufeyson's new financial plan is nothing less

than government control.

I've been fighting for the South alone.

Where have you been?

ENSEMBLE

Aaa-ooo!

ODINSON

Uh...France.

BARTON

We have to win.

ODINSON

What'd I miss?

What'd I miss?

Headfirst into a political abyss!

I have my first cabinet meeting today,

I guess I better think of something to say,

I'm already on my way,

let's get to the bottom of this...

ENSEMBLE

Wha? Wha? What'd I miss?

I've come home to this?

Headfirst, into the abyss!

Chik-a-pow!

On my way

What did I miss?

Ahhh ah!

LINCOLN

Mr. Odinson, welcome home.

LAUFEYSON

Mr. Odinson? Loki Laufeyson.

LINCOLN AND ENSEMBLE

Mr. Odinson, welcome home.

COMPANY

Mr. Odinson, welcome home

Sir, you've been off in Paris for so long!

ODINSON

So what did I miss?

LINCOLN

Ladies and gentlemen, you coulda been anywhere in the world tonight, but you're here with us in New

York City. Are you ready for a cabinet meeting???

The issue on the table: Secretary Laufeyson's plan to assume state debt and establish a national bank.

Secretary Odinson, you have the floor, sir.

ODINSON

'Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'

We fought for these ideals; we shouldn't settle for less.

These are wise words, enterprising men quote 'em.

Don't act surprised, you guys, cuz I wrote 'em.

ODINSON/BARTON

Oww

ODINSON

But Laufeyson forgets

his plan would have the government assume state's debts.

Now, place your bets as to who that benefits:

the very seat of government where Laufeyson sits.

LAUFEYSON

Not true!

ODINSON

Ooh, if the shoe fits, wear it.

If New York's in debt—

why should Virginia bear it? Uh! Our debts are paid, I'm afraid.

Don't tax the South cuz we got it made in the shade.

In Virginia, we plant seeds in the ground.

We create. You just wanna move our money around.

This financial plan is an outrageous demand,

and it's too many damn pages for any man to understand.

Stand with me in the land of the free

and pray to God we never see Laufeyson's candidacy.

Look, when Britain taxed our tea, we got frisky.

Imagine what gon' happen when you try to tax our whisky.

LINCOLN

Thank you, Secretary Odinson. Secretary Laufeyson, your response.

LAUFEYSON

Thor. That was a real nice declaration.

Welcome to the present, we're running a real nation.

Would you like to join us, or stay mellow,

Doin' whatever the hell it is you do in Monticello?

If we assume the debts, the union gets

A new line of credit, a financial diuretic.

How do you not get it? If we're aggressive and competitive

The union gets a boost. You'd rather give it a sedative?

A civics lesson from a slaver. Hey neighbor,

Your debts are paid cuz you don't pay for labor.

"We plant seeds in the South. We create."

Yeah, keep ranting,

we know who's really doing the planting.

And another thing, Mr. Age of Enlightenment,

Don't lecture me about the war, you didn't fight in it.

You think I'm frightened of you, man?

We almost died in a trench

while you were off getting high with the French.

Thor Odinson, always hesitant with the President,

reticent—there isn't a plan he doesn't jettison.

Barton, you're mad as a hatter, son, take your medicine.

Damn, you're in worse shape than the national debt is in,

sittin' there useless as two shits.

Hey, turn around, bend over, I'll show you

where my shoe fits.

LINCOLN

Excuse me? Odinson, Barton, take a walk! Laufeyson, take a walk! We'll reconvene after a brief recess.

Laufeyson!

LAUFEYSON

Sir!

LINCOLN

A word.

BARTON

You don't have the votes.

ODINSON/BARTON

You don't have the votes.

ODINSON

Aha-ha-ha ha!

ODINSON/BARTON

You're gonna need congressional approval and you don't have the votes.

ODINSON

Such a blunder sometimes it makes me wonder why I even bring the thunder.

BARTON

Why he even brings the thunder...

LINCOLN

You wanna pull yourself together?

LAUFEYSON

I'm sorry, these Virginians are birds of a feather.

LINCOLN

Young man, I'm from Ohio, so watch your mouth.

LAUFEYSON

So we let Congress get held hostage by the South?

LINCOLN

You need the votes.

LAUFEYSON

No, we need bold strokes. We need this plan.

LINCOLN

No, you need to convince more folks.

LAUFEYSON

Clint Barton won't talk to me, that's a nonstarter.

LINCOLN

Winning was easy, young man. Governing's harder.

LAUFEYSON

They're being intransigent.

LINCOLN

You have to find a compromise.

LAUFEYSON

But they don't have a plan, they just hate mine!

LINCOLN

Convince them otherwise.

LAUFEYSON

What happens if I don't get congressional approval?

LINCOLN

I imagine they'll call for your removal.

LAUFEYSON

Sir—

LINCOLN

Figure it out, Loki. That's an order from your commander.

MADDIE

Un deux trois quatre

Cinq six sept huit neuf.

Good! Un deux trois quatre

Cinq six sept huit neuf.

Sept huit neuf—

Sept huit neuf—

SERVERUS

Un deux trois quatre

Cinq six sept huit neuf.

Un deux trois quatre

Cinq six sept huit neuf.

Sept huit neuf—

Sept huit neuf—

MADDIE AND SERVERUS

One two three four five six seven eight nine!

LAUFEYSON

My dearest, Moana,

"tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow

creeps in this petty pace from day to day"

I trust you'll understand the reference to

another Scottish tragedy without my having to name the play.

They think me Macbeth, and ambition is my folly,

I'm a polymath, a pain in the ass, a massive pain,

Barton is Banquo, Odinson's Macduff

And Birnam Wood is Congress on its way to Dunsinane.

LAUFEYSON/MOANA

And there you are, an ocean away.

Do you have to live an ocean away?

Thoughts of you subside,

then I get another letter,

I cannot put the notion away...

MADDIE

Take a break.

LAUFEYSON

I am on my way.

MADDIE

There's a little surprise before supper

and it cannot wait.

LAUFEYSON

I'll be there in just a minute, save my plate.

MADDIE

Loki—

LAUFEYSON

Okay, okay—

MADDIE

Your son is nine years old today.

has something he'd like to say.

He's been practicing all day.

Serverus, take it away—

SERVERUS

Daddy, daddy, look—

My name is Serverus.

I am a poet.

I wrote this poem just

to show it.

And I just turned nine.

You can write rhymes,

but you can't write mine.

I practice French

and play piano with my mother.

I have a sister but I want a little brother.

My daddy's trying to start America's bank.

Un deux trois quatre cinq!

LAUFEYSON

What!

Uh-huh!

Okay!

Bravo!

MADDIE

Take a break.

LAUFEYSON

Hey, our kid is pretty great.

MADDIE

Run away with us for the summer.

Let's go upstate.

LAUFEYSON

Maddie, I've got so much on my plate.

MADDIE

We can all go stay with my father.

There's a lake I know...

LAUFEYSON

I know.

MADDIE

In a nearby park.

LAUFEYSON

I'd love to go.

MADDIE

You and I can go when the night gets dark...

LAUFEYSON

I will try to get away.

MOANA

My dearest Loki,

You must get through to Odinson.

Sit down with him and compromise,

don't stop 'til you agree

your fav'rite older sister,

Moana, reminds you

there's someone in your corner all the way across the sea.

In a letter I received from you two weeks ago

I noticed a comma in the middle of a phrase.

It changed the meaning. Did you intend this?

One stroke and you've consumed my waking days.

It says:

LAUFEYSON/MOANA

"My dearest Moana"

MOANA

With a comma after "dearest." You've written

LAUFEYSON AND MOANA

"My dearest, Moana."

MOANA

Anyway, all this to say

I'm coming home this summer

at my sister's invitation,

I'll be there with your fam'ly

if you make your way upstate.

I know you're very busy,

I know your work's important,

but I'm crossing the ocean and I just can't wait.

LAUFEYSON AND MOANA

You won't be an ocean away.

You will only be a moment away...

MADDIE

Loki, come downstairs. Moana's arriving today!

MADDIE

Moana!

MOANA

Maddie!

LAUFEYSON

The Snape sisters!

MOANA

Loki.

LAUFEYSON

Hi.

MOANA

It's good to see your face.

MADDIE

Moana, tell this man Connor Anderson spends the summer with his family.

LAUFEYSON

Moana, tell my wife Connor Anderson doesn't have a real job anyway.

MOANA

...you're not joining us? Wait.

LAUFEYSON

I'm afraid I cannot join you upstate.

MOANA

Loki, I came all this way.

MADDIE

She came all this way—

MOANA

All this way—

MADDIE AND MOANA

Take a break.

LAUFEYSON

You know I have to get my plan through Congress.

MADDIE AND MOANA

Run away with us for the summer.

Let's go upstate.

LAUFEYSON

I lose my job if I don't get my plan through Congress.

MADDIE AND MOANA

We can all go stay with our father.

MADDIE

There's a lake I know

In a nearby park

You and I can go

Take a break and get away—

Let's go upstate

where we can stay.

MOANA

I know I'll miss your face—

Screw your courage to the sticking place—

Maddie's right—

Take a break.

Run away with us for the summer—

Let's go upstate.

We can all go stay with our father,

Look around, look around

at how lucky we are to be alive right now—

We can go—

When the night gets dark.

Take a break.

if you take your time—

you will make your mark.

Close your eyes and dream—

when the night gets dark.

Take a break.

LAUFEYSON

I have to get my plan through Congress.

I can't stop until I get this plan through Congress.

STARK

There's nothing like summer in the city.

Someone under stress meets someone looking pretty.

There's trouble in the air, you can smell it.

and Loki's by himself. I'll let him tell it.

LAUFEYSON

I hadn't slept in a week.

I was weak, I was awake.

You never seen a bastard orphan

more in need of a break.

Longing for Moana.

Missing my wife.

That's when Miss Edith Sharpe walked into my life, she said:

EDITH

I know you are a man of honor,

I'm so sorry to bother you at home

but I don't know where to go, and I came here all alone...

LAUFEYSON

She said:

EDITH

My husband's doin' me wrong

beatin' me, cheatin' me, mistreatin' me...

Suddenly he's up and gone.

I don't have the means to go on.

LAUFEYSON

So I offered her a loan, I offered to walk her home, she said

EDITH

You're too kind, sir.

LAUFEYSON

I gave her thirty bucks that I had socked away,

she lived a block away, she said:

EDITH

This one's mine, sir.

LAUFEYSON

Then I said, "well, I should head back home,"

she turned red, she led me to her bed,

let her legs spread and said:

EDITH

Stay?

LAUFEYSON

Hey...

EDITH

Hey...

LAUFEYSON

That's when I began to pray:

Lord, show me how to

say no to this.

I don't know how to

say no to this.

But my God, she looks so helpless

And her body's saying, "hell, yes"

EDITH

Whoa...

LAUFEYSON

Nooo, show me how to

LAUFEYSON/ENSEMBLE

Say no to this.

LAUFEYSON

I don't know how to

LAUFEYSON/ENSEMBLE

Say no to this.

LAUFEYSON

In my mind, I'm tryin' to go

ENSEMBLE

Go! Go! Go!

LAUFEYSON

Then her mouth is on mine, and I don't say...

ENSEMBLE

No! No!

Say no to this!

No! No!

Say no to this!

No! No!

Say no to this!

No! No!

Say no to this!

LAUFEYSON

I wish I could say that was the last time.

I said that last time. It became a pastime.

A month into this endeavor I received a letter

from a Mr. Thomas Sharpe, even better, it said:

THOMAS

Dear Sir, I hope this letter finds you in good health,

and in a prosperous enough position to put wealth

in the pockets of people like me: down on their luck.

You see, that was my wife who you decided to

LAUFEYSON

Fuuuu—

THOMAS

Uh-oh! You made the wrong sucker a cuckold,

so time to pay the piper for the pants you unbuckled.

And hey, you can keep seein' my whore wife

if the price is right: if not I'm telling your wife.

LAUFEYSON

I hid the letter and I raced to her place,

screamed "How could you?!" in her face,

she said:

EDITH

No, sir!

LAUFEYSON

Half dressed, apologetic. A mess, she looked

pathetic, she cried:

EDITH

Please don't go, sir!

LAUFEYSON

So was your whole story a setup?

EDITH

I don't know about any letter!

LAUFEYSON

Stop crying Goddamnit, get up!

EDITH

I didn't know any better

LAUFEYSON

I am ruined...

EDITH

Please don't leave me with him

helpless.

Just give him what he wants and you can have me.

Whatever you want,

LAUFEYSON

I am helpless—how could I do this?

I don't want you

I don't want you

EDITH

If you pay,

You can stay.

Tonight

Helpless.

Whoa!

How can you

LAUFEYSON

I don't...

Lord, show me how to

say no to this.

I don't know how to

say no to this.

Cuz the situation's helpless.

And her body's screaming, "Hell,

yes"

No, show me how to

say no to this.

How can I

ENSEMBLE

Say no to this!

Say no to this!

Say no to this!

say no to this?

LAUFEYSON

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Say no to this?

There is nowhere I can go.

When her body's on mine I do not

say...

EDITH

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Say no to this!

Go! Go! Go!

No!

ENSEMBLE

Say no to this!

No!

Say no to this!

No!

Say no to this!

No!

Say no to this!

LAUFEYSON

Say no to this...

I don't say no to this,

there is nowhere I can go.

EDITH

Don't say no to this.

ENSEMBLE

Go go go...

THOMAS

So?

LAUFEYSON

Nobody needs to know.

STARK

Ah, Mister Secretary.

LAUFEYSON

Mister Stark, sir.

STARK

Didja hear the news about good old General Mercer?

LAUFEYSON

No.

STARK

You know Clermont Street?

LAUFEYSON

Yeah.

STARK

They renamed it after him. The Mercer legacy is secure.

LAUFEYSON

Sure.

STARK

And all he had to do was die.

LAUFEYSON

That's a lot less work.

STARK

We oughta give it a try.

LAUFEYSON

Ha.

STARK

Now how're you gonna get your debt plan through?

LAUFEYSON

I guess I'm gonna fin'ly have to listen to you.

STARK

Really?

LAUFEYSON

Talk less. Smile more.

STARK

Ha.

LAUFEYSON

Do whatever it takes to get my plan on the Congress floor.

STARK

Now, Barton and Odinson are merciless.

LAUFEYSON

Well, hate the sin, love the sinner.

BARTON

Laufeyson!

LAUFEYSON

I'm sorry Stark, I've gotta go.

STARK

But—

LAUFEYSON

Decisions are happening over dinner.

STARK

Two Virginians and an immigrant walk into a room.

STARK AND ENSEMBLE

Diametric'ly opposed, foes.

STARK

They emerge with a compromise, having opened doors that were

STARK AND ENSEMBLE

Previously closed,

ENSEMBLE

Bros.

STARK

The immigrant emerges with unprecedented financial power,

a system he can shape however he wants.

The Virginians emerge with the nation's capital.

And here's the pièce de résistance:

STARK

No one else was in

the room where it happened.

The room where it happened.

The room where it happened.

No one else was in

the room where it happened.

The room where it happened.

The room where it happened.

No one really knows how the game is played,

The art of the trade,

how the sausage gets made.

We just assume that it happens.

But no one else is in

the room where it happens.

ENSEMBLE

The room where it happened.

The room where it happened.

How the sausage gets made.

Assume that it happens.

The room where it happens.

STARK AND COMPANY

Thor claims—

ODINSON

Loki was on Lincoln's doorstep one day

in distress 'n disarray.

STARK AND COMPANY

Thor claims—

ODINSON

Loki said—

LAUFEYSON

I've nowhere else to turn!

ODINSON

And basic'ly begged me to join the fray.

STARK AND COMPANY

Thor claims—

ODINSON

I approached Barton and saids—

"I know you hate 'im, but let's hear what he has to say."

STARK AND COMPANY

Thor claims—

ODINSON

Well, I arranged the meeting.

I arranged the menu, the venue, the seating,

STARK

But!

No one else was in—

STARK AND COMPANY

The room where it happened.

The room where it happened.

The room where it happened.

STARK

No one else was in—

STARK AND COMPANY

The room where it happened.

The room where it happened.

The room where it happened.

STARK

No one really knows how the

parties get to yesssss.

The pieces that are sacrificed in

ev'ry game of chesssss.

We just assume that it happens.

But no one else is in

the room where it happens.

COMPANY

Parties get to yesssss.

Ev'ry game of chesssss.

Assume that it happens.

The room where it happens.

STARK AND COMPANY

Meanwhile—

STARK

Barton is grappling with the fact that not ev'ry issue can be settled by committee.

COMPANY

Meanwhile—

STARK

Congress is fighting over where to put the capital—

Company screams in chaos.

STARK

It isn't pretty.

Then Odinson approaches with a dinner and invite,

And Barton responds with Virginian insight:

BARTON

Maybe we can solve one problem with another and win a victory for the Southerners, in other words—

ODINSON

Oh-ho!

BARTON

A quid pro quo.

ODINSON

I suppose.

BARTON

Wouldn't you like to work a little closer to home?

ODINSON

Actually, I would.

BARTON

Well, I propose the Potomac.

ODINSON

And you'll provide him his votes?

BARTON

Well, we'll see how it goes.

ODINSON

Let's go.

STARK

No!

COMPANY

—one else was in

the room where it happened.

STARK AND COMPANY

The room where it happened.

The room where it happened.

No one else was in

the room where it happened.

The room where it happened.

The room where it happened.

STARK

My God!

STARK AND COMPANY

In God we trust.

But we'll never really know what got discussed.

Click-boom then it happened.

STARK

And no one else was in the room where it happened.

COMPANY

Loki Laufeyson!

STARK

What did they say to you to get you to sell New York City down the river?

COMPANY

Loki Laufeyson!

STARK

Did Lincoln know about the dinner?

Was there Presidential pressure to deliver?

COMPANY

Loki Laufeyson!

STARK

Or did you know, even then, it doesn't matter where you put the U.S. Capital?

LAUFEYSON

Cuz we'll have the banks,

we're in the same spot.

STARK

You got more than you gave.

LAUFEYSON

And I wanted what I got.

When you got skin in the game, you stay in the game.

But you don't get a win unless you play in the game.

Oh, you get love for it. You get hate for it.

You get nothing if you...

LAUFEYSON AND COMPANY

Wait for it, wait for it, wait!

LAUFEYSON

God help and forgive me,

I wanna build

something that's gonna

outlive me.

LAUFEYSON/ODINSON/BARTON/LINCOLN

What do you want, Stark?

What do you want, Stark?

If you stand for nothing,

Stark, then what do you fall for?

COMPANY

What do you want, Stark?

What do you want, Stark?

What do you want, Stark?

What do you want?

STARK

I

wanna be in

the room where it happens.

The room where it happens.

I

wanna be in

the room where it happens.

The room where it happens.

STARK

I

COMPANY

I wanna be in

wanna be

In the room where it happens.

I

I wanna be in the room....

Oh

Oh

I wanna be

I wanna be

I've got to be

I've got to be

in that room

in that big ol' room

the room where it happens.

The room where it happens.

The room where it happens.

I wanna be in the room

where it happens.

The room where it happens.

The room where it happens.

I wanna be in

the room where it happens

The room where it happens.

The room where it happens.

I wanna be in

the room where it happens.

The room where it happens.

The room where it happens.

COMPANY

The art of the compromise—

STARK

Hold your nose and close your eyes.

COMPANY

We want our leaders to save the day—

STARK

But we don't get a say in what they trade away.

COMPANY

We dream of a brand new start—

STARK

But we dream in the dark for the most part.

STARK AND COMPANY

Dark as a tomb where it happens.

STARK

I've got to be in

the room...

I've got to be...

COMPANY

The room where it happens

I've got to be...

Oh, I've got to be in

the room where it happens...

I've got to be, I've gotta be, I've gotta be...

in the room!

Click-boom!

The room where it happens

The room where it happens

The room where it happens

The room where it happens

I wanna be in the room

where it happens!

Click-boom!

SERVERUS

Look! Grampa's in the paper! 'War Hero Serverus

Snape loses Senate seat to young upstart Tony Stark!'

Grampa just lost his seat in the Senate.

MADDIE

Sometimes that's how it goes.

SERVERUS

Daddy's gonna find out any minute.

MADDIE

I'm sure he already knows.

SERVERUS

Further down,

SERVERUS AND MADDIE

Further down,

SERVERUS

"Let's meet the newest Senator from New York..."

MADDIE

New York—

SERVERUS AND MADDIE

Our Senator!...

LAUFEYSON

Stark!

LAUFEYSON

Since when are you a Democratic-Republican?

STARK

Since being one put me on the up and up again.

LAUFEYSON

No one knows who you are or what you do.

STARK

They don't need to know me. They don't like you.

LAUFEYSON

Excuse me?

STARK

Oh, Wall Street thinks you're great.

You'll always be adored by the things you create.

But upstate,

LAUFEYSON

Wait.

STARK

People think you're crooked!

And Snape's seat was up for grabs, so I took it.

LAUFEYSON

I've always considered you a friend.

STARK

I don't see why that has to end!

LAUFEYSON

You changed parties to run against my father-in-law.

STARK

I changed parties to seize the opportunity I saw.

I swear, your pride will be the death of us all!

Beware: it goeth before the fall...

LINCOLN

The issue on the table: France is on the verge

of war with England. Do we provide aid and

troops to our French allies or do we stay out

of it? Remember, my decision on this matter

is not subject to congressional approval.

The only person you have to convince is me.

Secretary Odinson, you have the floor, sir.

ODINSON

When we were on death's door, when we were needy,

we made a promise, we signed a treaty.

We needed money and guns and half a chance.

Who provided those funds?

BARTON

France.

ODINSON

In return, they didn't ask for land,

only a promise that we'd lend a hand

and stand with them if they fought against oppressors,

and revolution is messy but now is the time to stand.

Stand with our brothers as they fight against tyranny.

I know that Loki Laufeyson is here and he

would rather not have this debate.

I'll remind you that he is not Secretary of State.

He knows nothing of loyalty,

smells like new money, dresses like fake royalty,

desperate to rise above his station,

everything he does betrays the ideals of our nation.

ENSEMBLE

Ooh!!

ODINSON

Hey, and if ya don't know, now ya know, Mr. President.

LINCOLN

Thank you, Secretary Odinson. Secretary Laufeyson, your response.

LAUFEYSON

You must be out of your Goddamn mind if you think

the President is gonna bring the nation to the brink

of meddling in the middle of a military mess,

a game of chess, where France is Queen and Kingless.

We signed a treaty with a King whose head is now in a basket.

Would you like to take it out and ask it?

"Should we honor our treaty, King Louis' head?"

"Uh... do whatever you want, I'm super dead."

LINCOLN

Enough. Laufeyson is right.

ODINSON

Mr. President—

LINCOLN

We're too fragile to start another fight.

ODINSON

But sir, do we not fight for freedom?

LINCOLN

Sure, when the French figure out who's gonna lead 'em.

ODINSON

The people are leading—

LINCOLN

The people are rioting.

There's a difference. Frankly, it's a little disquieting you would let your ideals blind you to reality.

Laufeyson.

LAUFEYSON

Sir.

LINCOLN

Draft a statement of neutrality.

ODINSON

Did you forget Gaston?

LAUFEYSON

What?

ODINSON

Have you an ounce of regret?

You accumulate debt, you accumulate power,

yet in their hour of need, you forget.

LAUFEYSON

Gaston's a smart man, he'll be fine.

And before he was your friend, he was mine.

If we try to fight in every revolution in the world, we never stop.

Where do we draw the line?

ODINSON

So quick-witted.

LAUFEYSON

Alas, I admit it.

ODINSON

I bet you were quite a lawyer.

LAUFEYSON

My defendants got acquitted.

ODINSON

Huh. Well, someone oughta remind you.

LAUFEYSON

What?

ODINSON

You're nothing without Lincoln behind you.

LINCOLN

Laufeyson!

ODINSON

Daddy's calling.

STARK

It must be nice, it must be nice to have

Lincoln on your side

It must be nice, it must be nice to have

Lincoln on your side.

ODINSON

Ev'ry action has its equal, opposite reactions.

Thanks to Laufeyson, our cab'net's fractured into factions.

Try not to crack under the stress, we're breaking down like fractions.

We smack each other in the press, and we don't print retractions.

I get no satisfaction witnessing his fits of passion.

The way he primps and preens and dresses like the pits of fashion.

Our poorest citizens, our farmers, live ration to ration

as Wall Street robs 'em blind in search of chips to cash in.

This prick is askin' for someone to bring him to task.

Somebody gimme some dirt on this vacuous mass so we can at last unmask him.

I'll pull the trigger on him, someone load the gun and cock it.

While we were all watching, he got Lincoln in his pocket.

ODINSON AND STARK

It must be nice, it must be nice to have

Lincoln on your side.

It must be nice, it must be nice to have

Lincoln on your side.

Look back at the Bill of Rights.

BARTON

Which I wrote.

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK

The ink hasn't dried.

It must be nice, it must be nice to have

Lincoln on your side.

BARTON

So he's doubled the size of the government.

Wasn't the trouble with much our previous government size?

STARK

Look in his eyes!

ODINSON

See how he lies.

BARTON

Follow the scent of his enterprise.

ODINSON

Centralizing national credit

and making American credit competitive.

BARTON

If we don't stop it we aid and abet it.

ODINSON

I have to resign.

BARTON

Somebody has to stand up for the South!

STARK

Somebody has to stand up to his mouth!

ODINSON

If there's a fire you're trying to douse,

BARTON AND ODINSON

You can't put it out from inside the house.

ODINSON

I'm in the cabinet. I am complicit in

watching him grabbin' at power and kiss it.

If Lincoln isn't gon' listen

to disciplined dissidents, this is the difference:

This kid is out!

BARTON/STARK/ODINSON

Oh!

This immigrant isn't somebody we chose.

Oh!

This immigrant's keeping us all on our toes.

Oh!

Let's show these Federalists who they're up against!

Oh!

ODINSON/BARTON

Southern motherfuckin'—

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK

Democratic-Republicans!

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK/ENSEMBLE

Oh!

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK

Let's follow the money and see where it goes.

ENSEMBLE

Oh!

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK

Because every second the Treasury grows.

ENSEMBLE

Oh!

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK

If we follow the money and see where it leads,

get in the weeds, look for the seeds of

Laufeyson's misdeeds.

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK

It must be nice. It must be nice.

BARTON

Follow the money and see where it goes.

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK

It must be nice. It must be nice.

ODINSON

The emperor has no clothes.

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK

We won't be invisible. We won't be denied.

Still,

it must be nice, it must be nice to have

Lincoln on your side.

LAUFEYSON

Mr. President, you asked to see me?

LINCOLN

I know you're busy.

LAUFEYSON

What do you need, sir? Sir?

LINCOLN

I wanna give you a word of warning.

LAUFEYSON

Sir, I don't know what you heard,

But whatever it is, Odinson started it.

LINCOLN

Thor Odinson resigned this morning.

LAUFEYSON

You're kidding.

LINCOLN

I need a favor.

LAUFEYSON

Whatever you say, sir, Odinson will pay for his behavior.

LINCOLN

Shh. Talk less.

LAUFEYSON

I'll use the press,

I'll write under a pseudonym, you'll see what I can do to him—

LINCOLN

I need you to draft an address.

LAUFEYSON

Yes! He resigned. You can finally speak your mind—

LINCOLN

No, he's stepping down so he can run for President.

LAUFEYSON

Ha. Good luck defeating you, sir.

LINCOLN

I'm stepping down. I'm not running for President.

LAUFEYSON

I'm sorry, what?

LINCOLN

One last time.

Relax, have a drink with me

one last time.

Let's take a break tonight

and then we'll teach them how to say goodbye,

to say goodbye.

You and I.

LAUFEYSON

No, sir, why?

LINCOLN

I wanna talk about neutrality.

LAUFEYSON

Sir, with Britain and France on the verge of war, is this the best time—

LINCOLN

I want to warn against partisan fighting.

LAUFEYSON

But—

LINCOLN

Pick up a pen, start writing.

I wanna talk about what I have learned.

The hard-won wisdom I have earned.

LAUFEYSON

As far as the people are concerned,

you have to serve, you could continue to serve—

LINCOLN

No! One last time

the people will hear from me

one last time

and if we get this right

we're gonna teach 'em how to say

goodbye.

You and I—

LAUFEYSON

Mr. President, they will say you're weak.

LINCOLN

No, they will see we're strong.

LAUFEYSON

Your position is so unique.

LINCOLN

So I'll use it to move them along.

LAUFEYSON

Why do you have to say goodbye?

LINCOLN

If I say goodbye, the nation learns to move on.

It outlives me when I'm gone.

Like the scripture says:

"Everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree

and no one shall make them afraid."

They'll be safe in the nation we've made.

I wanna sit under my own vine and fig tree.

A moment alone in the shade,

at home in this nation we've made.

One last time.

LAUFEYSON

One last time.

LAUFEYSON

Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am

nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. I

shall also carry with me

LAUFEYSON

The hope

that my country will

view them with indulgence;

And that,

after forty-five years of my life dedicated to its

service with an upright zeal

the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned

to oblivion, as I myself must soon be to the

mansions of rest.

I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in

which I promise myself to realize the sweet

enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellowcitizens,

the benign influence of good laws

Under a free government, the ever-favorite object of

my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust,

Of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.

LINCOLN

The hope

View them with indulgence

After forty-five years of my life dedicated to its

service with an upright zeal

Consigned to oblivion, as I myself must soon be to

the mansions of rest.

I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in

which I promise myself to realize the sweet

enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellowcitizens,

the benign influence of good laws

Under a free government, the ever-favorite object of

my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust,

Of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.

LINCOLN

One last time.

ALL WOMEN

Abraham Lincoln's going home!

LAUFEYSON

Teach 'em how to say goodbye.

LINCOLN

You and I

Going home

History has its eyes on you

We're gonna teach 'em how to

say goodbye!

Teach 'em how to

say goodbye!

To say goodbye!

Say goodbye!

One last time!

COMPANY

Abraham Lincoln's going home

Abraham Lincoln's going home

Abraham Lincoln's going home

Abraham Lincoln's going home

Teach 'em how to say goodbye!

Teach 'em how!

Say goodbye!

Say goodbye!

One last time!

KING SHADY

They say

Abraham Lincoln's yielding his power and stepping away.

'Zat true?

I wasn't aware that was something a person could do.

I'm perplexed.

Are they gonna keep on replacing whoever's in charge?

If so, who's next?

There's nobody else in their country who looms quite as large...

A sentinel whispers in King Shady's ear.

Connor Anderson?!

I know him.

That can't be.

That's that little guy who spoke to me

all those years ago.

What was it, eighty-five?

That poor man, they're gonna eat him alive!

Oceans rise.

Empires fall.

Next to Lincoln, they all look small.

All alone,

watch them run.

They will tear each other into pieces,

Jesus Christ, this will be fun!

Da da da dat da dat da da da da ya da

Da da da dat dat da ya daaaaa!

"President Connor Anderson"

Good Luck.

STARK

How does Laufeyson, the short-tempered,

protean creator of the Coast Guard,

Founder of the New York Post,

ardently abuse his cab'net post,

destroy his reputation?

Welcome, folks, to

STARK/COMPANY

The Anderson administration!

STARK

Odinson's the runner-up, which makes him the Vice President.

ODINSON

Lincoln can't help you now, no more mister nice President.

STARK

Anderson fires Laufeyson.

Privately calls him "creole bastard" in his taunts.

ODINSON

Say what?!

STARK

Laufeyson publishes his response.

LAUFEYSON

Sit down, Connor, you fat motherf—

STARK

Laufeyson is out of control.

BARTON

This is great! He's out of power. He holds no

office. And he just destroyed President Connor

Anderson, the only other significant member

of his party.

ODINSON

Laufeyson's a host unto himself. As long as

he can hold a pen, he's a threat. Let's let him

know what we know.

LAUFEYSON

Mr. Vice President.

Mr. Barton.

Senator Stark.

What is this?

ODINSON

We have the check stubs. From separate accounts...

BARTON

Almost a thousand dollars, paid in different amounts...

STARK

To a Mr. Thomas Sharpe way back in

seventeen ninety-one.

LAUFEYSON

Is that what you have? Are you done?

BARTON

You are uniquely situated by virtue of your position—

ODINSON

Though 'virtue' is not a word I'd apply to this situation—

BARTON

To seek financial gain, to stray from your sacred mission—

ODINSON

And the evidence suggests you've engaged in speculation—

STARK

An immigrant embezzling our government funds—

ODINSON/BARTON

I can almost see the headline, your career is done.

STARK

I hope you saved some money for your daughter and sons.

STARK/ODINSON/BARTON

Ya best g'wan run back where ya come from.

LAUFEYSON

Ha! You don't even know what you're asking me to confess.

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK

Confess.

LAUFEYSON

You got nothing. I don't have to tell you anything at all.

Unless.

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK

Unless?

LAUFEYSON

If I can prove that I never broke the law,

do you promise not to tell another soul what you saw?

STARK

No one else was in the room where it happened.

LAUFEYSON

Is that a yes?

ODINSON /BARTON /STARK

Um, yes.

STARK

"Dear Sir, I hope this letter finds you in good health

and in a prosperous enough position to put wealth

in the pockets of people like me: down on their luck.

You see, it was my wife who you decided to—"

ODINSON

Whaaaat—

LAUFEYSON

She courted me.

Escorted me to bed and when she had me in a corner

that's when Sharpe extorted me

for a sordid fee.

I paid him quarterly.

I may have mortally wounded my prospects

but my papers are orderly!

As you can see I kept a record of every check in my checkered

History. Check it again against your list n' see consistency.

I never spent a cent that wasn't mine,

you sent the dogs after my scent, that's fine.

Yes, I have reasons for shame

but I have not committed treason and sullied my good name.

As you can see I have done nothing to provoke legal action.

Are my answers to your satisfaction?

ODINSON

My God.

BARTON

Gentlemen, let's go.

LAUFEYSON

So?

ODINSON AND BARTON

The people won't know what we know.

LAUFEYSON

Stark!

How do I know you won't use this against me

the next time we go toe to toe?

STARK

Loki, rumors only grow. And we both

know what we know.

LAUFEYSON

In the eye of a hurricane

there is quiet

for just a moment,

a yellow sky.

When I was seventeen a hurricane

destroyed my town.

I didn't drown.

I couldn't seem to die.

I wrote my way out,

wrote everything down far as I could see.

I wrote my way out.

I looked up and the town had its eyes on me.

They passed a plate around.

Total strangers

moved to kindness by my story.

Raised enough for me to book passage on a

ship that was New York bound...

I wrote my way out of hell.

I wrote my way to revolution.

I was louder than the crack in the bell.

I wrote Maddie love letters until she fell.

I wrote about The Constitution and defended it well.

And in the face of ignorance and resistance,

I wrote financial systems into existence.

And when my prayers to God were met with indifference,

I picked up a pen, I wrote my own deliverance.

In the eye of a hurricane

there is quiet

for just a moment,

a yellow sky.

I was twelve when my mother died.

She was holding me.

We were sick and she was holding me.

I couldn't seem to die.

STARK

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it...

STARK AND ENSEMBLE

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it...

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it,

wait...

LAUFEYSON

I'll write my way out...

Write ev'rything down, far as I can

see...

I'll write my way out...

Overwhelm them with honesty.

LINCOLN/MADDIE/MOANA/EDITH

History has its eyes on you.

LAUFEYSON

This is the eye of the hurricane, this is the only

way I can protect my legacy...

COMPANY (EXCEPT LAUFEYSON)

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it, wait...

LAUFEYSON

The Sharpe Pamphlet.

FULL COMPANY

The Sharpe Pamphlet.

ODINSON/BARTON/MOANA

Have you read this?

STARK/ODINSON/BARTON

Loki Laufeyson had a torrid affair.

And he wrote it down right there.

BARTON

Highlights!

LAUFEYSON/ODINSON

"The charge against me

is a connection with one

Thomas Sharpe!

For purposes of

improper speculation.

My real crime is an

amorous connection with his wife

for a considerable time with his knowing consent

THOMAS

Thomas Sharpe!

STARK

My real crime is an

amorous connection with his wife

BARTON/STARK/ODINSON

Damn!

LAUFEYSON/ODINSON/BARTON

"I had frequent meetings with her. Most of

them at my own house."

STARK

At his own house!

BARTON

At his own house!

DEEP VOICE

Damn!

LAUFEYSON/ODINSON

"Mrs. Laufeyson with our children being absent

on a visit to her father."

BARTON/STARK

No...

COMPANY

Boooo!

BARTON/STARK

Have you read this?

ODINSON

Well, he's never gon' be President now.

BARTON/STARK

Never gon' be President now.

ODINSON

Well, he's never gon' be President now.

BARTON/STARK

Never gon' be President now.

ODINSON

He's never gon' be President now.

BARTON/STARK

Never gon' be President now.

ODINSON

That's one less thing to worry about.

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK

That's one less thing to worry about!

MOANA

I came as soon as I heard.

ODINSON

What?!

LAUFEYSON

Moana—

COMPANY

All the way from London?!

Damn.

LAUFEYSON

Moana, thank God.

Someone who understands what I'm

struggling here to do.

MOANA

I'm not here for you.

ENSEMBLE

Oooooh!

MOANA

I know my sister like I know my own mind,

you will never find anyone as trusting or as kind.

I love my sister more than anything in this life,

I will choose her happiness over mine every time.

Put what we had aside.

I'm standing at her side.

You could never be satisfied.

God, I hope you're satisfied.

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK

Well, he's never gon' be President now.

Well, he's never gon' be President now.

Well, he's never gon' be President now.

That's one less thing to worry about.

ENSEMBLE MEN

Never gon' be President now.

Never gon' be President now.

Never gon' be President now.

That's one less thing to worry about.

ODINSON/BARTON

Hey!

At least he was

honest with our money!

LAUFEYSON

Hey!

At least I was

honest with our money!

ENSEMBLE WOMEN

Well he's never gon' be

President now.

Well he's never gon' be

President now.

ENSEMBLE MEN

Well he's never gon' be

President now.

Well he's never gon' be

President now.

Hey!

At least he was

honest with our money!

Hey!

At least he was

honest with our money!

Well he's never gon' be

President now.

That's one less thing to

worry about.

Well he's never gon' be

President now.

FULL COMPANY

That's one less thing to worry about!

The Sharpe Pamphlet.

ODINSON/BARTON/STARK

Have you read this?

You ever see somebody ruin their own life?

COMPANY (EXCEPT LAUFEYSON/MADDIE)

His poor wife.

MADDIE

I saved every letter you wrote me.

From the moment I read them

I knew you were mine.

You said you were mine.

I thought you were mine.

Do you know what Moana said

when we saw your first letter arrive?

She said,

"Be careful with that one, love.

He will do what it takes to survive."

You and your words flooded my senses.

Your sentences left me defenseless.

You built me palaces out of paragraphs,

you built cathedrals.

I'm re-reading the letters you wrote me.

I'm searching and scanning for answers

in every line,

for some kind of sign,

and when you were mine

the world seemed to

Burn.

Burn.

You published the letters she wrote you.

You told the whole world how you brought

this girl into our bed.

In clearing your name, you have ruined our lives.

Do you know what Moana said

When she read what you'd done?

She said,

"You have married an Icarus.

He has flown too close to the sun."

You and your words, obsessed with your legacy...

Your sentences border on senseless,

and you are paranoid in every paragraph

how they perceive you,

You, you, you...

I'm erasing myself from the narrative.

Let future historians wonder

how Maddie reacted when you broke her heart.

You have torn it all apart.

I am watching it

burn.

Watching it burn.

The world has no right to my heart.

The world has no place in our bed.

They don't get to know what I said.

I'm burning the memories,

Burning the letters that might have redeemed you.

You forfeit all rights to my heart.

You forfeit the place in our bed.

You sleep in your office instead,

with only the memories

of when you were mine.

I hope that you burn.

SERVERUS

Meet the latest graduate of King's College!

I prob'ly shouldn't brag, but, dag, I amaze and astonish!

The scholars say I got the same virtuosity and brains as my pops!

The ladies say my brain's not where the resemblance stops!

I'm only nineteen but my mind is older,

gotta be my own man, like my father, but bolder.

I shoulder his legacy with pride,

I used to hear him say

that someday

I would—

ENSEMBLE

Blow us all away.

SERVERUS

Ladies, I'm lookin for a Mr. Ulfric Stormcloak.

Made a speech last week, our Fourth of July speaker.

He disparaged my father's legacy in front of a crowd.

I can't have that, I'm making my father proud.

LILLY

I saw him just up Broadway a couple of blocks.

He was goin' to see a play.

SERVERUS

Well, I'll go visit his box.

HERMONIE

God, you're a fox.

SERVERUS

And y'all look pretty good in ya' frocks.

How 'bout when I get back, we all strip down to our socks?

BOTH

Ok!

COMPANY

Blow us all away!

SERVERUS

Ulfric!

ULFRIC

Shh.

SERVERUS

Ulfric!

ULFRIC

Shh! I'm tryin' to watch the show!

SERVERUS

Ya' shoulda watched your mouth before you

talked about my father though!

ULFRIC

I didn't say anything that wasn't true.

You father's a scoundrel, and so, it seems, are you.

ENSEMBLE

Ooooooooooh!

SERVERUS

It's like that?

ULFRIC

Yeah, I don't fool around.

I'm not your little schoolboy friends.

SERVERUS

See you on the dueling ground.

That is, unless you wanna step outside and go now.

ULFRIC

I know where to find you, piss off.

I'm watchin' this show now.

SERVERUS

Pops, if you had only heard the shit he said about you

I doubt you would have let it slide and I was not about to—

LAUFEYSON

Slow down.

SERVERUS

I came to ask you for advice. This is my very first duel.

They don't exactly cover this subject in boarding school.

LAUFEYSON

Did your friends attempt to negotiate a peace?

SERVERUS

He refused to apologize, we had to let the peace talks cease.

LAUFEYSON

Where is this happening?

SERVERUS

Across the river, in Jersey.

LAUFEYSON/SERVERUS

Everything is legal in New Jersey...

LAUFEYSON

Alright. So this is what you're gonna do:

Stand there like a man until Stormcloak  is in front of you.

When the time comes, fire your weapon in the air.

This will put an end to the whole affair.

SERVERUS

But what if he decides to shoot? Then I'm a goner.

LAUFEYSON

No. He'll follow suit if he's truly a man of honor.

To take someone's life, that is something you can't shake.

Serverus, your mother can't take another heartbreak.

SERVERUS

Father—

LAUFEYSON

Promise me. You don't want this

young man's blood on your conscience.

SERVERUS

Okay, I promise.

LAUFEYSON

Come back home when you're done.

Take my guns. Be smart. Make me proud, son.

SERVERUS

My name is Serverus

I am a poet

I'm a little nervous, but I can't show it.

I'm sorry, I'm a Laufeyson with pride.

You talk about my father, I cannot let it slide.

Mister Stormcloak! How was the rest of your show?

ULFRIC

I'd rather skip the pleasantries.

Let's go.

Grab your pistol.

SERVERUS

Confer with your men.

The duel will commence after we count to ten.

ENSEMBLE

Count to ten!

SERVERUS

Look 'em in the eye, aim no higher.

Summon all the courage you require.

Then slowly and clearly aim your gun towards the sky—

MALE ENSEMBLE

One two three four

FULL ENSEMBLE

Five six seven—

ENSEMBLE WOMEN

Stay alive...

Stay alive...

Stay alive...

LAUFEYSON

Where's my son?

Is he alive?

DOCTOR

Mr. Laufeyson, come in. They

brought him in a half an hour ago.

He lost a lot of blood on the way

over.

DOCTOR

Yes. But you have to understand

the bullet entered just above his hip and

lodged in his right arm.

LAUFEYSON

Can I see him please?

DOCTOR

I'm doing ev'rything I can but the wound was

already infected when he arrived—

LAUFEYSON

Serverus.

SERVERUS

Pa.

I did exactly as you said, Pa.

I held my head up high.

LAUFEYSON

I know, I know. Shh.

I know, I know.

Shh. I know you did

ev'rything just right.

Shh.

I know, I know.

I know, I know.

I know,

Save your strength and

SERVERUS

High.

Even before we got to ten—

I was aiming for the sky.

I was aiming for the sky.

ENSEMBLE MEN

stay alive... Stay alive...

MADDIE

No!

LAUFEYSON

Maddie.

MADDIE

Is he breathing? Is he going to survive this?

ENSEMBLE MEN

Stay alive...

MADDIE

Who did this, Loki, did you know?

SERVERUS

Mom, I'm so sorry for forgetting what you taught me.

MADDIE

My son—

SERVERUS

We played piano.

MADDIE

I taught you piano.

SERVERUS

You would put your hands on mine.

MADDIE

You changed the melody every time.

SERVERUS

Ha. I would always change the line.

MADDIE

Shh. I know, I know.

SERVERUS

I would always change the line.

MADDIE

I know, I know.

MADDIE

Un deux trois quatre

Cinq six sept huit neuf.

Good.

Un deux trois quatre

Cinq six sept

Huit neuf.

Sept huit neuf—

Sept huit...

SERVERUS

Un deux trois quatre

Cinq six sept huit neuf.

SERVERUS

Un deux trois...

MOANA

There are moments that the words don't reach.

There is suffering too terrible to name.

You hold your child as tight as you can

and push away the unimaginable.

The moments when you're in so deep,

it feels easier to just swim down.

MOANA/ENSEMBLE

The Laufeysons move uptown

and learn to live with the unimaginable.

LAUFEYSON

I spend hours in the garden.

I walk alone to the store,

and it's quiet uptown.

I never liked the quiet before.

I take the children to church on Sunday,

a sign of the cross at the door, and I pray.

That never used to happen before.

MOANA AND WOMEN

If you see him in the street, walking by

himself, talking to himself, have pity.

LAUFEYSON

Serverus, you would like it uptown.

It's quiet uptown.

MOANA AND WOMEN

He is working through the unimaginable.

ALL MEN (EXCEPT LAUFEYSON)

His hair has gone grey. He passes every day.

They say he walks the length of the city.

LAUFEYSON

You knock me out, I fall apart.

COMPANY (EXCEPT LAUFEYSON AND MADDIE)

Can you imagine?

LAUFEYSON

Look at where we are.

Look at where we started.

I know I don't deserve you, Maddie.

But hear me out. That would be enough.

If I could spare his life,

If I could trade his life for mine,

he'd be standing here right now

and you would smile, and that would be enough.

I don't pretend to know

the challenges we're facing.

I know there's no replacing what we've lost

and you need time.

But I'm not afraid,

I know who I married.

Just let me stay here by your side,

That would be enough.

COMPANY (EXCEPT LAUFEYSON AND MADDIE)

If you see him in the street, walking by her

side, talking by her side, have pity.

LAUFEYSON

Maddie, do you like it uptown? It's quiet uptown.

COMPANY (EXCEPT LAUFEYSON AND MADDIE)

He is trying to do the unimaginable.

See them walking in the park, long after dark,

taking in the sights of the city.

LAUFEYSON

Look around, look around, Maddie.

COMPANY (EXCEPT LAUFEYSON AND MADDIE)

They are trying to do the unimaginable.

MOANA

There are moments that the words don't reach.

There is a grace too powerful to name.

We push away what we can never understand,

we push away the unimaginable.

They are standing in the garden,

Loki by Maddie's side.

She takes his hand.

MADDIE

It's quiet uptown.

COMPANY (EXCEPT LAUFEYSON AND MADDIE)

Forgiveness. Can you imagine?

Forgiveness. Can you imagine?

If you see him in the street, walking by her

side, talking by her side, have pity.

They are going through the unimaginable.

FULL COMPANY

The election of 1800.

ODINSON

Can we get back to politics?

BARTON

Please?

ODINSON

Yo. Ev'ry action has an equal, opposite reaction.

Connor Anderson shat the bed. I love the guy, but he's in traction.

Poor Loki Laufeyson? He is missing in action.

So now I'm facing—

ODINSON AND BARTON

Tony Stark!

ODINSON

With his own faction.

BARTON

He's very attractive in the North. New Yorkers like his chances.

ODINSON

He's not very forthcoming on any particular stances.

BARTON

Ask him a question: it glances off, he obfuscates, he dances.

ODINSON

And they say I'm a Francophile: at least they know I know where France is!

BARTON

Thor that's the problem, see, they see Stark as a less extreme you.

ODINSON

Ha!

BARTON

You need to change course, a key endorsement might redeem you.

ODINSON

Who did you have in mind?

BARTON

Don't laugh.

ODINSON

Who is it?

BARTON

You used to work on the same staff.

ODINSON

Whaaaat.

BARTON

It might be nice, it might be nice

to get Laufeyson on your side.

ODINSON AND BARTON

It might be nice, it might be nice

To get Laufeyson on your side.

STARK

Talk less!

Smile more!

Don't let 'em know what you're against or what

you're for!

Shake hands with him!

Charm her!

It's eighteen hundred, ladies, tell your husbands:

vote for

Stark!

ENSEMBLE

Stark!

Stark!

Stark!

Stark!

Stark!

Stark!

MALE VOTER

I don't like Anderson.

FEMALE VOTER

Well, he's gonna lose, that's just defeatist.

ANOTHER MALE VOTER

And Odinson—

TWO MEN

In love with France!

ANOTHER FEMALE VOTER

Yeah, he's so elitist!

TWO WOMEN

I like that Tony Stark!

A WOMAN

I can't believe we're here with him!

A MAN

He seems approachable...?

ANOTHER MALE VOTER

Like you could grab a beer with him!

ENSEMBLE

Dear Mr. Laufeyson: your fellow Fed'ralists would like to know how you'll be voting.

LAUFEYSON

It's quiet uptown.

ENSEMBLE

Dear Mr. Laufeyson: Connor Anderson doesn't stand a chance, so who are you promoting?

LAUFEYSON

It's quiet uptown.

MEN

Odinson or Stark?

We know it's lose-lose.

Odinson or Stark?

But if you had to choose

WOMEN

Odinson or Stark?

We know it's lose-lose.

Odinson or Stark?

But if you had to choose

EVEN MORE VOTERS MEN

Dear Mr. Laufeyson:

Connor Anderson doesn't stand a

chance so who are you promoting?

But if you had to choose

Odinson or Stark?

We know it's lose-lose.

Odinson or Stark?

But if you had to choose

WOMEN

Odinson or Stark?

We know it's lose-lose.

Odinson or Stark?

But if you had to choose

LAUFEYSON

Well, if it isn't Tony Stark. Sir!

STARK

Loki!

LAUFEYSON

You've created quite a stir, sir!

STARK

I'm going door to door!

LAUFEYSON

You're openly campaigning?

STARK

Sure!

LAUFEYSON

That's new.

STARK

Honestly, it's kind of draining.

LAUFEYSON

Stark—

STARK

Sir!

LAUFEYSON

Is there anything you wouldn't do?

STARK

No. I'm chasing what I want.

And you know what?

LAUFEYSON

What?

STARK

I learned that from you.

ENSEMBLE

If you had to choose

If you had to choose

BARTON

It's a tie!

ENSEMBLE

If you had to choose

If you had to choose

ODINSON

It's up to the delegates!

ENSEMBLE

If you had to choose

If you had to choose

ODINSON/BARTON

It's up to Laufeyson!

VOTERS

If you had to choose,

If you had to choose,

If you had to

Choose,

Choose,

Choose!

BARTON/ENSEMBLE

Odinson or Stark?

Choose,

Choose,

Choose!

ENSEMBLE

Odinson or Stark?

Choose,

Choose,

Choose!

LAUFEYSON

Yo.

ENSEMBLE

Oh!

LAUFEYSON

The people are asking to hear my voice

ENSEMBLE

Oh!

LAUFEYSON

For the country is facing a difficult choice.

ENSEMBLE

Oh!

LAUFEYSON

And if you were to ask me who I'd promote—

ENSEMBLE

Oh!

LAUFEYSON

—Odinson has my vote.

ODINSON/BARTON/ENSEMBLE

Oh!

LAUFEYSON

I have never agreed with Odinson once.

ODINSON/BARTON/ENSEMBLE

Oh!

LAUFEYSON

We have fought on like seventy-five diff'rent fronts.

ODINSON/BARTON/ENSEMBLE

Oh!

LAUFEYSON

But when all is said and all is done,

Odinson has beliefs. Stark has none.

ENSEMBLE

Oooooooooooooh.

BARTON AND ODINSON

Well, I'll be damned.

Well, I'll be damned.

BARTON

Laufeyson's on your side.

ENSEMBLE

Well, I'll be damned.

Well, I'll be damned.

ODINSON

And?

BARTON

You won in a landslide.

STARK

Congrats on a race well-run.

I did give you a fight.

ODINSON

Uh-huh.

STARK

I look forward to our partnership.

ODINSON

Our partnership?

STARK

As your vice-President.

ODINSON

Ha. Yeah, right.

You hear this guy? Man openly campaigns against me, talkin' bout, "I look forward to our partnership."

BARTON

It's crazy that the guy who comes in second becomes vice President.

ODINSON

Yeah, you know what? We can change that. You know why?

BARTON

Why?

ODINSON

'cuz I'm the President. Hey, Stark, when you see Laufeyson, thank him for the endorsement.

STARK

How does Laufeyson,

an arrogant,

immigrant, orphan,

bastard, whoreson,

somehow endorse

Thor Odinson, his enemy,

a man he's despised since the beginning,

just to keep me from winning?

I wanna be in the room where it happens—

STARK AND COMPANY

The room where it happens.

The room where it happens.

STARK

You've kept me from—

STARK AND COMPANY

The room where it happens.

STARK

For the last time.

Dear Loki:

I am slow to anger,

but I toe the line

as I reckon with the effects

of your life on mine.

I look back on where I failed,

and in every place I checked,

the only common thread has been your disrespect.

Now you call me "amoral,"

a "dangerous disgrace,"

if you've got something to say,

name a time and place,

face to face.

I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant,

T dot Stark.

LAUFEYSON

Mr. Vice President,

I am not the reason no one trusts you.

No one knows what you believe.

I will not equivocate on my opinion,

I have always worn it on my sleeve.

Even if I said what you think I said,

you would need to cite a more specific grievance.

Here's an itemized list of thirty years of disagreements.

STARK

Sweet Jesus.

LAUFEYSON

Hey, I have not been shy.

I am just a guy in the public eye

Tryin' to do my best for our republic.

I don't wanna fight,

But I won't apologize for doing what's right.

I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant,

L dot Laufey.

STARK

Careful how you proceed, good man.

Intemperate indeed, good man.

Answer for the accusations I lay at your feet or

prepare to bleed, good man.

LAUFEYSON

Stark, your grievance is legitimate.

I stand by what I said, every bit of it.

You stand only for yourself.

It's what you do.

I can't apologize because it's true.

STARK

Then stand, Loki.

Weehawken. Dawn.

Guns. Drawn.

LAUFEYSON

You're on.

STARK AND LAUFEYSON

I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant,

LAUFEYSON

L dot Laufey.

STARK

T dot Stark.

MADDIE

Loki, come back to sleep.

LAUFEYSON

I have an early meeting out of town.

MADDIE

It's still dark outside.

LAUFEYSON

I know. I just need to write something down.

MADDIE

Why do you write like you're running out of time?

LAUFEYSON

Shhh.

MADDIE

Come back to bed. That would be enough.

LAUFEYSON

I'll be back before you know I'm gone.

MADDIE

Come back to sleep.

LAUFEYSON

This meeting's at dawn.

MADDIE

Well, I'm going back to sleep.

LAUFEYSON

Hey. Best of wives and best of women.

MALE COMPANY

One two three four

FULL COMPANY (EXCEPT LAUFEYSON AND STARK)

Five six seven eight nine—

STARK

There are ten things you need to know.

COMPANY

Number one!

STARK

We rowed across the Hudson at dawn.

My friend, William P. Van Ness signed on as my—

STARK AND COMPANY

Number two!

STARK

Laufeyson arrived with his crew:

Nathaniel Pendleton and a doctor that he knew.

COMPANY

Number three!

STARK

I watched Laufeyson examine the terrain.

I wish I could tell you what was happ'ning in his brain.

This man has poisoned my political pursuits!

COMPANY

Most disputes die and no one shoots!

Number four!

STARK

Laufeyson 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!

STARK

Now I didn't know this at the time

But we were—

STARK AND SERVERUS

Near the same spot

your son died, is that

why—

LAUFEYSON

Near the same spot

my son died, is that

why—

COMPANY

Six!

STARK

He examined his gun with such rigor?

I watched as he methodically fiddled with the trigger.

COMPANY

Seven!

STARK

Confession time? Here's what I got:

My fellow soldiers'll tell you I'm a terrible shot.

COMPANY

Number eight!

STARK/LAUFEYSON/ENSEMBLE MEN

Your last chance to negotiate.

Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight.

STARK

They won't teach you this in your classes,

but look it up, Laufeyson was wearing his glasses.

Why? If not to take deadly aim?

It's him or me, the world will never be the same.

I had only one thought before the slaughter:

This man will not make an orphan of my daughter.

COMPANY

Number nine!

STARK

Look him in the eye, aim no higher.

Summon all the courage you require.

Then count:

COMPANY

One two three four five six seven eight nine

Number ten paces! Fire!—

LAUFEYSON

I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory.

Is this where it gets me, on my feet, sev'ral feet ahead of me?

I see it coming, do I run or fire my gun or let it be?

There is no beat, no melody.

Stark, my first friend, my enemy,

maybe the last face I ever see,

If I throw away my shot, is this how you remember me?

What if this bullet is my legacy?

Legacy. What is a legacy?

It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.

I wrote some notes at the beginning of a song someone will sing for me.

America, you great unfinished symphony, you sent for me.

You let me make a difference.

A place where even orphan immigrants

can leave their fingerprints and rise up.

I'm running out of time. I'm running, and my time's up.

Wise up. Eyes up.

I catch a glimpse of the other side.

Banner leads a soldiers' chorus on the other side.

My son is on the other side.

He's with my mother on the other side.

Lincoln is watching from the other side.

Teach me how to say goodbye.

Rise up, rise up, rise up,

Maddie,

My darling, take your time.

I'll see you on the other side.

Raise a glass to freedom...

STARK AND COMPANY

He aims his pistol at the sky—

STARK

Wait!

STARK

I strike him right between his ribs.

I walk towards him, but I am ushered away.

They row him back across the Hudson.

I get a drink.

COMPANY

Aaaah

Aaaah

Aaaah

STARK

I hear wailing in the streets.

COMPANY

Aaaah

Aaaah

Aaaah

STARK

Somebody tells me, "You'd better hide."

COMPANY

Aaaah

Aaaah

Aaaah

STARK

They say

STARK AND MOANA

Moana and Maddie—

STARK

Were both at his side when he died.

Death doesn't discriminate

between the sinners and the saints,

it takes and it takes and it takes.

History obliterates.

In every picture it paints,

it paints me with all my mistakes.

When Loki aimed

at the sky,

he may have been the first one to die,

but I'm the one who paid for it.

I survived, but I paid for it.

Now I'm the villain in your history.

I was too young and blind to see...

I should've known.

I should've known

the world was wide enough for both Laufeyson and me.

The world was wide enough for both Laufeyson and me.

LINCOLN

Let me tell you what I wish I'd known

when I was young and dreamed of glory.

You have no control:

LINCOLN AND COMPANY

Who lives,

who dies,

who tells your story?

STARK

President Odinson:

ODINSON

I'll give him this: his financial system is a

work of genius. I couldn't undo it if I tried.

And I tried.

LINCOLN AND COMPANY

Who lives,

who dies,

who tells your story?

STARK

President Barton:

BARTON

He took our country from bankruptcy to

prosperity. I hate to admit it, but he doesn't

get enough credit for all the credit he gave us.

LINCOLN AND COMPANY

Who lives,

who dies,

who tells your story?

MOANA

Every other founding father story gets told.

Every other founding father gets to grow old.

STARK

And when you're gone, who remembers your name?

Who keeps your flame?

STARK AND MEN

Who tells your story?

Who tells your story?

MOANA AND WOMEN

Who tells your story?

Your story?

WOMEN

Maddie.

MADDIE

I put myself back in the narrative.

WOMEN

Maddie.

MADDIE

I stop wasting time on tears.

I live another fifty years.

It's not enough.

FULL COMPANY

Maddie.

MADDIE

I interview every soldier who fought by your side.

LETO/LEGUME/BANNER

She tells our story.

MADDIE

I try to make sense of your thousands of pages of writings.

You really do write like you're running out of—

MADDIE AND COMPANY

Time.

MADDIE

I rely on—

MADDIE AND MOANA

Moana.

MADDIE

While she's alive—

MADDIE AND MOANA

We tell your story.

MADDIE

She is buried in Trinity Church,

MADDIE AND MOANA

Near you.

MADDIE

When I needed her most, she was right on—

MADDIE AND COMPANY

Time.

MADDIE

And I'm still not through.

I ask myself, "What would you do if you had more—"

MADDIE AND COMPANY

Time.

MADDIE

The Lord, in his kindness,

He gives me what you always wanted.

He gives me more—

MADDIE AND COMPANY

Time.

MADDIE

I raise funds in D.C. for the Lincoln Memorial.

LINCOLN

She tells my story.

MADDIE

I speak out against slavery.

You could have done so much more if you only had—

MADDIE AND COMPANY

Time.

MADDIE

And when my time is up, have I done enough?

MADDIE

Will they tell our story?

COMPANY

Will they tell your story?

MADDIE

Oh. Can I show you what I'm proudest of?

COMPANY

The orphanage.

MADDIE

I establish the first private orphanage in New York City.

COMPANY

The orphanage.

MADDIE

I help to raise hundreds of children.

I get to see them growing up.

COMPANY

The orphanage.

MADDIE

In their eyes I see you, Loki.

I see you every—

MADDIE AND COMPANY

Time.

MADDIE

And when my time is up,

Have I done enough?

Will they tell my story?

COMPANY

Will they tell your story?

MADDIE

Oh, I can't wait to see you again.

It's only a matter of—

MADDIE AND COMPANY

Time.

COMPANY

Will they tell your story?

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?

Will they tell your story?

Who lives, who dies—

COMPANY

Time...

Time...

Time...

FULL COMPANY

Who tells your story?

                                   THE END