The Room Where It Happens

BURR
Ah, Mister Secretary.
HAMILTON
Mister Burr, sir.
BURR
Didja hear the news about good old General
Mercer?
HAMILTON
No.
BURR
You know Clermont Street?
HAMILTON
Yeah.
BURR
They renamed it after him. The Mercer legacy
is secure.
HAMILTON
Sure.
BURR
And all he had to do was die.
HAMILTON
That’s a lot less work.
BURR
We oughta give it a try.
HAMILTON
Ha.
BURR
Now how’re you gonna get your debt plan
through?
HAMILTON
I guess I’m gonna fin’ly have to listen to you.
BURR
Really?
HAMILTON
Talk less. Smile more.
BURR
Ha.
HAMILTON
Do whatever it takes to get my plan on the
Congress floor.
BURR
Now, Madison and Jefferson are merciless.
HAMILTON
Well, hate the sin, love the sinner.
MADISON
Hamilton!
HAMILTON
I’m sorry Burr, I’ve gotta go.
BURR
But—
HAMILTON
Decisions are happening over dinner.
BURR
Two Virginians and an immigrant walk into
a room.
BURR AND ENSEMBLE
Diametric’ly opposed, foes.
BURR
They emerge with a compromise, having
opened doors that were
BURR AND ENSEMBLE
Previously closed,
ENSEMBLE
Bros.
BURR
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:
BURR
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 ENSEMBLE
the room where it
happened.
The room where it
happened.
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 game is played.
The art of the trade,
how the sausage gets
made.
How the sausage gets
made.
We just
assume that it
happens.
Assume that it
happens.
But no one else is in
the room where it
happens.
The room where it
happens.
BURR AND COMPANY
Thomas claims—
JEFFERSON
Alexander was on Washington’s doorstep
one day
in distress ‘n disarray.
BURR AND COMPANY
Thomas claims—
JEFFERSON
Alexander said—
HAMILTON
I’ve nowhere else to turn!
JEFFERSON
And basic’ly begged me to join the fray.
BURR AND COMPANY
Thomas claims—
JEFFERSON
I approached Madison and said–
“I know you hate ‘im, but let’s hear what he
has to say.”
BURR AND COMPANY
Thomas claims—
JEFFERSON
Well, I arranged the meeting.
I arranged the menu, the venue, the seating,
BURR
But!
No one else was in-
BURR AND COMPANY
The room where it happened.
The room where it happened.
The room where it happened.
BURR
No one else was inBURR AND COMPANY
The room where it happened.
The room where it happened.
The room where it happened.
BURR
No one really knows
how the COMPANY
parties get to yesssss. Parties get to yesssss.
The pieces that are
sacrificed in
ev’ry game of
chesssss.
Ev’ry game of chesssss.
We just
assume that it
happens.
Assume that it
happens.
But no one else is in
the room where it
happens.
The room where it
happens.
BURR AND COMPANY
Meanwhile—
BURR
Madison is grappling with the fact that not
ev’ry issue can be settled by committee.
COMPANY
Meanwhile—
BURR
Congress is fighting over where to put the
capital—
Company screams in chaos.
BURR
It isn’t pretty.
Then Jefferson approaches with a dinner
and invite,
And Madison responds with Virginian insight:
MADISON
Maybe we can solve one problem with another
and win a victory for the Southerners, in
other words—
JEFFERSON
Oh-ho!
MADISON
A quid pro quo.
JEFFERSON
I suppose.
MADISON
Wouldn’t you like to work a little closer to
home?
JEFFERSON
Actually, I would.
MADISON
Well, I propose the Potomac.
JEFFERSON
And you’ll provide him his votes?
MADISON
Well, we’ll see how it goes.
JEFFERSON
Let’s go.
BURR
No!
COMPANY
–one else was in
the room where it happened.
BURR 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.
BURR
My God!
BURR AND COMPANY
In God we trust.
But we’ll never really know what got
discussed.
Click-boom then it happened.
BURR
And no one else was in the room where it
happened.
COMPANY
Alexander Hamilton!
BURR
What did they say to you to get you to sell
New York City down the river?
COMPANY
Alexander Hamilton!
BURR
Did Washington know about the dinner?
Was there Presidential pressure to deliver?
COMPANY
Alexander Hamilton!
BURR
Or did you know, even then, it doesn’t matter
where you put the U.S. Capital?
HAMILTON
Cuz we’ll have the banks,
we’re in the same spot.
BURR
You got more than you gave.
HAMILTON
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...
HAMILTON AND COMPANY
Wait for it, wait for it, wait!
HAMILTON
God help and forgive
me,
I wanna build
something that’s
gonna
outlive me.
HAMILTON/
JEFFERSON/
MADISON/
WASHINGTON COMPANY
What do you want,
Burr?
What do you want,
Burr?
What do you want,
Burr?
What do you want,
Burr?
If you stand for
nothing,
What do you want,
Burr?
Burr, what do you
fall for?
What do you want?
BURR
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.
BURR COMPANY
I I wanna be in the room
where it happens.
wanna be The room where it
happens.
The room where it
happens.
In I wanna be in
the room where it
happens.
the room where it
happens.
I The room where it
happens.
The room where it
happens.
I wanna be in the
room….
I wanna be in
Oh the room
where it happens.
Oh The room where it
happens.
The room where it
happens.
I wanna be
I wanna be I wanna be in
the room
where it happens.
I’ve got to be The room where it
happens.
I’ve got to be The room where it
happens.
in the room
in that big ol' room
COMPANY
The art of the compromise—
BURR
Hold your nose and close your eyes.
COMPANY
We want our leaders to save the day–
BURR
But we don’t get a say in what they trade
away.
COMPANY
We dream of a brand new start–
BURR
But we dream in the dark for the most part.
BURR AND COMPANY
Dark as a tomb where it happens.
BURR COMPANY
I’ve got to be in the
room...
The room where it
happens
I’ve got to be...
The room where it
happens
I’ve got to be...
The room where it
happens
Oh, I’ve got to be in
the room where it
happens… The room where it
happens
I’ve got to be, I’ve
gotta be, I’ve gotta
be…
The room where it
happens
in the room! I wanna be in the room
where it happens!
Click-boom! Click-boom!