One Last Time

HAMILTON
Mr. President, you asked to see me?
WASHINGTON
I know you’re busy.
HAMILTON
What do you need, sir? Sir?
WASHINGTON
I wanna give you a word of warning.
HAMILTON
Sir, I don’t know what you heard,
But whatever it is, Jefferson started it.
WASHINGTON
Thomas Jefferson resigned this morning.
HAMILTON
You’re kidding.
WASHINGTON
I need a favor.
HAMILTON
Whatever you say, sir, Jefferson will pay for
his behavior.
WASHINGTON
Shh. Talk less.
HAMILTON
I’ll use the press,
I’ll write under a pseudonym, you’ll see what
I can do to him—
WASHINGTON
I need you to draft an address.
HAMILTON
Yes! He resigned. You can finally speak your
mind—
WASHINGTON
No, he’s stepping down so he can run for
President.
HAMILTON
Ha. Good luck defeating you, sir.
WASHINGTON
I’m stepping down. I’m not running for
President.
HAMILTON
I’m sorry, what?
WASHINGTON
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.
HAMILTON
No, sir, why?
WASHINGTON
I wanna talk about neutrality.
HAMILTON
Sir, with Britain and France on the verge of
war, is this the best time—
WASHINGTON
I want to warn against partisan fighting.
HAMILTON
But—
WASHINGTON
Pick up a pen, start writing.
I wanna talk about what I have learned.
The hard-won wisdom I have earned.
HAMILTON
As far as the people are concerned,
you have to serve, you could continue to
serve—
WASHINGTON
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—
HAMILTON
Mr. President, they will say you’re weak.
WASHINGTON
No, they will see we’re strong.
HAMILTON
Your position is so unique.
WASHINGTON
So I’ll use it to move them along.
HAMILTON
Why do you have to say goodbye?
WASHINGTON
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.
HAMILTON
One last time.
HAMILTON
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
HAMILTON WASHINGTON
The hope The hope
that my country will
view them with
indulgence;
View them with
indulgence
And that,
after forty-five years
of my life dedicated
to its service with an
upright zeal,
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.
Consigned to oblivion,
as I myself
must soon be to the
mansions of
rest.
I anticipate with
pleasing
I anticipate with
pleasing
expectation that
retreat in which
expectation that
retreat in which
I promise myself to
realize the
I promise myself to
realize the
sweet enjoyment of
partaking, in
sweet enjoyment of
partaking, in
the midst of my
fellow-citizens,
the midst of my
fellow-citizens,
the benign the benign
Influence of good
laws
influence of good
laws
Under a free
government, the
Under a free
government, the
ever-favorite object
of my heart,
ever-favorite object of
my heart,
and the happy reward,
as I trust,
and the happy reward,
as I trust,
Of our mutual cares,
labors, and
Of our mutual cares,
labors, and
dangers. dangers.
WASHINGTON
One last time.
ALL WOMEN
George Washington’s going home!
HAMILTON
Teach ‘em how to say goodbye.
WASHINGTON COMPANY
You and I George Washington’s
going home
Going home George Washington’s
going home
History has its eyes
on you
George Washington’s
going home
George Washington’s
going home
We’re gonna teach
‘em how to say Teach ‘em
goodbye! how to say
goodbye!
Teach ‘em
how to say Teach ‘em how!
goodbye!
To say goodbye!
Say goodbye!
Say goodbye!
Say goodbye!
One last time!
One last time!