1776 (1972)
Rex Robbins: Roger Sherman (CT)
Quotes
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John Adams : [after the South's walkout] Stephen, I want you to...
Stephen Hopkins : I'm going to the tavern, Johnny. If there's anything I can do for you there, let me know.
John Adams : [the others start to leave, too] Chase. Bartlett!
Dr. Josiah Bartlett : What's the use, John? The vote's tomorrow morning.
Samuel Chase : There's left than a full day left.
John Adams : Roger.
Roger Sherman : Face facts, John. It's finished.
Rev. John Witherspoon : I'm sorry, John.
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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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Roger Sherman : [Sherman stands up] Brother Dickinson, New England has been fighting the Devil for more than 100 years.
John Dickinson : And as of now, *Brother Sherman*, the Devil has been winning hands down.
John Dickinson : [the delegates murmur] Why, at this very moment, he's sitting right here, in this Congress. Don't let him deceive you, this proposal is entirely his doing! Oh, it may bear Virginia's name, but it reeks of Adams, Adams, and more Adams. Look at him, ready to lead this continent down the fiery path of total destruction!
John Adams : [Adams stands up] Oh, good God! Why can't you acknowledge what already exists? It has been more than a year since Concord and Lexington! Damn it, man, we're at war! Right now...
John Dickinson : *You* may be at war - you, Boston and John Adams, but you will never speak for Pennsylvania!
George Read : [Read stands up] Nor for Delaware!
Caesar Rodney : [Caesar Rodney stands] Mr. Read, you represent only one third of Delaware!
George Read : The sensible third, Mr. Rodney!
Col. Thomas McKean : Sit down, you scurvy dog, or I'll knock you down!
John Hancock : [Hancock bangs his gavel on the desk] Sit down, all three of you!
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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!
