Ten Duel Commandments
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Cast List:
Men | Company | Hamilton | Burr | Laurens |
Lee
MEN
One, two, three, four
FULL COMPANY
Five, six, seven, eight, nine…
HAMILTON/BURR/LAURENS/LEE
It’s the Ten Duel Commandments
FULL COMPANY
It’s the Ten Duel Commandments
Number one!
LAURENS
The challenge: demand satisfaction
If they apologize, no need for further action
COMPANY
Number two!
LAURENS
If they don’t, grab a friend, that’s your second
HAMILTON
Your lieutenant when there’s reckoning to be reckoned
COMPANY
Number three!
LEE
Have your seconds meet face to face
BURR
Negotiate a peace…
HAMILTON
Or negotiate a time and place
BURR
This is commonplace, ‘specially ‘tween recruits
COMPANY
Most disputes die, and no one shoots
Number four!
LAURENS
If they don’t reach a peace, that’s alright
Time to get some pistols and a doctor on site
HAMILTON
You pay him in advance, you treat him with civility
BURR
You have him turn around so he can have deniability
COMPANY
Five!
LEE
Duel before the sun is in the sky
COMPANY
Pick a place to die where it’s high and dry
Number six!
HAMILTON
Leave a note for your next of kin
Tell ‘em where you been. Pray that hell or heaven lets you in
COMPANY
Seven!
LEE
Confess your sins. Ready for the moment
Of adrenaline when you finally face your opponent
COMPANY
Number eight!
HAMILTON/BURR/LAURENS/LEE
Your last chance to negotiate
Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight…
BURR
Alexander
HAMILTON
Aaron Burr, sir
BURR
Can we agree that duels are dumb and immature?
HAMILTON
Sure
But your man has to answer for his words, Burr
BURR
With his life? We both know that’s absurd, sir
HAMILTON
Hang on, how many men died because Lee was
inexperienced and ruinous?
BURR
Okay, so we’re doin’ this
COMPANY
Number nine!
HAMILTON
Look ‘em in the eye, aim no higher
Summon all the courage you require
Then count
MEN
One two three four
FULL COMPANY
Five six seven eight nine
HAMILTON/BURR
Number
COMPANY
Ten paces!
HAMILTON/BURR
Fire!