Chapter Text
1. AUGUST 1782, SOUTHERN SWAMP AND FOREST - NIGHT
The scene opens on a camera shot running through thick woods in the dark, branches slapping and steps cracking. There is the sound of heavy breathing. The running stops as the camera pans on a clearing where men are being shot in the dark, a couple of horses neighing before running off. We see that the man, a SCOUT, is wearing a red coat. He approaches another REDCOAT who is reloading his rifle.
SCOUT
Sir!
REDCOAT
So, what did you see? Is this party all?
SCOUT
Yessir, for now. We have more than enough time to get out before the rest of their army arrives. Our reinforcements are already in the area. They won’t know what hit them.
REDCOAT
And we live another day.
The REDCOAT takes steady aim as the camera focuses on a soldier in a blue coat and tricorn hat with a white cockade, bringing his horse around, sword raised.
2. MODERN, GREENWICH VILLAGE STREET - DAY
SAM and JAY are trying to have a peaceful walk through Greenwich Village in New York City when SAM locks eyes with yet another ghost.
Initially, SAM tries to avoid eye contact to avoid having to explain herself to thin air in public, but once he notices she was looking, he stands from the stoop of the building and calls out to her. The GHOST is quick to approach. SAM does a double-take in spite of herself, then curses for beginning an interaction she can't walk away from without being rude.
JAY notices her faltering steps.
JAY
What's up?
SAM glances between JAY and the GHOST with a bullet hole through his abdomen. The GHOST holds out his hand to introduce himself to her.
SAM
Oh, I can't shake your hand.
JAY realizes with a sigh.
JAY
We're on vacation. You said we were ignoring them this time.
The GHOST's expression twists as he tries to understand JAY's meaning.
GHOST
You're alive?
Defeated, SAM throws her hands up: you caught me.
SAM
Yep.
GHOST
Of course you'd be alive. I wait for decades, waiting every day, and every dead man except me moves on. This is hell. I'm trapped in eternal damnation, a prison of the mind.
SAM
Wait, there are no other ghosts but you here? On this whole street?
JAY often feels crazy watching SAM speak to nobody. This is one of those times.
JAY
Baaabe. This will never not freak me out.
SAM (scolding)
Jay.
GHOST
And him? He can't see me?
SAM
No, he can't. Just me.
JAY
Fine, you guys chit-chat, but I'm going to pretend you're talking to me. People are staring.
JAY steps to stand where he thinks he'll be behind the GHOST; instead, he steps right through him. The GHOST shivers in pain.
GHOST
I will never be accustomed to that. And I don't think I can converse with him standing so close behind me, but if I step forward, I will be much too close to you.
SAM
Jay, take a step back.
JAY steps back a little.
GHOST
I can't stand this. There are no ghosts around. I am so pleased you stopped to talk to me.
SAM
You're the only ghost around?
JAY
Okay, statistically, like, how is that even possible?
GHOST
Everyone else rather quickly. May I ask your name?
SAM
Samantha. Sam's fine, though.
SAM pretends to shake his hand, air between them.
GHOST
Alexander. Uh, Hamilton. It's been a while since I've introduced myself to somebody. In... I think it was the 1940s, there was a young girl who was here for a while - since moved on, of course - and she asked me so many questions. It's an odd thing, to meet the future generations; to speak with somebody who knows you from their history books... what an honor.
SAM
Shut up. You're actually Hamilton? Way to keep us in suspense.
ALEXANDER
Ah, you've heard of me as well.
SAM
I took American history, dude. And it's not like anybody's forgetting you anytime soon.
JAY
Hamilton, from the musical?
ALEXANDER
From...?
SAM
Yeah, Jay, the guy from the musical. Guess what? You are slightly taller than him. Isaac's obsession with his height wasn't a lie.
JAY pumps his fist with a quiet cheer.
ALEXANDER
What is this musical?
SAM
Ooh... um, nothing too important. You probably wouldn't quite understand, I don't think they had anything like this in your time, but it's like a play where they tell the story through song instead of just talking.
ALEXANDER
Like an opera.
SAM
Maybe? Except the actors are actually singing words.
ALEXANDER
An opera.
SAM
Whatever. Oh my God, this is so much better than buying tickets. It's like meeting a celebrity. And to think I almost ignored you and kept walking. I wonder how many famous people I ignored today. Jay, we should visit famous death sites and try to find more famous people.
JAY
Do you think Abraham Lincoln is still a ghost?
SAM
That would be cool!
ALEXANDER
Excuse me. I have so many questions for you, Miss Samantha.
SAM
Uh, and I have questions for you, you are literally Hamilton.
JAY
The musical is actually super dope. Some of my D n' D friends got super into it when it first came out and still don't shut up about it.
SAM
You know, I should play it for you! I gotta admit though that all I know about you is from the songs so I have no clue how true it is. Apparently, you're popular with the ladies.
ALEXANDER
Oh, it was true. You should have seen me in the army. Married women couldn't resist me.
SAM
Okay, gross. So, was Eliza gorgeous too? Can I ask about the affair?
Meanwhile, SAM is texting a message to the iPad at home, which she had told the ghosts before leaving that they could use to communicate with her if needed.
ALEXANDER
No, you may not! I hope my biggest shame doesn't haunt my legacy.
SAM
Well...
ALEXANDER
Known for the sex scandal. Should not have expected anything different.
SAM
There are other things people care about more! It was just kind of a big deal, being a huge sex scandal and all.
ALEXANDER
In this - musical - about my life, who else is depicted? My Betsey?
SAM
Who's Betsey?
ALEXANDER
Elizabeth, my wife. And yes, she was quite beautiful, for your information.
SAM
Yeah, she's in it. And your oldest son was in it. The presidents, Aaron Burr, that French dude—
JAY
Lafayette! "Oui, oui, mon ami–"
SAM
Yeah, yeah, and John Laurens, King George the Third—
ALEXANDER
King George the Third. Why?
SAM
He's the villain! Killer track, though.
ALEXANDER
Okay, now this is just silly.
SAM
There was also Angelica and Peggy, and the lady you had an affair with, and—
ALEXANDER
You said, John Laurens?
SAM
Yes, John Laurens.
JAY
Ask him if it's true.
SAM
Ask him whatever, I don't know what you're talking about.
ALEXANDER turns to face JAY.
SAM
He's waiting.
JAY
Okay, dude, the world's gotta know... and like, this is totally speculation so I better not get any ye olde homophobia from you, but you and the Laurens guy... were you... you know...
JAY he crosses his fingers and wiggles his eyebrows.
SAM (unimpressed)
Oh, my God. Really?
JAY
What! The public wants to know! The guy who wrote the musical said you're a li'l bit gay, so like, we wanna know!
SAM
No, not "we." Jay, you can't just ask people—
ALEXANDER turns back to SAM with a solemn air.
ALEXANDER
I hate how he looks right through me.
SAM
Well, he can't see you. That's actually the best job he's ever done at facing a ghost when talking to then, though. I'm sorry about his question.
JAY
Did he answer?
SAM
He doesn't have to. I don't think he even knows what you're asking him. People didn't say things like 'gay' back then. I already gave this whole speech to Isaac and the discrepancies between what I was talking about and what his oblivious Higgin-bottom thought I was talking about caused way too much trouble! So, look, Hamilton, what he's asking you is if—
ALEXANDER
If Laurens and I were closer than friends, I understand. May I ask first why people think we were?
SAM
I know nothing about this. Jay, why do you think he's gay?
JAY
They said there were letters! And like, you know that part in the musical where he says, like, "You're the closest friend I got"?
SAM
Sounds friendly.
JAY
I think there was subtext. Twitter said there were letters.
SAM
You clearly remember much more from it than I did. The songs were good but the ghosts were talking the entire time. Isaac... holy smokes, he should've just opted out of movie night.
ALEXANDER
Pardon me, sorry. Have you... has he read the letters?
SAM
Have you read the letters, Jay?
JAY
Ain't nobody got time for that. I can't understand old-dead-guy language most of the time anyway. But I did read some Tweets about it and they said that they were censored because of how gay they were. Experts seem to know their stuff. Sorry for assuming and offending the prude and the homophobe.
ALEXANDER scoffs, suddenly himself again.
ALEXANDER
Who censored our letters?
SAM
Jay, who- Wait, what?
SAM stares at ALEXANDER.
SAM
...Who censored the letters? Jay?
JAY
Why would I know that?
SAM
Look it up. He wants to know. So, you... aren't denying anything?
ALEXANDER
Please! John Laurens is an afterthought, I haven't even considered him in years! I resigned from considering him for the rest of my life and now all this time later, you come to ask me about him? He means nothing to me. He was a greater man than there ever was or will be but he's gone now so to hell with him and this unnecessary notion that— as if anything could have come of something so doomed! He was a great man. A better man than any one of those knaves who founded our country. Better man than I.
SAM puts her hands up, obviously having struck a nerve. It borders between tragic and comic how ALEXANDER shifts wildly between conclusions on LAURENS. He's avoiding emotion and refusing eye contact.
SAM
I'm sorry. I didn't know it was still a touchy subject two hundred years later.
ALEXANDER
What year is it?
SAM
Don't change the subject, now I'm invested. But it's been...
SAM has to take out her phone calculator.
SAM
What year did you die?
ALEXANDER
1804.
SAM
Yeah, it's been... two-hundred twenty since then. I'm sorry, man. You're riding the '20s wave for, what, the third time now?
ALEXANDER laughs: again, the tension makes it unclear whether this is truly funny or sad.
SAM
So what's the story here?
ALEXANDER
It's been two hundred forty years since I saw him alive. As I said... an afterthought.
JAY
John Church Hamilton.
ALEXANDER
My son.
SAM
His son.
JAY
Listen, listen, the guy said he couldn't publish it uncensored, that sounds super sketch. Plus, listen, here's an excerpt from a letter: "Cold in my professions, warm in my friendships, I wish, my dear Laurens, it might be in my power, by actions rather than words, to convince you that I love you!"
SAM
Isn't that just how they talked back then? Like, sorry guys can't be close these days without being called gay, but that quote isn't definitive proof—
JAY
I thought you were a writer, babe. Where's your comprehension of the subtext? The... overt-text? The text? It's right there! "With actions rather than words"?
ALEXANDER has turned and is trying to grab the phone from unbothered JAY in vain.
SAM
Whaaat are you doing?
JAY
You told me to look up—
SAM
Not you. ...You know you can't touch him. Or his phone.
ALEXANDER
What is this? A newspaper, in this... this... phone?
SAM
I guess newspaper isn't inaccurate. In all your people-watching, you haven't learned about new technology?
ALEXANDER
I have! Forgive me if I do not know exactly how something works when I have never had the opportunity myself to learn. I remember when the telephone was invented and radios and TVs, and then on it became a bit convoluted. And difficult to perceive, being such a small thing. I watch people use them but what's he doing? More importantly, why—
JAY
Has he answered the question yet?
ALEXANDER
Why is my personal correspondence in a newspaper!?
SAM
Because apparently, they thought it was interesting enough. I think it's interesting. Also, it's really more of a book. An encyclopedia anybody can use without going to the library. So, are you— well, I guess I should tell you first that whatever people thought of it then, it's different now. There are lots of people like you who are interested in the same sex and society—
ALEXANDER
I know that! I have watched two hundred years of people like me in this city!
SAM
Right. It is Greenwich Village, after all, of course you'd know.
JAY
Well?
ALEXANDER
Does your man there ever stop?
SAM (laughing)
No, he doesn't.
JAY
He doesn't... be gay?
SAM
Not talking to you, Jay.
JAY
Oh, well, excuse me.
ALEXANDER
What other correspondence of ours has been published?
SAM
What other letters are there? Jay?
JAY
Now you're talking to me?
SAM
Yes, what other letters are there? Actually, let me see your phone.
JAY unthinkingly shoves his phone through ALEXANDER's stomach. ALEXANDER doubles over with an "oof." SAM cringes but takes the phone from JAY without comment. She scrolls for a moment.
SAM
Here's one! Okay, here you said, "Mind you do justice to the length of my nose, and don't forget that I..." and then it's all crossed out.
ALEXANDER
Good God.
ALEXANDER face-palms in embarrassment.
SAM
What'd the crossed-out stuff say?
ALEXANDER
Damned if I remember.
He's lying.
JAY
What was the crossed-out stuff?
SAM
He said he doesn't remember.
ALEXANDER
Keep reading.
SAM
Here's some more. September 1779... "But like a jealous lover, when I thought you had slighted my caresses, my affection was alarmed and my vanity piqued."
JAY
Daaamn! Jealous lover, huh?
ALEXANDER
Tame. Next.
SAM
Okay, wait a second. All right. Here it says that all of your bros love him but that you "have more of the infirmities of human nature than the others," like that you're basically biased by your love for him. You spelled "biased" wrong, buddy. Then... blah, blah, blah... you're getting married, and you said your wife's not that smart or pretty. Rude, by the way. And you told him in another letter that "in spite of Schuyler's black eyes," you "have a part for the public," and another for him.
JAY whoops.
JAY
This is spicy!
ALEXANDER
All right, all right! That is quite enough. Are there no letters from Laurens of interest here?
SAM
Well, it says generally there aren't many. There's a few missing for certain but it just says he didn't write much.
ALEXANDER
Oh, he was indeed slow in the reply, but I am shocked that...
SAM
What?
ALEXANDER
He was not quite so puritan as that press would indicate.
SAM
Really! What kind of love letters did he write you?
ALEXANDER
If his legacy is untarnished by our brazenness, then I won't indulge that information. Those letters were private. That my son read them... I'm shocked and embarrassed! I remember keeping some of these letters... reminders of him that I refused to recall. They were collecting dust in a trunk for ages. I suppose I hardly remember which ones I kept and which I destroyed. So, my son— well, I'd be terribly unhappy for him to have seen some of them.
SAM
Damn, you're kidding. You guys really got that blatant? Wasn't it dangerous?
ALEXANDER
Were those excerpts not blatant enough? Understand I am a writer - a savant in the meaning of words. I may have provided some more subversive meanings for my reader's eye, but believe me, it was there quite plainly.
SAM
Dang.
JAY
Whatever is being said, I gotta know ASAP.
SAM
He said it was pretty obvious already but some others were sometimes even more obvious.
JAY
Give us an example.
ALEXANDER
I decline.
SAM
We're keeping it PG.
ALEXANDER
Miss Samantha, I haven't hesitated to name this part of myself to others before you because they were spirits already, unable to connect with humanity any more than I'm able to now. But you have a true power! To be able to commune between the living and dead? That is nothing short of special.
SAM
A blessing and a curse. It's too bad you can't meet the ghosts I live with. We have a ghost from the Revolution, his name is Isaac! He hates you!
ALEXANDER laughs.
ALEXANDER
He wouldn't be the first.
SAM
His name's Captain Isaac Higgintoot. You know him?
ALEXANDER
I can't say I've heard his name.
3. THE MANSION KITCHEN - DAY
TREVOR uses all his strength to press the appropriate buttons to call SAM on the iPad. SASAPPIS returns to the room with ISAAC in tow.
ISAAC
I refuse to believe that Samantha has truly found that little twerp Hamilton just wandering the streets of Manhattan! What sort of a trollop is he?
SASAPPIS
"Trollop"?
HETTY
I told her to be careful before she left, lest she find herself communicating with ladies of the night or... [shivers] a pantsless heathon.
TREVOR
Hey.
SAM answers the Facetime call.
SAM (off-camera)
Hey, guys! So, who wanted to meet Hamilton? Mr. Hamilton, this is Trevor, Hetty, Sasappis, and... where's Isaac?
SASAPPIS
Oh, he's hiding.
ISAAC is out of view of the iPad, arms crossed. He shakes his head at SASAPPIS.
ISAAC (mouthing)
"Why would you say that?"
SASAPPIS
Don't be shy now, Captain Higgintoot. Actually, where's Nigel? I wonder if he's heard of this guy.
The camera shot now changes to show SAM and ALEXANDER on the iPad, JAY in the background.
SAM
No need to bring bad... well, probably literal blood into this. Leave Nigel be. Isaac, come say hi. [To ALEXANDER] Can you actually see them through the camera?
ALEXANDER
Yes. This is fascinating. Hello, everybody. It's nice to meet all of you. How lucky Samantha must be to meet so many different ghosts. Are you all from different eras, then?
TREVOR (off-camera)
You should see the cholera ghosts. Yuck.
ALEXANDER (smiling)
Captain Higgintoot?
The camera cuts back to the rest of the ghosts in the kitchen. ISAAC is being shoved forward. He stumbles in front of the camera.
ISAAC
Mister Hamilton! What a pleasure. I was just... having my shoes shined. You look... full. -Filled. Satisfied. With your... life... or death... circumstances.
ALEXANDER (off-camera)
As much as you are, I suppose. We are both trapped in this plane of existence, aren't we? [He laughs]. Samantha has told me so much about you. It is always nice to meet a fellow soldier. I see you died in your uniform. You must have provided a great service to this country.
ISAAC clenches his jaw with raised brows and a smile, a slight tilt of the head, paused for a tense moment.
ISAAC
I did die during the war, yes. And you, you look to have aged some years. Finally settled down, did you?
ALEXANDER (off-camera)
I did! A Schuyler sister, in fact. We had many wonderful children.
SAM (off-camera)
Ohhh-kay...
ISAAC
Really! I had not known you were... well, you must have been aware of the rumors! [Loud, over-the-top laughter]. But that is neither here nor there. How is the city? I quite enjoy this quiet countryside myself. Cozy.
ALEXANDER (off-camera)
It is to my liking. Many people to see. If you don't mind my asking, what regiment were you, Captain? I kept many of the books myself and personally wrote stipends after the war while, you know, founding our financial systems - the same the country uses today - but I do not recall ever seeing a "Higgintoot." And I believe I would have with such a peculiar name! [He laughs]. What battle did you say you died in?
SASAPPIS, HETTY, and TREVOR chuckle. ISAAC shoots them all a dirty look. PETE walks into the room late.
PETE
What's funny? That doesn't sound like Sam.
SASAPPIS
Oh, no, it's actually Hamilton. He and Isaac are having a nice chat.
ISAAC
I was engaged in the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga.
ALEXANDER (off-camera)
Seventeen seventy-seven. You know, that was just after I was appointed aide de camp to General Washington. I actually was quite familiar with the names of the commissioned officers who died in that battle as I was the one writing them down to ensure their families would be compensated. It is a wonder I had never been afforded the absolute pleasure to meet you or at least see your name on that list!
The camera changes to the iPad once again. SAM's mouth is open wide. The camera changes back to the ghosts.
ISAAC
Yes, well, while I was busy on the field, you were very, very busy at a desk, weren't you? Oh, but we all have our roles, and I had heard that being one of Washington's adopted boys was very good for you, given the circumstances of your... well, parentage.
HETTY gasps with a hand over her mouth. PETE's eyebrows are raised.
SASAPPIS
Oh, that's a little...
TREVOR (whispering)
Yeah! Fatherless!
ALEXANDER (off-camera)
You know so much about me, don't you? Dare I say you've watched the show about my life? You must have enjoyed it quite a bit to have recalled the entire thing.
ISAAC
I got bored after it showed you cheating on your wife, but it did captivate me again when you outed yourself and tarnished your legacy. Tell me, is it as fun as the song made it out to be? Or did you feel a little more shame when the whole country knew you were an infidel?
The camera changes again to SAM, ALEXANDER, and JAY through the iPad.
SAM
Know what? You were right that Hamilton's your Isabel. Uh, it was nice to talk to you guys, no parties while I'm gone!
ALEXANDER
At least I survived the war generously decorated beside the Commander in Chief of the entire army. That's right - I outranked you before you died. I may have committed grievous sins but I lived long enough to be forgiven for them. Did you instead live your life puritan and yet a lie, trapped in holy matrimony?
ISAAC gasps off-camera.
ISAAC (off-camera)
Samantha! Did you tell him?
SAMANTHA
No!
She's lying.
ALEXANDER
It wasn't difficult to conclude what's made you so jealous of me.
ISAAC (off-camera)
Jealous? Of you? Ha! Ha, ha! I wouldn't deign to shove my foot up your––
SAMANTHA
This was a mistake! Bye!
The call hangs up and the camera switches back to the ghosts. They're all looking expectantly at ISAAC, who has an expression of disgust.
ISAAC
What did I say? He is the worst.
PETE
I had some questions.
TREVOR
What, that random dude? Come on.
PETE
"Random dude"? Surely you heard about Hamilton when you were in college before we watched that titular musical.
HETTY
"Titular" is not how I would have described it.
TREVOR
You take the Adderall when you study, take the Adderall during the exam, then you forget everything that isn't important. That dude? Such a snore.
ISAAC
I agree. Our achievements are equal in measure, why does he get all the credit?
SASAPPIS
Yes, you are the unsaid founding father who died of dysentery before the ink dried on the Declaration of Independence. He... how's that lyric go?
PETE
"He wrote financial systems into existence."
SASAPPIS
Yeah, that one.
ISAAC
To hell with him. Did you hear what he said to me?
HETTY
He didn't accuse you of anything untrue, to be quite honest with you.
TREVOR
And you called him fatherless.
ISAAC
Well, how did that lyric go? Oh, right. How does a bastard, orphan––
Commercial break, most likely.
4. GREENWICH VILLAGE STREET - DAY
SAM
That was... well. It seems the beef is a little bit one-sided, but that's okay. Up until the end.
ALEXANDER
Envy is a likely culprit. Don't tell him I consider him an enemy; I would not give him the satisfaction.
SAM
Sure.
JAY
Wait, how did it go? Actually, I don't care, I wanted to know what the story is with him and his boyfriend.
SAM
Oh, you're gonna want to hear how it went. Tell you later.
ALEXANDER
Sam, do you have time for me to tell you a story?
SAM
I'd like that. Let's find somewhere to sit.
5. JUNE 19, 1778, WASHINGTON'S ARMY IN ENGLISHTOWN - DAY
In a tent, a soldier is undressing, with the camera only on a cot where he is dropping the dirty items: blood, but mostly just dirt and sweat. There's buzzing flies and quiet chatter outside. In his white shirt, dirty at the collar and the cuffs, and his breeches, he sits on the cot. He puts a leg up over the other to begin unlacing his boots. When the tent flap is pulled back, the camera pans up and shows the soldier's face, dirty with smudges of soot and sweat: JOHN LAURENS. He has light brown hair, striking round, blue eyes, straight brows, and a prominent nose. JOHN looks up at the unknown man entering the tent and his gaze softens.
JOHN
Back so soon?
ALEXANDER (off-camera)
The General sent me away. He advised me to rest.
JOHN smiles and stands from the cot without unlacing the rest of his first boot. ALEXANDER is younger here than he is when he meets Samantha. Without another word, JOHN and ALEXANDER hug. ALEXANDER's uniform is dirty, but his face was wiped clean before talking to their General. He had not expected to be barred from working, despite being awake all the previous day and all night, despite marching and being filthy from battle.
JOHN
I told you. It is good, then, that you did not clean up for work beforehand.
ALEXANDER (YOUNG)
There is so much to be done. Dead and wounded to be accounted for, prisoners and deserters, recounts of the battle to be sent out. General Lee to be dealt with. Damned coward.
JOHN
We can deal with him later. Let's clean up now and as usual, our General is correct. You need rest.
ALEXANDER (YOUNG)
It's much too hot to sleep. The sun's up again and I'm awake as ever.
JOHN
You appear as exhausted as you truly are despite your insistence otherwise.
While they talk, JOHN takes ALEXANDER's coat and begins to loosen his dirty cravat.
JOHN
We shall send for our uniforms to be washed and perhaps find somewhere downstream to wash up ourselves.
ALEXANDER (YOUNG)
And a patch of grass under the tree. I'm unsure I can stand the heat of this tent a moment longer.
JOHN smiles solemnly and puts a hand on his shoulder.
JOHN
You know, I keep thinking about the battle. Not just the action itself, but fighting by your side. Seeing you pinned under your horse for that unfortunate minute which seemed to be to be hours. This one part of me was elated to work beside you in a capacity we have not had the opportunity to, not properly, despite our training and secretary work. Yet, I was frightened. It had been easier to engage in an action when you weren't there.
ALEXANDER kisses his cheek.
ALEXANDER (YOUNG)
I understand. You did great today. Yesterday, I mean. I'm all scattered. Let's get cleaned up.
The scene changes (a brief compilation) as we hear ALEXANDER's voiceover.
ALEXANDER (voice-over)
Laurens was born in South Carolina. He studied in Geneva and London before returning to America for the war. He was the best of men.
Inside a dimly lit building, army men - aides - are shuffling papers around at a shared table as one lights the candles in the room. The camera is focused on JOHN as he writes, leaned in. Younger ALEXANDER appears behind him to put hands on his shoulders, giving him a brief squeeze before saying something inaudible with a smile. JOHN shakes his head.
ALEXANDER (voice-over)
Either I couldn't tell you what it is about him or I could list everything that made me fall. Something drew us together when we met, and as I got to know him, he became my dearest friend.
In the woods, a younger ALEXANDER stands to the side beside another soldier while JOHN counts ten paces with his dueling pistol in his hand. ALEXANDER is looking on nervously.
ALEXANDER (voice-over)
I loved all my friends deeply, but this was different. His life was the most precious to me.
JOHN aims at a man twenty paces away and shoots successfully. Much to ALEXANDER's relief, CHARLES LEE declines to go again.
ALEXANDER (voice-over)
More precious than anything else in my life to that point. The only family I had.
During a war council, JOHN is arguing a point [inaudible] while younger ALEXANDER looks on, listening respectfully but the corner of his mouth twitches like he's holding back a smile.
ALEXANDER (voice-over)
In matters of politics and ambitions, we would fight together.
Younger ALEXANDER is reading over a letter addressed to JOHN from his mother-in-law, jaw tight and eyes wide.
ALEXANDER (voice-over)
No matter what came our way, we were resilient. It would always be us against the world, even after I married Elizabeth, which he thought would be for the best.
JOHN and ALEXANDER are at a ball off to the side, and JOHN [inaudible] is saying something in what appears to be a heated conversation.
ALEXANDER (voice-over)
He thought it would cure us. I knew the most it could do was shield us from suspicion. And yet, the distance grew. He was away for so long and so often, it became increasingly obvious that, constrained by society's disapproval, we would not sustain. But I loved him.
Younger ALEXANDER storms away from JOHN at the party during the last sentence.
It cuts away immediately to a field at night, ALEXANDER and JOHN looking at the stars with a small eyeglass and a book.
ALEXANDER (voice-over)
I loved him.
On a battlefield, ALEXANDER is on horseback and looking at JOHN who is charging into battle without looking back at him.
ALEXANDER (voice-over)
I loved him.
Younger ALEXANDER is holding a woman's hands at the altar, mouthing his vows.
ALEXANDER (voice-over)
I loved him.
JOHN arrives back at camp with a cloak, scarf, and gloves during the winter on horseback. He is tying his horse in the stable when ALEXANDER walks in with a smile, runs at, hugs, and kisses him.
ALEXANDER(voice-over)
I loved him.
A scene in which JOHN is packing his bag in the middle of the night. He looks over to his bed, but it is empty. He's in South Carolina.
ALEXANDER (voice-over)
He had no faults, but if he did, it would be how rash he was. Even that, however, was too pure-intentioned to be called a fault. He was brave. We were supposed to build this country together. "Hand in hand." The war was already over. He was chasing a company of redcoats who had stolen some rice.
It is once again the southern swamp at night, again from the shot of the REDCOAT rifleman aiming at JOHN from the trees. Through the sights, a bit blurry, we hear gunshots and see JOHN fall from his horse, but the gun doesn't shake. It shows the SCOUT and the REDCOAT exchange a look as the REDCOAT lowers his rifle.
SCOUT
Sir?
The REDCOAT is looking at the field, where more gunshots ensue in the dark. He shakes his head.
REDCOAT
Lads down there got 'im already. Their commander is wounded or dead, though by the look of that fall it was the latter. And if you said there are no more to follow, for now at least...
SCOUT
Who is he?
REDCOAT
No clue. Doesn't matter now, does it? They're drawing back. Let's rejoin the company.
6. GREENWICH VILLAGE STREET - DAY
SAM and JAY are on a park bench while ALEXANDER stands in front of them, telling his story to SAM, who looks saddened. ALEXANDER is looking at the sky, squinting from the partially sunny conditions.
ALEXANDER
Word did not reach me for some time. If only there had been more distance between us, I could have gone on longer waiting for his reply back to my last letter, blissfully unaware.
SAM
Oh, my God. That's awful.
ALEXANDER
I fear he is part of the reason I have not yet moved on. If I am being quite frank, Samantha, I told you my tale of plight so you might be more generous when I ask a favor of you. More than a favor. A dying wish I was unable to carry out in my lifetime.
SAM
Of course I would love to help. What is it?
ALEXANDER
As I am confined to this general area, please, write something down for me. A message. Bring it to John Laurens, or at least to his grave. I would like to see his grave, but a picture will suffice in my condition. His place of death would have been different. I believe he fell somewhere near the Combahee River in South Carolina, the coordinates for which you should be able to pinpoint with your, uh, handheld encyclopedias there. His grave, however, would likely be at his family's plot on the Laurens Plantation or whatever might stand in its place.
SAM
Oh, that's... kind of a ways, I'm not sure if...
JAY (excited, to contrast)
What? What?
SAM
He wants us to go to South Carolina to talk to John Laurens.
JAY
Are we doing another Sasappis?!
SAM
The difference is, Sass hardly dated that girl he wanted us to talk to, and she also died close enough for me to drive and be home for dinner. Money's tight, Jay.
JAY
Roundtrip and come back the same day. Wait, did he say they were totally gay? I mean, this sounds gay, but we gotta know.
SAM nods her head.
SAM
Does that assessment sit right with you, Hamilton? "Lovers"?
ALEXANDER
Must I say out loud that however you define a lover, he was mine? However one shares their bed with another and makes it sacred with their bond, however one creates a family of their own and wishes to build on that family with their chosen one, to build on themselves, to share something more powerful than love, to need one another in ways far beyond understanding, for heaven's sake, must you twist my arm into spelling out how I loved him in more ways than even such a word could impress? My words were obvious then and my story should not have left much to wonder! How much more do you need?
SAM
All right, you're right. Just making sure.
JAY
Yes? Is it a yes?
ALEXANDER, SAM (simultaneously)
Yes!
JAY
I knew it! Alexander Hamilton liked dudes!
ALEXANDER (with a huff)
Really! Is the idea that revolutionary? Half of my friends could surmise by my mannerisms alone! Not to mention how obvious my inclinations were and with whom I associated. It didn't mean much. It was just... a part of me, the foppishness and the love of men. A quite normal demonstration. When people have the desire to act a certain way, behind closed doors, it's only natural. I still followed my duty. I still had a wife, and many children, and I was a good father. When men are young they behave as slaves to their wants. Some men find it easier to just lie with women, some with other men, some with people they deem exotic or with only the wealthy or only whores who know fascinating tricks, but regardless we tend to outgrow that bachelor phase. And while the desire is still there, in the back of the mind, the rewards for acting within the confines of society are much higher. And the stakes for how it will be regarded...
SAM is looking up "foppishness."
SAM
Thanks for... all that.
ALEXANDER
What are you doing?
SAM
Um, trying to look at the cost of flights to South Carolina.
ALEXANDER
What if he's moved on?
ALEXANDER begins to pace.
ALEXANDER
Oh, for his sake I hope he has, but for mine...
SAM
I'll write down your note anyway. Would you prefer it be on paper? Or can I write it on my phone?
JAY excitedly shifts his weight from one foot to the other.
JAY
We're doing another Sasappis, baby!
ALEXANDER
What's he talking about?
SAM
Ah, well, one of the ghosts who live in our house is named Sasappis, as you might recall from your Facetime, and he was super into this girl from his living-life and I ended up meeting her and became the go-between for their notes. But she didn't die far. Unfortunately, your, um, John Laurens died a long way away.
ALEXANDER
I understand if you can't make this journey immediately. I've waited two hundred years already. I can't help but wonder, though, what my chances are that I might find somebody with your abilities again. Please, for closure. I'll tell you anything you'd like to know about my life or the lives of people I may have known.
SAM
I'll make the trip. It just can't be a constant conversation. Whatever you write, you should make it count. If I find him, I'll take a message back to you.
ALEXANDER
What if you don't?
SAM
I can leave your thoughts at his grave if you'd like. Or a token. Did you... ever visit his grave while you were still alive? Say goodbye?
ALEXANDER
No.
SAM
Do you think maybe that's the reason you haven't... Like, your soul's trapped here because you haven't had closure?
ALEXANDER
Don't be ridiculous. If I was lacking closure, might it be possible it's how I worry for my children? My wife? He can't be the only reason.
SAM
Maybe it's them, too. But you didn't task me with getting messages to them. You were thinking about John Laurens. When you died, you got to say goodbye to your family. You didn't get to say goodbye to him, though, did you?
JAY
Babe, are you psychoanalyzing the ghost of a Founding Father?
SAM
Told you I should be a ghost therapist.
ALEXANDER
Can you get something to write down my thoughts?
SAM
Jay, can you go get paper and a pen?
JAY
Can't you write on your phone?
SAM
He asked for paper. If John Laurens isn't there, I'd like to do something cathartic with physical paper.
JAY
Okay. I'll find a store. Are you staying here with Hamilton Ghost?
SAM
Duh. He's literally Hamilton Ghost.
JAY
Okay, but dude—
JAY is pointing at where he thinks ALEXANDER is but he's about a foot off, since ALEXANDER's pacing put him in a new position.
JAY
If you put the moves on my—
SAM
He's over here.
JAY readjusts.
JAY
I don't care if you're reliable with the ladies, or you think you have an excuse just 'cause you like dudes, but don't you start hitting on her. And Samantha, I will be very concerned if you start liking Hamilton Ghost!
SAM
All right, Jay. I'll try my best to avoid the temptation of... a middle-aged dad with a ponytail and a boyfriend.
ALEXANDER
I'd call it more of a 'queue' but-
JAY
I've seen what's on your Kindle.
SAM
Definitely not that.
When JAY leaves, SAM puts her phone to her ear.
ALEXANDER
What are you doing now?
SAM
I'm going to pretend to be on the phone so people don't think I'm crazy.
ALEXANDER
You see ghosts, perhaps you are.
SAM
You've got a point there.
ALEXANDER
How'd that come to be?
SAM
I fell down the stairs, almost died. I guess a near-death experience gave me this so-called gift. More importantly, I’m going to be a go-between for all kinds of cool ghostly conversations. I don't know why you're sort of confined to the space where you died, it's stupid, but I'd definitely like to help you and anybody else I can. I also helped a Viking reunite with his son. Pretty cool stuff. Oh, Vikings are–
ALEXANDER
I know what Vikings are.
SAM
Cool, okay. Is there anything you wanted to know?
ALEXANDER
What's it like in space?
SAM
Cold, dark, and quiet. If you're in space between planets, there's so little gravitational pull that you float aimlessly. Astronauts kind of just float around in the space station and use bars to pull themselves and they have to exercise because the lack of resistance from gravity weakens their muscles. But I'm not a millionaire, so I couldn't tell you what that's like.
ALEXANDER
Millionaires! I had the pleasure of speaking to another ghost for a short time before she moved on and she told me all about millionaires. The idea that that much wealth has become commonplace...
SAM
Commonplace to who? Also, you created our financial systems and you're surprised at how messed up it's become?
ALEXANDER
The world was a much different place. The internet is something I never could have accounted for. I would never have thought of anything like it. It allows for wealth to be accumulated exponentially. Automation has impacted that, too. It was never something I anticipated.
SAM
The Industrial Revolution.
ALEXANDER
Yes, precisely. I knew the world was headed for more and more. As inflation continues, the wages are hardly increasing - and people have more expensive, albeit frugality is no longer a value most people hold.
SAM
Consumerism.
ALEXANDER
I knew inflation would prove to be an issue and that the growth of trade and the expansion of the country would inflate the economy, but the growth has happened much too quickly! And the government was never perfect, not even close, but good Lord, how corrupt it's become! Better American than British, though. We have room to grow when we aren't ruled by kings and queens. Yet we've struggled in the most ridiculous of ways. If I were still alive... Well, as if I could get people to trust me anyway. It's impossible to please everyone and the games I deigned to play simply to pass legislature were ridiculous. Politics, while more accessible now to different kinds of people, are ever more complex and corrupted.
SAM
How do you even know this?
ALEXANDER
I watch TV. Oh, and I have a peculiar ability to almost read minds. Not quite so literally, but in a nuanced way, I can hear their thoughts if I focus enough on it. I have been curious enough on occasion to do so for fun, but I'll often find somebody who is reading or listening to a book privately so I can hear what they hear.
SAM
That works?
ALEXANDER
Most people primarily think about what they are processing auditorily. They have one string of consciousness at a time and the original thread must pause to think of something else, but when they are indulged in media or conversation, it's usually straightforward: they hear something and it is repeated in their mind before they analyze it or respond. I am lucky because the thoughts I hear most often do not pause for analysis because, I presume, whatever they are reading or listening to captivates them enough to not have too-loud secondary thoughts. My mind has never been like that. I process what I read or hear or see and there is a simultaneous dialogue over it, so I am processing both at once, often more. I receive external stimuli, I hear my own analysis and the complex web of other lines of thinking, I prepare my external responses, and in my head, I narrate what I'm saying or doing even as I do it. That is my curse - a racing mind for eternity. However, it comes in handy, as I am then able to process other people's thoughts in addition to my own.
JAY returns. SAM turns around.
SAM
So, if I asked you to tell me what he's thinking about...
JAY
Huh?
ALEXANDER leans in closer to JAY for a moment.
JAY
What?
SAM waves a dismissive hand and pretends to be busy. JAY awkwardly looks up at the sky while ALEXANDER's head is an inch away from his.
ALEXANDER
He was thinking about what you just said, then about the notebook and pen, then about how pretty you are... then about a restaurant you were walking to before you stopped to talk to me. He's hungry and he was wondering just how fresh the fish is that they serve.
SAM
Interesting.
JAY
What? What's interesting?
SAM
Tell you later. You got paper?
JAY
Yup. Let's get to the love letter so I can get to lunch.
SAM
Okay, man, is there somewhere we can sit to discuss this? What building is this here?
ALEXANDER
This used to be a doctor's office. Now it's... a law firm, maybe? I'm not quite sure. it changes every few decades. If you try to sit inside, they might toss you out. It is not exactly public access.
SAM
What if I say I have to use the bathroom?
ALEXANDER
I should disclose that I plan on making this letter a lengthy one. With editing.
SAM
Awesome... another dead, white guy from the Revolutionary War telling me to write a dissertation about his life. Jay, you might want to get lunch without me.
JAY
No way, babe. I'd rather starve. We get lunch together or not at all.
SAM
Aww. All right, Hamil-Ghost, what about that bench over there? Can you reach the bench?
ALEXANDER
The bench works.
ALEXANDER scoffs.
ALEXANDER (under his breath)
"Hamil-ghost."
- Commercial break -