Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CHARACTERS
ABIGAIL ABBY ADAMS
-particularly smart, wise woman
-wife of John Adams
JOHN ADAMS
-Continental Congress Rep. then first VP of the United States
-hot-headed, aggravated
-husband of Abigail
SAMUEL ADAMS
-Founder of the Sons of Liberty
-reckless and destructive revolutionary
-cousin of John Adams
THOMAS JEFFERSON
-Virginian representative
-staunch opponent of John Adams
MARTHA WASHINGTON
-wife of General George Washington
-close friend of Abigail
COLONIAL ENSEMBLE
SC I
2
MAIN OUT
LADIES: Abigail!
GENTLEMEN: John!
GENTLEMAN 1: John, shes just a woman, you ought to keep her out
of politics.
GENTLEMAN 2: Youve got to stop listening to her, John, its not her
place.
3
JOHN: Dearest Abigail, I cannot possibly explain how tedious
government work is. Jefferson preaches the values of freedom and yet
believes that slavery ought to continue. What world do we live in
where money trumps the rights of man?
JOHN: Ive said it all along, Jefferson and his men are trying to hold us
back. We shall have freedom, but we shall hold slaves. How does that
make any sense? Ive told them, Abby, Ive said that we need to
change our ways. And you know what they say to me? They call me
annoying and arrogant. Snobbish.
JOHN: And you call me an idealist, Im afraid politics are not that
simple, Abigail.
ABIGAIL: This isnt politics, John. We are at war. Its about all you
Congressmen getting over yourselves to save all the rest of us.
JOHN: The war grows bloodier every day, you think I do not see that? I
am trying, Abby, but they refuse to compromise and we refuse to stand
down.
SC II
Quincy, Massachusetts
ABBY is in her kitchen, tidying
*knock knock*
4
SAMUEL: Morning, Abby, have you read todays paper?
ABIGAIL: Not yet but I can take a guess. John Adams: Treasonous
Sellout?
SAMUEL: Never have I met a more arrogant and infuriating man such
as the likes of Mr. John Adams. He is not only vain but a complete
obstructionist.
Mr. Adams is out of touch with our reality. He argues relentlessly and
when the tides turn against him, he runs. He sits upon his shining hill in
Massachusetts with his pretentious, shrill wife.
ABIGAIL is aghast
ABIGAIL: Shrill? I am not shrill! And John does not run, he comes home
to see his children. Who is this?
SAMUEL: Some might say that about our John. Hes a radical, theres
no doubt about that.
SAMUEL: (chuckling) Throw tea into the harbor once and suddenly Im
a radical. You and Mrs. Warren arent so innocent yourselves.
5
ABIGAIL: Mercys worse than I am. I hardly think equal rights and
protection under law is a radical notion.
SAMUEL: Youre right. But whats that his men say? Most men would
rather entertain the idea of being rich rather than face the realities of
being poor? Perhaps John is just a little off putting in that regard.
ABIGAIL: Hmm, yes thats what you all keep telling me.
JOHN QUINCY: Uncle Samuel, tell us more about Boston, did you
really fight off an entire regiment of red coats?
SAMUEL chuckles
ABBY: Dont be giving him any ideas! John Quincy! Nabby, follow your
brother, make sure your uncle doesnt get him into trouble.
6
trials. This moment here is our great advantage. America is ours for
the taking.
MERCY: Come on, Abby, think. We are the mothers of the nation.
Whatever the men of this age may do will be eclipsed by the actions of
our children. We cannot leave our fate in the hands of men who are
failing us as we speak, we must focus on teaching something better.
ABIGAIL: I want them to understand all of the work that their father
has done. Regardless of what those hateful, slanderous men might say.
MERCY: Fight then. Gather the ladies, get to work. This war will not
stop for a silly government squabble. My husbands unit is camped at
Bunker Hill and the sons of my neighbor are in the trenches at Valley
Forge. Lives continue to be lost while our men argue about philosophy
and ethics. Show them and your children what women are capable of.
MERCY: Not for yourself, no. But for every woman after you.
MERCY: I am an optimist.
ABIGAIL: Some say that you are a radical, an anarchist even. Wholly
unpatriotic.
7
ABIGAIL: Hm. This country is like a child. And every child needs a
mother. Someone to guide them, teach them. Help them grow and
progress through life. And who better to do that than people like you
and I? Our Congress can barely justify its existence. Why shouldnt we
give an example of what it really means to be American?
MERCY: Youre a clever woman, Abigail. The nation is ours for the
taking.
SC III
SAM: Shes on a war path, Mercy. Shes got all the women in town riled
up. General Washington ought to get some tips from her.
MERCY: She is a very charming woman, Ive always envied that in her,
you know.
SAM: Then maybe youll just have to deal with being disliked.
SAM: Oh, and humble as well? (MERCY smacks SAMs arm) You and
Abby also come off a bit aggressive Ive got to say.
MERCY: Hm, then perhaps you men ought to think twice about making
widowhood a womans only path to power? 1 (SAM is alarmed)
8
MERCY: Doesnt make it any less true. Why shouldnt I be free to share
whatever opinions I want, like you do? There are certainly people
whod like to shut you up, but youre protected.
MERCY: So I can raise a president but not vote for one? Whose
freedom am I fighting for then? Yours? Youre freer right now than Ill
ever be and youre a criminal!
MERCY: Fall in line? That logic is ridiculous. Weve got no time for that.
You would never simply fall in line.
SAM: As usual.
MERCY: Dont feel bad, Sam, its just because Im smarter than you.
Its all part of my not-so feminine mystique.2
SAM: Maybe I should stop coming around here so often, I always leave
feeling
MERCY: Enlightened?
SAM: Attacked.
MERCY: Oh please. Now, go and play with your toy soldiers, corrupt
the youth, find something new to blow up. Let Abby and I handle the
real work.
SC IV
9
NABBY: (from offstage) Mother! (Enters stage) Mother, what is that
sound?
ABIGAIL: (comes to comfort her daughter) Shh, its alright, dear. Well
see.
BOTH leave the bedroom and walk out into their yard, where
CONTINENTAL ARMY SOLDIERS already stand, looking in one
direction
SOLDIER: Bunker Hill, maam. The redcoats are laying siege against
Boston.
ABIGAIL: Were safe here, love. Go find John Quincy and come right
back, okay?
SOLDIER: Were too far inland for their navy and they wont waste
time on farm country. Theyll move towards the city.
ABIGAIL: Tell your men that they can stay in Quincy as long as they
need, Captain. What more can we do for you?
SOLDIER: Mrs. Adams, you are too kind. We cannot ask for anything
more than to be allowed to make camp on your familys land.
ABIGAIL: You can and you must. Your boys arent the only ones
fighting this war.
SOLDIER: Well, you can see from our troops that the armys needs are
quite dire. Clothing, ammunition, shoes, food. The only thing we seem
10
to have an excess of is disease. There just never seems to be enough
to go around.
They nod
ABIGAIL: Now, Nabby, Im going to need you to get all the fabrics that
you can, along with needles, pins and threads. Find all the girls you
can, bring them up to the farmhouse, understood?
ABIGAIL: Got to start them young. They miss their father. All they
want is to bring him home.
SC V
They chuckle
11
ABIGAIL: (distractedly) From Mrs. Warren? Just place it on the table,
love.
MARTHA:
Mrs. Adams,
I hope you are well and that your children are healthy. George has
moved us to Cambridge and intends to elevate the war effort. With
winter approaching, I worry that this may be unwise. I have heard of
the efforts you are making and would like to send my sincerest thanks.
You see the soldiers, you see how our boys are run down. I worry for
the winter. Abigail, what does John think of this? Even that fool Samuel
must see the suffering of our people? I desperately need some sign of
hope for our cause. Please, Abigail, tell me of something that is not so
dreadful.
ABIGAIL: She is quite distraught. She has just lost another child.
ABIGAIL: No, not like that. Her husband died very bravely, fighting on
Bunker Hill. Mercys been quitedisengaged with the whole thing.
(Pause) No, with Marthas kids its different. Sometimes it is just the
nature of life. But a lot of mothers are losing their sons to this war,
John, youre right.
NABBY: Were going to win, John. Mr. Franklin is the smartest man on
the continent and he thinks were going to win so it must be true. Dad
said so.
12
JOHN QUINCY: Well, if there are so many other smart people, how
come Father has to be away so often, huh? Why cant the others do it,
if theyre all so smart.
ABIGAIL: Because some of those men, even though theyre smart, are
also exceptionally stupid.
JOHN QUINCY seems confused, the women all laugh and mutter
in agreement
ABIGAIL: Tell Mr. Hamilton that Abigail Adams sends her regards. And
when this is all over, Id like for us to have chat.
SOLDIER exits
JOHN QUINCY: Mother, Ive found all the silverware in the house,
would you like me to go ask the neighbors? (he holds a basket of silver)
ABIGAIL: Yes, dear, then take them down the hill to the foundry and
start again. Dont stop until youve asked absolutely everyone. Now,
pass me my writing set, if you please.
ABIGAIL: We have been working day and night, making new uniforms
and curing meat for the army regiments that pass through. I spoke to
the women in Boston, before the battle, about maintaining the
boycotts. Im sure you know what Samuel and his Sons of Liberty have
been up to these past few weeks.
13
JOHN: Abby, I am inspired by your dedication. I wish every day that I
could return home to you. I am sorry to bother you but there has been
a request that the ladies begin manufacturing ammunition, we are
running quite low these days.
JOHN: Sorry?
ABIGAIL: Sugar. Our food is as briny as the sea, we need sugar. Send it
to us and well manufacture your weapons straight away.
SC VI
JOHN: How can we claim to be the land of the free while upholding an
archaic and evil practice? Slave holding colonies violate our very basic
beliefs.
14
JEFFERSON: Our general is a Virginian, I am a Virginian. This borders
on treason. Its financially ruinous.
JOHN: Mr. Jefferson, I believe that it was you who preached the ideals
of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Why is it only those who
stand to gain a profit who get those rights? And, while were on the
topic of rights, my wife and the women of Massachusetts Bay have
done more to advance this war effort than we have. They make our
uniforms, our rations, our weapons. She manages our farm and keeps
our town running because our war has taken all the men away. They
cannot even own the land they work on.
JOHN: Or perhaps you could use it to wipe the dew off your spectacles
and see that the world is moving.3 (Throw handkerchief back) If we
dont fix it now, the next generation will suffer.
JOHN: Wait? Our time is now, we have already been called to action!
JEFFERSON: Im doing whats best for our country, John, are you?
15
JEFFERSON: Dont condemn the driver and not the trader, John.
Slavery is not a Southern disease, New England is not above making
money in the trade.
JOHN: Money is not all that matters here. This is the foundation of a
new nation, a new free world. If we set money above dignity now, what
example is that for our future? Our country is not just filled with other
men like you. There are people whose voices will never be heard in this
room. You are all fools, incompetent. You sit
here, you do nothing, you let our men die and your visions of grandeur
have no meaning. You believe in nothing, you are creating a fantasy.
JOHN: Institutions?!
JOHN: But how do we ensure that? If we dont grant it now, when will
equality come?
JEFFERSON: Now, John, I see you speaking but all I hear is Abigail.
Perhaps you should give her the news, no matter what she and her
merry band of seamstresses do, politics is not womens work.
SC VII
ABBY reads a letter from JOHN out loud to MERCY and the
ADAMS CHILDREN
Dearest friend,
I cannot give you all that you ask for or need from your government.
Our legislation may not always reflect your best interest and for that I
sincerely apologize. Perhaps we will never live in a land where all men
and women are seen as truly equal. But we do live in a better world
due to the work of mothers like you.
ABIGAIL: (setting the letter down) Is that all we will ever get? After
everything we do for them.
16
MERCY: Did you expect anything more?
ABBY: The idealist in me, yes. You were the one who taught me that.
MERCY: Its realism, my dear. Its like Ive said before, nothing is going
to change for us. Its up to them. Hear that? John Quincy, when youre
president, youll watch out for us ladies right?
MERCY: Winning the war is a long shot, but its got to get done. I know
it all looks stacked against you right now, but youve got to make
yourself heard, its got to happen. There are no ifs ands or buts about
it.
MERCY: No use in shielding them from the truth. Youve got smart
kids, Abby, they know the problems that our generation sweeps under
the rug are going to be theirs to suffer through.
JOHN QUINCY: Thats true. But if the South is so mad, why dont they
just make their own country?
MERCY: Youre doing a good job, you know, Abby? It doesnt matter
what the Congress says, the people respect you just as much as any
man.
ABIGAIL: Its not about me, Mercy. Its never been about me. I want
this for them. I want them to grow up in a world thats better than the
one we came from. Always forward, never back, you know? No matter
what obstacles appear in our way.
17
MERCY: Then youd better keep working Mrs. Adams, because I
believe some of those Congressmen are trying to quell our tide.
END
NARRATION
1: Abigail Adams is often called a mother of the republic, a woman
influential in shaping all future generations of Americans. Along with
John Adams, she advocated for the abolition of slavery and the
expansion of womens rights.
3. When Abigail became the second First Lady of the United States,
concerns about her involvement in government only grew. Some
opponents of Adams even went so far as to call his wife Mrs.
President, as to imply that she was pulling the strings.
4. She was wise and had a mind that was greatly ahead of her time.
Mrs. Adams paved the road for generations of women that would come
after her and gave a very public example of what it truly means to be
an American.
FOOTNOTES
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