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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!