1775 (1992) - full transcript

- Dad, can I ask you something?
- Sure.

- Can I have a horse?
- No.

But it's not fair.
All my friends have horses.

You use my horse on special occasions.

The family nag?

Gussy gets you where you want to go.

Unless you want to go uphill.

Abagail, times are tough.

We're about to have a revolution.

I practically have to drag
customers in off the street,

and you want a horse?



Uh-huh.

Ahh, good evening, citizen,

And welcome to
the Cock and Hound Inn.

You'll be staying in Philadelphia long?

Uh, just the night.

Uh, just one night?

I know this is the city
of brotherly love,

but we have some pretty
spirited sisters, too.

I'll put you down for a week.

The night.

Father!
Come quick!

What is it, Eliza?

It's this strand of my hair.

It's not as flaxen as it used to be.



Perhaps it's someone else's hair.

Please, it's much more flaxen
than anybody else's.

Mother!

You said you were staying the week?

- The night.
- The night.

Did I tell you our weekly rate?

With all this talk about revolution,

Philadelphia is a very
dangerous place to be.

Revolution? Where, here?

That's the first I've heard of it.

I've placed your wager

on when the shooting will start.

I got you good odds on Tuesday at 9:00.

There isn't going to be any shooting.

Of course there is.
That's how you start a revolution.

Excuse me.

Could you please ring for the bellman?

Oh, of course.

Ahh, there you are, Burt.

Well, it certainly seems
every bit as flaxen as it was before.

It's not just my hair.

It's my life.

I want to get married.

I want to live in a big house

With lots of servants

Who will skim the scum
off my hot milk baths.

You have a bad habit
of interrupting when--

If you don't do something
about Maude soon,

I'm never getting married.

Of course you will.

Why do I even talk to you?

I don't know.

Maude is the eldest,

So I can't get married until she does.

You're only 16.

Mother was married and pregnant at 16.

That was an accident.

He means the marriage.

We were talking about me.

I want to get married.

Since Maude broke up with Ben,
she's met nobody.

They're not exactly lining up to meet her.

I don't know why.

Maude is intelligent. She's mature.

That says something.

Yes-- "will die a virgin."

Eliza's beginning to remind me more

Of that great aunt of yours
that was hanged in Salem.

Mother, father. I have
the most wonderful news.

This morning I became engaged--

Oh, Maude. Thank god.

In a conversation with deacon Pratt

Who urged me to enter
the library spelling bee,

And I won.

Aren't you pleased?

Yes, we're just sorry
we weren't there to hear you spell.

Mnemonic.

What?

M-n-e-m-o-n-i-c.

It was my winning word.

It refers to a memory-aiding device.

[pounding]

For instance, that pounding reminds me

there's a customer
out there dying for a beer.

Then get him one.

Right away.

Maude, just a minute.

Is he unattached?

I don't know.

Well, 50-50 odds are
good enough for me.

Now get out there.

Yes, mother.

I play the cards I'm dealt.

Play a game of solitaire.

I've got an inn to run.

I've got an idea.

Next week is the annual
freemasons' ball.

Every eligible young
man in Philadelphia will be there,

including Ben.

What time can Ben pick you all up?

We'll buy Maude a new dress, and I--

We can't afford it.

Maude's not that big a problem.

Aah!

Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm not usually this clumsy.

Well, actually, I am.

There's a word for it.

It's called maladroitness.

Oh, Maude.

W-wipe up the man's lap.

Bad idea.

Bad idea, Maude.

Let me do it.

Uh, worse idea.

No, don't go, sir.

Don't touch me.

I'll get you another beer.

Don't touch me. We deliver!

Oh, father, I'm sorry about the beer.

What's the profit in one beer anyway?

.87 shillings.

I calculated the net based--

Good. Fine. Just clean up.

Abagail.

In the street, Abagail?

It's Abbie!

I may not have much time.

I'm a minuteman.
I could be shot at any moment.

You got that right.

I'm not too keen on these
street-corner revolutionaries

you've been associating with.

They're called patriots,
and they're trying to change things.

Looking like that?

Dad, these are the seventies,
not the fifties.

You think because I'm your father

I didn't take part in protests
when I was young.

Our generation invented the slogan,

"no taxation without representation".

Can I do my homework?

I wish you would.

Is it Halloween already?

To make the proper impression

when you arrive at the ball
in your rented carriage,

you should have a proper coachman.

You look like an idiot.

Thank you.

You know, they used to say that
about me father.

If only he were alive to hear it
said about me.

I'm sure he died knowing it.

We are not going to the ball,

And I just saw your youngest daughter
kissing a minuteman.

After your performance,

I wouldn't be so critical of minutemen.

I'm sorry, darling. I stand emasculated.

And we ARE going to the ball.

We're NOT going to the ball.

You'll change your mind.

Oh, no. I won't.

You saw how Eliza acted.

Abbie's right behind her.

Until Maude gets married
and out of the house,

life will be living hell,

and you won't like the heat.

Oh, my god! I do not!

Now what is it?

The governor pulled up.

We're not letting him in.

Of course not.
Where would he find a seat?

He's British.

They're ruthless, cold-blooded tyrants.

Maybe they're a little cranky.

We did dump a lot of their tea.

You don't like the British.

I despise them,

and those incompetent, ridiculous fools

they send here to govern us.

Ahh, governor Massengill, what an honor,

and I might say,
a pleasure to have you visit us.

Proctor, are you kissing my bottom again?

Of course, but if you're going
to kiss bottom,

why not kiss the best?

I think I'm going to be sick.

Why don't you go upstairs and lie down?

Why don't you both go upstairs?

Your usual?

Yes, a glass of your finest claret.

One finest claret coming up.

Ooh, that is the manliest
of scents you have on.

Kissing bottom again. I like that.

What am I going to do?

The politicians back home

are hounding me for more money.

[loud chewing]

Stop that.

But I've already
taxed everything--

Uh, clothing, stamps, tea,

even the wine people drink.

What else is left?

Oh, heck, why don't we just, uh,

tax peoples incomes and be done with it?

No, no politician would
ever be that stupid.

Mmm.

What are you doing?

Why not tax candles?

Candles?

Yes.

Most taxable items are tied to

the ups and downs of people's incomes,

But at night everyone needs to see,

so revenue from a candle tax
would remain constant.

Constant revenue.

Oh, I like that.

A candle tax!

Well,
I--I--I must go.

That one is a gem.

Now don't let some young man steal
her away from you.

[gagging]
It's delicious.

I just realized something.

We use a lot of candles.

Mmm.

Do you have any idea
what this is going to cost me?

Uh--

Never mind.

What's going on?

Don't talk, just start blowing.

[arguing]

What's that?

I'm not touching anything!

I've had it.

I'm not touching anything!
What are you doing?

Putting on my make-up.

There must be 50 candles in here.

Not counting the one
she used to wax her legs.

There's none left to take
to the candlelight rally.

What rally?

- The one against injustice everywhere.
- You mean like the face god gave you?

I'm leaving. I cannot share
a room with her anymore.

Have a nice life.

I want my own room.

You can't have your own room,
young lady, and--

Can't have a room-- can't have a horse--

I was supposed to get Maude's room.

Since Maude's never marrying,

I'll be in this room till we both
grow old and die.

You're already looking old.

I can't believe how jealous you are!

I'm not jealous of you!

My life is going into
the porcelain chamber pot.

Don't despair, father.

I'll always be here for you.

Oh...

Oh...

Aah!

The ball. The ball.

We've got to get to that ball.

[dog barking]

Jeremy, look. It's my old cotillion dress.

It makes me feel like I was 18.

You can start feeling old again.
We're not going.

- What?
- We can't afford it. We're broke.

That's ridiculous.
How can that be?

Well, let's see.

Now, here is a bill for a hat from Paris.

I'm a Custis. Custises don't allow
anything to touch their heads

unless it's from France.

I must remember to find
a guillotine somewhere.

It only cost ?100.

Only ?100?

Well, it was hurricane season.

37 sailors lost their lives bringing it
across the ocean.

It was a bargain.

That's what's great
about buying me a horse--

Nobody has to die.

Not now, Abagail.

You promised when I had chicken pox.

Don't twist my words.

I promised a chicken
when you had the horse pox.

I'm just the oppressed subject
of an unfeeling tyrant.

Me, too.

Jeremy, we're just talking
about a couple measly tickets.

No. We're talking about five tickets,

and we need dresses for the girls,

and we have to take the stretch coach.

I don't know if it's permeated

your female brain yet,

But have you any idea
what this is going to cost?

Oh, I'm sorry, darling.

Did you say something after
blah, blah, blah?

Look, if you're so worried
about the money,

Why not borrow some from George?

Ho...Ho ho ho.

I'm not borrowing money
from George Washington.

He's your brother-in-law.

He looks down on me.

So? Everyone does.

He--he keeps bringing up that old rumor.

About you being a draft dodger

during the French and Indian war?

I told you I had to go
to Canada on business.

Of course you did, darling.

I did, and I'm not crawling to
George Washington.

Ah, there you are, George.

They told me I'd find you here.

Am I interrupting anything?

I always have time
for you, Jeremy.

You're like family.

You ARE family of course.

So, what brings you to Mount Vernon?

Fact is, the inn isn't doing very well.

I hoped you could help us out.

Of course I can.

Really?

Have you tried putting those little mints

on your guests' pillows at bedtime?

I'm here to borrow money.

You are?

Oh, well...

Come over here Jeremy,
I want to show you something.

What do you think?

These-- are these the troops
of the revolution?

No, they're toys. See,

this one's a drummer,

and this one's an Indian fighter.

See his little coonskin cap?

Could we return to the money?

Money?

You're one of the richest men
in the colonies.

As Ben Franklin always says,

"a fool and his money
are soon parted."

Then why is this taking so long?

Eliza, I'm thinking
of wearing this to the ball.

Do you like it?

You're going to the ball?

I would've thought a social event
for society's finest

would be against
your revolutionary principles.

Hey, a party's a party.

How did it go?

Oh, terrific.

Asked George for a loan,
and he agreed...

At 15% interest.

Oh, so you didn't take the money.

No, and don't ask me again.

I wouldn't take
Washington money

for all the tea
in Boston Harbor.

They're insufferable, greedy,
social-climbing snobs.

You say that like it's... bad.

Mother, which fabric
would make the best gown for the ball?

Ball? What are you talking about?

Jeremy, I assumed
you'd find some way to bungle it,

so I saw my sister Martha
in town shopping--

Her husband likes her to look nice--

I borrowed the money.

Girls...

Would you leave the room please?

I need help selecting my gown.

Eliza, dad's about to have a hissy fit.

Now!

Do I know dad?

O.K. You've gone too far this time.

Jeremy, you'd give up your spleen

before you parted with a nickel.

Only because it's an unnecessary organ.

It's not the money.
It's your sister.

She is a gossip.

Fiddlesticks.

Martha promised
she wouldn't say a word to anyone.

Ex sir.

Is it possible to be paid
in advance from now on?

I was talking to the dung sorter

down at the fertilizer factory.
He said, the word on the street

is that you had the missis crawl
to the Washingtons for money.

Annabelle, did you hear that?

Might I ask a second favor?

Could you try to do a better job
of managing these affairs?

This makes me look bad
in front of my friend the dung sorter.

Sure. And you were
talking about being paid in advance?

Do you prefer bills or silver?

I never say no to silver.

Well, good.

Don't come back until you're do.

Are you satisfied now?

Jeremy, what's it matter?

We have the money for the ball.

There's just one flaw in your thinking--

We're not going.

We are. It's Maude's only
chance of marrying Ben.

But I don't want to.

There you see-- what?

I don't love him.

I thought you did.

I never did.

If you'd asked me how I felt instead
of planning my life,

You would have known that.

What have I done?

Oh, don't blame yourself.
Don't blame yourself.

But, Jeremy--

All right. Blame yourself.

You'll have to excuse me.

I've got to talk to Maude.

Fathers and daughters
have a certain kind of relationship.

Dad?

Not now!

You guys, move. Let's go.

You know, this is unbelievable.

Maybe we should
just move into the stable.

Why not? It's not like there's a horse
in there or anything.

I'm sorry, father.

I shouldn't have spoken
like that to mother.

It's all right. She had it coming.

Your mother should make more of an effort

To find out how you feel, like I'm doing.

So how do you feel?

Terrible.

Good. I'm glad we shared this time.

Father, I'm sorry.

I know you want me out of the house.

No.

I know you're afraid
I'll never find a husband.

No.

I know my reading upsets you.

Well, yes.

I just don't want
to marry someone I don't love.

Then you shouldn't.

Really?

Really. This is your home.

This is where you belong.

We only want you to leave

When you find that man you really love.

Oh, father, thank you.

Maude, no. Thank you.

Thank you, because you reminded me,

The only reason to marry... is love.

I just wish somebody
had given me that advice.

You didn't marry mother out of love?

Well--never say anything.

Your mother, when she was a young girl,

She hadn't quite lost her baby fat yet.

The fact is, she was quite plump.

Mother was plump?

Let's say I never took her to the beach
during whaling season.

But she's so thin now.

Potato famine of 1760.

Then why did you marry her?

She had a very large dowry...

I mean, not as large as her,
but pretty big.

How do you think I paid for this inn?

You're saying that you don't love mother?

Of course I do.

Look, I've been with your mother
over 20 years,

and we have three wonderful children.

All right, we have our ups and downs

like every modern couple,

but we always manage
to work through them.

I think mother is a very lucky woman

to have a man like you for a husband.

So do I.

Ha ha--whaling season.

Hi

I didn't know you were here, Annabelle.

Hey...

You're not mad about what I said
to Maude, are you?

Oh...

You ARE mad.

Whaling season?

I don't know where
those words came from.

I...I--

You're scared.

Yes, I am.

It's the strangest feeling.

I've never felt so...
So weak and vulnerable before.

I kind of like it.

That's funny, because...

I've never felt so strong
and powerful before.

I kind of like it, too.

What are you going to do?

I'm going to take you upstairs

Before either one of us
loses this feeling.

I'm right behind you.

Now we have to leave the house?

All right. You can have the damn horse!

(children laughing)

I used to love this place.

(children laughing and singing)