
Robert Morris
By Anthony E. Gallo
Each time I decide to write a new play I ask myself that same question: Why am I writing this play? I went into the craft of playwriting with one objective in mind: spiritual growth. By and large I have worked within the limits of that objective. I define myself as Judeo -Christian playwright
Each project I write is set up in a pattern I have used for twenty years. First comes inspiration followed by a mental writing of the first and last scenes, and then basic research if the drama is historical. Twenty two of my twenty-four dramas are historical
The selection of subject matter is another story. My decisions are generally based on has been made some time ago, generally on some incompressible quirk that catches my fancy. I then get hooked and begin writing.
Why should I write a play about Robert Morris, the somewhat obscure financial father of our country? Is that sufficient reason. I did not choose to write this play as I usually do. One of Mr. Morris direct descendants saw my play The Eaton Woman, and said that his life ambition was to have a play written about Robert Morris. As a favor to Bob, I told him I would look into the situation and proceed. I was fairly certain that my response to him would be negative. And Oh yes. I was once a professor at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh.
BACKGROUND
I next did basic research. Who is Robert Morris? Every American history knows he was the financial father of this country. But is that enough to write a play about?
Founding Father Robert Morris showed he was an entrepreneur when the newly arrived 13-year-old British immigrant single-handedly purchased flour in Philadelphia and exported it to England at triple the price. He died in poverty at age 74 after speculating on 6 million acres of American land to be sold to French settlers who never did arrived. In the meantime, he became America’s Founding Financial Father, the richest man in the new world, signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation. and the U.S. Constitution. As Superintendent of Finance he financed the American Revolution. Morris was, next to General George Washington, the most powerful man in America in the opinion of many historians. One won the battles, the other raised the money to finance those battles.
He took charge of financing and procurement for the American Revolution by bolstering the value of otherwise valueless currencies of the colonies and the Continental Congress, raising taxes, borrowing from the French and Dutch, privateering (pirating British vessels) In the process, he acquired the gratitude of the new Nation, and the support of George Washington, John Adams and but others including Thomas Jefferson, Arthur Lee, much of the press and Thomas Paine felt the Robert Morris did not fiancé the Revolutionary War. Instead the Revolutionary War financed Robert Morris.
He fulfilled a role no one else was capable of fulfilling. Necessity is the mother of invention. And he found the means.
That was still not enough to titillate my interest. I called Bob and told him so. He persisted, which I appreciate. I reconsidered. What did he face? England was the world’s strongest economy versus a bunch of colonies? He succeeded. How?
- He was loved and despised by the other founding fathers
- Used his own wealth to finance the War.
- Begged and borrowed from the other Europeans
- Stole: he owned 150 privateer sips
- He made money for himself in the meantime
- Arbitraged and made money for himself in the meantime
I then looked at his personal attributers and conflicts:
- He was motivated by greed. Some call him a financial genius! Others an embezzler
- He told jokes
- He sold slaves and stopped. Never profitable.
- He was illegitimate and had an illegitimate daughter, Polly
- He built the largest home in North America.
- He was the wealthiest man in North America and ended out in poverty, the same fate that awaited Haim Salman wo also helped finance the War
OBJECTIVE
What am I trying to accomplish with this play? To some viewers means comedy, to others learning something and to others facing a challenge in interpreting the playwright’s objective
First and foremost, I want the play to be enjoyable. I use several techniques. First to make the play relatively short. Second, humor always helps. And third, plenty of conflict. The play must also be easy to understand.
Second, I want to teach their audience all about Robert Morris so that they know this man and his contribution to the American landscape. Very few people do, and in fact I am still learning after using at least thirty sources of material about him.
Third I want to show what lessons we learn from is life. First, we learn that was truly America’s first capitalist which allowed us to finance and fight the Revolutionary He became the richest an I in the world m and then the poorest with debts into the millions of dollars. Yes, America is capitalism, and he teaches us what risk and capitalism are about.
CRAFTSMANSHIP:
Each of my plays is two acts, and run from 70 to 90 minutes. The first draft is usually 150 pages.
Each act will have ten to 12 scenes. Each scene is short. I use the age-old formula of setting, disturbances and resolution. Critics have said my scenes are too short. But no one falls asleep.
I will not use eighteenth century English, but twentieth. English with contemporary idioms so that it is easier to understand.
CONFLICT
Conflict is the essence of all plays. No conflict, no play. There was plenty of conflict in Robert Morris’ life.
- He had to fiancé the War with very little help from anyone. Yet he found a way. In the process he had many adversaries, including Tomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine.
- He had inner conflict in himself. He was very involved in the slave trade, until he stopped in 1762. He opposed the War, but then changed his mind and was involved in
acts of war.
CHARACTERS
- Robert Morris: Financial father of the United State. Signer of the Declaration of Independence, member of the Constitutional Convention, Singer of the Articles of Confederation. Only one of the Founding Fathers to be a member of all three.
- Mary White: Robert Morris wife. From a prominent Philadelphia family, she married Robert Morris when she was 20 and he was 3, and by some accounts the wealthiest man in the colonies Stood solidly behind her husband in both adversity and prosperity.
- Bishop White: First American Bishop of the Episcopal Church and Mary White Morris brother.
- Thomas Morris: RM father.
- Benjamin Franklin: Founding father and strong supporter of Robert Morris. Much correspondence with RM.
- George Washington: Robert Morris strongest supporter and first President of the United States
- Haim Salman: Polish immigrant and helped finance the Revolutionary War with RM. Died penniless like RM
- Sherriff: Led RM to prison. They become friends
- Thomas Jefferson: Third President of the United States, and was skeptical of RM. An opponent.
- John Nicholson: RM partner. Both went bankrupt.
- Thomas Paine: Activist and RM Opponent
- Arthur Lee: Virginian founding father and RM opponent
- John Adams: Second President of the United States and RM supporter
- Mercy Otis Warren: Pamphleteer activist and skeptical about RM
- Governeur Morris: Governor of New Jersey and very strong RM supporter
Cameo roles and members of ensemble, along with rest of cast
- Martha Washington
- Abigail Adams
- Dolly Madison
- Silas Dean
- Henry Laurens
- Polly Morris
DIALOGUE:
Eighteenth Century English is vastly different from Twenty -First Century English. Per usual I will opt for contemporary language and idiom Perusing through writings of the founding father,,,,, the style was cumbersome and dull. Will Use current idioms, for which I have been both praised and condemned.
EXCERPTS
ACT 1, SCENE 1 PORT OF PHILADELPHIA 184
Thomas Morris embraces his son, Robert Morris.
THOMAS MORRIS
My son.
ROBERT MORRIS
My father.
THOMAS MORRIS
Is what I hearing true?
ROBERT MORRIS
Yes. Father.
THOMAS MORRIS
And therefore, you know what I heard.
ROBERT MORRIS
You tell me, Father.
THOMAS MORRIS
You sent a boatload of flour to England.
ROBERT MORRIS
Yes, Father.
THOMAS MORRIS
And why did you send a boatload of flour to England.
ROBERT MORRIS
When I arrived in America last week, I saw that the price of flour is now a fourth of what it is in England. I knew we could make a lot of money.
THOMAS MORRIS
And why did you not wait for me to return to Philadelphia?
ROBERT MORRIS
I was afraid the price would go back up.
THOMAS MORRIS
As it surely did.
ROBERT MORRIS
I know father. I keep track of all prices.
THOMAS MORRIS
Not bad for a 13-year-old lad.
ROBERT MORRIS
I won’t be 12 until next week.
THOMAS MORRIS
And you know that you could have caused a lot of us financially.
ROBERT MORRIS
But I did not.
THOMAS MORRIS
In fact, you made us 5000 pounds.
ROBERT MORRIS
Yes, Father.
THOMAS MORRIS
I see you have that Morris trait in you.
ROBERT MORRIS
What is that Father.
THOMAS MORRIS
Cunning, manipulation and making money.
ROBERT MORRIS
I like to make money.
THOMAS MORRIS
And what will you do after you make money?
ROBERT MORRIS
Make more money/
THOMAS MORRIS
And after that?
ROBERT MORRIS
Even more money.
THOMAS MORRIS
What for?
ROBERT MORRIS
To help everybody, my country, my church and my friends.
THOMAS MORRIS
And yourself?
ROBERT MORRIS
That always comes first.
THOMAS MORRIS
My Son! My Son! What can I say. Do you want to remain here or go back to England?
ROBERT MORRIS
I will always stay here.
THOMAS MORRIS
Why?
ROBERT MORRIS
I can make more money.
THOMAS MORRIS
Is that all?
ROBERT MORRIS
And I have you, Dad.
ACT 1, SCENE 2 WEDDING 1869
The Stage is set for a wedding. We hear offstage voices.
WOMAN (O.S.)
Philadelphia’s wedding of the Century
MAN (O.S.)
I wouldn’t go that far.
WOMAN
Philadelphia’s most prominent family marries the Pennsylvania’s wealthiest man.
MAN
Some say the Richest man in the Colonies. Others say the richest man in the world.
WOMAN
H, suffice it to say he has done well. Look over there. His daughter Polly has arrived.
MAN
You mean his bastard?
WOMAN
OH hush. You’re so evil. He has been a very good father to her. The result of a youthful indiscretion.
MAN
Hush! The music begins. Look, there’s Benjamin Franklin.
WOMAN
These fellas stick together.
We hear wedding music and then Morris and Mary White walk up the Aisle. Bishop White, Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania.
BISHOP WHITE
Do you Mary White take this man Robert Morris to be your lawful wedded husband.
MARY
I do.
BISHOP WHITE
And do you Robert Morris take Mary White to be your wedded wife.
MORRIS
I do.
BISHOP WHITE
I now pronounce you man and wife
ACT 1 SCENE 7 FRANKLIN HOME
Franklin, Washingtonian and Morris are seated
FRANKLIN
There is no one else.
MORRIS
I cannot and will not take this job.
FRANKLIN
Why?
MORRIS
I did not ask for it.
DEANE
I have great expectations from the appointment of Mr. Morris. For they are not unreasonable ones for I do not suppose that by any magic act you can do more than recover us by degrees from the labyrinth we are in.
FRANKLIN
You will have censured by malevolent critics and Bug Writers who will abuse you while serving themselves and destroy your character in nameless pamphlets. They resemble little dirty stinking insects that attack in the dark disturb our r repose.
MORRIS
I will not accept.
FRANKLIN
Yes, you will.
MORRIS
What makes you…
WASHINGTON
You are one of only three men to have signed the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the articles of Confederation.
MORRIS
Hat is correct.
WASHINGTON
And now you will give up the battle.
MORRIS
Others can do this.
HAMILTON
No way.
MORRIS
You of all people Mr. Hamilton.
HAMILTON
I can write I can conceptualize and I can someday be Secretary of Treasury. But we need something more than. We need financial genius with experience. You are man with extensive contacts. And a man of considerable wealth. For surely you know that you will be dipping into your pocket
MORRIS
Mr. Hamilton. All of us in this room have great admiration for you. And you flatter me. I cannot accept this powerful position not only for the onerous responsible, but the thankless nature of the job. And above all I will have to give up my financial practice and trade because tongues will wag.
FRANKLIN
We will nominate you and part of the condition is that you will be given the right to manage not only the American economy but oversee your personal needs.
WASHINGTON
Is that more palatable to you.
HAMILTON
The nation will always be indebted to you. So as General Washington will be the father of our nation.
FRANKLIN
You will be the Founding Father and Founding Capitalist
HAMILTON
Will you abandon us now?
FRANKLIN
I will discuss with Mary and get back to you.
WASHINGTON
Thank you, Superintendent Morris.
FRANKLIN
He accepts.
ACT 2 SCENES 2 PRESIDENTIAL MANSION 1790
George and Washington, Robert and Mary Morris, James and Dolly Madison, James Monroe, Governeur Morris, and Thomas Jefferson are seated around a table with a large birthday cake.
ALL
(singing)
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Robert Morris! Happy Birthday to you! (Followed by heavy applause.
WASHINGTON
Happy 56th Birthday, Mr. Morris!
JEFFERSON
Now Blow out the candles. If you have enough strength.
MORRIS
Here I go.
He extinguishes all 56 candles with one blow. Applause follows
JEFFERSON
Becoming the North America’s wealthiest man has not sapped Founding your strength.
WASHINGTON
And now a toast to our Honoree. Let us raise our glasses to the Nation’s founding Capitalist Father. The financial Father of the United States.
ALL
Toast!
WASHINGTON
My one regret is that Robert Morris’ staunchest admirer is not here.
JEFFERSON
Who is that?
WASHINGTON
Why Benjamin Franklin of course. Now three months gone.
JEFFERSONIN AWE.
Ah, yes. Indeed.
ADAMS
We are all aware that without Mr. Morris we would all be British today.
MADISON
More likely we would be dead.
MORRIS
My contribution was so little.
MADISON
You stand proudly next to General Washington here without whose military genius we would not be the United States of America today.
DOLLY MADISON
How did you do it, Mr. Morris? I stand in awe
MADISON
Quite easy Mrs. Madison.
MONROE
He begged, he borrowed, and he stole.
MADISON
Stole?
MORRIS
Well sort of, James
JEFFERSON
Privateering British ships. I never considered that stealing, not against the British.
MORRIS
I pirate no more. Nor involved in that messy slave trade.
BISHOP WHITE
Blessed be God and his angels.
WASHINGTON
Have I heard right?
MORRIS
About Mr. Morris?
WASHINGTON
That he now intends to purchase the United States of America?
MORRIS
No way, Mr. President. I am buying acreage mainly in the southern states to resell to the deluge of French settlers who will be coming here.
MONROE
Speculation.
MORRIS
That’s the name of the game.
DOLLY MADISON
Ten million acres? I hear
MORRIS
Not even 6.
DOLLY MADISON
Are you sure they will come?
MORRIS
Beyond any reasonable doubt.
ADAMS
You realize that if you succeed we no longer will be an English-speaking country?
MORRIS
They will learn English.
ADAMS
Don’t bet on it!
JEFFERSON
Would that be such a bad idea –I love the French language.
ADAMS
Ah yes. French is indeed an amorous language.
JEFFERSON
Mr. Franklin not only loved the French, they also loved him.
ADAMS
I understand he did not speak the amorous language. But was quite successful anyhow.
JEFFERSON
Indeed.
ADAMS
I understand you speak French quite well.
JEFFERSON
Passably.
ADAMS
Did you ever think of writing the Declaration of Independence in French?
All laugh.
ALL
Good Luck.
ACT 2 SCENE 7 MORRIS HOME
Morris makes decision to buy 6 million acres of land. John Nicholson, Mary and Morris are seated.
NICHOLSON
That was such a delicious dinner.
MARY
Let me go off. You too have some business to attend to
She exits.
NICHOLSON
Are you ready to proceed Mr. Morris?
MORRIS
We now own two million acres.
NICHOLSON
And we can purchase 4 million more for half the price that we purchased the first two million.
MORRIS
An offer to tempting to turn down.
NICHOLSON
I have never known you to shy away from risk.
MORRIS
Worth thinking about at least.
NICHOLSON
There are a lot of Frenchmen who will be coming to the new world/
MORRIS
And you and I will have all of them living on our land.
NICHOLSON
My decision is made. My question is financing. Who has better contacts than you.
MORRIS
You
NICHOLSON
The bank will lend us dollars, and the stockholders are all over the United States and the World
MORRIS
We will make our investors richer.
NICHOLSON
We will make ourselves especially rich.
MORRIS
More important we will make America great.
NICHOLSON
And now let us get to it.
MORRIS
Amen.
NICHOLSON
We will be two of the richest men in the world
ACT 2 SCENE 10 FRONT OF THE MORRIS HOME “THE HILLS”
Morris and Mary, are standing. The sheriff enters
SHERRIF
Are you Robert Morris?
MORRIS
I am.
SHERRIF
You are under arrest. You are to come with me.
MORRIS
I have lost everything My one is gone, my furniture is to be sold. Take me.
SHERRIF
I do so reluctantly.
MORRIS
You will parade me through the streets.
SHERRIF
It’s only two blocks.
MORRIS
You must do your duty.
MARY
I will walk with you.
SHERRIF
You may not ma’am.
MARY
Why?
SHERRIF
The prisoner comes with me alone.
MARY
Make this one exception.
SHERRIF
I make no exceptions, neither for the richer man in the world nor the poorest.
MORRIS
Now let us continue on our journey.
SHERRIF
And now I must remind you of one thing.
MORRIS
Yes Mr. Sherriff.
SHERRIF
You realize that you are required to pay for your room and board
MORRIS
Ah yes.
SHERRIF
And?
MARY
(Handing him an envelope) Here it is for you
SHERRIF
You can visit him when you want.
MORRIS
And she will.
ACT 2 SCENE 12
Mary and Morris are seated.
MORRIS
Free at last.
MARY
A free man at last!
MORRIS
Three and one half years is a long wait
MARY
Better than 4 years.
MORRIS
We start anew.
MARY
And it is exciting. And yesterday you dined with Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe,
MORRIS
Yes, I did.
MARY
Is that all you say?
MORRIS
The food was good.
MARY
And Jefferson and Madison?
MORRIS
They were very polite, very attentive e, but that was all.
MARY
I hear knocking at the door.
MORRIS
I can tell. That is your brother’s knock
MARY
Come in
Bishop White enters.
BISHOP WHITE
Hello. Hello. Sister, Brother
MORRIS
Welcome, Brother.
BISHOP WHITE
This is a historic day.
MARY
Yes. The financial father of our country is home
BISHOP WHITE
Well that too, but I was referring to something else.
MORRIS
What is that?
BISHOP WHITE
No Butler. Seem even more welcoming.
MORRIS
Perhaps I shall have a butler the next time you come.
Actually seems. I am now down on my luck.
BISHOP WHITE
Actually, I prefer no butler. The house feels warmer.
MORRIS
You always have a sense of humor Brother.
BISHOP WHITE
But now is a new day.
MORRIS
I won’t be able to contribute to the church.
BISHOP WHITE
If we count what you have given to the Anglican Communion to date I believe you would find that you have contributed more than man or woman on earth.
MORRIS
Satisfying to know
BISHOP WHITE
You have made great wealth and shared great wealth.
MORRIS
No other way. And now I have no wealth to share.
BISHOP WHITE
And your friend’s real friends will not forsake you.
MORRIS
I have had a few disappointments.
BISHOP WHITE
Then they were not real friends. President Washington stood by me.
MORRIS
Ah yes. But now he too is dead.
BISHOP WHITE
And the Nation and the World are grateful to both of you
MARY
Yes, My husband.
MORRIS
He died a national hero at Mr. Vernon praised and mourned by the whole word as the father of America. And a wealthy man.
BISHOP WHITE
And that same man said that without Robert Morris there would be no America today.
MORRIS
Ah yes. But today I have nothing.
BISHOP WHITE
Do you regret anything you have done?
MORRIS
I cannot.
BISHOP WHITE
Why?
MORRIS
I made millions of dollars. I lost millions of dollars. I became what some people called the richest man in the Americas. And I am now the poorest man. And I had a choice.
BISHOP WHITE
And you accept this?
MORRIS
Providence has been kind to me.
MARY
And don; forget that we have my little pot of gold. So, our needs are taken care of.
MORRIS
Will you ever tell me where you got this money?
MARY
No.
MORRIS
Why won’t you tell me.
MARY
I never asked where the millions you made came from, so don’t ask where our little pot of gold came from. It is there for us to enjoy.
MORRIS
I will love you always my queen.
MARY
I was your queen then and am your queen now.
BISHOP WHITE
And a Nation is grateful to you.
MARY
Your name will always be in our American history books.
MORRIS
Most people do not know who I am. And tomorrow I will need both of you.
BISHOP WHITE
What for
MORRIS
To attest to my last will and testament.
BISHOP WHITE
Oh yes.
MORRIS
I see the way you two are looking at one another. I have few possessions, but what I have I bequeath. Like this gold watch that my creditors did not get to.
BISHOP WHITE
I will be here.
MORRIS
And now let us toast what will be the greatest nation in the world.
BISHOP WHITE
Let toast. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
MORRIS
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
MARY
GOD BLESS AMERICA.