You sent for me, Benjamin? Never. Helloooo, Johnny! Richard, uh... Johnny and I need some...

Richard Henry Lee: [Richard Lee comes riding into the courtyard] You sent for me, Benjamin? John Adams: Never. Richard Henry Lee: Helloooo, Johnny! [Lee stops his horse and dismounts] Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Richard, uh... Johnny and I need some advice. Richard Henry Lee: If it's mine to give, it's yours, you know that! Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Thank you, Richard, thank you. You know, the cause that we support has come to a complete standstill. Now why do you suppose that is? Richard Henry Lee: Simple: Johnny here's obnoxious and disliked. Dr. Benjamin Franklin: That's true. Now what's the solution, I wonder? Richard Henry Lee: Get somebody else in Congress to propose! Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Oh, Richard, that's brilliant! Wasn't that brilliant, John? John Adams: Brilliant. Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Yes, now, the question remains: who can it be? The man we need must belong to a delegation publicly committed to support independence. At the present time, only Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Delaware declared our way. Richard Henry Lee: Virginia. Don't forget Virginia, Benjy. Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Oh Richard, I haven't. How could I? But strictly speaking, Virginia's views on independence are well-known. Your legislature in Williamsburg has never formally authorized its delegation here in Congress to support the cause. Now, if we could think of a Virginian with enough influence to go down there and persuade the House of Burgesses... Richard Henry Lee: Damn me if I haven't thought of someone! John Adams, Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Who? Richard Henry Lee: Me. Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Oh, why didn't I think of that? Richard Henry Lee: [Lee mounts his horse] I'll leave tonight. Why hell, I'll leave right now, if you like! I'll just stop off in Stratford long enough to refresh the missus, and then straight to the matter! Yes sir, I really have to complement you on your judgment, Johnny. Whoa boy, steady! You've come to the one colony that can get the job done: Virginia! Richard Henry Lee: [a drumroll and pause is heard before George Washington's name is mentioned] The land that gave us our glorious commander-in-chief... George Washington, will now give the continent its proposal on independence! And when Virginia proposes, the South is bound to follow! And where the South goes, the middle colonies go! Gentlemen, a salute to Virginia, the mother of American independence!