Times like this, I'm best alone.

Abraham Lincoln:

Now, here's a sixteen year old boy. They're going to hang him. He was with the 15th Indiana Calvary near Beaufort, seems he lamed his horse to avoid battle. I don't think even Stanton would complain if I pardoned him? You think Stanton would complain? John Hay:
Ummm... I don't know, sir, I don't know who you're, uh... What time is it? Abraham Lincoln:
It's three forty in the morning. John Nicolay:
[not fully conscious]
Don't... let him pardon any more deserters... John Hay:
Mr. Stanton thinks you pardon too many. He's generally apoplectic... Abraham Lincoln:
He oughtn't to have done that, crippled his horse. That was cruel, but you don't just hang a sixteen year old boy for that... John Hay:
Ask the horse what he thinks. Abraham Lincoln:
For cruelty. There'd be no sixteen year old boys left. [protracted pause while staring into oblivion] Abraham Lincoln:
Grant wants me to bring the secesh delegates to Washington. John Nicolay:
[fully awaken, sits upright in bed]
So... there are secesh delegates? Abraham Lincoln:
He was afraid, that's all it was. I don't care to hang a boy for being frightened, either. What good would it do him? [signs the pardon] Abraham Lincoln:
War's nearly done. Ain't that so? What use one more corpse? Any more corpses? [rises to leaves] John Hay:
Do you need company? Abraham Lincoln:
Times like this, I'm best alone. [exits]