We Know

Mr. Vice President

Mr. Madison

Senator Burr

What is this?

We have the check stubs. From separate accounts…

Almost a thousand dollars, paid in different amounts…

To a Mr. James Reynolds way back in

Seventeen ninety-one

Is that what you have? Are you done?

You are uniquely situated by virtue of your position—

Though ‘virtue’ is not a word I’d apply to this situation—

To seek financial gain, to stray from your sacred mission—

And the evidence suggests you’ve engaged in speculation—

An immigrant embezzling our government funds—

I can almost see the headline, your career is done

I hope you saved some money for your daughter and sons

Ya best g'wan run back where ya come from!

Ha! You don’t even know what you’re asking me to confess

Confess

You have nothing. I don’t have to tell you anything at all

Unless

Unless

If I can prove that I never broke the law

Do you promise not to tell another soul what you saw?

No one else was in the room where it happened

Is that a yes?

Um, yes

“Dear Sir, I hope this letter finds you in good health

And in a prosperous enough position to put wealth

In the pockets of people like me: down on their luck

You see, it was my wife who you decided to—”

Whaaaat—

She courted me

Escorted me to bed and when she had me in a corner

That’s when Reynolds extorted me

For a sordid fee

I paid him quarterly

I may have mortally wounded my prospects

But my papers are orderly!

As you can see I kept a record of every check in my checkered

History. Check it again against your list n’ see consistency

I never spent a cent that wasn’t mine

You sent the dogs after my scent, that’s fine

Yes, I have reasons for shame

But I have not committed treason and sullied my good name

As you can see I have done nothing to provoke legal action

Are my answers to your satisfaction?

My God

Gentlemen, let’s go

So?

The people won't know what we know

Burr!

How do I know you won’t use this against me

The next time we go toe to toe?

Alexander, rumors only grow. And we both

Know what we know