Wal', sir, I'm a Son of Liberty, and et's my sworn duty to go whar I'm wanted fer liberty, and ef thet's et-- MCKEEN It is. URIAH Then I'll go. MCKEEN I'll pay your price. URIAH Thar won't be no price! I'll git yer man to Philadelphia tomorrow mornin' ef I hev to carry him myself. Who's yer man? MCKEEN Caesar Rodney of Dover, Delaware. Here's a letter for him. URIAH Caesar Rodney--I'll fetch him! MCKEEN Good! URIAH [_going_] Hey, Jim! Throw a saddle on thet bay mare! [_orders fade out_] ANNOUNCER For our next scene let us look in at the home of Caesar Rodney in Dover, Delaware. It is nearly eight o'clock on the evening of July 1, 1776. Rodney, pale and drawn, with the languid air of a man but recently out of a sick bed, is sitting in an easy chair. Mrs. Rodney is hovering over him with a protecting anxiety-- PRUDENCE You're sure you feel strong enough to sit up, Caesar? RODNEY Yes, yes, Prudence, I'm all right, I tell you. PRUDENCE You're sure you're not in any pain? RODNEY No, no, dear, I'm all right--just weak, that's all. PRUDENCE Now, Caesar, you just mustn't overtax your strength--remember this is only the second day you've been out of bed. RODNEY Yes, dear. PRUDENCE And the physician said you mustn't overdo. RODNEY All right, dear. I wonder what's happening in Philadelphia. PRUDENCE You must get your mind off Congress. You mustn't worry. RODNEY I know, but--what date's today? PRUDENCE July first--why? RODNEY July first. Why, today the Lee Resolution was to come up for final action! Oh, I'm sorry I wasn't there! PRUDENCE What's the Lee Resolution? RODNEY It's the most important motion that's come before the Continental Congress in the two years Congress has been sitting. PRUDENCE What's it about? RODNEY Independence. PRUDENCE You mean to say they're even considering such a thing? RODNEY Of course. It's the only thing left for us. We've got to declare our independence. PRUDENCE Well, I'm mighty glad you weren't there today to vote for it. RODNEY Why? PRUDENCE You'd just have put a rope around your neck. RODNEY My dear, I've done that long ago. [_knocking_] See who's at the door, dear. PRUDENCE All right. [_knocking_] Yes, yes, I'm coming. [_door opens_] URIAH [_off_] Does Caesar Rodney dwell here? PRUDENCE Yes, what's wanted? URIAH Kin I see him, ma'm? PRUDENCE He's just out of a sick bed and not very strong. URIAH Et's very important, ma'm. RODNEY [_calling_] Ask him to come in, Prudence. PRUDENCE Well, just a minute--and don't excite him. Right in this way. URIAH Be ye Caesar Rodney? RODNEY Yes. URIAH Here's a letter fer ye. RODNEY A letter--where from? URIAH Philadelphia. I fetched et all the way since noon today. RODNEY Indeed! [_sound of tearing paper_] PRUDENCE Now, Caesar, do you think you ought to read that? RODNEY Why not? PRUDENCE