Fourth of July Movie Script

(actual title tba)

To bring you up to speed, I should have posted this sooner. But this was originally just a draft that I shared with my fam to get everyone on the same page — because I thought it would be fun to make a movie for when we were in West Des Moines for the 4th. That’s it. Now you’re up to speed.

PS. There are vids at the bottom.

Hello everyone! Here are my director/producer notes: These will just be a series of vignettes. Further, this is all I have ‘write’ now. If you can add some ideas/vignettes, that would be great. And if you have any sort of props/costumes… even better.

Titles:

On July 4, 1776, the 13 colonies claimed their independence from England, an event which eventually led to the formation of the United States. Each year on the fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, Americans celebrate this historic event. Here are some highlights that got us here…

—

We see a woman in a rocker with a flag draped over her lap. It’s Betsy Ross. She’s sewing with a needle and thread.

Off screen, a person shouts…

PERSON: (OS)
Betsy! Betsy! Betsy! Betsy!

BETSY ROSS:
I’m sewing here! Birth of a nation! Gimme a $%@! break, ok?!

—

We see a man at a desk with a quill. It’s Thomas Jefferson. He turns around and looks in camera. He sings to the tune of Alexander Hamilton.

THOMAS JEFFERSON:
Thomas Nothing Jefferson
My name is Thomas Nothing Jefferson
Everyone’s got a middle name but not me
Yeah, just not me, it’s a mystery

Statesman’s my station, creation, and vocation
I wrote the declaration that formed a nation
It starts with We the People, you must know it
I’m a nice guy, a fly guy, I’m a politician poet

—

We see two guys in a sitting room. One guy is just the back of someone, but the other person has a tri-corner hat and two lanterns. It’s Paul Revere.

GUY:
So it’s one if be land and two if by sea, ok?

PAUL REVERE:
Shouldn’t it be ocean?

GUY:
What do you mean?

PAUL REVERE:
It’s not the Atlantic Sea. It’s the Atlantic Ocean.

GUY:
It just sounds better. It’s easier to rhyme sea than ocean.

PAUL REVERE:
Motion, notion, lotion.

GUY:
Well, that’s pretty much it.

PAUL REVERE:
Potion. Devotion.

GUY:

PAUL REVERE:
Emotion.

GUY:
Fine. One if my land, two if by ocean. Just make sure everyone sees it.

PAUL REVERE:
Cool.

—

We see a guy at a table. Another guy approaches. It’s John Hancock.

GUY AT TABLE:
Hi. Can I help you?

JOHN HANCOCK:
HI! I’M HERE TO SIGN SOMETHING!

GUY AT TABLE:
Do you know what room or what it is you’re supposed to-

JOHN HANCOCK:
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE!

GUY AT TABLE:
Name?

JOHN HANCOCK:
JOHN HANCOCK!

GUY AT TABLE:
Ok, just down the hall to the-

JOHN HANCOCK (taking out giant ostritch feather):
I BROUGHT MY OWN PEN!

—

We see a man sitting at a desk writing a letter. It’s John Adams. He speaks aloud as he writes…

JOHN ADAMS:
Dear Abigail, It is so freaking hot. I’m sweating like a pig. I stink. It’s awful. Anyhoo, we’ve been working really really hard. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable day ever in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary Festival.

—

Titles:

Two days later…

—

We see Thomas Jefferson as his desk again. He blows the ink dry on the Declaration of Independence before before handing it over to an official.

THOMAS JEFFERSON:
There. That’s the final final final version. It’s ready for adoption.

(He turns slightly after the official leaves and shouts toward the floor.)

Sally, you ready to stay in tonight? Sally?

—

We see a woman in a rocking chair with a baby. It’s Sally Hemmings. She is looking up at the ceiling and then she looks right into camera. She glowers and shakes her head.

—

Titles:

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the same day, specifically July 4, 1826, specifically the 50th anniversary of Independence Day.

—

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

—

Titles:

FIN.

HERE IT IS!

Um, so, uh, we shortened the script a bit. The movie ended up being called…

Betsy Ross Gang v King George

It’s mostly historically accurate — metaphorically speaking. Anyhoo, this is what we ended up with…

(Oh, they are really aren’t versions as much as they are takes.)