Ten Duel Commandments - Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jon Rua, Leslie Odom, Jr.

One, two, three, four

Five, six, seven, eight, nine…

It’s the Ten Duel Commandments

It’s the Ten Duel Commandments

Number one!

The challenge: demand satisfaction

If they apologize, no need for further action

Number two!

If they don’t, grab a friend, that’s your second

Your lieutenant when there’s reckoning to be reckoned

Number three!

Have your seconds meet face to face

Negotiate a peace…

Or negotiate a time and place

This is commonplace, ‘specially ‘tween recruits

Most disputes die, and no one shoots

Number four!

If they don’t reach a peace, that’s alright

Time to get some pistols and a doctor on site

You pay him in advance, you treat him with civility

You have him turn around so he can have deniability

Five!

Duel before the sun is in the sky

Pick a place to die where it’s high and dry

Number six!

Leave a note for your next of kin

Tell ‘em where you been.

Pray that hell or heaven lets you in

Seven!

Confess your sins.

Ready for the moment of adrenaline when you finally face your opponent

Number eight!

Your last chance to negotiate

Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight…

Alexander

Aaron Burr, sir

Can we agree that duels are dumb and immature?

Sure

But your man has to answer for his words, Burr

With his life?

We both know that’s absurd, sir

Hang on, how many men died because Lee was inexperienced and ruinous?

Okay, so we’re doin’ this

Number nine!

Look ‘em in the eye, aim no higher

Summon all the courage you require

Then count

One two three four

Five six seven eight nine

Number

Ten paces!

Fire!