Young Washington

Where is the General? Where is he?

Where is Braddock?

What happened?

We've been ambushed!

From where?

Over the hill!

I wouldn't bother, Washington.

The battle is lost.

Where is the General?

Ordered a full retreat.

That way lies nothing but death.

And my men?

You have no men.

The Virginians.

They were at the front of the line.

If you go that way, you will die.

You look like death already.

Listen to me.

You'll never find them, and even if you did,

you'd never make it back.

Washington.

Washington!

Come, my friend.

What could be worth the risk?

Mary.

I'm so sorry.

This must be Jack.

This is...our Jack

Where is he?

He's there.

He’s not spoken since...

since his father died.

Hello, George.

Do you remember me?

I'm your half-brother.

Lawrence.

You're an officer?

I was, yes.

Captain in his Majesty's Navy.

I have something for you.

It’s a surveyor’s compass.

It measures distances of land and sea.

This was our father's.

And now it's yours.

Won’t you need it?

Well, my next adventure is here with you, George.

I have been appointed Adjutant General of the Virginia militia.

So, you will command soldiers?

I'm to organize militia.

Volunteers, really.

Do Washington men die young?

What?

I heard them say Washington men die young.

That it's a curse to our name.

Is that true?

Are you afraid to die?

Mother says I will not be going back to school.

There's nothing wrong with tenant farming.

It's an honorable profession.

But that is not what I want.

It's what duty demands.

Time and circumstance have changed.

William Fairfax is attending school.

Why can I not?

The Fairfaxes are of a superior class.

With advantages we will never possess, George.

The world is often an unfair place.

And you must take what it gives you and make it yours.

Now come inside.

George, where are you going?

To school!

Stubborn child.

It's two miles.

I know.

They will not let you in.

They will.

Don't take it out on the tree.

George. Stop, stop!

They turned me away. Because of you.

And now I have nothing.

Nothing?

We have 250 acres.

Ten slaves in bondage to feed.

And one widow's purse, near empty.

You're the eldest son in this house,

and you have a duty to it.

That is not what I want. I want more than this.

And I want a husband, back from his fever.

Providence denied me this.

Then Providence is cruel!

God raises what is well grounded.

You'll not abandon what is yours, nor will I.

You're my son,

and a Washington, and you'll behave like both.

Here.

Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior.

That will teach you how to be a proper gentleman.

Then Cato. Plutarch. Essential readings.

Seneca and Cincinnatus.

If one desires to be great, he must study those that were.

It’s a lot of books, I know--

I am sorry for your misfortune, George.

If no one else will teach you, I'll teach you.

But I could loan you these,

one by one,

if you do your chores.

“Every public action should” what?

“Show respect to those who are present.”

What do you think respect means?

To listen to or obey the one you are respecting.

Perhaps.

But obedience can be commanded.

Respect must be earned.

That is why I became a soldier.

Aristocracy is a game, George.

But, you could learn to play it, I suppose.

What piece are we?

We are pawns, George.

But even a pawn can take a king.

Play again?

Yeah.

Up.

Very nice, George.

Remember, heels down, chest up.

I think it's now time you ride alone.

Wouldn't you agree?

Yes.

Very well.

Go on then.

Not too fast now.

Steady.

“To obtain the applause of

deserving men is a heartfelt satisfaction...”

“...to merit them is my highest wish...”

So, here he is.

The boy who writes all the letters...

petitioning for a ‘royal’ commission?

Yes, sir.

I dream of becoming a British officer.

Ensign or lieutenant, as his Majesty sees fit.

I believe my brother communicated this on my behalf.

Lawrence Washington.

He served under the--

If I were to allow it... the purchase price

for an ensigncy in the Coldstreams is £700.

Do you possess that, sir?

No, sir. I do not.

Then why not seek to join the militia?

Well, I wish to serve the Crown as an actual officer.

Then how much land do you possess?

I am a custodian, um, under my brother's estate

at Mount Vernon.

Tenant farmer.

Education?

I received no formal schooling after my father died, sir.

But I recently obtained my surveyor's license.

To be a British officer,

you must first be a gentleman.

If I may, sir, how is it that my brother qualified yet I do not?

He owns Mount Vernon.

He was properly educated in England.

And what's more, he's married to a Fairfax.

Yes, and he has been a great mentor to me.

I-I've studied to become a gentleman.

I've even compiled all I've learned.

Goodness, man, how much do you write?

Well, I've compiled it from other books.

It's called Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour.

Which is to say you plagiarised it.

No. No, no--

Well, yes, but, err...

Imitation of great men does not make you one.

I... I ask again, sir.

How may I become a British officer of the Crown?

-You cannot-- -There must be a path.

There is not for you.

And please, stop writing me letters.

Go!

Hello, Jack.

Good to see you.

Are you an officer now?

Not yet.

But someday.

Or never.

If God hears my prayers.

“Be not tedious in discourse.”

Especially tonight.

Where are you off to?

To see Lawrence.

At Belvoir? You're not invited. How do you expect to get in?

Is it a sin to seek advancement?

It is to them.

You're just a pawn to them.

Well, even a pawn can take a king.

Invitation, sir.

I am Mr. Washington, uh, George Washington.

Half-brother to Lawrence,

who is married to Anne, formerly Fairfax.

Thank you for the genealogy. Now, your invitation, sir?

Ah.