LYRICS
 

JOHNSON CITY, TEXAS. 1920.

The Oval Office transforms into Johnson City Main Street. LBJ changes his appearance and becomes Young Lyndon. He picks up two garbage pails. The Protesters change appearance, donning caps and transforming into KIDS. We see them taunt young Lyndon.

​​

KID 1

Weakling!

​

KID 2

Coward!

​

LBJ drops his garbage pails and awkwardly puts up his dukes He "kicks like a girl" then spots SAM JOHNSON walking down the street. He runs to Sam

​

LBJ

Daddy!

​

Young LBJ, now safely walking with his dad, looks back and sticks his tongue out and shakes his buttocks at the kids. They shake their fists in a "we'll get you next time" kind of way - they stay a few paces behind LBJ as he walks with his father

 

SAMUEL JOHNSON

Son, I'm off to the State House. We've got a big vote.

 

LBJ

You gonna help people 'round here?

 

SAMUEL JOHNSON

That's the hope.

 

LBJ

You gonna shake hands? Hatch some plans?

 

SAMUEL JOHNSON

Force appeals

 

LBJ

(eagerly)

You gonna take stands? Fight for rights?

 

SAMUEL JOHNSON

I'll make some deals.

 

As they walk, lights darken a bit as TOWNSPEOPLE start surrounding Sam. The two get separated. The scene turns violent, ending in Sam and LBJ on the ground getting kicked by their enemies. The young boy HUISSO can be seen hiding in back, watching nervously

 

TOWNSPERSON 1

Where's my money, Sam Johnson?

 

KID 1

Where's my ball, Lyndon Baines?

 

TOWNSPERSON 2

(pushing Sam Johnson)

You're a good man, but a dreamer

 

A kid spins Lyndon around, trying to get his ball.

 

KID 2

You, kid, are a pain.

 

TOWNSPERSON 3

You'll dream yourself into the poorhouse if you don't smarten up

 

KID 3

Your father's a loser and you're just his pup.

 

TOWNSPERSON 1

(throwing first punch)

Your out of money Sam Johnson.

 

TOWNSPERSON 2

Your credit's all gone!

 

TOWNSPERSON 1

(kicks)

Too many rotten yields, your cotton fields are going for a song.

 

Huisso runs in and tries to help LBJ. The kids start kicking him, too.

 

TOWNSPERSON 2

(kicks)

He thought he could help people and win.

 

TOWNSPERSON 3

(kicks and spins Huisso)

Now the banks are calling everything in.

 

KID 1

(kicking Huisso)

Lyndon needs some help from his little wetback friend!

 

KID 2

Get this beaner back to Mexico, we'll kick his rear end.

 

LBJ

Help! Fire! There's a fire down at Madame Scarlett's!

Kids and townspeople run off. Huisso helps LBJ and Sam up from the ground.

 

HUISSO

Thanks, Lyndon.

 

LBJ & HUISSO

I owe you my life.

 

LBJ

Dad, let's go get 'em. Do you still have that knife?

 

HUISSO

Yeah! Let's get in the car. Chase them down with your gun.

 

SAMUEL JOHNSON

Boys, there's too many fights. You can't win every one.

 

LBJ

But they beat Huisso up

Can't you pass a new bill?

To protect all the people?

 

SAMUEL JOHNSON

That's running uphill.

It's Texas, I've lost all those battles before

Knocked down on my ass on the ol' State House floor

 

LBJ

But you always taught me to do what is right

To lift people up, not to run from the fight!

 

SAMUEL JOHNSON

Lyndon and Huisso, we could get that gun

Stop those bullies, maybe even kill one

And maybe they kill one of you, and now what have you done?

They would still be racist

And we would still be poor.

Better make sure you know just what you're fighting for

Sometimes you gotta lose

Sometimes you gotta lose

Sometime you gotta lose to win the war.

​

Sam leaves. LBJ, still on the ground, looks to Huisso

 

LBJ 

Man, my dad just rolled over.

C'mon Huisso. Let's go buy a sweet

 

HUISSO

They took my last penny - it's lost in the street.

 

LBJ

Well, I'll pay the penny. C'mon, it's my treat.

Let's go get a comic.

​

HUISSO

You know I can't read

 

LBJ

You don't go to school?

 

HUISSO

I work picking weeds. It's the only way that I can help my family's needs

My family's poor. We're not like you

 

LBJ

You know, Huisso, we're pretty poor, too.