Original subtitles

- ♪ I see a land with liberty for all ♪

- ♪ Yet still I know the truth will rise and fall ♪

- ♪ Ooh, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ That's just the way it goes ♪

(both) - ♪ A word now to the wise ♪

♪ The world was made to change ♪

♪ Each day is a surprise ♪

♪ Lookin' at life through my own eyes ♪

♪ I'm searchin' for a hero to idolize ♪

♪ Feeling the pain as innocence dies ♪

♪ Looking at life through my own eyes ♪

- ♪ I take my heart into battle ♪

♪ Give that freedom bell a rattle ♪

♪ Get my independence signed ♪

♪ Declare it on the dotted line ♪

♪ In Philadelphia, freedom ring ♪

♪ And patriotic voices sing ♪

♪ Red, white, and blue, never give up ♪

♪ You represent America ♪

(both) - ♪ Hoping and praying for a brighter day ♪

♪ I listen to my heart and I obey ♪

♪ How can I see it any other way? ♪

♪ I'm looking at life ♪

- ♪ Looking at life ♪

- ♪ Through my own eyes ♪♪

(fireworks pop and whistle)

(narrator) - Today, on "Liberty's Kids"...

(George Washington) - We shall have to retreat to keep our army intact.

(man) - But, General, Philadelphia.

(Washington) - Will be lost, I'm afraid.

(John André) - Once news we've occupied Philadelphia reaches France,

the French will turn their backs on the rebels for good.

Much too vain to fight for a lost cause.

- Make way for a hero! His bravery won the day!

(James) - Which eventually led to Gentleman Johnny Burgoyne's

surrender at Saratoga.

That was a sight to see.

- Dr. Franklin! Dr. Franklin!

- Hello. What is it?

- My name is Jonathan Loring Austin,

secretary for the Massachusetts Board of War.

I have urgent news from America!

- Tell me, Mr. Austin. Are the rumors true?

Do the British occupy Philadelphia?

- I'm afraid so.

Congress has fled to York.

Wait. There's even greater news.

The British General Burgoyne

has surrendered his army at Saratoga.

- Come in, Mr. Austin.

Christmas has come early this year.

(laughing)

♪♪

(Sarah) - "Dearest Mother, so much has happened since I last wrote."

- Ugh! - Ooh!

(laughter)

- "Winter has arrived, and Philadelphia

"remains occupied by General Howe and his army.

(horse whinnying and reins snap)

"Moses and James took Dr. Franklin's printing press to York

"before General Howe's soldiers could confiscate it.

"The Continental Congress will no doubt make good use of it.

"As for Dr. Franklin's house,

"Captain John André has seized it

"and made himself quite at home.

"He dines often with Peggy Shippen,

"the daughter of a local gentleman

"with sympathies for the Crown.

"The less I say about her the better.

"Every night, there is a ball.

"While I have gone to one or two to be polite,

"under the circumstances, it is impossible to enjoy them.

"Everyone acts as if we were living in London.

(screaming)

"But the Americans always do something

"to remind us that we are in their country,

"in the midst of a war.

"Moses and James are now in Newport,

"in the colony of Rhode Island, to buy inks and papers

for the press..." - There!

(Sarah) - "...from a merchant who I believe Moses said is Jewish.

"Little Henri is still here, however.

"And Captain André has delighted in giving him

"quite a bit of responsibility around the house.

"But here is my greatest secret.

"I don't like living with all these strangers,

"even if they are British.

"If only you were here,

"I'm sure I wouldn't be so confused.

Your loving daughter, Sarah."

♪♪

- Yes, Ben, you were wise

to move out of Paris to this château.

It's closer to Versailles and far more private

than my quarters at the hotel.

- Not to mention more inconvenient

for the French and British spies.

- Dr. Franklin! Mr. Deane!

I don't mean to interrupt, but I've just learned

some very important news.

Paul Wentworth, the chief of Britain's secret service,

has arrived in Paris.

- What in heaven would Wentworth be doing there?

- He wants to meet with Dr. Franklin.

- Burgoyne's defeat has obviously rocked the British government.

Perhaps you should meet with him, Ben.

- No, I want you to meet with him first.

Hear him out, but commit to nothing.

In the meantime, I will pay a private visit

to France's foreign minister.

We'll play the British off the French

so we can get what we want.

- And what exactly is that, Dr. Franklin?

- Check to your king.

(horse whinnying)

It appears we've flushed out a couple of English spies.

Now we must seize the opportunity

to meet with Comte de Vergennes.

Ahh...

A ship sails for America in four days.

Have these delivered by messenger.

- You can count on me, Doctor. Good luck.

(whip snaps)

- This should be the place.

Would it be all right for me to look around?

I want to check on the Rhode Island Brigade

and see how they're doing against the British.

- I suppose.

There's no point in buying inks and papers

if we don't have something to print.

- I'll check at the statehouse and come right back here.

(door closes)

- That telescope's imported from Italy.

Can I help you find something in particular, sir?

- I wrote you from Philadelphia about inks and paper.

- Ah, yes! Dr. Franklin's man, Moses.

- You've got a good memory.

- Well, you and I do share the name of the man

who led my people out of slavery in Egypt.

Moses Michael Hays at your service.

- If you don't mind me saying, I haven't met many Israelites.

- Neither have I, for that matter.

We are but a small fraction of the American population.

But I take it, Moses, that you are a free man.

- Yes, sir.

- Many less fortunate than you

have been bought and sold on the docks here in Newport.

Some, I have to admit, by my own people.

- And some in Africa by mine as well.

- But forgive my manners.

May I offer you something to eat or drink?

- I wouldn't want to impose.

- It won't be fancy, I assure you.

I lost everything I owned

when a ship I purchased went down in a gale.

In fact, I've only recently come out of debtor's jail.

A lonely place, I can assure you.

But I don't have to tell you

what it feels like to not be free.

- Makes a man value every day he is free.

- Please. - Thank you.

- It's a funny thing about freedom.

A lot of people talk about it without really understanding it.

- That's a fact.

- I moved here because Rhode Island

guaranteed freedom of religion.

Well, my people here do have our own temple of worship,

but we're still not considered full-fledged citizens.

Still, I'd rather be a free man in the United States

than a servant to the pharaoh of England--

I mean the king.

- Moses!

(both) - Yes?

- He works with me at the newspaper.

- I see. - I found out

about the Rhode Island Brigade all right.

They sent a list of people they suspect of being Tories

to the Rhode Island Assembly.

Now the Assembly has posted a list of suspects

that it's demanding take a loyalty test

by signing an oath in public.

- Mr. Hays, I'm afraid your name is on this list.

(gasps)

- All of France is impressed

with the recent American victories, Dr. Franklin.

- As I've told you before,

the United States will win this war.

With France at our side,

it will take a matter of months, not years.

That one looks quite tasty.

Of course, that looks good too.

- Please, Dr. Franklin, take them both.

- I hate to ask too much of you.

- France insists.

- Merci beaucoup.

- Unfortunately, Doctor, His Majesty King Louis

does not wish to offend his brother-in-law,

King Charles of Spain, by signing a treaty

of alliance with the United States.

- I thought this was between France and the United States.

- Spain owns a vast amount of land in America.

King Charles feels that if you have taken what is England's,

then you most certainly will take what is his.

And France cannot make any agreement

without King Charles' approval.

- I've been a patient man, and I don't mean to be rude,

but given the circumstances...

- At least stay and finish your pastries.

- I'm sorry, but suddenly,

I feel in the mood for some English tea.

Au revoir.

♪♪

- Surely, now that the American capital has been taken,

the rebels will see the error of their ways.

No less than Lord North himself assures me

that Parliament will soon publish new terms

of settlement for the Colonies.

- I trust it will break their will as well as their backs.

- Now, John, they are of British descent after all.

No, I believe the terms will be quite generous,

as long as the Americans are willing to give up

their stubborn notion of independence.

(whispering) - What are you doing here?

(whispering) - Spying on them.

- Get back in the kitchen before you get caught.

- Of this, I'm certain.

Once news we've occupied Philadelphia reaches France,

the French will turn their backs on the rebels for good.

They're much too vain to fight for a lose cause.

Besides which, everyone knows

they despise the notion of liberty.

(together) - Hear! Hear!

- The French will help! (all gasping)

And even though King Louis may not believe

in égalité, fraternité, et liberté,

the French people do!

(Howe laughing)

(all laughing)

- "Égalité"?

(man speaks mocking gibberish)

- "Liberty"! (laughter continues)

- Hey! Hey! Put me down!

(grunting)

(man) - Good show!

(laughter continues)

(man) - Well done!

- If I may speak, General Howe?

- By all means, Miss Phillips.

- From what I've seen, too much has changed

for the Americans to accept anything less than full independence.

(chuckling) - Oh, that is such a foolish little idea.

- No, it's not. You may occupy their homes,

but you will never win their hearts and mind.

- Have you forgotten that you are English?

- It has nothing to do with me, Captain.

The Americans don't feel they need a king anymore.

They believe they can rule themselves.

- Rule themselves?

(overlapping chatter and laughter)

- I, for one, would like to propose a toast.

God bless King George.

(together) - God bless King George!

- God bless King George.

♪♪

(overlapping shouting)

- Traitor! - Moses Michael Hays?

- Yes? What can I do for you?

- Moses Hays, you have been summoned to the statehouse.

(man) - Take him away!

(overlapping shouting)

- We don't need the likes of you!

(man) - Traitor!

(Hays) - I still don't believe it!

The nerve! The gall!

The absolute cheek of the British!

You asked me to listen to Mr. Wentworth, and I did.

But to insult you and me by offering us money and titles

in exchange for becoming turncoats?

- No doubt Comte de Vergennes already has heard

the details from his spies.

This is all going extremely well.

- Going well?

I don't understand.

- We have fanned the flames between Britain and France.

Now it's time for me to meet with Mr. Wentworth.

- But surely you don't intend to accept his offer.

- Hardly, but Comte de Vergennes won't know that.

(muffled shouting)

(overlapping shouting)

- There they are! - Rotten Tories!

- Look at him!

- Traitor! - Leave! Leave!

(overlapping shouting)

- I have here a list of men

accused of being disloyal to the patriotic cause

of American independence.

- Read the names! - Kick the traitors out!

- We don't want 'em here!

- As a representative of the Rhode Island Assembly,

I am here today to demand

that each and every one of the accused

sign a public oath of loyalty to the revolution.

(overlapping shouting)

Moses Michael Hays, step forward.

Mr. Hays, are you ready to sign the oath?

- I have the right to face my accusers!

Who here has any proof of my disloyalty?

Or is it that there is some other reason I am accused?

Could it be that I am an Israelite?

- Will you sign the oath or not?

- Every time I venture to Paris,

I am reminded of how much I despise it.

Quite a beastly place. Don't you agree, Dr. Franklin?

- Actually, I've grown quite fond of it.

- I understand you are quite the celebrity here,

yet your blood is English.

A man of your character, given the proper circumstances,

might find a warm reception from his king and country.

- In other words, you'll give me a title

if I betray the revolution.

- If you insist on being blunt, very well.

Yes, His Majesty is prepared to reward those

who show their loyalty.

I need not remind you that much has changed

since you came to France.

General Howe has taken Philadelphia.

- I like to think that Philadelphia has taken Howe.

- This letter was given to me by a man

at the highest level of the British government.

"It is Britain's determination to fight for another ten years

rather than grant American independence."

- In that case, America is ready

to fight 50 years to win it, which, by the way,

I don't believe will be necessary.

- Gentlemen, I've called you here tonight

because it has come to my attention

that Dr. Franklin met today

with the chief of Britain's secret service.

I'm afraid we are facing a dangerous new development.

France has already lost America to Britain.

Do we stand by and lose our claim

to the West Indies as well?

His Majesty has told me that we must prevent this

from happening at all costs.

We have held off any alliance with the United States

to prevent a war with Britain, but we must face the fact

that the only thing worse than such a war

would be an agreement between Britain and America.

It is time for this council to act.

- With all due respect, I will not sign.

(overlapping shouting)

I will not sign because I am as patriotic

as any man in this room!

- What? - Huh?

- But I am also an Israelite

in a land of Christians, and as such,

I have not been granted the liberty to vote.

My people have a temple here in Newport, but none in Boston,

for the law there forbids Jews from public worship.

Rhode Island was founded on religious tolerance,

yet I am still not considered a citizen.

And why?

Because I worship God after my own fashion.

Neither the Continental Congress

nor the General Assembly of this state

nor the legislatures of any of the other Colonies

have ever taken notice

or provided rights to Israelites.

Until such a time as we are, all of us,

ready to recognize each other as equals,

I will not sign this oath.

(bell ringing)

(horse whinnying)

- Dr. Franklin's plan was masterfully executed.

Comte de Vergennes has signed the Treaty of Alliance

with the United States.

King Louis has finally agreed

to grant Dr. Franklin an audience.

It will mean war between Britain and France.

- You've given us every single letter

Dr. Franklin has written to Congress.

Why not just intercept the treaty as well?

- Even I can't do that.

- You think Franklin suspects you're a spy?

- The old man has no idea.

It's a secret I shall take to my grave.

- I believe you will.

Here you go, Edward. £500 as promised.

- God save King George.

- Mr. Hays? It's Moses.

- Moses. I'm sorry.

You came here to buy those inks and the paper,

and we never did get around to it.

- There's no need to apologize.

I saw what you did, what you said.

- I just want to be treated the same as any other man.

- Mr. Hays, there are some people outside who want to see you.

- What can I do for you?

- Mr. Hays, you made a great deal of sense.

If all men are created equal, it only seems fair

that each and every one of us should sign the oath.

- You would really do this?

- Permit me to be the first.

♪♪

- I, Moses Michael Hays,

pledge my loyalty to the United States of America.

(cheering)

- Moses, do you really think all men are created equal?

- An idea is only as strong

as the people who stand up for it.

And a lot more people are going to have to stand up for equality

before it comes true.

♪♪

(indistinct chatter)

- Is it true?

Has the treaty from France arrived?

- Yes, and Richard Henry Lee is about to speak.

- Gentlemen of Congress.

Today, we must admire the true wisdom

and dignity of the Court of France.

We have worked together-- politicians,

soldiers, and philosophers--

in a true harmony of mutual affection.

This happy juncture of time and circumstance

has laid the seeds of an eternal friendship.

The old lion that is Britain has finally lost its growl.

And France, by its openness,

has won our friendship more powerfully

than any piece of paper could ever bind us.

If we have the courage to persevere,

we shall establish our liberties and independence.

All those in favor of ratifying the treaty, say aye!

(together) - Aye!

- The Treaty of Alliance with France

is unanimously passed!

(cheering)

♪♪

(both) - ♪ Lookin' at life through my own eyes ♪

♪ I'm searchin' for a hero to idolize ♪

♪ Feeling the pain as innocence dies ♪

♪ I'm looking at life through my own eyes ♪

- ♪ I take my heart into battle ♪

♪ Give that freedom bell a rattle ♪

♪ Get my independence signed ♪

♪ Declare it on the dotted line ♪

♪ Red, white, and blue, never give up ♪

♪ You represent America ♪♪

(children) - Cookie Jar!

(laughter)