Original subtitles

♪ I see a land ♪

♪ With liberty for all ♪

♪ Yet still I know ♪

♪ The truth will rise and fall, oh, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ That's the just the way it goe

♪ A word now to the wise ♪

♪ The world was made to change ♪

♪ Each day is a surprise ♪

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

♪ I'm searchin' for a hero to id

♪ Feelin' the pain as innocence

♪ I'm lookin' at life ♪

♪ With my own eyes ♪

♪ I'll take my heart into battle

♪ Give that freedom bell a rattl

♪ Get my independence signed ♪

♪ Declare it on the dotted line

♪ Let Philadelphia freedom ring

♪ And patriotic voices sing ♪

♪ Red, white and blue, never giv

♪ You represent America ♪

♪ Lookin' and prayin' for a brig

♪ I listen to my heart and I obe

♪ How can I see it any other way

♪ I'm lookin' at life, I'm lookin at life ♪

♪ Through my own eyes ♪

(upbeat music) (fireworks exploding)

(suspenseful music)

- [Narrator] Here are some excit

from today's episode of Liberty'

- Cornwallis has surrendered, the war is over!

- It is not over, Cornwallis is not England!

I shall quit my throne before I shall break apart

this British empire which I love

I shall never surrender to those American rebels!

- "We hold these truths to be self-evident,

"that all men are created equal.

- Those words are about freedom!

(upbeat music)

(wheels creaking) (bridles jangling)

(horse snorting)

- I built the house back in '35,

I'm told it's the oldest complet

in all the Berkshires.

It was in this house that we dra

our statement of grievances against English rule.

Unfortunately, you can see how much attention

King George paid to it. (laughs)

- Thank you, Betty. - You're welcome, Ma'am.

- Betty, come here! (ominous music)

What is the meaning of this?

- What, Madam?

- What, you say?

Look!

Dust, on my Wedgwood vase!

- I'll fix it right away, Madam.

(Betty blowing) (Madam gasping)

Bless you, Missus.

(Madam sneezing)

- Mrs. Adams, I'm delighted you could come!

I do hope we will see your John back from Europe soon, too?

- If the news from Yorktown is good, Colonel Ashley,

perhaps John and Dr. Franklin will rejoin us soon.

And bring along a peace treaty w

- It is my dearest hope that that comes to pass.

- Thank you.

- Mrs. Adams, I am Theodore Sedg

I so admire the contributions yo

and your husband have made to our new nation.

- Theodore is the finest attorne

you don't want to find yourself

on the other side of a case from him. (laughs)

Come, friends, let us begin our

with the Declaration of Independ

- Good idea! - Hear, hear!

- [Sarah] Wonderful!

- "When, in the course of human

"it becomes necessary for one pe

"to dissolve the political bonds

"which have connected them with

"And to assume, among the powers of the Earth,

"the separate and equal station to which the laws

"of nature and of nature's God entitled them.

"A decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires

"that they should the declare th

"which impel them to the separat

- [Betty] Hi, Honey, did you com

- That large man from Maine's dr

his ninth cup of punch!

- Lizzie, quiet!

- Well, what's more important,

us runnin' out of punch and me gettin' in trouble

or some ol' words the Master's s

- Old words?

(Lizzie gasping)

Do you know what those old words are about?

- I don't, Betty, but I have a f

you're about to tell me.

- Little Sister, those words are about freedom!

- You and me been slaves since we were born,

what do we know about freedom?

- Nothin', Lizzie, nothin' at al

- "We hold these truths to be self evident,

"that all men are created equal,

"that they are endowed by their

"with certain inalienable rights

"that among these are life, libe

"and the pursuit of happiness."

- But if someone offered me one minute's freedom

and told me I had to die at the end of that minute,

I'd take it just to stand one mi

on God's Earth a free woman!

(dramatic music)

(upbeat music)

- [Sarah] Dearest Mother, so much has happened

since I last wrote.

General Washington has won at Yo

It was truly a miraculous conver

as they're calling it.

The French Fleet, led by Admiral de Grasse,

captured the mouth of the Chesap

(men yelling) (cannons firing)

(fires crackling)

- [Men] Fire!

- [British Soldier] The French are too powerful for us!

- This trapped General Cornwalli

He could get no help or supplies from the sea

and with the town surrounded on

by Generals Washington and Rocha

he could expect nothing but trou

from the land as well.

This siege was terrible and I feared it might never end!

Finally, the lack of food

and the endless artillery shelli

General Cornwallis to concede de

Over 7,000 British soldiers surrendered their weapons!

(triumphant military music)

Surely, with so large a loss the British will now realize

the futility of this war and we will finally have peace.

(drums pounding)

(water splashing)

(metal clinking)

(glass humming)

(door knocking) - Entre.

- Doctor Franklin, wonderful new

Victory at Yorktown!

Cornwallis has surrendered!

The war is over!

- This is indeed wonderful news,

But is the war really over,

that I think will be up to King George to decide.

- It is not over!

What of our other general, hmm?

Cornwallis is not England!

What of Clinton and his 6,000 me

What of our fleet?

We are the largest naval force on the ocean, sir,

and I'll thank you to remember t

We have defeated these colonists time and again,

and we shall do so now!

This changes nothing and I shall write as much

to the Secretary of State from here myself, directly!

Away with you, I have business to attend to!

(suspenseful music)

Dear

Sir,

there will be

no peace

without honor!

(dramatic music)

(chair squeaking)

- Lizzie!

More lemonade!

(somber music)

- (sighing) I'll get it, Madam.

- I told Lizzie to do it!

Lizzie! (suspenseful music)

Right now! (door squeaking)

What were you eating?

- Scraps, Madam.

- You ate the family's food without asking me first?

- [Lizzie] Yes, Madam, I'm sorry

- You're sorry?

- Very sorry, Madam.

Excuse me, Madam.

(suspenseful music)

- I did not order you to leave!

(glass breaking)

Now clean that up!

(suspenseful music)

(glass breaking) (Lizzie gasping)

And that!

(glass breaking)

And that!

(glass breaking) (Lizzie gasping)

And that!

And that! (dramatic music)

- This is fascinating, Mr. Sedge

I think I should like to practice law myself some day!

- With all respect, Sarah, there are no women lawyers.

- With all respect, Mr. Sedgewic

perhaps I shall be the first.

- Perhaps you shall, indeed.

(door knocking)

Excuse me.

(upbeat music)

Betty, come in please.

- Thank you, Mr. Sedgewick.

(ominous music)

- Let me take your coat.

Uh, please, go ahead and be seat

(ominous music)

(girl sniffling)

Now, Betty, what can I do for yo

- Sir, I would like you to help me win my freedom

for me and my little girl.

- Excuse me?

- I don't want to be a slave

and I don't want my girl to grow up as I did,

knowing nothin' but slavery.

Thank ya kindly. - You're very welcome.

- Betty, are you asking me to sue Colonel John Ashley,

the most important man in this town for your freedom?

- Yes, Sir, I fear for my child's well-being.

- You can't let the child be in harms way, Mr. Sedgewick!

- But it's more than that, Sir.

I heard that paper read, that all men are born equal

and that every man has a right t

I am not a dumb critter, won't the law give me my freedom?

(dramatic music)

- And what, my fellow members of Parliament,

did King George, ostrich-like, really, in plain words say

when he got the news of the defe

He said, "Our losses in America have been most horrible.

"The taxes the British people ar

"for this war are outrageously h

"but even now that Lord Cornwallis has surrendered

"at Yorktown and our hopes of vi

"in America have utterly disappe

"I forbid anyone from thinking o

"My insane rage for revenge live

"and only the total enslavement

"of my American subjects will lay it to rest!"

Gentlemen, what the King speaks is madness!

And you, Lord North, must tell h

(Parliament exclaiming) (dramatic music)

- Betty, why did you come to me?

You know I'm a close friend of the colonel's.

- Master said you're the finest attorney in town

and you were there in Master's study a few years back,

writin' those other words

about freedom everybody was sayi

- You mean back in '73 when we discussed the Bill of Rights

and the Constitution for Massach

- Yes, Sir, when I was waitin' a

I was keepin' still and mindin'

I heard you gentlemen, in all you said I never heard,

but that all people are free and

I thought long about it and figured I'd see

whether I did not come in among

- Sir, you must help!

Has a slave ever won her freedom in court before?

- Yes, Sarah, a number of times,

but those cases were always base

on a master promising freedom to

and then breaking that promise.

Colonel Ashley made no such promise to Betty.

- So you won't take Betty's case

- On the contrary, that's exactl

I will take Betty's case.

- Yahoo!

(throat clearing)

(upbeat music)

- I do not care what that vile

Mr. Charles Fox says in Parliame

I do not care what anyone says in Parliament!

Lord North, I do not care what a

in the entire world! (dramatic music)

I shall quit my throne before I shall break apart

this British empire which I love

And, Sir, I shall never surrende

to those American rebels!

Never! (dramatic music)

(ominous music)

- [Court Observer] This is a great opportunity for us.

- [Court Observer] Let's hope they free the poor woman.

- Can Mumbet win, Mrs. Adams?

- She has fine lawyers in

Mr. Sedgewick and Mr. Tapping Re

- [Sarah] And she has right on h

- Yes, Sarah, we shall see wheth

those two weapons are strong enough to carry the day.

- Is that the jury? - It is.

- But all the jurors are men?

And they're all white?

How will Mumbet get a fair trial

- Give them some credit, Sarah,

perhaps they'll understand we ar

all the same race, the human rac

- Judge, on behalf of Colonel As

who has served his state

and country so well in so many w

we ask that this case be dismissed immediately.

(people gasping) - What?

- Will they do that?

- And that Bet be returned to her lawful residence,

the home of Colonel Ashley.

(people exclaiming)

- Order! (gavel banging)

On what grounds, Sir?

- Judge, the custom of our nation considers slavery

to be right and correct.

Bet is the lawful Negro slave of John Ashley,

Colonel Ashley can testify to th

It is a simple question of ownership, you see.

Therefore, we ask you to return

to Colonel Ashley immediately.

(people exclaiming)

- That's outrageous! - Justice will be done!

(dramatic music)

(dogs barking)

- [Messenger] Your Highness!

- Now, my cowardly premier,

Lord North has sent me his resig

They're all against me?

Well, I should not accept this!

And I shall not let my colonists

The British Empire, like these hounds, is strong!

The rebels, like the fox, are we

- Your Majesty, I'm afraid somet

the fox does escape the hound.

(dramatic music)

(dog howling)

- The court rejects Colonel Ashley's motion

to dismiss this case.

Mr. Sedgewick, you may speak for your client.

- Thank you, Judge.

(upbeat music)

In the past, a slave in Massachusetts has been freed

only when a master went back on

to free that slave,

but we would like to make two different arguments.

Two, new arguments.

First, no Massachusetts law

has ever established slavery as

I defy Colonel Ashley to show me one that does?

Second, even more importantly,

even if such a law did exist, it would be canceled out

by our state's new Constitution,

as my client has so wisely pointed out to me.

Our Massachusetts Constitution s

"All men are born free and equal

"and have certain natural, essen

"and unalienable rights."

Among which may be reckoned the

of enjoying their liberties.

Gentlemen,

Betty cannot be the lawful slave

of Colonel John Ashley for a very simple reason,

slavery

is

unlawful!

(upbeat music) (children laughing)

(Catherine crying)

- It's just a scrape, Catherine, you're gonna be fine.

(children laughing)

You ready to catch your brother

- Betty? - Yes, Sarah?

- What will you do if you lose?

- Honey, my husband, rest in pea

died in this war so we all could

from your friends back in Englan

Not, so some of us could be slaves to some others of us.

Somehow, some time, me and little Bet are gonna be free

and you can count on that.

- Betty, Sarah?

The jury's comin' back.

(Betty sighing) (somber music)

(suspenseful music)

- Gentlemen, have you reached a

- We have, Judge.

We find that Bet is not now, nor has she ever been

the legal servant or property of John Ashley.

(crowd exclaiming)

We award 30 shillings in damages

and order John Ashley to pay her for all her service

since she was 21 years old.

We also declare that John Ashley shall pay all court costs.

- Congratulations to us all!

- This is a great day! - Isn't it wonderful!

- [Guest] All our people shall b

- (children laughing)

- Oh, you got him, Catherine!

Good going!

- Friends, friends!

To courage,

to freedom,

to Mumbet!

- [Crowd] To Mumbet, hurray!

Hurray!

- I've given myself a new name, a free name.

From this moment on, I'm Elizabeth Freeman.

- [Crowd] Elizabeth Freeman, hur

- Betty?

I'm hoping you'll come back and work for me?

For salary, of course, we sure could use you back.

- Thank you, Mister,

but I'm gonna stay here with the Sedgewicks.

They've done nothin' but treat m

and with 10 children and Mrs. Sedgewick ill,

somebody's gotta do the cookin'.

(crowd laughing)

- I'll leave you to it, then.

Goodbye, Betty. (somber music)

- Girls,

it sure feels good

to call that man mister insteada

You're free, baby!

Just like I always promised!

You're free!

(lively court music)

(couples muttering)

- My good friends, King George has come to his senses,

he wishes to negotiate peace wit

and with the new United States o

(crowd cheering)

Hmm, perhaps I oughta make that announcement again?

(women laughing)

(dramatic music)

- [Sarah] And, Mother, there's more good news!

Another slave by the name

of Quok Walker sued for his free

in the Supreme Court of Massachusetts and also won.

The decision will surely lead

to slavery being outlawed in Massachusetts.

Listen to what the chief justice

"Slavery took its origin from European nations

"and the British government,

"but a different idea has taken place here in America.

"Everyone is born free and equal

"Everyone is entitled to liberty

"and to have it guarded.

"Slavery is, in my judgment,

"as effectively abolished as it

- Thank you, Mister Ashley. (uplifting music)

- [Sarah] Mother, these long overdue decisions for liberty

give me new hope for my new coun

Our new country.

I hope and trust that the horror

of slavery will soon be abolishe

in the rest of our 13 states, fo

For, Mother, if one American is not free, none of us are.

(dramatic music)

♪ In our life through my own eye

♪ I'm searchin' for a hero to id

♪ Feelin' the pain as innocence

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

♪ I'll take my heart into battle

♪ Give that freedom bell a rattl

♪ Get my independence signed ♪

♪ Declare it on the dotted line

♪ Red, white and blue, never giv

♪ You represent America ♪

- [Children] Cookie jar! (laughi