Original subtitles

♪ I see a land with liberty for all ♪

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

♪ Ohh, yeah yeah

♪ That's just the way it goes

♪ 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 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 ♪

♪ In Philadelphia freedom ring

♪ And patriotic voices sing

♪ Red, white, and blue never give up ♪

♪ We represent America

♪ I'm 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 exploding)

(chorus singing)

- [Announcer] Here are some exciting scenes

from today's episode of Liberty's Kids.

(dramatic music)

- [General Green] The British are preparing

for a large scale foray into the South.

My plan is to hit him when and where he's not expecting us.

And run like the wind before he can catch us.

He'll have to take new supplies from the local population.

They will despise him for that.

Then the people in the South will move over to our cause,

Cornwallis will withdraw, I hope.

If we don't stop Cornwallis there,

he will drive north and crush Virginia.

(soft harp music)

(horse neighing)

- [James] General Green, being employed

to command the Southern Army is quite an honor.

- [Green] Honor is an interesting word for it, James.

The Southern Army is exhausted,

and the British have a great deal of support in the South.

We must rally the population

(feverous writing on paper) here to our side,

or we could lose the war.

My greatest hope is that the governor of Virginia

will provide me with much needed man and supplies.

- [Henri] My greatest hope is that he'll provide us

with some much needed southern desserts!

- [Sarah] And I'm looking forward

to writing a story about the man

who wrote the words, "All men are created equal".

(patriotic music) (horse neighing)

The governor's mansion!

Just think, in a few minutes,

I'll be talking with Thomas Jefferson!

(gasps) How do you address the author

of the Declaration of Independence?

(dramatic music)

(soft chipper music)

Your Excellency.

No, too formal.

Mr. Jefferson!

No, too familiar.

- [James] I hope we get to see him soon.

I can't take much more of this.

- [Henri] She looks kind of like a chicken

trying to dance in sticky mud!

- [Sarah] Sir, great to see you again!

Ah, that's better.

- [Man] The governor will see you now.

(footsteps tapping)

- [Sarah] Sir, great to see you again.

Sir, great to see you again.

Sir, great to see you again!

We met before in Philadelphia.

You remember?

Oh, maybe you don't!

I was disguised as a chambermaid,

and I stole some of your trash!

Well, I didn't really steal it.

After all, it was trash,

and I was just doing some investigative reporting.

And I was investigating you.

No, that's not right.

I was just trying to find out what goes on

in that brilliant mind of yours!

Anyway, hello.

(quill scratching)

James, tell me that wasn't perfectly awful.

- [James] It was better than I could have ever hoped.

- [Thomas] Forgive me.

I was jotting down a thought about developing free schools

that all our nations children could attend.

A pleasure, General.

- [Sarah] Sir! Great to see you again!

Whoa!

(Sarah laughs)

- [Thomas] And you must be Henri!

- [Henri] Henri Richard Maurice Dutoit LeFevre from France.

(footsteps tapping)

Yum!

- [Thomas] So, how may I be of help to you, General?

- [Green] Governor Jefferson, the British

are preparing for a large scale foray into the South.

- [Thomas] I'm not surprised.

Most Southerners are country folk

whose main concern is earning their daily bread.

They don't care which side they are in the war.

(Henri slurping)

- [Green] Quite so.

(dramatic music) Here's the situation we face.

This half of the desk is the Carolina's.

This half Virginia.

You're here.

The traitor, Benedict Arnold is off the coast.

And Cornwallis holds strong British positions

at Georgetown, Camden, Winnsboro, and Ninety-six.

Oh, yes, and here's the small force

Horacio Gates has left me. (muffin breaking)

A force I have not yet had the pleasure of seeing.

I will take my forces to the Carolina's.

If we don't stop Cornwallis there,

he will drive north and crush Virginia.

Governor, I'll need Virginia militia men and weapons

if I'm to have any chance of preventing

Cornwallis from winning the South!

(loud chewing)

- [Henri] I evened things out!

Now it's a fair fight!

(James laughing)

- [Thomas] Yours is a difficult position, General.

I will help you the moment I can.

But right now, I have no weapons to give you,

and all of my militia men have served

their required time and gone home.

I'm afraid I can be of no help, General Green.

I'm sorry.

(footsteps on stone stairs) (horse neighing)

- [Green] Soldiers can be asked

to serve additional time, but cannot be forced to do so.

The idea of a people's army is unfathomable.

- [Sarah] I admire what Governor Jefferson is saying, sir.

Giving men the right to choose whether they will

or will not fight sounds to me like freedom.

- [James] But we're in a war, Sarah.

We won't have any freedom if we have no soldiers.

- [Sarah] You do have a point, James.

General, I hope you are successful in North Carolina.

And James, Henri, I'll keep you up

with events here in Virginia.

In the meantime, I plan to find out

how Thomas Jefferson found the inspiration

to write the Declaration of Independence.

(car door closing)

- [Green] I hope you don't end up

as disappointed in Governor Jefferson as I am.

Be well, Sarah.

(horse neighing)

- [Sarah] Be safe!

(intriguing music)

- [Henri] Look!

Up ahead!

Soldiers!

Are they British?

- [Green] No, probably some left over Virginia militia.

(horse neighing)

(man sighs)

- [Green] I'm General Nathaniel Green.

Who's your commanding officer?

- [Man] General Horatio Gates, sir!

Least, he used to be.

- [James] This is the continental army?

- [Green] With these soldiers

and without Jefferson's militia,

we're no match for the British.

(crickets chirping)

(Thomas laughs) (Sarah writing feverously)

- [Thomas] You're full of good questions, Sarah.

Yes, I think we should educate everyone.

Men, women, even slaves!

- [Sarah] And how exactly would you do it?

- [Thomas] Ah, there's the problem.

Having ideas and implementing them

are two very different things.

- [Sarah] Are they really?

I mean...

- [George] The stalls are in place,

the firewood has been cut.

Your home is secured for the winter, Master.

(dramatic music)

- [Thomas] Thank you, Great George.

I'll need Tuckahoe secured as well.

And let me give you some letters for my wife and daughter.

Excuse me, Sarah.

We'll talk more later.

Being governor takes a great deal of time from my family.

Fortunately, I have help in remaining in contact with them.

- [Sarah Voiceover] Help?

You own other human beings and you refer to them as help?

You own slaves!

- [James] (reading Sarah's letter) You?

The man who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Is what I wanted to say.

But I didn't have the nerve.

And by the way, Governor Jefferson

is still unable to raise any militia men

to send to General Green.

As always, Sarah.

- [Henri] Have you noticed that every week

it gets harder to tell what's in the soup?

Hmm, we've got the usual bear fat,

but this batch looks to have beaver tail and muskrat!

- [James] That can't be beaver tail!

It's got a tooth in it!

- [Henri] A tooth?

I'm not eating this!

- [James] (eating) that's a first.

But don't complain to the cook.

Poor guy has to make meals out of anything he can catch.

(dramatic music)

- [Green] There's only one way

we can even hope to beat Cornwallis.

- [Henri] Beat Cornwallis?

Half the men aren't well enough to work.

- [James] Shh! Come on!

(footsteps on grass)

- [Green] My plan is to hit him when

and where he's not expecting us.

Then run like the wind before he can catch us.

Chasing us will force Cornwallis

to use all of his supplies.

He'll have to take new supplies

from the local population.

They will despise him for that.

Then, the people in the South will move over to our cause,

and Cornwallis will withdraw, I hope.

- [Henri] That's his plan?

(men screaming)

- [Man] Where's that coming from?

- [Another Man] We're under attack!

Take cover!

(men shouting)

(James panting)

(Henri panting)

- [James Voiceover] Dear Sarah,

I don't know if General Green's plan

to get the British to chase us all over the Carolina's

is helping us win the hearts and minds of the population,

but I sure am getting to see a lot of the country!

(men shouting)

I do hope though, that Thomas Jefferson

can convince his militia to reinforce us

before we get to see much more of it.

(men shouting fades)

- [Henri] Phew.

(cheerful music)

- [James Voiceover] But, Sarah!

How are you?

Have you finished your interview with Thomas Jefferson?

I can't wait to read it.

(dramatic music)

- [Sarah] No, James, what could I possibly ask him

that wouldn't be horribly disrespectful?

Governor, would you please tell your slaves

about how all men are created equal?

And all top of it all,

Benedict Arnold is attacking from the north!

(explosion sound effect)

(men sounding in alarm)

That traitor!

James, we are forced to evacuate Richmond!

(dramatic music)

- [Man] Sir, the British are nearing the city.

Fifteen hundred strong!

- [Thomas] What of our militia?

- [Man] Of the 4,600 men you called up,

only 200 have reported.

- [Sarah] That means Arnold

will march into Richmond unopposed!

- [Thomas] I never thought the traitor

would make it all the way to Richmond.

We must speed up our evacuation!

(dramatic music)

- [Solider] Over there! The tree!

- [Another Solider] Seek cover!

- [Solider] Follow in! (horse neighing)

- [James] Not under the trees!

(hooves clopping)

- [Green] We've got to get these men out of the rain.

- [James] They can get struck by lightning.

The trees attract it.

- [Henri] It's what gave Benjamin Franklin

his idea for the lightning rod!

(thunder sounding)

(horse neighing)

- [Green] I'll yield to Dr. Franklin's science.

Away from the trees!

We'll try that barn over there.

- [Soldier] Let's go!

(footsteps running)

- [Scottish Man] We heard you were coming, General.

Get off my land.

- [Green] Shelter from the rain, sir.

That's all we require.

- [Scottish Man] I want nothing

to do with your insurrection.

You and your men, keep moving!

- [Solider] We'll take his barn whether he likes it or not!

(men shouting in agreement)

- [Green] Halt!

(thunder sounding)

You heard the man.

We'll continue up the road.

(horse snorts)

Move out!

(men grumbling)

(dramatic music intensifies)

- [Henri] James?

- [James] What?

- [Henri] I don't think this strategy,

always running from the enemy, is working.

- [James] That's because you don't understand

General Green's brilliant tactics.

(both panting)

At least this is an army mill.

And army people might join!

- [Henri] An army that can't feed

it's soldiers or keep them dry?

Oh, sure!

I'd join that army!

- [James] We have to put our faith in General Green.

(footsteps marching) (horse neighing)

(liquid squishing)

(horse snorting)

- [British Soldier] General Cornwallis, sir.

All signs indicate that the enemy

passed through here only hours ago.

- [Cornwallis] I told you burning our wagons

and excess baggage would speed us up.

- [British Soldier] Yes, sir, but it's also left us

woefully short of food.

- [Cornwallis] There's a farm ahead.

We'll take what we need.

(footsteps marching)

(horse neighing)

- [Scottish Man] No! Stop!

Ya can't do that! I--

(screams)

- [Wife] No!

(sheep bleating)

- [Cornwallis] Madam, your husband

would do well to cooperate.

Carry on!

- [Wife] We're loyalists!

We've never supported the fight against England!

If you take out stock, how are we to eat?

- [Cornwallis] We are at war, my good woman!

The king's soldiers come first.

(horse snorting)

I have every confidence you will survive this inconvenience.

Move out!

(hooves clopping)

- [Scottish Man] I'm alright, I'm alright.

(wife grunting)

(mud splashing)

(horses neighing)

- [Sarah Voiceover] Dear James and Henri,

The British have withdrawn to Portsmouth,

and we are returning to Richmond.

(Sarah writing feverously) Prior to our evacuation,

Governor Jefferson had finally made some progress

towards convincing Virginia legislator

to provide men and supplies for General Green.

Now, he must start all over.

And as for my interview with the governor,

it will instead be a expose

revealing his awful hypocrisy on the issue of slavery.

(dramatic music)

(fire crackling)

I'm sorry to be the barer of bad news, Sarah.

(crickets chirping)

- [Henri] James, are we ever going to eat tonight?

I found some hickory nuts, a hunk of ox jerky,

and uh, well, I think this was a squirrel.

- [James] Get that thing out of here.

(playful music)

- [Henri] Hey!

That was hard to find!

- [James] Is food all you ever think about?

- [Henri] I was just...

- [James] There's more to this war than filling your belly!

- [Henri] I'm sorry, James. (sniffles)

- [James] Wait, Henri, I'm sorry.

It's not you.

I just found out there's still

no reinforcements coming from Virginia.

So, the army's gonna have to keep running.

Just like in New York and New Jersey.

Just like in Philadelphia .

Just like they've been doing for the whole war!

- [Henri] General Green says if we make it across

the dammed river tomorrow, the running might be over!

- [James] So what?

You were right.

His plan's not working.

It's not winning anyone over to our cause.

What am I supposed to tell people who read our newspaper?

- [Henri] Tell them our forces are so thin

that General Green doesn't want to

risk their lives in an uneven fight.

And tell them that the food in the South

is not what it's cracked up to be.

Unless they like squirrel!

(James laughs)

(knocking on wood)

- [Man] Hold on, hold on!

- [Green] I need to get my men

across the river, and quickly!

If the British catch us here,

we'll be destroyed!

Where are the fords?

- [Men] Fords?

- [Green] Yes, the best places to cross the river.

- [Man] Use your eyes, Colonel.

The river's in flood!

- [Green] Then, I'll need your boats!

- [Man] Is that so?

British or Continentals.

You boys are all the same.

Think you can take whatever you want?

Well, I know you're not going to send my boats back.

That'd just be giving the red coats

a way to cross the river.

So, you're going to have to pay for them

before you can take them.

- [Green] That's only fair.

I'll make you a trade.

- [Man] You will?

- [Green] I'll give you 20 horses for your boats!

Good ones!

- [James] Why am I just watching?

This is a great story!

(water splashing)

- [Green] The Southern Army owes you

a debt of gratitude, sir.

Thank you.

- [Man] General, I was neutral in this war.

But from now on, consider me a...

What are we calling ourselves these days?

Revolutionaries?

Sons of Liberty?

- [Green] Just Americans.

(water splashing)

- [James] Maybe we'll win their hearts and minds after all!

- [Man] American?

I'm an American!

(dramatic music)

(country music) (horse snorts)

(footsteps)

- [Thomas] I'm disappointed that the legislator's

once again refused my call for more militia,

but I can't say I'm surprised.

- [George] Hyah!

- [Sarah] If you need men, sir,

what about learning from the British.

You could promise freedom to slaves

who fight for America.

- [Thomas] I might support it,

but Virginia legislator never will.

The State's economy is dependent on slavery.

- [Sarah] Is the economy as important

as the fact that all men are created equal?

- [Thomas] No, Sarah, it isn't nearly as important.

- [Sarah] But, Governor Jefferson, you own slaves!

- [Thomas] Yes, but I've proclaimed slavery an abomination

that must be brought to an end.

- [Sarah] Proclaimed?

With respect sir, proclaiming isn't doing.

- [Thomas] This is a young country, Sarah,

still locked in a battle for its own survival.

There are countless issues to be addressed.

Limitless problems to be solved.

Slavery is one of the biggest.

And, Sarah, we will solve it.

Do you view me and my colleagues as great men?

- [Sarah] Yes, sir, I do.

- [Thomas] Well, we are great.

Great with human flaws as well as human hopes.

I doubt there's a man among us

great enough to see the horror of slavery

eliminated in our lifetime.

I've tried, and I will keep trying.

And if we cannot correct this abomination,

then those who follow us shall.

Take courage in that.

- [Sarah] Governor Jefferson, I must confess.

I've been writing an expose about you and your slaves

for Dr. Franklin's Gazette.

But now, after listening to you,

I don't think I'll publish it.

- [Thomas] I commend your passion, Sarah.

When the war ends, I intend to draft a plan

for freeing all the slaves in this country.

I welcome your thoughts on the subject.

- [Sarah] Governor Jefferson, you don't know

what you're getting yourself into.

(dramatic music)

("Lib Kids Theme Song" plays)

♪ Lookin' at life through my own eyes ♪

♪ I'm searching for a hero to idolize ♪

♪ Feelin' 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! (laughing)