Original subtitles

- ♪ I see a land ♪

♪ With liberty for all ♪

- ♪ Yet still I know ♪

- ♪ The truth will rise and fall ♪

- ♪ Ooh 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 looking at life through my own eyes ♪

♪ I'm searching for a hero to idolize ♪

♪ Feeling the pain as innocence dies ♪

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

- ♪ I'll take my heart into battle ♪

♪ Give that freedom bell a rattle ♪

♪ Get my independence signed ♪

♪ Declare it on the dotted line ♪

♪ Let Philadelphia freedom ring ♪

♪ And patriotic voices sing ♪

♪ Red white and blue never give up ♪

♪ You represent America ♪

- ♪ 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 ♪♪

♪♪

(man) - Here are some exciting scenes

from today's episode of "Liberty's Kids."

- Liberty!

- Down with the king!

- Freedom!

- Hurrah!

- We'll drive these pesky rebels into the river

and have our troops home in time for Christmas.

- British regulars!

They're right behind me!

- They're running?

Why are they running?

- Because they can't fly.

- Hmph!

♪♪

(gulls squawking)

- "July 9, 1776.

"Dearest Mother...

"Where to begin?

"James Henri and I have been in New York City for a week now.

"General Washington, the commander of the American army,

"has been busy fortifying the city and harbor,

"and no wonder, with the arrival of the British fleet.

"What a sight!

"Some say there are so many masts

"that it looks like a floating forest.

"You were so kind to ask Mrs. Radcliffe to give us lodgings.

They are quite restful."

- Down with the king!

- "I'm sorry I cannot say the same for New York.

"Ever since the reading of the independence declaration

"on the seventh,

it has been a city gone quite mad."

(gasps)

(crowd clamoring)

- Down with the king!

Freedom!

- Hurrah!

(crowd cheering)

- Hey, I am going to help them

pull down the statue of King George the Third!

- Henri, stay here.

You're nothing but a magnet for trouble.

Anywhere you go, bad things happen.

- Do not.

- I think you'd better listen to James.

- You two are just jealous

because I have more fun than you do!

- Hurrah!

- Down with George!

(crowd cheering)

- Independence!

(cheering continues)

- Of what possible good is a broken statue?

- I heard they're taking it up

to a cannonball factory in Connecticut.

- And why on earth would they go to all that trouble?

- General Washington told his staff

that he intends to return the lead in the statue

to the British troops as soon as possible.

- Seems pretty boastful.

General Washington's been commander-in-chief

of the Continental Army a whole year

and has yet to fight a battle.

- I think he'll get his battle soon-- a big one.

♪♪

- General Howe, your telescope, sir.

- There. That's where we'll strike

General Washington and his army.

On the Heights.

We'll drive these pesky rebels into the river

and have our troops home in time for Christmas.

♪♪

- I thought you would be more comfortable eating here.

Nowadays, the streets are so unsafe.

- (coughing)

This collar is unsafe.

(gasps) - I don't know

where all those dreadful persons

on the street have come from.

I've never seen them in this neighborhood before.

- (slurping)

- Shh!

- Out-of-town troublemakers would be my guess.

As Mr. Radcliffe used to say,

"This rebellion business will soon get out of hand."

- I'm sorry I won't get to see Mr. Radcliffe this trip.

My mother used to enjoy his stories.

- You said he's in...

uh... uh, Canada?

- Yes.

Seeing to some timberland

we are thinking of buying along the St. Lawrence.

Well, I'm just glad the British fleet has arrived.

The sooner General Howe puts things right,

the sooner we can all get

this silly revolution business over with

and get back to normal.

- Oh, boy.

(clock chimes)

- Why were you making those faces at Mrs. Radcliffe's?

- I couldn't stand it.

"Seeing to some timberland

we're thinking of buying along the St. Lawrence."

- Stop that.

It's impolite.

- I saw a list of Tories

at General Washington's headquarters.

Mr. Radcliffe's name was on it.

- You don't mean the army is going after private citizens?

- No, but some other private citizens might,

and I think Mr. Radcliffe and some of his friends

thought it best to leave until things blow over.

- I don't think things will blow over very soon

if our Henri has anything to do with it.

♪♪

- (groans) Hey, careful!

(both laughing)

- Sometimes I think Henri believes

this is all just a big party for his benefit.

- Uh, Sarah, don't look now,

but I think someone has his eye on you.

- Oh, don't be foolish.

♪♪

- Awfully busy, isn't she?

- Yes, she thinks she's a journalist.

- Miss, allow me to introduce myself.

I am Udney Wolf-Hutchinson from Milford, Connecticut.

My comrades-in-arms and I have arrived

to defend this city and ladies such as yourself

from the cruel, vindictive English.

- I am English myself, sir.

Does that make me cruel and vindictive as well?

- Uh... I was only repeating terms

some of our rougher members commonly use

to refer to the enemy.

Whether they are cruel and vindictive or gentlemen,

they are soldiers,

and I offer my strong arm for your protection.

♪♪

Forgive me.

Duty calls.

- You've got to be kidding.

Didn't he say his name was Ugly?

- It was Udney and you know it.

♪♪

- Ugh. Whew.

- Where are you going?

- With you... and the soldiers,

over to Brooklyn to watch the battle.

- Sarah...

- I'm a journalist too.

- Remember? Concord?

Your promise to Ben?

(imitating) "Dr. Franklin, I won't put myself needlessly in danger."

- What is it with you and your need to imitate people?

- All right, let me put it this way.

You can't go.

- You're not my mother.

- She's right, you're not her mother.

- Hmph!

- No, but I'm responsible to Dr. Franklin,

and he's responsible to her mother.

Besides, it's too big a story

for both of us to be in one place.

One of us needs to report on what happens in the city.

Let's face it, you're more comfortable

with tea and crumpets than me.

- I must admit, James, occasionally you're right.

♪♪

- "General Washington sends reinforcements to the fort

"on the Heights at Brooklyn

"to counter a large force of British troops

heading for Long Island."

All right.

I'm going to Washington's headquarters.

- What about me? Can I go?

- No. - No.

- We'll see about that.

Sarah, who is that waving at you?

- Oh, it's that... Henri?

♪♪

(bell tolls)

♪♪

(footfalls approaching)

- General Putnam informs me

that the British are moving up the Gowanus Road

and Hessian troops have been spotted on the Flatbush Road,

but there is still a substantial number in camp on the beach.

I don't have to tell you what is at stake here, gentlemen.

Everything worth living for.

- None of my boys will disappoint you, General.

They'll throw the redcoats back onto their boats.

- General, if I may.

This Jamaica Road concerns me.

It's presently undefended.

- The enemy is here at the Gowanus Swamp...

and that is where I'll strike him.

(wind blowing)

♪♪

(horse whinnying)

- (groans)

(wind blowing)

- Lord Stirling.

I wonder if I could ask you a few questions.

- Yes.

General Washington told me about you.

Franklin's apprentice.

- Does it bother you that a good portion

of the enemy is made up of Hessians?

- Well, son, the enemy is the enemy,

whether they're British troops

or German mercenaries hired to fight by the British.

- But to have no other reason to be here

than to fight for money...

no cause, no country, no freedom at stake...

it doesn't seem right.

- I think you'll find they have

as many reasons to be here as we do.

Now, if you'll excuse me...

(horse whinnying)

Gentlemen, I have a special mission in mind.

I need volunteers.

Paid volunteers.

- I'm in! - Sure!

- What's the mission?

(Sarah) - In the interest of fairness,

I think the readers of Dr. Franklin's newspaper

should understand the thoughts of those loyal to the king.

- That's a dangerous point of view to have these days.

- Well, nevertheless...

I'm interested in what you think about the Revolution.

I'd keep your name out of it.

- I think it's a dangerous, foolhardy adventure.

Why do they want to fight to create their own country?

- They feel England has mistreated them.

- I've read this Declaration of Independence.

Is it worth going to war

because the king called for their legislative bodies

to meet in uncomfortable places?

- That's just one of their reasons.

- And the men who signed it,

what do they know about running a country?

These New Yorkers here.

Francis Lewis, a hat seller.

Lewis Morris, a farmer from up-country.

William Floyd? I've never even heard of him.

This Philip Livingston is such an insufferable blowhard,

Mr. Radcliffe had to ask him to leave a supper

we were giving for the governor.

- Dr. Franklin signed it too.

- Yes... I know.

Even the brightest of men

do foolish things from time to time.

My dear, you yourself are English born and bred.

Our whole lives are tied to England.

Our commerce, our culture,

our laws, our religion, our education.

Where do young Americans go to become doctors,

lawyers and clergymen? England.

In what language are you writing your article?

- English.

- Exactly.

(cannon fires) Oh, my.

(cannons firing)

- It's started.

- Oh, dear.

May God protect us all.

♪♪

(gunfire and shouting in distance)

- Looks like General Sullivan was right about the attack.

It's way over there by Gowanus Swamp.

- Um, I was wondering.

Why did you take money from Lord Stirling?

I thought Hessians were the only ones who fight for money.

We fight for a cause.

- James, I believe in our cause as much as the next man,

but I haven't been paid in a long time.

Everyone needs a few coins.

And goodness knows Lord Stirling has plenty to spare.

Believe me, there's not enough money on earth

to make men face fire like that.

But they're doing it, and my time will come.

(horse whinnying) That's a rider.

Coming fast, too.

- British regulars!

They're right behind me!

- Lord Stirling was right!

They're using Jamaica Road for an attack!

- Come on!

- (groans)

♪♪

- You say you're a spy?

- On the staff of General Washington himself.

- You're just a child.

- That is the beauty of it.

Everyone thinks that and pays me no mind.

What better disguise for a spy?

(gunfire, men shouting)

- Over there! - There they are!

- After them!

- Halt!

(Henri grunts) (horse whinnying)

- Whoa!

- General Washington!

The entire right is falling back on Gowanus Road!

On the left, General Sullivan has been flanked

and he cannot hold.

- Where? - That Jamaica Road.

Lord Stirling's troops held out as long as they could,

but now they're pulling back to the Heights.

- They're running? Why are they running?

- Because they can't fly.

- Hmph!

(wind blowing)

♪♪

(thunder rumbling and crashing)

- You awake? - After today,

I don't know if I'll ever sleep again.

- How do you think General Washington did?

- All's I know, General Washington

goes a year without a battle, first one comes along,

and the best we can do is run away.

- (blows on hands) Nobody could stand up

to what the British threw down that road.

- Well, we sure didn't.

- What now? - I don't know.

I just hope we don't have to surrender.

♪♪

- General, the reports say

the troops that survived the attacks

are safely back onto the Heights.

- How many didn't survive?

- We don't know yet.

Lord Stirling was captured.

Casualty estimates are high.

There's more. - What else?

- They captured General Sullivan too.

- Hmm! General Howe is welcome to him.

Boats. All the boats we can find.

We are leaving the Heights.

- In the morning, sir? - Now.

(wind blowing)

(chickens clucking, cow mooing)

- Listen, I am not even a colonist!

I am European like you!

- We think you are a spy, and until we think

something else, you're not going anywhere.

- A spy? What an idea!

I am just a kid!

- (yawning)

- Is that everyone?

- Yes, General, we're the last.

The rest of the troops have already escaped in the boats.

(soldier grunts)

♪♪

General... a retreat at night in the face of the enemy

will be seen as the work of a military genius.

- I'm afraid this retreat is a very unmilitary thing to do.

We were licked, plain and simple.

I wasn't ready for them.

- (snoring)

- (grunting)

(door hinges creak)

Powder?

G... u... n...

G... gunpowder!

(gasps) Oops!

Whoa, oh! (groans)

(panting)

(explosion)

- Now, there's something you don't see every day.

- Are these reports correct, Captain?

The colonials abandoned the entire fort last night?

- Yes. General Washington sailed off

under the cover of fog and darkness.

- It seems General Washington

doesn't believe in the accepted conventions of war.

You lose the battle, you surrender.

♪♪

- James! You're back!

Pardon me.

Are you all right?

- I'm fine, really.

- Well, what was the battle like?

- It was pretty bad.

But General Washington safely snuck the whole army away

during the night.

- Where's Henri?

- Isn't he here?

- We haven't seen him since you left yesterday.

I thought he caught up with you.

- I wonder where he...

Oh, no.

Oh...

- Henri?

Where have you been?

- Nowhere.

- What have you done?

- Nothing.

- What kind of trouble did you cause this time?

- Me? Trouble?

- Do we really want to know?

- No. - No.

(wind blowing)

♪♪

(cannons firing)

- Where are you going?

- Since Washington's retreat from Long Island weeks ago,

General Howe's done nothing... until today.

That cannon fire has been going on all day.

James said something was up at Kips Bay,

and I bet he's there already.

- Want to bet?

- Sarah! - (gasps)

- Henri! (panting)

We lost again! - You were there?

- No, I found Ugly and he told me what happened.

- Is Udney all right?

- Yes. Why?

I thought you didn't like him.

- Well, I was just wondering, that's all.

- So what happened?

- Well, Udney told me...

(Udney) - We was waiting at Kips Bay when the British opened fire.

General Washington told us to stand our ground...

but I guess it was too much for some of us.

The officers couldn't stop 'em.

(gunfire, men shouting)

- Stand your ground!

Return to the ramparts!

Stand your ground, you...

How am I to win a war with men like these?

- General! (horse whinnying)

You must come away!

- You can't win a war by retreating! Or can you?

- So that's Udney's story.

It's not a proud day for our revolution.

- What's Washington going to do now?

(band playing, crowd cheering)

- I'm puzzled, General Howe.

What kind of commander fights a battle and, after losing,

instead of surrendering, retreats to fight again?

- Evidently... this American General Washington.

(horse whinnies)

(cheering continues)

♪♪

♪♪

(bell tolling)

- Moses, here's another dispatch from James.

- Let it be good news for a change.

- It seems we still have quite a few troops,

and General Washington has moved them all

to a fort on Harlem Heights.

(James) - "This has turned into a new kind of war.

"An American war.

"General Washington is going to fight a delaying action,

"hoping to wear down the British while giving himself

time to build and train an army."

♪♪

- "An army that fights with little or no pay,

"few supplies, few weapons,

"but with the belief that they are Americans,

"and Americans will fight and die for freedom,

nothing less."

♪♪

- "P.S. Some soldiers are putting up a flag

"on our new flagpole.

"There's not much wind today,

so the flag is just hanging there."

- "But it's still there."

♪♪

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

♪ I'm searching for a hero to idolize ♪

♪ Feeling the pain as innocence dies ♪

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

- ♪ I'll 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 ♪♪

- Cookie Jar!

(children laughing)