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[dramatic music]

- They are here!

On me lads!

- Two graves, two men,

father and his son,

both patriots who loved liberty,

yet divided by slavery.

Their story is one
of tragedy and love.

And in their end
is our beginning.

[men singing]

- No,

no,

not again.

- Good, they stopped.

No, why should they stop?

Slaves, curious word, slave.

One can become a
slave to anything.

Ah, but therein lies a paradox.

Does not that phrase
imply one can even become

a willing slave?

But the word itself
implies unwilling bondage,

forced loyalty.

What am I doing?

Playing word games
with the lives

and liberties of human beings?

Well, why not?

I have just given
freedom to some

of my slaves, may
God guide them.

Well, I will ensure

that nothing of me endures
past my last painful breath.

They must burn me,

nothing at me left
to question anymore.

Burn my letters, all my letters.

Well, perhaps not the
letters of my son, John.

[eerie music]

- Father, my education
in London is useless.

I must request to
leave studies here

in England within the month.

Now, sir I feel the
necessity to mention

a certain subject again.

- [Father] Again and again.

- I must know your true feelings

regarding the
practice of slavery.

- I have told you, my dear son,

I have always abhorred slavery,

but I was born into this land,

where it was already established

by the british kings
and parliaments

and there is no combating
the prejudices of men

driven by financial interests.

- [John] We are sinking
in this quicksand!

- I am not the man who
enslaved my slaves.

They're indebted to
Englishman for that.

- You can be the
one to release them.

One must not only talk
one must take action.

- May God yet to give peace to
the divided family of England

and John, your studies at law

are of the greatest essence now.

- This is insanity!

I will come home at once and
you must be about releasing

the slaves while
the time is ripe,

otherwise, we as Americans,

are living under the
greatest hypocrisy!

- I know you're drunk

because I can see
two of you. [laughs]

- Colonization is not slavery.

Colonization can improve
the quality of life

of many savage people.

- Now we are savages in America!

- No, but

many lives that would
continue in pagan darkness

are opened to the sunlight
of true freedom in Christ.

Why do you laugh?

- Because I have so often
heard that same argument

from the captains of
Boston slave ships,

as they dragged their
cargo of human misery

from Africa to our coast.

- [Man] Dear God!

Is there no end?

- Indeed.

God sees all.

- Why does he not do
something about it?

It is not God who perpetuates
such a shameful practice.

It is some of his children,

white, black, brown, all in
Africa, Europe and America

who share in the odious
profit of the trade.

Remember, God freed the Hebrews

from the clutches of
the pagan tyrant--

- Wait, stop! [laughs]

Oh, now I see, perhaps you
arrived at Lauren's plantation

in South Carolina, floating
in a basket on the river.

Will you be the Africans' Moses?

Oh, well too late.

The bard of Avon
has beach at that.

- What is this?

- It's true.

Some 200 years ago, Shakespeare
destroyed the false claim

that Europeans were improving
the lives of Africans.

Enslaving.
- 200 years?

Yes!

Shakespeare exposed
European colonial arrogance

in the new world.

Indeed, all of the world!

The creation of his
monster fish man Caliban,

the Tempest, remember?

- By killing his master,

he inherits the
whole island, right?

- The cook shared some
of his rum with Caliban,

who soon to feel beholden to
worship these two Europeans.

He bows down to them as
his brave new masters.

Listen,

Caliban sings a song for
them while he was capering

in this man fish dance.

♪♪ Ca ca Caliban get a new
master get a new man ♪

♪ Ca ca Caliban free down ♪

[woman yells]

- John, you see, are
you really prepared

to untangle the twisted knot
between slave and master?

Colonizer and colonial?

Yes, as children of
Israel were released

only to fall prey
to other masters

and what's more,
they are not alone.

Are you really so naive to think

that simply striking off the
chains will restore order

and harmony to the
chaos caused by slavery?

- No.

- I thought not.

- But we must begin.

I thought you agreed!

- Yes, yes, yes my good man!

I do agree that removing the
chains of enforced servitude

must be the beginning of
salvation for each of us.

Then in the end,
who is the master?

Who is the man?

Think.

We are all ca ca Caliban

until we find true
freedom in the one master.

Remember, there are many chains

that can enslave the
minds of free men.

- I must get back
to South Carolina.

My father will be very
angry at me leaving here.

He wants me away from the war.

All I know is that we must
create something new in America

with no slavery and no king!

- [Man] To freedom!

- For all of us.

[crowd cheers]

- I have no idea
who would do it.

People talk about things
and often never take action.

When John left his law
studies in London, I,

I knew he was
passionate, brilliant
Adette, a real thinker.

Even then he was a true believer

in freeing every
slave in America.

along with every colonist.

- He wrote about
it in his letters.

He said, "My soul burns
to dispense benefits

"to the multitudes.

"When I hear of one who
has done imminent service

"to mankind I cannot
refrain from wishing

"to be an equal
dispenser of good."

- He was almost persuaded to
be in service of the divine

if it did not preclude
him from bearing arms

in the defense of his country.

He had great respect for
valiant acts of bravery

from those who would
rescue the liberties

of their countrymen.

[fervent instrumental music]

- Actually, before this, I
coauthored a controversial poem,

"The Dying Negro",
based on a tragic

and true event, you see.

A black African slave fell
in love with a fellow servant

in the same household,
a white woman.

- So in that floating piss pit,

the slaver captain
called his ship

finally bumped up
against the wharf,

I was no more than a lump,

still breathing but all thought,

all hope gone.

I thought forever.

- Samuel, how your past
sufferings pierce my heart.

Would that I could
reach back in time

and alter those dire
events that befell you.

- The care that I
discerned in your eyes

like a balming cure that
cures all those ills.

You've convinced me
that gentle grace

cures all mine wounds.

I happily trust myself
to your sweet savior.

I will be baptized
before are wed.

- Father Paul has
agreed to help us.

He's the only one we can trust.

- They were to meet at a chapel.

[soft somber music]

You see, he was not a runaway.

He was simply on his
way to be baptized

in the church and
marry the woman.

The man had left
his master's house

and was on his when...
[ominous music]

He was suddenly captured.

- So this is how you repay me
for my trust and generosity?

Take him to the ship!

Perhaps the American rice
plantations will cure you

of your ungrateful insolence.

- But master--
- Go!

- [Man] His master, being
angry at his desire to wed

without his consent
and to a white woman,

ordered him put on one
of his slave ships,

leaving for America.

[dark instrumental music]

All the while, his
betrothed waited for him,

not knowing where he might be.

- Go!

- [Man] On the way to the
ship, while still in harbor,

he wrenched a pistol
from a sailor's hand.

- You took my
freedom and I live.

But my love, my Eileen,

I can't I will not bear it!
[gun fires]

- [Man] the poem ends,

oh, lead me to that spot,

that sacred shaw
where souls are free

and men oppress no more.

His betrothed was waiting.

- [Boy] Miss
Eileen, Miss Eileen!

[somber music]

- What! [sobs]

No, no!

- I'm so, so sorry.

[Eileen sobs]

- It took 57 more years to
end slavery in my England.

Oh, did I forget to tell you,

John had to deal with a
bit of a marriage tangle

before he could go
off to fight the war.

It was a cold January in 1777.

[bell peals]

[pen scratches]

- [Martha] Husband, I
would speak with you.

- Then speak, Martha.

- I need your heart,
not just your ears.

- My heart is in this letter.

- Forgive my boldness, sir.

Am I showing my condition?

- Yes.

- Nothing more to
say husband, nothing?

- If you do not
desire my honesty,

let us discuss
trivialities, wife.

- Ah, now I am wife!

No husband, no more avoidance

no more fobbing me off.

- Fine, what would you have?

- Well, what would you give me?

Or even what would
you let me take?

- I have promised and I
have given you my name.

You and your child
will never know want

or the sting of shame.

- There it is, then.

My child,

my child not ours.

- The child in
your womb is ours.

Does that satisfy you?

Now, I take my leave.
- Where?

- The precious life of
liberty is in mortal danger.

I will go to her aid and I
will defend her with my life.

- At the cost of
your own family?

- If I must pay
that too, I will.

- You betray me.

You betray our baby.

- Even for you, I cannot
betray my duty and honor.

I told you that on our wedding
day, have you forgotten?

- You betrayed the duty
and and honor you owe

to our divinely
appointed sovereign.

- The King is a man,
no better than I

and indeed some ways worse.

- Wait!

Say the words, tell me you do
not love me, say the words!

- I will not engage
in this further.

You knew of my plans!
[dramatic music]

[cries]

- There may be some who find
John's betrayal of Martha

astonishing, but we know
little of their marriage.

We do know John did
the honorable thing.

And in the 18th century,
men, even devoted husbands

considered their wives marginal

when it came to public business.

- I never saw John again.

A few months later, I gave
birth to beautiful baby girl.

A year and a half after that

I was dead.

[dramatic music]

- Many scholars believe
John Laurens must've had

some close friends who
shared his beliefs,

certainly a trusted servant

who might have been
with him in Europe,

someone assigned to him
or one he might've chosen.

And due to the passionate
position John had
against slavery,

it seems he would have likely
had discussions with slaves.

It is safe to assume that
had at least one such friend.

There were four
who were recorded

as being with him in the war.

- Ah, there you are, good!

Tea?

As I recall, you do
not require sugar.

Here, Phillip, please sit.

- Sir?

- Everyone is out,
busy, we are alone.

- I had my tea in the kitchen.

- Well, here's more, if
you're thirsty, please sit.

I must talk with you.

I know life will be much
different here in South Carolina

but until we can both get up
to General Washington's camp

and I can enlist,
things can change.

Your books and studies
in Switzerland and London

must be put on the shelf
until the war proceeds.

But once I enlist
at Valley Forge,

perhaps you can make
a serious decision.

I will help you melt into
the countryside at that time,

if you wish.

You would be safe and you
would finally be free indeed.

- When you speak of the
word free, a hearts burns.

You have gave me more freedom

than I could ever describe, sir.

- Phillip, you must be more
than just free in your mind.

- When you gave me
freedom in secret

it's illegal according to your
laws here in South Carolina.

- But I must obey
the law of God.

Philip,

is there something
that you would die for?

[dramatic music]

- Yes.

- What is it?

- It's a person.

The woman who gave
me life, my mother,

or my Lord Jesus.

- I see.

- Look sir, if you are
to fight, our fight too,

that is fighting in a
way that I'm allowed.

- Are you sure you feel this
is your fight not just mine?

- Everything that I have learned

has led me down this road, sir.

I will take it with you for now.

- Just so, hm.

The tea is good. [laughs]

- Yes, it's excellent.
[dog barks]

- I hear the post rider coming.

- I'm Phillip Schoolsbury.

I was with John in the war,

it's in the historical record.

And I was possibly with him
in Europe during his studies.

And I was with him when he died.

- So when his father was
chosen to be president

of Continental Congress,
John goes north,

conveniently deposits his
father in Philadelphia

and against Henry's wishes,
hurries to Valley Forge

to join General
Washington's army.

[dark music]

[drums beating]

- As president of the
Continental Congress,

Henry Laurens used his
position to build support

for the much criticized,
George Washington.

- And so Mr. President,
you find me in this place

as one aware of being
lost in authority would

and when the
circumstance came to be,

ignorant of any path either
deeper into more peril

or out to safety.

- General, I offer
an any help possible.

- At last count we have
no fewer than 2,898 men

now in camp unfit for duty
because they are barefoot

and otherwise naked.

Our whole strength of troops
is 8,000 fit for duty.

Another 2,000 men
have no blankets and
are too sick to move.

I am deeply wounded by the
abandonment of our government.

I fear the reaction of the
people when they learn the truth

and falsely blame me.

Much more is expected of me

than is possible
to be performed.

For safety and
policy, I'm obliged to
conceal the true state

of the army from public
view, so not to expose myself

to detraction and calumny.

Sir, I had the body of the
enemy crossed the river,

here in our view, this warning,

as I had reason to expect
from intelligence I received

at four o'clock this morning,
the divisions which I ordered

in readiness to march and
move, could not have moved!

Mr. President,

Henry,

you know how exceedingly
the service of the army

has been injured, how
great the suffering

and loss of men through
want of clothing and food.

I cannot but hope every
assurance of yours

through Congress
will be pursued.

- My heart is full
and my eyes overflow

when I reflect upon this camp.

It seems our whole system is
tottering and only God knows

if we shall be
able to prop it up.

Still, I will not give in.

I give you my pledge.

And if you will
permit the intimacy,

my hand upon it.

[somber instrumental music]

- I must go.

- Well sir, here it is.

As I no longer need and
inheritance from you.

- What?

- I now ask rather, to give
me a group of able-bodied

men slaves instead of
leaving me a fortune.

- You disobeying me by
uprooting yourself from London,

your studies of law, your
brothers and sisters,

your wife and your unborn child

in the most disrespectful way

and now you say I
should disinherit you.

Well, I should, yes, I should.

- Father, this plan will
bring about a two-fold good.

We will give freedom to
those unjustly deprived

of the rights of mankind and
reinforce defenders of liberty

with gallant soldiers.

- Honorable intentions, but
you will bring an avalanche.

- No, no, no.

The ridicule that will be
thrown must be ignored.

- You have no idea, no i--

- I am not a fool.

I am aware of the
monstrous prejudice

that will be open
mouthed against us.

Alexander Hamilton and
Thomas Paine agree with me.

- John, listen to me.

In addition to the heavy
burden resting on my shoulders

of presiding over
this contentious
congress of new states,

shouting their arguments daily,

you choose now to
make these demands.

- If not now, when?

You seem to think that by
long habit of their miseries,

slaves would prefer
their painful bonds

to the untasted
suites of liberty!

I disagree, sir.

My God, habits of long work,

patience under fatigue,

suffering of every kind
are soldierly virtues

that these men possess
in an eminent degree.

- Well, it must be brought
before the congress

in the right way, at
the right time and--

- Do you not see?

A well-chosen body of
even 5,000 black men,

properly trained
as light troops,

might just give the
success that we need.

- Now we are reaping regiments.

Think!

There's not enough time
to train and prepare--

- Father.

I fear, I truly fear
for this new nation

if we do not release them
to fight with us now!

- Stop!

John, if you utter one more word

of this relentless hectoring,

I will cause you to regret
the moment that your mother,

with all of that pain and blood,
brought you into this life.

Men,

your comrades,

are starving, freezing,
shaking with hot fevers,

breaking ice to drink water
carrying deadly diseases.

Walking here,

I saw two men sitting up,

frozen to the wall of their hut.

Can you not feel
the knife's edge

on which we and
our liberty stand?

Wait.

Do you know

that elite members
of congress demean

and even laugh at the
painful pleading letters

of your beloved
General Washington?

Yes, I have heard them.

And when upbraid them,

they smirk

and mince away.

Now, even though

you may not credit it,

it has pleased divine
providence to choose me,

even a sinner such as me,

to protect our infant nation

and I will do it

unto death.

[somber music]

- I am not going
to get his help.

I see that now.

Lord, what do you want me to do?

My father's friends and others,

I see the way they look at me

when I begin to speak
of these things.

I want to earn the respect of
men and I want to be liked.

But this vision that
you have given to me

it is like a fire in my brain.

It never stops.

All I say makes
perfect sense to me.

But then I am crushed

by this mountain of
excuses and lies.

What I see for this new nation

requires that all must be free.

The achievements
possible in such a land

would be truly without limit,

but then new enemies
appear every day.

The treachery of this
world overwhelms me.

[dramatic music]

- Everyone is astonished at
John's valor on the field.

He raged at the enemy with
a fury I find astounding.

I just hope he doesn't

go too far one day.

Have you noticed this as well?

[speaking in foreign language]

- It is not John's fault he
was not killed or wounded

in the battle.

He did everything possible
to procure one or the other.

I am glad he is on our side.

- [Man] Then came
Germantown and more training

and then the tragic battle
of Monmouth, New Jersey.

There was a chance
they would win that one

but general Charles
Lee stole it away.

- Washington sent Major General
Charles Lee with 5,000 men

and orders to attack the British
near Monmouth courthouse.

John Laurens wrote in with
orders for Lee to advance

but instead, Lee
ordered a retreat.

The enemy pursued hotly.

Washington rode in with
a river of language

that they said could have burned

the leaves off of the trees.

John, who was wounded
in the battle,

took further action.

- Sir, permit to gain
assurance that ever since

your court martial for
extreme cowardice in battle,

that you have continued to
pace to publicly denigrate

and vilify our commander and
chief, General Washington.

- How dare you!

- You do not deny it, then.

- You sniveling little--

- And do you deny disobeying
the director orders

that I gave to you to
advance at Monmouth?

Instead you ordered
a cowardly retreat,

nearly costing us
the entire battle.

Men died because
of your cowardness.

- You presume to accuse me of--

- I am looking into
the face of a liar.

Yes, I demand your
presence, sir.

Two days hence at the
woods in Brunswick.

Good day.

[dark instrumental music]

[bird cawing]

- Here he is.

General Washington will
surely hear of this.

John, less you risk your good
graces with him to persist.

- The defensive honor is
always worth the cost.

[dramatic music]

[gun fires]
[grunts]

- I'm hit.

- [John] I am not hit, reload!

- Is your honor
not satisfied, sir?

- Not my honor, but the honor
od General George Washington

who is finer than
any man I know.

But if your man there
agrees, then I am done.

- Sir--

- Please understand,
sir, I could not let

such public attacks
of my commander and
chief go undefended.

- By now, John's blood was up.

Cowardice was a monumental
evil in his eyes.

At this time, dueling
had been outlawed

in many parts of the colonies,

but John came by his hot
blooded nature naturally.

His father, Henry Laurens,

had already been involved
in two duels himself.

The irony is that Alexander
Hamilton would later

also be killed in a duel.

Meanwhile, John continued
to rise through the ranks

in General Washington's army.

- My regiment!

God be praised!

At last Phillip, a victory!

Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens
granted 3,000 black troops

by congress for a regiment
he will train and lead.

[men cheering]

- Then in April of 1780,

the British launched a
major amphibious assault

on the capitol
city, Charlestown.

The besieged capitol was
defended by among others,

John Laurens, but within
weeks on the 12th of May,

the continental
army surrendered.

The British paroled
some, like John Laurens.

Laurens was sent
to Philadelphia,

released and exchange and
then ran as fast as he could

to Washington's camp.

Shortly afterwards, John and
the congress were shocked

to hear that John's father,
Henry, had been captured.

Henry, who was in route
to the Netherlands

with a leather pouch
containing a secret appeal

for Dutch aid.

Although he tossed the
pouch into the ocean,

British sailors retrieved it.

The contents made Henry a
war prize for the British

and he was held in
the tower of London,

accused of high treason.

- Sir!

You're being sent to Paris.

- Paris, why?

- I was astonished to learn
of my old friend, John,

in Paris, being trusted
by the American congress

to gain support from the king.

He was with Thomas Paine!

I remember John and I
reading Paine's "Commonsense"

when we are studying
law in London.

And now, here he was a colossus,
striding across the globe

and his obsession for freedom.

However, news of John's
father Henry, was being spread

across printing presses in
England, trapped in the Tower,

in the clutches of the king.

But as an Englishman, I
can say that many people

secretly thought the president
of American Congress,

a grand hero.

However, for Mr. Laurens it
was the threat of an execution.

[door rattling]

- Good day, General Vernon.

You bring not only
welcome company

but I assume more
news from the council.

This cell I hear, was
used by the best lawyer

that ever lived, the
martyred Sir Thomas Moore,

but he could not save himself

from the remorseless tyrant
and his bloody ministers.

- [Man] Save your talk for the
proper answers you must give

to the Lords of Council when
they come again from the king.

- I have no king, sir.

I am not a subject.

I am a prisoner of war
and no answers will I give

to any that would
betray my rights

as a citizen of the
American United States.

- You are merely a
colonial, Mr. Laurens.

- Then do not listen to my
speeches, master Vernon.

If those Lords have their way,

you will no longer be troubled
by the forbidden words

of a mere colonial
and tens of thousands

of my fellow citizens
will know only the quiet

of the cemetery, the
grave of our liberty and--

But forgive me, sir.

I have no quarrel with you.

You have been generous.

I was only wishing to tempt
you with my cause of freedom.

- Enough!

- It is time for
your midday meal.

Our master jailer's
daughter, mistress Elizabeth,

will bring it.

But it will require only
a word and a nod from them

then the executioner.

Do not count on their
patience much longer.

Do you recall the
practice of the church

when faced with rebellion?

The inquisitor's which
show the miscreant

the instruments of
torture to be used

if the unfortunate
creature did not recant.

Sir, there are tortures that
involve no lurid bloodletting

or rending of the flesh.

Simply dark isolation,

slow deprivation
of adequate food,

no warming bedclothes
against this chilling damp.

Only cold,

dark

and alone.

I assume you are wise enough
to recognize those instruments.

[fervent instrumental music]

- Meanwhile, in America,
the war rages on.

Some Americans continue
to debate and consider

how this new free
nation would operate.

One wonders then, what
might have transpired

in such a conversation

between John Laurens
and Thomas Jefferson.

[soft instrumental music]

- Thank you for receiving
me, Governor Jefferson.

I deeply regretted the
circumstance that prevented you

from accompanying us on our
mission to the court of France.

Your skills were sorely missed.

And of course, the loss
of your beloved wife

and of your daughter, an
insupportable grief, sir.

Please accept my
heartfelt condolences.

- You are very kind
Lieutenant Colonel

and I offer my sincere
sympathies for your father

still being held in London.

He is in our prayers.

- Your concern is
greatly appreciated.

- Well, your own abilities
have led to great successes.

The French King gave you
access to much needed funds,

supplies and a promise of
his navy for our war effort.

- A great blessing!

All I had to do was find just
the right moment to mention

to the king that if we should
lose this war with England

we might be forced
to fight the French.

His eyes narrowed and
suddenly he became gleeful

to use us in tormenting
Britain. [laughs]

And of course, Dr.
Franklin's coonskin cap

and habits of taking air
baths before a window

completely nude, generated
a greater interest

in our affairs. [laughs]

- I understand you're
hurrying to South Carolina

to join the fighting
there, please be safe.

The outrages committed
by the vile minions

of fat George are well-known.

- Governor?
- Hmm?

- May I ask you a question
about that document

that you were known
to be the main author?

The one that declares our
right, indeed our duty,

to take governance
into our own hands.

You speak of the
Declaration of Independence.

In truth Mr.
Laurens, you may ask,

but events have shaken
my faith and ideals

that then seemed certain to me.

Still, ask if you must.

- I mean slavery!

- Just so, your radical
views on that I have read.

- Radical because I know
our national hypocrisy

is a stench in the
nostrils of our creator.

We clamor, fight, we
die for our own liberty,

while chaining others
and forcing them to
bend to our will.

- Like many of the young, you
think you alone have found

one truth that provides
easy answer to a situation

far more complex than--

[low dramatic music]

What would you have
done in Philadelphia?

Compose a document that was
filled with high flown words

that destroyed forever
the detestable practice

of enslaving other men?

And then what would you have
done when the three states

of North and South
Carolina and Georgia

walked out of the hall

and destroyed the required
unanimity of the states?

And as for your dream of
liberty and self-governance,

would have been stillborn!
- Sir--

- Oh but what of that?

You would have the
self-gratifying knowledge

you had expressed
your own feelings

and great intellectual
truth that prove

your moral superiority
over all who disagreed.

And so you would bring
death to the great

and glorious struggle in
which you are now engaged!

- I suggest sir,

your question might
be better addressed

to the leaders of your home
state of South Carolina.

Perhaps you might ask
the governing officer

of South Carolina, Mr. Rutledge,

his meaning in
referring to slavery

as our peculiar institution.

With the same lightness of
tone that one would reference

a slightly unusual way of
performing a step in a minuet.

Can you not see that--

- Good day to you.

I'm suddenly we have such
certainties of victories

of ethics and morality.

Enjoy the lessons of nature.

[dramatic music]

- Sorry, Colonel, sir.

- This is an outrage!

There are movements in many
colonies to end slavery.

Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia

and many here in South Carolina
heartedly agree with me!

How can the stubborn
men be so blind?

- I'm sorry, Colonel sir.

- I will not, I cannot
let these political elites

impose their will
to crush my dreams

and your God given
right to liberty.

I will force them.

I will force each and every--

- Colonel, Colonel!

With what weapons will
you force their approval

of your plan?

Ah, you mock me too, hey?

The reward of failure
is always contempt.

No Colonel, that
book you gave me,

by that man Sir Walter Raleigh,

I will now quote that
victory lies in the struggle,

not the city won.

Sir, your struggles
comes from the deep urges

we have in our hearts since
the beginning of the world.

The fear these men feel is
the fear of the stranger,

the other and the different.

It also makes humans want to
destroy what is not known, sir.

Difference is danger, Colonel.

Sometimes for good
reason, sometimes not.

- Please call me John.

- No, I am more comfortable
addressing you as Colonel, sir.

Please allow me this indulgence.

- As you say, Phillip.

- And Colonel, the other,
we all feel it, see it,

that face coming out of the
dark, into the campfire.

If it's close enough to be lit

it's close enough to
be dangerous, sir.

Your loss today is
a painful wound,

but in every trial in
arms you have endured

at least one wound and survived

and you will heal
from this as well.

You have convinced many and
you must be grateful for that!

- Perhaps.

I agree with Governor
Jefferson's prescription

for the health of freedom.

That from time to time,
the tree of liberty

must be manured with the
blood of tyrants and patriots.

I promise you, Phillip,

I will never stop my
prayers, my energy

and my efforts to cleanse
us of this deadly bondage!

We are all trapped
in its chains.

- Yes, that's something
for one true thing,

if we all choose, we are
free in our minds, John.

[fervent instrumental music]

- Did you offer some
to both of the guards?

- Indeed I did, sir.

- Thank you.

Mistress Elizabeth,

every day that I am blessed
to enjoy your company,

the gloom that I feel at
being hostage of my enemies

is dissipated in the
light of your smile

and enchanting manner.

[Elizabeth giggles]

Dear girl, my gratitude
cannot be measured.

It has been a year almost

and our brief shared moments

of affection are life to me now.

- Sir?

Henry,

please take these letters.

- They are warm
from your dear skin.

- Please, Henry hide
them safely away.

- Yes, there.

- Do you think me brazen?

- No dear girl.

You are the finest woman I know.

You are so generous.

You share your passion
with a grizzled old man

and you have enough courage
to secret my letters

on your person to aid
in my cause in America.

Is there anything that I can
do for you in recompense?

- Not now, sir, as sadly,
my good father returns soon.

But tomorrow he will
be gone the entire day.

- Yet still, I fear

I must ask you

to carry a perilous packet.

- Your cause is now mine.

Not only because of my
true affection for you

but because of the
glorious liberty you seek.

I am considered by those
here barely a woman,

mostly a girl,

but I am capable of any
heroic action in this cause

of freedom if only I
am trusted with it.

Oh thank you sir for trusting
me with this great task.

- Here then, dear one,

only promise me you
will take all caution

but you will not
die in this, no.

No, you are dearer to me

than all these letters.

[soft dramatic music]

With this kiss,

I seal the promise.

I am true.

Farewell.

[drums banging]

- Yes, your town has won!

- [Woman] Oh, praise the Lord!

- That's spineless,
contemptible coward Cornwallis

would not even
attend the surrender.

- Actually, a lot of people
think that the Revolutionary War

ended when Lord
Cornwallis surrendered

the British army at Yorktown.

But the reality is that the
British still had an iron vise

grip on many forts and cities

throughout the
southern colonies.

- What!

British refused to
surrender southern colonies!

Holding Charlestown!

Red coat vandals terrorizing
farming families.

- John!

Your father's been released
from the Tower of London.

- Thanks be to God!

Cusco!

Wait, I have a letter
from Alexander Hamilton.

Philip listen.

John, we hear you're finally
routing the red coats

out of South Carolina.

Bravo peace made for your
town, my dear friend.

A new scene opens.

The object is to make our
independence a blessing

to all in America.

A Herculean task and mountains
of prejudice must be leveled.

It requires all the
virtue of our new country.

Then you can join
us in Congress.

Write back as soon
as you clear--

- [All] The British
from our coast.

- Now, Phillip, I
am late to the park

for an evening of delights
of the southern ladies.

Look sharp for new
dispatches from General Gist

while I'm gone.

- Yes, sir.

- Henry!

Oh Henry! [giggles]

Oh I'm so thrilled!

- Henry greatly
admired the young spy

who bravely carried his messages
from the Tower of London/

While they never married, he
took her to South Carolina

as a governess for
his grandchildren.

- No one knows if
Henry visited me

because I disappeared from
the historical record.

However, a large sum of money
was left to me in his will.

[dark eerie music]

[woman laughs]

- John, you mentioned orders.

I know you must not reveal much,

but is there
anything I may know?

- Dorothea, I have orders to
oversee the safety of our spies

in Charlestown but they
discovered something

that must be stopped.

For the greater good,
I must pursue it.

The British regiment's
stealing food

and terrorizing our farmers.

- Farmers!

Oh no, dear me.

- I have said too much.

Do not fear.

We will engage them
before dawn, shh.

- I see.

- John, you're ill.

Your fever is worse.

Please stay here with us
tonight, you must rest.

- I will be fine.

- I will nurse you.

- You inspire me
for the road ahead.

You are so very beautiful.

You remind me of someone.

- I do?

Someone in France, when you
asked the king to help us?

- Someone long ago in London.

- Your Martha?

Oh John, I am so sorry.

A terrible loss.

- Forgive me, for I now
see you in a new light

and you are unlike
anyone I've ever known.

- Thank you.

Clever, dangerous
gentlemen. [laughs]

[dramatic music]

- [Henry] Sir, would it
have made a difference,

after all your striving,

all the blood
soaking into the soil

of your beloved South Carolina?

Could I have saved you

or was your one last
sacrifice needed

to purge us of our sins
of slavery and tyranny?

All that remains

is faith and a prayer.

[dramatic music]

- The British will be coming
down this side of the river.

First platoon take defensive
positions along the bank.

Second platoon take defensive
positions along the tree line.

[suspenseful music]

They are here!

On me lads!

Make ready!

Ready set fire!
[grunts]

[gun fires]
[dramatic music]

- [Phillip] Breathe
easy sir, breathe easy!

- Too soon.

Martha.

- John!

- [John] Where are you?

Holding our daughter?

The light

rising

out of the dark.

[heavy breathing]

- [Phillip] Colonel.

- [Man] Oh, lead
me to that spot.

That sacred shaw
where souls are free

and men oppress no more.

[fervent instrumental music]

[sweet acoustical music]
[woman singing]