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00:00 [THEME MUSIC]
00:03 [THEME MUSIC]
00:06 [THEME MUSIC]
00:10 [THEME MUSIC]
00:14 [THEME MUSIC]
00:18 [THEME MUSIC]
00:45 Benjamin Franklin was one of the most extraordinary men
00:48 of the 18th century.
00:49 Philosopher, inventor, and patriot,
00:52 he rose from obscurity to become one of the greatest
00:55 figures in American history.
00:57 In our struggle for freedom, much credit
01:00 must be given to this illustrious--
01:01 Mouse, for it was Amos who was really
01:04 responsible for the great deeds attributed
01:07 to Benjamin Franklin.
01:09 And here's the proof in his own words.
01:12 I was born and raised in Philadelphia,
01:15 in the old church on Second Street.
01:17 Our home was in the vestry behind the paneling.
01:21 There were 26 children in the family,
01:23 and with that many mouths to feed,
01:25 we were naturally quite poor.
01:27 In fact, as poor as church mice.
01:30 And since I was the oldest, I determined
01:35 to set out into the world and make my own way.
01:38 If I was successful, I could help the others.
01:41 But in any case, there'd be one less mouse to feed.
01:47 It was the winter of 1745, and these were desperate times.
01:52 Jobs were scarce, especially for a mouse,
01:56 for we were a downtrodden race.
01:59 [music playing]
02:03 [music playing]
02:06 [screaming]
02:16 Good morning, madam.
02:25 Could you use a handy mouse?
02:27 Mouse?
02:28 [screaming]
02:30 [music playing]
02:33 By nightfall, I was becoming desperate.
02:39 If I didn't find shelter soon, I'd be done for.
02:44 My last hope was an old run-down shop near the edge of town.
02:48 A sign over the door read Benjamin Franklin,
02:51 printer and bookbinder.
02:53 Perhaps I could find shelter here, just for the night.
02:57 Upon entering a strange place, I always took one good sniff
03:01 as a precaution.
03:02 [sniffing]
03:04 Hmm.
03:05 Printer's ink, fresh paper, old books, and no cats.
03:13 And just about as cold as it was outside.
03:17 The place was full of strange contraptions, tangles of wire--
03:22 [gasping]
03:23 [snorting]
03:24 --and a little round-faced man trying to write by candlelight.
03:30 Good day, Mr. Franklin.
03:32 Could you use a--
03:33 [gasping]
03:35 [screaming]
03:37 [music playing]
03:40 [glass shattering]
03:41 Oh, dear, don't tell me.
03:44 My last pair.
03:46 Oh, what'll I do?
03:49 Now I'll never get my paper out.
03:51 [arguing]
03:52 [music playing]
03:54 Surfing pop codes, here they come again.
03:57 Open up!
03:58 Open up, Franklin!
03:59 We know you're in there!
04:00 Hey, the rental, get out!
04:01 We want our money!
04:02 You've got just 24 hours, then I'm taking your credit!
04:06 And your business!
04:07 We're taking everything!
04:08 It's your life, Mr. Franklin!
04:10 Remember, 24 hours!
04:13 [snorting]
04:14 You can come out now, Mr. Franklin.
04:17 They've gone.
04:18 24 hours.
04:20 Oh, what's the use?
04:21 Oh, but you can't give up.
04:23 Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
04:25 [chuckles]
04:26 Mr. Franklin.
04:27 My name's Ben, plain Ben.
04:30 And just what would you do, uh, whatever your name is?
04:33 My name's Amos, one of the church mice
04:36 from over on Second Street.
04:37 And the first thing I'd do is figure
04:39 a way to heat this place.
04:41 All your heat's going up the chimney.
04:43 And what would you propose?
04:44 Put the fire in the middle of the room.
04:46 Oh, nonsense.
04:47 You want to burn the place down?
04:49 Make something out of iron to put it in.
04:51 Say, that might be an idea.
04:53 [music playing]
04:56 [clanking]
04:58 Fixing Ben's glasses was quite a problem.
05:01 He'd broken his outdoor pair as well as his reading glasses.
05:05 Well, there was only one thing left.
05:08 Try to make one pair out of the two.
05:11 [music playing]
05:14 [knocking]
05:16 Let me see now.
05:18 Have I put-- perhaps if I--
05:20 [music playing]
05:24 Oh, yes.
05:26 [music playing]
05:32 There we are.
05:33 [music playing]
05:42 Amos, Amos.
05:44 [coughing]
05:45 What?
05:46 What will I do with the smoke?
05:48 Use a pipe.
05:49 Run it over to the chimney.
05:51 [music playing]
05:55 I must admit, the stove wasn't much to look at.
05:57 But at least--
05:58 It works, Amos.
05:59 It works.
06:00 Naturally.
06:01 Say, I wonder if we couldn't make these things and sell them.
06:04 Call it the Franklin Stove.
06:06 Why, maybe someday.
06:07 Yeah, maybe someday.
06:08 But right now, Ben, would you mind trying these?
06:12 We have work to do.
06:13 Oh.
06:14 Hmm.
06:16 Well, well, well.
06:17 Will they do?
06:18 Will they?
06:20 Why, Amos, this is a great idea.
06:23 Two-way glasses.
06:24 [laughing]
06:25 By George.
06:27 By Focles.
06:29 Say, Ben, this your paper?
06:31 That's it, Amos.
06:32 Poor Richard's almanac.
06:34 Sunrise 6, 22, sunset 7, 43, high tide 420.
06:40 A cat in gloves catches no mice.
06:43 Ha.
06:44 Poor Richard's almanac.
06:46 Poor, indeed.
06:47 But, Amos, consider all the information.
06:49 Information.
06:50 Ben, when the sun's up, it's up.
06:52 Why, read about it.
06:54 Oh, well.
06:55 What would you suggest?
06:56 First, I'd give it a new name.
06:58 Something snappy, like the Gazette.
07:01 The Pennsylvania Gazette.
07:02 Well, that sounds all right.
07:04 And then tell them what's going on.
07:06 Give them some news.
07:08 Real news.
07:09 Wake them up.
07:10 Yeah, but where will I get news at this hour?
07:12 I'll get it for you.
07:13 Hold everything, Ben, till I get back.
07:15 [laughing]
07:17 [singing]
07:20 [singing]
07:26 The Night Watch.
07:28 Disgraceful.
07:30 But what about the judge?
07:33 A few pounds took care of him.
07:35 Good.
07:36 Now to fill our pockets, eh, Jonathan?
07:39 [laughing]
07:42 [music]
07:50 And, due to our inadequate fire department,
07:53 the building was a total loss.
07:56 Damage estimated at 490 pounds, 12 shillings, 6 pence.
08:00 Got that, Ben?
08:01 Right, Amos.
08:02 Then let's go to press.
08:03 Lower case T.
08:04 Lower case T.
08:05 Upper case S.
08:06 Upper case S.
08:07 Upper case A.
08:08 Lower case T.
08:09 Lower case T.
08:10 Upper case S.
08:11 Upper case S.
08:12 Space.
08:13 Space.
08:14 Space.
08:15 Semicolon.
08:16 Another space.
08:17 Upper case R.
08:18 Lower case O.
08:19 Upper case T.
08:20 Lower case T.
08:21 Space.
08:22 Space.
08:23 Upper E.
08:24 Lower R.
08:25 Lower R.
08:26 [music]
08:32 [music]
08:40 [music]
08:48 [music]
08:56 [music]
09:04 [music]
09:12 [music]
09:20 [music]
09:28 [music]
09:35 Say, this fella Franklin comes right out with it, don't he?
09:38 Sure does.
09:39 Well, look at this.
09:40 The baker's wife.
09:41 Triplets.
09:42 Well, I'm next.
09:43 Hey, did you read this?
09:44 More taxes than 46.
09:45 See, there was a big fire on Chestnut Street last night.
09:47 He's got everything in here.
09:49 Tom.
09:50 18, Franklin's new paper.
09:51 Yeah.
09:52 The Gazette.
09:53 The Pennsylvania Gazette.
09:54 The Pennsylvania Gazette.
09:55 By evening, everyone in Philadelphia was reading the Gazette.
10:00 Well, Amos, we're a success.
10:03 What a day.
10:04 What a day.
10:05 Yes, Ben.
10:06 Oh, what a day.
10:07 Now I can pay my bills and you can have cheese.
10:13 Cheese.
10:14 Good night, Ben.
10:17 Good night, Amos.
10:19 [music]
10:22 Whenever Ben appeared in public, he kept me under his hat.
10:26 There was a small door in the front so I could step out on the brim.
10:30 Thus, I was able to observe and offer advice without being seen by others.
10:34 I say, isn't that young Franklin?
10:37 Why, yes.
10:38 Good day, Ben.
10:40 Good day, Mr. uh, uh--
10:43 Governor Keith and Dr. Palmer.
10:45 Governor Keith, Dr. Palmer.
10:48 I read your new paper, my boy.
10:51 Congratulations.
10:53 First rate.
10:54 Keep up the good work, Ben.
10:56 Thank you, Your Excellency.
10:58 I shall do my best.
11:00 Thank you, Your Excellency.
11:02 I shall do my best.
11:03 Bright young chap.
11:04 Yes, indeed.
11:05 Very alert.
11:06 Seems to know what's going on.
11:08 Just think, the governor spoke to you.
11:11 You see, Ben, people are beginning to sit up and take notice.
11:15 Yes.
11:16 Oh, we're really getting someplace.
11:18 Nothing can stop us now.
11:21 Uh-oh.
11:23 Post, Ben.
11:24 Post.
11:25 Oh, how do you do, Mr. Post?
11:27 [gasp]
11:28 Oh, my goodness.
11:29 What have I done?
11:31 Amos?
11:33 Amos?
11:35 [growl]
11:36 Amos.
11:38 As the years passed, Ben's reputation grew.
11:41 Letters poured in from all over the colonies.
11:44 Requests for money, for information on inventions,
11:48 advice in business, and even for advice to the loved one.
11:52 I spent all my spare time answering them.
11:56 And meanwhile, Ben puttered around with his experiments.
12:01 [shrieking]
12:03 [laughing]
12:05 Oh, Amos, you should have seen yourself.
12:08 [laughing]
12:10 That was the funniest--
12:12 Amos, where are you going?
12:15 I'm leaving.
12:16 Leaving?
12:17 Oh, Amos, now can't you take a little joke?
12:20 Joke?
12:21 You call this a joke?
12:23 Oh, but Amos, I didn't mean it.
12:24 Now, please don't go.
12:25 I'll never do it again.
12:27 Well, no more tricks now.
12:29 Promise?
12:30 Yeah, I promise.
12:32 It was shortly thereafter that Ben took up kite flying.
12:37 To the framework of his largest kite, he fastened a small box.
12:41 For it was his idea that I become the world's first flying reporter.
12:46 I was so enthralled with the spectacle spread out below
12:50 that I failed to notice the sharp pointed wire
12:53 fixed to the kite just above my head.
12:56 [music playing]
12:59 I was the victim of a plot.
13:02 [music playing]
13:05 Ben!
13:26 Ben!
13:27 Ben!
13:29 [music playing]
13:32 Ben!
13:39 [music playing]
13:43 [crash]
13:44 [music playing]
13:47 [crash]
14:01 [music playing]
14:04 [crash]
14:11 Amos.
14:14 Amos, speak to me.
14:18 Was it electricity?
14:21 Was it electricity?
14:24 Was it electricity?
14:27 Goodbye.
14:28 Goodbye and forever.
14:31 Please, Amos, wait.
14:33 [music playing]
14:35 Amos!
14:36 Amos!
14:37 [music playing]
14:41 [crash]
14:42 [music playing]
14:45 And so I left, Ben, and returned to my family
14:49 in the old church in the vestry behind the paneling.
14:54 The years that followed were troubled ones.
14:57 [music playing]
15:00 There were rumors of violence and rebellion,
15:05 loud talk against the stamp taxes and other outrage--
15:08 Are we going to stand for this?
15:10 No!
15:11 No taxation without representation!
15:14 [music playing]
15:17 It was during this crisis that Ben
15:21 was chosen to go to England to lay our case before the king.
15:24 And now all the colonies anxiously awaited his return.
15:28 [music playing]
15:31 What happened, Ben?
15:34 What did he say?
15:35 What about the taxes?
15:36 Will he lift them?
15:37 What did the king say?
15:38 What did he say?
15:39 Gentlemen, I'm afraid the mission was a failure.
15:43 The king was unreasonable.
15:45 He wouldn't listen.
15:46 All right, then.
15:47 We'll fight for our independence.
15:48 It has to be war.
15:49 He's right.
15:50 War?
15:51 But gentlemen, there must be some other way.
15:54 Some other way?
15:55 What way?
15:56 No, no, we've got to fight.
15:57 But what if we lose?
15:58 We'll hang for treason.
15:59 What will we do, Ben?
16:00 Yes, what will we do?
16:01 What will we do?
16:02 If I only knew.
16:04 If I only knew.
16:07 Poor Ben.
16:09 I couldn't help feeling sorry for him.
16:12 It was a heavy responsibility.
16:16 I could help him.
16:17 I knew I could.
16:20 But no, I couldn't go back.
16:23 After all, a mouse has a little pride.
16:25 It was a night in the summer of 1776
16:32 when I was awakened by a voice calling my name.
16:36 Amos.
16:38 Amos.
16:39 [YAWNING]
16:41 Huh?
16:42 Amos.
16:45 Now, who could it be at this hour?
16:47 Amos.
16:49 All right, all right.
16:52 Ben!
16:54 Amos.
16:55 Well, what do you want?
16:59 Well, I-- that is, I've come to ask if--
17:03 oh, Amos, come back to me, would you, please?
17:06 Out of the question.
17:08 Please, Amos, consider your country.
17:10 My country.
17:11 Yes, Amos, there are big decisions to be made.
17:14 I know, Ben.
17:15 I know all about it.
17:16 I need you, Amos.
17:17 You've just got to come back.
17:19 On my own terms?
17:20 Yes, Amos, yes.
17:21 If I draw up an agreement, will you sign it?
17:23 I'll sign it, Amos.
17:24 I'll sign anything.
17:25 Very well.
17:26 You shall have the agreement first thing
17:28 in the morning.
17:29 [MUSIC PLAYING]
17:32 And wherefore?
17:33 And where too?
17:36 So many twos in it.
17:38 Will not tolerate.
17:40 Will not tolerate.
17:42 Yes, whereas, now, there's conditions, there's a--
17:46 Binding.
17:47 Absolutely binding.
17:50 B-I-N-D-I-N-G.
17:53 [MUSIC PLAYING]
17:56 Good day, Ben.
18:08 Come in, Amos, come in.
18:11 Here, let me take your hat and coat.
18:15 Nice weather we're having.
18:17 Now, could I pour you some tea, and we'll
18:20 get on to my problems.
18:21 If you don't mind, Ben, will you sign this first?
18:23 Yes, of course, of course.
18:25 [GRUMBLING]
18:27 Mind if I read it?
18:29 If you wish.
18:30 [MUSIC PLAYING]
18:32 [KNOCKING]
18:33 Ben, Ben, are you there?
18:35 It's Tom Jefferson.
18:37 Ben, come in, Red, come in.
18:40 Ben, you've got to help me.
18:43 Of course, Red, but--
18:44 I've been racking my brains, working day and night,
18:47 but it's no use.
18:48 I'm stuck.
18:49 But, Red, I thought it was finished.
18:51 It is, it is, Ben, but I don't like the beginning.
18:55 It just doesn't sound right.
18:57 Uh, listen to this.
18:59 The time has come when we, the people of these colonies--
19:03 Yes, yes.
19:04 No, no, not big enough.
19:07 How about this?
19:08 Now is the time when we, the people--
19:11 Well, uh--
19:12 No, no, not strong enough.
19:15 The time is at hand when we, the people, must--
19:20 Oh, you see what I mean, Ben?
19:22 If I could only find the words.
19:27 Psst, Ben, how about our contract?
19:30 No, Amos, not now.
19:31 Yes, now, or I'm leaving.
19:33 All right, Amos, all right.
19:37 When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary--
19:43 Ben, that's it, that's it!
19:47 When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary
19:51 for one people to dissolve the political band
19:54 which have connected them with another
19:56 and to assume among the powers of the earth
19:59 the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature--
20:04 On this declaration, with a firm reliance
20:07 on the protection of divine providence,
20:10 we mutually pledge to each other
20:13 our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
20:20 On July 4, 1776,
20:22 the Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress.
20:26 I was very proud to have had a small part
20:29 in the creation of this great document.
20:32 And so we are gathered here today
20:35 to pay our respects to--
20:38 Benjamin Franklin,
20:40 for he was truly one of the greatest figures
20:44 in American history.
20:47 [music]