- 11/11/2023
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FunTranscript
00:00 [silence]
00:07 [music]
00:14 [music]
00:21 [music]
00:28 [music]
00:35 [music]
00:42 [music]
00:45 Benjamin Franklin was one of the most extraordinary men of the 18th century.
00:50 Philosopher, inventor, and patriot, he rose from obscurity to become one of the greatest figures in American history.
00:58 In our struggle for freedom, much credit must be given to this illustrious...
01:02 Mouse! For it was Amos who was really responsible for the great deeds attributed to Benjamin Franklin.
01:09 And here's the proof in his own words.
01:13 I was born and raised in Philadelphia, in the old church on 2nd Street.
01:18 Our home was in the vestry, behind the paneling.
01:22 There were 26 children in the family, and with that many mouths to feed, we were naturally quite poor.
01:28 In fact, as poor as church mice.
01:34 And since I was the oldest, I determined to set out into the world and make my own way.
01:39 If I was successful, I could help the others.
01:42 But in any case, there'd be one less mouse to feed.
01:48 It was the winter of 1745, and these were desperate times.
01:53 Jobs were scarce, especially for a mouse, for we were a downtrodden race.
02:00 [music]
02:11 [music]
02:14 [screaming]
02:16 [music]
02:25 Good morning, madam. Could you use a handy mouse?
02:28 Mouse!
02:29 [screaming]
02:30 [music]
02:35 By nightfall, I was becoming desperate.
02:40 If I didn't find shelter soon, I'd be done for.
02:45 My last hope was an old run-down shop near the edge of town.
02:49 A sign over the door read, "Benjamin Franklin, printer and bookbinder."
02:54 Perhaps I could find shelter here, just for the night.
02:58 Upon entering a strange place, I always took one good sniff as a precaution.
03:03 [sniffing]
03:05 Hmm. Printer's ink. Fresh paper. Old books.
03:10 [sniffing]
03:12 And no cats.
03:14 And just about as cold as it was outside.
03:18 The place was full of strange contraptions, tangles of wire...
03:23 [panting]
03:24 [snarling]
03:25 ...and a little round-faced man trying to write by candlelight.
03:31 Good day, Mr. Franklin. Could you use a...
03:35 [panting]
03:37 [snarling]
03:38 [music]
03:41 [crash]
03:42 Oh, dear, don't tell me. My last pair.
03:47 Oh, what'll I do?
03:50 Now I'll never get my paper out.
03:52 [chatter]
03:55 Soap and pop boats, here they come again.
03:58 Open up! Open up, Franklin! We know you're in there!
04:01 Hey, the rental, get out! We want our money!
04:03 You've got just 24 hours, then I'm taking your press!
04:07 And your business! We're taking everything!
04:09 It's your life, dear Franklin!
04:11 Remember, 24 hours!
04:14 [snoring]
04:15 You can come out now, Mr. Franklin. They've gone.
04:19 24 hours. Oh, what's the use?
04:22 But you can't give up. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
04:26 Mr. Franklin. My name's Ben. Plain Ben.
04:30 And just what would you do, uh, whatever your name is?
04:34 My name's Amos. One of the church mice from over on 2nd Street.
04:38 And the first thing I'd do is figure a way to heat this place.
04:41 All your heat's going up the chimney.
04:43 And what would you propose?
04:45 Put the fire in the middle of the room.
04:47 Oh, nonsense. You want to burn the place down?
04:50 Make something out of iron to put it in.
04:52 Say, that might be an idea.
04:54 [music]
05:00 Fixing Ben's glasses was quite a problem.
05:03 He'd broken his outdoor pair as well as his reading glasses.
05:07 Well, there was only one thing left.
05:09 Try to make one pair out of the two.
05:12 [music]
05:17 Let me see now.
05:19 Perhaps if I...
05:22 [music]
05:26 Yes.
05:28 [music]
05:33 There we are.
05:35 [music]
05:43 Amos! Amos!
05:45 [coughing]
05:47 What will I do with this smoke?
05:49 Use a pipe. Run it over to the chimney.
05:52 [music]
05:56 I must admit the stove wasn't much to look at, but at least...
05:59 It works, Amos. It works!
06:01 Naturally.
06:02 Say, I wonder if we couldn't make these things and sell them.
06:05 Call it the Franklin Stove.
06:08 Why, maybe someday...
06:09 Yeah, maybe someday.
06:10 But right now, Ben, would you mind trying these?
06:13 We have work to do.
06:14 Oh. Hmm.
06:16 Well, well, well.
06:18 Will they do?
06:19 Will they?
06:21 Why, Amos, this is a great idea.
06:23 Two-way glasses.
06:25 [laughing]
06:26 By George. By Focles.
06:29 Say, Ben, this your paper?
06:31 That's it, Amos.
06:32 Poor Richard's almanac.
06:34 Sunrise 622, sunset 743, high tide 420.
06:40 A cat in gloves catches no mice.
06:44 Poor Richard's almanac. Poor indeed.
06:47 But, Amos, consider all the information.
06:49 Information?
06:50 Ben, when the sun's up, it's up.
06:53 Why, read about it.
06:54 Oh, well.
06:55 What would you suggest?
06:57 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.
07:05 And then tell them what's going on.
07:07 Give them some news.
07:08 Real news.
07:09 Wake 'em 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.
07:16 [laughing]
07:17 [singing]
07:21 Which nobody can deny.
07:26 [squeak]
07:27 The Night Watch. Disgraceful.
07:31 But what about the judge?
07:34 A few pounds took care of him.
07:36 Good.
07:37 Now to fill our pockets, eh, Jonathan?
07:40 [laughing]
07:42 [music]
07:51 And, due to our inadequate fire department,
07:54 the building was a total loss.
07:57 Damage estimated at 490 pounds, 12 shillings, 6 pence.
08:01 Got that, Ben?
08:02 Right, Amos.
08:03 Then let's go to press.
08:04 Lower case T.
08:05 Lower case T.
08:06 Upper case S.
08:07 Upper case S.
08:08 Upper case A.
08:09 Upper case A.
08:10 Lower case T.
08:11 Lower case T.
08:12 Upper case S.
08:13 Upper case S.
08:14 Space.
08:15 Space.
08:16 Space.
08:17 Semicolon.
08:18 Another space.
08:19 Upper case R.
08:20 Lower case O.
08:21 Lower case T.
08:22 Lower case T.
08:23 Space.
08:24 Space.
08:25 Upper E.
08:26 Lower R.
08:27 Lower R.
08:28 [music]
08:57 [music]
09:11 Ben!
09:12 [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, have you seen Franklin's new paper?
09:51 Yeah, the Gazette.
09:52 The Pennsylvania Gazette.
09:53 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.
10:06 Yes, Ben.
10:07 Oh, what a day.
10:10 Now I can pay my bills and you can have cheese.
10:14 Cheese.
10:17 Good night, Ben.
10:19 Good night, Amos.
10:20 [music]
10:23 Whenever Ben appeared in public, he kept me under his hat.
10:28 There was a small door in the front so I could step out on the brim.
10:31 Thus, I was able to observe and offer advice without being seen by others.
10:36 I say, isn't that young Franklin?
10:39 Why, yes.
10:40 Good day, Ben.
10:42 Good day, Mr. uh, uh--
10:44 Governor Keith and Dr. Palmer.
10:47 Governor Keith, Dr. Palmer.
10:50 I read your new paper, my boy.
10:53 Congratulations.
10:54 First rate.
10:56 Keep up the good work, Ben.
10:58 Thank you, Your Excellency.
11:00 I shall do my best.
11:02 Thank you, Your Excellency.
11:03 I shall do my best.
11:05 Bright young chap.
11:06 Yes, indeed.
11:07 Very alert.
11:08 He seems to know what's going on.
11:10 Just think, the governor spoke to you.
11:13 You see, Ben, people are beginning to sit up and take notice.
11:16 Yes.
11:18 Oh, we're really getting someplace.
11:20 Nothing can stop us now.
11:23 Uh-oh.
11:25 Post, Ben.
11:26 Post.
11:27 Oh, how do you do, Mr. Post?
11:30 Oh, my goodness.
11:31 What have I done?
11:33 Amos?
11:35 Amos?
11:37 Amos.
11:39 As the years passed, Ben's reputation grew.
11:43 Letters poured in from all over the colonies.
11:46 Requests for money, for information on inventions,
11:49 advice in business, and even for advice to the loved one.
11:53 I spent all my spare time answering them.
11:57 And meanwhile, Ben puttered around with his experiments.
12:04 [screams]
12:07 Oh, Amos, you should have seen yourself.
12:11 That was the funniest--
12:14 Amos, where are you going?
12:16 I'm leaving.
12:17 Leaving?
12:18 Oh, Amos, now can't you take a little joke?
12:21 Joke?
12:22 You call this a joke?
12:24 Oh, but, Amos, I didn't mean it.
12:25 Now, please don't go.
12:26 I'll never do it again.
12:28 Well, no more tricks now.
12:30 Promise?
12:31 Yeah, I promise.
12:32 It was shortly thereafter that Ben took up kite flying.
12:40 To the framework of his largest kite, he fastened a small box.
12:44 For it was his idea that I become the world's first flying reporter.
12:49 I was so enthralled with the spectacle spread out below
12:53 that I failed to notice the sharp pointed wire
12:56 fixed to the kite just above my head.
13:00 I was the victim of a plot.
13:04 Ben!
13:28 Ben!
13:29 Ben!
13:40 Ben!
13:41 Ben!
14:04 Ben!
14:05 Ben!
14:06 Amos.
14:13 Amos.
14:16 Speak to me.
14:18 Was it electricity?
14:22 Was it electricity?
14:25 Was it electricity?
14:28 Goodbye.
14:29 Goodbye and forever.
14:32 Please, Amos, wait.
14:35 Amos!
14:36 Amos!
14:37 And so I left Ben and returned to my family in the old church
14:49 in the vestry behind the paneling.
14:52 The years that followed were troubled ones.
15:01 There were rumors of violence and rebellion,
15:04 loud talk against the stamp taxes and other outrageous...
15:07 How about it, Ben? Are we going to stand for this?
15:10 No!
15:11 No taxation without representation!
15:14 It was during this crisis that Ben was chosen to go to England
15:23 to lay our case before the king.
15:25 And now all the colonies anxiously awaited his return.
15:30 (indistinct chatter)
15:33 What happened?
15:34 What did he say?
15:35 What about the taxes? Will he lift them?
15:37 What did the king say?
15:39 Gentlemen, I'm afraid the mission was a failure.
15:43 The king was unreasonable. He wouldn't listen.
15:46 All right, then. We'll fight for our independence.
15:49 It has to be war.
15:50 War?
15:51 But, gentlemen, there must be some other way.
15:54 Some other way?
15:55 What way?
15:56 We've got to fight.
15:58 But what if we lose?
15:59 We'll hang for treason.
16:00 What'll we do, Ben?
16:01 Yes, what'll we do?
16:02 What'll we do?
16:03 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.
16:15 I could help him. I knew I could.
16:19 But no.
16:21 I couldn't go back.
16:23 After all, a mouse has a little pride.
16:27 It was a night in the summer of 1776
16:31 that I was awakened by a voice calling my name.
16:35 Amos!
16:37 Amos!
16:39 Amos!
16:44 Now, who could it be at this hour?
16:46 Amos!
16:48 All right, all right.
16:50 Ben!
16:52 Amos!
16:54 Amos!
16:56 Well, what do you want?
16:59 Well, I... that is...
17:01 I've come to ask if...
17:03 Oh, Amos, come back to me.
17:05 Would you please?
17:07 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. I know all about it.
17:16 I need you, Amos. 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?
17:24 I'll sign it, Amos. I'll sign anything.
17:26 Very well. You shall have the agreement first thing in the morning.
17:30 And wherefore?
17:34 And whereto?
17:37 So many tos in it.
17:39 Will not tolerate.
17:41 Will not tolerate.
17:43 Yes, whereas, under these conditions, there's a...
17:46 Binding.
17:48 Absolutely binding.
17:50 B-I-N-D-I-N-G.
17:54 Good day, Ben.
18:08 Come in, Amos, come in.
18:10 Here, let me take your hat and coat.
18:14 Nice weather we're having.
18:17 Now, could I pour you some tea and we'll get on to my problems?
18:21 If you don't mind, Ben, will you sign this first?
18:24 Yes, of course, of course.
18:26 Uh, mind if I read it?
18:29 If you wish.
18:31 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...
18:45 I've been racking my brains, working day and night, but it's no use.
18:48 I'm stuck.
18:50 But, Red, I thought it was finished.
18:52 It is, it is, Ben.
18:54 But I don't like the beginning.
18:56 It just doesn't sound right.
18:58 Uh, listen to this.
19:00 The time has come when we, the people of these colonies...
19:03 Yes, yes.
19:05 No, no, not big enough.
19:07 How about this?
19:09 Now is the time when we, the people...
19:11 Well, uh...
19:13 No, no, not strong enough.
19:15 Uh, the time is at hand when we, the people, must...
19:20 Oh, you see what I mean, Ben?
19:23 If I could only find the words.
19:26 Psst, Ben.
19:29 How about our contract?
19:31 No, Amos, not now.
19:33 Yes, now, or I'm leaving.
19:35 All right, Amos, all right.
19:38 When in the course of human events it becomes necessary...
19:44 Ben, that's it! That's it!
19:47 When in the course of human events it becomes necessary...
19:52 ...for one people to dissolve the political band which has connected them with another...
19:56 ...and to assume among the powers of the earth...
20:00 ...the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature...
20:04 ...are based.
20:06 ...of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence...
20:11 ...we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
20:20 On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress.
20:27 I was very proud to have had a small part in the creation of this great document.
20:32 And so, we are gathered here today to pay our respects to...
20:38 Benjamin Franklin.
20:40 For he was truly one of the greatest figures in American history.
20:47 [music]
21:03 [MUSIC]
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