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Adventures from the Book of Virtues – Episode 5: "Courage" is a classic educational episode from 1996, produced by PorchLight Entertainment for PBS.

In this episode, Annie, Zach, and Chris are faced with challenges that test their courage and bravery. Guided by the wise lion Plato, they explore timeless stories from history, fables, and legends that demonstrate how courage helps individuals overcome fear, take responsibility, and do what is right even when it is difficult.

Key Lessons in This Episode:

Facing fears and challenges

Standing up for what is right

Moral bravery and ethical decision-making

Building confidence and resilience

Series Information:

Series: Adventures from the Book of Virtues

Episode: 5

Title: Courage

Year: 1996

Production Company: PorchLight Entertainment

Network: PBS

Genre: Educational, Moral, Family, Animated

Language: English

Total Episodes: 39

Perfect for children, families, and educators, this episode teaches how courage strengthens character and encourages ethical action.
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Transcript
00:00Tell me a story, read me a poem
00:16Wrap it in melody, sing me the song
00:21Then let me hold it, deep in my heart
00:25Where it can speak to me all the day long
00:30The adventure of virtue, the adventure of truth
00:36The thrill of knowing that it's up to you
00:41Building a new day shining in the sun
00:46This is my story, the adventure hand
00:53Kind of
01:00And the adventure of deceived me
01:02This is their destiny
01:09This new adventure moi
01:13At Iwana
01:16Good luck, um, thanks.
01:39Runners, take your mark.
01:46Go Annie.
01:53Get up Annie!
02:03Did you see that?
02:06Hello?
02:13Anybody there?
02:28Scared you, didn't I?
02:38Well, uh, careful with that mask, it's very old.
02:43A find, if I may say so.
02:45Yeah, well, it sure found you scared.
02:50Did someone say scared?
02:52Ha!
02:53I don't know the meaning of the word.
02:54Nothing, I repeat nothing, scares me.
03:00Earth strike!
03:01Don't see your lies!
03:04What?
03:05What?
03:06Any room for me down in that hole?
03:16Hi, Annie.
03:17Aurora told us, sorry about that one hurdle.
03:20Then they actually expect me to get back on that track and run again.
03:25Good!
03:26At least you'll have a second chance to show them what you can do.
03:29Forget it.
03:30I'm afraid the same thing will happen.
03:32And it's not just a hurdle, it's a ten-year-old speed bump named Bobby Mitchell.
03:37The state champ for the last three years?
03:40No wonder you're scared.
03:42You'd be scared too.
03:44Annie, I know how you must feel.
03:46Mustering up the courage to face something tough isn't easy.
03:50At least, that's what Theseus found out.
03:53Theseus?
03:54Who's Theseus?
03:55Yeah.
03:56A young man who lived in ancient Greece who had to face a monster.
04:00A real monster.
04:02A monster?
04:03Cool!
04:04I'll go get the book!
04:07It's down here somewhere!
04:10Where?
04:11Where'd he come?
04:12Ah!
04:13I got it!
04:16There you go, Play-Doh.
04:18Much obliged, Aristotle.
04:22Ah, here it is.
04:30In ancient times, on the island of Crete, there was a strange maze-like prison,
04:36known as the Labyrinth.
04:41And in this Labyrinth, there lived a horrifying monster.
04:49It had the body of a man, the head of a bull, and the teeth of a lion.
04:55They called it, the Minotaur.
04:57The Minotaur.
05:03In those days, Crete was ruled by King Minos, who kept the Minotaur for one evil purpose.
05:10To send innocent captives to their doom.
05:13So deep was his bitterness that even his own daughter couldn't stop him.
05:17Not again, Father.
05:18Please, stop this madness now.
05:21My only son, your brother, died in Athens.
05:26Now their sons and daughters will die.
05:29But, Father, that was years ago.
05:32And these people have done no wrong.
05:33My son's death will be revenged.
05:37The black-sailed ship leaves for Athens today.
05:44Meanwhile, across the sea in the city of Athens, a stranger named Theseus appeared.
05:50Do not take my son! My only son!
05:55But, what has he done?
05:57Nothing. It's the curse.
05:59Every seven years, King Ateas sends seven young men and women to Crete,
06:04where they're thrown into a labyrinth with a monster known as the Minotaur.
06:08None has ever returned.
06:10But, why?
06:12If we do not comply, King Minos and his army will destroy our city.
06:16You are young, stranger.
06:20If I were you, I would leave Athens immediately.
06:23Not yet.
06:25Can you direct me to the palace?
06:34Thank you for seeing me, King Aegeus.
06:37So, what is it? Who are you?
06:39I am Theseus, Father.
06:43Can it be my son?
06:47I was afraid you would perish, but...
06:50You carry my sword.
06:52You are my son.
06:53Welcome home, Theseus. Welcome home.
06:56Yes, Father.
07:01The death of the King's son was an accident.
07:04But I had no choice.
07:06If I had not agreed to King Minos's terms, his army would have destroyed all of Athens.
07:11Ah, the Black-sailed ship leaves tomorrow.
07:15So, let's burn the ship!
07:17No, they are too powerful.
07:19Then I will go to Crete and slay the monster myself.
07:22No, my son, for you will surely die.
07:24You will surely die.
07:25This curse is wrong.
07:27It must be stopped!
07:34And so, Theseus sailed for Crete, not knowing the full danger of what lay ahead.
07:40Oh, the Athenians have arrived.
07:51Oh, this is wrong.
07:53So wrong.
07:59An extra prisoner?
08:02Prisoners, halt!
08:07Apparently, the Athenians cannot count.
08:10There are 15 prisoners instead of 14.
08:14King Minos, I am Theseus, son of King Aegeus.
08:19I have come here of my own will, to free Athens of your curse.
08:24Is that so?
08:25Well, all you have to do is slay the Minotaur.
08:31That is exactly what I intend to do.
08:34And I will do it alone.
08:36Good.
08:38Now your father will know what it is like to lose a son.
08:42Did you hear him, Ariadne?
08:44This pampered son of a king thinks he's going to slay the Minotaur.
08:48I heard him, father.
08:50Lock him up!
08:51And tomorrow morning, throw him into the labyrinth.
08:55We'll see how brave he is.
09:02Princess?
09:04Ariadne, shh!
09:06We must hurry. The guard is nearby.
09:09I have a way for you and your countrymen to escape.
09:12This will help.
09:14Come, we must get the others.
09:17No, I can't.
09:18Even though I fear the Minotaur, I cannot run away.
09:22Then use this to help get you out of the labyrinth.
09:26Tie one end to a stone and hold tightly to the spool as you move through the labyrinth.
09:32Then follow it to find your way out.
09:34Why are you doing this?
09:36If your father finds out, you will be in great danger.
09:39But you and the others are in far greater danger.
09:42What my father is doing is wrong.
09:43If I did not help you, I could not live with my conscience.
09:48The guards. I must go.
09:50Oh, but I wish I could go with you.
09:54You will be with me.
09:55You will be with me.
10:05Throw him in!
10:06Throw him in!
10:08No!
10:09No!
10:10No!
10:12No!
10:15No!
10:17No!
10:27No!
10:31Oh, no.
11:01Oh, no.
11:31A gift for you, your majesty.
11:44The head of the Minotaur.
11:46I kept my promise.
11:47I trust you will keep yours.
11:49I do not know what miracle got you out of the labyrinth alive.
11:55But I am a man of my word.
11:58There will be peace between Athens and Crete.
12:01That is the end of the matter.
12:03Not quite.
12:04I wish to take your daughter back to Athens.
12:07As my wife.
12:10Ariadne.
12:11Yes, father.
12:12I want to go with him more than anything in the world.
12:16There has been too much unhappiness between our two countries.
12:20If something good can finally come out of my son's death, I cannot say no.
12:26And so Theseus returned to Athens a great hero.
12:40And he went on to become a great king.
12:42All because he and Ariadne had the courage to do the right thing.
12:47What a handy story.
12:49That Theseus wasn't afraid of anything.
12:52Even a monster.
12:53Take that.
12:54Hey, Ariadne was just as brave as Theseus.
12:57They were both brave.
12:59And they were probably both afraid, too.
13:02Yet they did what was right.
13:03In spite of their fears.
13:06Exactly.
13:07I wish I had that kind of courage.
13:09But I just can't face that hurdle again.
13:12Poor Bobby Mitchell.
13:13If it were me, I'd blow Bobby right off the track.
13:17Well, now look, kid.
13:19It's easy to talk brave.
13:20But skinning the cat's a whole nother thing.
13:23Skin the what?
13:24Just a figure of speech, buddy.
13:27Now let me tell you about some brave mice who had a big cat problem.
13:32Follow me.
13:40As I was saying.
13:42Tell us, Ari.
13:44Once upon a time, there was a big, mean, ugly cat.
13:50Who was very good at catching mice.
13:52Help me! Help me! Help me! Help me!
14:14Did you see that?
14:22Something must be done about that cat.
14:24You said it, sister.
14:25I, for one, refuse to live in fear any longer.
14:28I refuse to.
14:29Something must be done.
14:30Fine.
14:30What we need is...
14:32What the Tappy needs is a good old-fashioned whipping.
14:35A flogging.
14:38But first, we must...
14:40First, we must be resolved.
14:41All of us.
14:43Yeah, definitely resolved.
14:43Oh, that's right. That's right. That's right.
14:45I mean, let's face it. Are we mice or men?
14:49We are mice!
14:50Which is why we need a plan.
14:56Hey, why don't we get a dog to chase the cat away?
14:59A big, mean dog with fangs.
15:02What we need is a trap, like a mousetrap, only bigger.
15:13We put some milk in a cup...
15:14We hang a bell around the cat's neck.
15:18Then we'll hear her every step.
15:21That's it.
15:22I could have thought of that.
15:28Very well.
15:29Now, who's going to be the one to hang the bell around the cat's neck?
15:35No way.
15:35Out of here.
15:38Get me out.
15:40I gotta run.
15:41Ta-ta.
15:53Help me! Help me!
15:55Talking brave and being brave.
15:57Oh, they're two different things.
16:00Aristotle, you're as eloquent as your namesake, the great philosopher.
16:04Hey, even if I hung a bell around Bobby Mitchell's neck, I don't think I could beat her.
16:09Annie, don't psych yourself out.
16:12It's okay to be afraid.
16:14But it doesn't mean you can't go out there and do your best.
16:16Just stay calm and use your head.
16:20Like the famous archer.
16:22Oh, well, don't tell me.
16:24It's William Apple.
16:26Oh, Apple Archer.
16:28Oh, Adam's Apple.
16:29No, it was...
16:30Ah, I remember.
16:31Long ago, in the 14th century, there were three mountain states surrounding Lake Lucerne.
16:42Part of what is now Switzerland.
16:44Though the countryside was beautiful, the soldiers of the region were cruel.
16:49And the governor was a tyrant named Gessler, who hated the common people.
16:54Oh, I didn't do that!
17:00Bullseye!
17:01Father, you never miss.
17:04One day you'll shoot as well as I do, Walter.
17:06Now it's your turn.
17:07Okay.
17:11You need a straight arrow, a keen eye, and concentration.
17:16Most of all, you must believe in yourself.
17:22Yeah!
17:24Well done, my boy.
17:26Come on.
17:27Let's go to town.
17:33Ha, ha, ha, ha.
17:35Looking nice.
17:36Paul, don't.
17:40Come on, old man.
17:41Show how much you love the governor.
17:43Bow to his hat.
17:49What is it, father?
17:51Gessler's men.
17:52So, who's next?
17:55You look like a loyal citizen.
17:57You've picked the wrong man.
17:59I will not bow to any man's hat.
18:01Down on your knees or you'll be branded a traitor.
18:04Never.
18:05What's going on here?
18:06Is there a problem?
18:10This traitor refuses to salute your hat.
18:14So, you do not obey orders.
18:16Are you stupid?
18:18I believe it's stupid to salute a hat, but to bow down to a tyrant.
18:23Wait.
18:24Aren't you that famous archer, William...
18:28Tell.
18:28Yes, William, tell.
18:31You are no ordinary man, so I will give you no ordinary punishment.
18:36Leave my father alone.
18:38So, you are as brave as your famous father, are you?
18:43Here's your punishment.
18:45Tell, shoot an arrow through this apple.
18:48Oh, I forgot to tell you.
18:52The apple will be sitting on top of your son's head.
18:57Oh, seriously.
18:58Dad, no.
19:00I will not risk my son's life.
19:02Give me another punishment.
19:03You will hit the apple with one arrow, and if you fail, my soldiers will kill your brave son before your very eyes.
19:14I'm not afraid. I believe in you.
19:18Seize the boy.
19:20No, let him go.
19:22Remember, one arrow only.
19:25And if you miss, well, you know the rest.
19:30You need a straight arrow, a keen eye, and concentration.
19:37Most of all, you must believe in yourself.
19:44My brave son.
19:48I knew you could do it, father.
19:51What's this?
19:53If I had hurt my son, that arrow was for you, Kessler.
19:58Seize him.
19:59Hey, leave my father alone.
20:01Don't worry, Walter.
20:02I will return.
20:09Father!
20:10Father!
20:14Hurry!
20:16There's a storm coming.
20:18We will have Tell in the dungeon before it hits.
20:25Keep growing harder.
20:38What's the matter with you?
20:39We're going nowhere.
20:40I can't be your help.
20:46I know these waters well.
20:48Shut up, traitor.
20:49I can't.
20:51I'm sick.
20:53Release Tell.
20:55He can navigate.
21:01Oh, release him and be quick about this.
21:03The rock?
21:17Watch out for that rock!
21:19Gah!
21:26Let this land be free.
21:28For all people.
21:30Forever.
21:30And thus, the great country of Switzerland was formed.
21:35And all because William Tell was...
21:38A good shot!
21:39Yes, but it was much more than just that, Ari.
21:42Whether it's a bully, or a monster, or even a hurdle in a race,
21:47sometimes you have to listen to that inner voice that tells you the right thing to do.
21:52Later, guys.
21:55I have a race to run.
21:56Go to, buddy!
21:58You know, I think she's gonna do okay.
22:01So do I, Zack.
22:03After all, the brave aren't born that way.
22:06They grow courageous through their acts.
22:08There's a poem by Kipling.
22:10If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you.
22:16If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting, too.
22:22If you can wait and not be tired by waiting or being lied about, don't deal in lies.
22:28Or being hated, don't give way to hating.
22:32And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise.
22:36If you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run,
22:42yours is the earth and everything that's in it.
22:50And which is more, you'll be a man, my son.
22:54Man, you'll be a woman, Annie.
23:08Hold on.
23:12Keep your eyes focused on the prize.
23:16Hold tight.
23:19Discover all that you have inside.
23:23And even if you find that you have to start all over again.
23:30Just remember that you face the wind.
23:37Facing the wind.
23:39Find a way to embrace your golden飯.
23:51How are you?
23:52Yeast.
23:56You can still see stars.
23:57There are so many options for this, though.
24:01You'll see us or what is it less.
24:02You can see two reasons.
24:03Never mind.
24:04What I am.
24:05Hephaertus.
24:05Itzeń Mates.
24:05You can see stars.
24:06And today you'll see瓜.
24:07You can see stars.
24:07You can see stars.
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