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00:07Captain Lewis, Mr. Jefferson, you look like you've just ridden through hell, just Washington.
00:18Same number of politicians, more mud perhaps.
00:25The Louisiana Purchase will go ahead, there are no more obstacles in our way.
00:35I have another task for you.
00:42Want me to read a book?
00:43It's a guide.
00:46That's a record of the first crossing of North America, all the way to the Pacific.
00:54And we will soon liberate from Napoleon.
01:00You will lead a team to explore and map those territories.
01:05Go where he did not.
01:08Stake our claim.
01:09Sounds dangerous.
01:15Given all the recent dramas, I think it's good for you, us, if you take an extended leave
01:24of absence.
01:27Exchange the foul stench of the city for something cleaner.
01:34You will be gone a while.
01:38Should you return, you will return in glory.
02:07Ah.
02:10Are you sure it's safe, sir?
02:11I don't see any air holes.
02:15Captain Lewis would surely inform me if he was sending me something hostile.
02:30Hello?
02:32Anyone in there?
02:33I think we're safe.
02:34Brink it open.
02:45Ooh.
02:49Smells like the yellow house behind the tavern.
02:52What do you think it is?
02:53Well, I'm hoping it's proof of a theory I've long held.
02:57Do you know what a mammoth is, Freeman?
03:00No, sir.
03:00Imagine an elephant, twice the size, covered in thick hair, tusks 16 feet long.
03:08Scientists have discovered their skeletons all over the world, and it is my hope that
03:12Lewis and Clark will find them alive somewhere in these vast new lands of the web.
03:18Not sure it's an animal I ever want to meet.
03:29Oh, my.
03:32What are you?
03:46Is that one of your mammoths?
03:48No.
03:49Not much too small.
03:53Ah.
03:54Tom Lewis, hold this.
04:00Good God, man, it won't bite.
04:04Meriwether says this is a new species of bear.
04:08Larger, more aggressive than the bears we get here on the East Coast.
04:14No news of mammoths.
04:17There's still time.
04:20After they signed the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, Jefferson wants to learn as much as he can
04:25about this new territory.
04:27So this becomes known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
04:31Can I ask you a question, sir?
04:33What is it?
04:35Why spend all that money on Louisiana?
04:38Seems to me like those lands are full of things we don't need.
04:41Including angry bears and beasts with tusks taller than a house.
04:45Those new lands are the future of this nation, Freeman.
04:50Space for people to live.
04:53Own land, plant crops.
04:56New Eden will make America the greatest nation the world has ever seen.
05:02The West will be my legacy.
05:05It shall be tamed.
05:10Might be that some other folk have something to say about that.
05:15You may leave me now, Freeman.
05:19Even though Lewis and Clark come back with all these treasures,
05:22what they really do is spark America's imagination.
05:29Still so much to do, Dick.
05:35So much to learn.
05:41Jefferson's greatest contribution to the United States as president was the Louisiana Purchase.
05:51Every minute of every hour must be seized.
05:58That territory became the economic engine that established the United States as a global superpower.
06:17Though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death, I'll have no fear.
06:23For thou art with me.
06:26Amen.
06:34It's just too sad, Jimmy.
06:39I could remember Polly running around these lawns with her dolls.
06:43Oh, such a pretty child.
06:50Oh, she's gone and three small children of her all left behind.
07:00Oh, look at me.
07:04I should be thinking about poor Thomas.
07:08She's already lost her wife.
07:11Now a daughter.
07:14Jefferson's life is often wracked by death.
07:18Polly Jefferson, who is very close to her father.
07:22She dies soon after giving birth to one of Jefferson's grandchildren.
07:29One person dies.
07:33Another is born.
07:37Another.
07:39You think you'd show a little more.
07:44Discretion.
07:53At the same time, Sally Hemmings was pregnant with Thomas Jefferson's son.
07:59But Jefferson wouldn't acknowledge it.
08:03Look at him.
08:06You think there was this kind of hoopla when two of our children died?
08:11No, there was not.
08:16I know what you two want.
08:18But it ain't gonna happen.
08:21He's not gonna be in any mood to grant favors anytime soon.
08:25Melinda was to be the body servant, to be the companion of Thomas Jefferson's daughter.
08:31Her death changed everything for Melinda.
08:33And now there's a possibility that she could be sold.
08:36Or she could be sent out to work the fields.
08:44Please, Sally.
08:46I'm begging you.
08:48You're the only one the president might listen to.
08:52John Ammar's future is resting on it.
08:56All right.
08:57I'll ask him.
08:59But don't expect any miracles.
09:14It's late, Thomas.
09:16Would you like me to leave you?
09:18No.
09:20Oh, stay.
09:21I need company.
09:34I'm running out of time, Sally.
09:37Don't be foolish.
09:39You got more life in you than a hundred young bucks.
09:44Y'all just hurting.
09:46Because you lost something precious.
09:50And that kind of wound takes time to heal.
09:56Even though she is in this incredibly subordinate position to Jefferson,
10:00she is in this very intimate relationship with him.
10:03She has this kind of close access to him.
10:06That's her influence.
10:08I know it's the wrong time.
10:10I've got to ask you for something.
10:14Go on.
10:16Freeman and Melinda want to get married.
10:19John was supposed to ask Polly for permission,
10:22but he didn't get around to it in time.
10:26I'll think about it.
10:36Think of yourself as dead.
10:39You have lived your life.
10:42Now, take what's left and live it properly.
10:47What doesn't transmit light creates its own darkness.
10:53Dwell on the beauty of life.
10:56Watch the stars and see yourself running with them.
11:08What is it?
11:12I don't just need a favor for Melinda.
11:15I need one for me.
11:18I've already buried two children.
11:20And now we're going to have another.
11:24I want to know that they are going to be emancipated, Thomas.
11:28And when you die, I want my own freedom too.
11:31We've spoken about this, Sally.
11:34I know we have.
11:35But you never put anything in writing.
11:39Make us free.
11:47What doesn't transmit light creates its own darkness.
11:56Even in his will, Sally Hemings isn't left anything.
12:00But Jefferson ensures his children with Sally Hemings
12:04are eventually able to pass into society as free men and free women.
12:10When Thomas Jefferson died, they just went free at that point.
12:14And they took their mother with them to go live in Charlottesville.
12:26The presidency has really worn on Thomas Jefferson.
12:29It's affected him personally, psychologically, physically.
12:33He begins to suffer headaches.
12:35The stress, the pressure really is getting to him.
12:51What now?
12:53It's Burr.
12:56And what has the Vice President done now?
13:00Stole crown jewels?
13:02Married a matapony squad taking up living in a teepee?
13:09He's killed Alexander Hamilton.
13:27Let's get this over with.
13:31Hamilton, who is often not a good judge of character, nails Burr perfectly.
13:36He says Burr is a weasel.
13:38Doesn't like him, doesn't respect him, doesn't trust him.
13:42This arrogant bastard thinks I won't shoot him.
13:45I'm the Vice President after all.
13:59I'm gonna shoot that smile clean off your goddamn face.
14:03It goes clear back to when Alexander Hamilton endorsed Thomas Jefferson rather than Aaron Burr for the presidency after their
14:12tie.
14:12But the more immediate causes go to the governor's race in New York.
14:1620 paces.
14:25Hamilton assumes everybody will shoot into the air, as gentlemen should, and then they'll say the question of honor has
14:33been resolved.
14:42Dirty bastard. Aaron Burr shot him.
14:49Not smiling now, are you?
15:01You know, for a war hero, you are a surprisingly poor shot, Hamilton.
15:09I am...
15:11...deliberate.
15:17Hamilton is gut shot, and he dies the next day in excruciating pain.
15:24Dueling is illegal in every state in the union at the time, so Aaron Burr is indicted for murder in
15:31both New York and New Jersey, so he has to flee to South Carolina.
15:35He's still Vice President, and he's on the run for murder.
15:44And I can see the headlines now.
15:48Vice President of the United States...
15:52...shoots war hero dead.
15:58Burr has single-handedly made my presidency...
16:04...the reputation of this nation...
16:07...into a joke.
16:10He will be arrested...
16:13...tried...
16:14...and justice will be served.
16:16Maybe...
16:17...but the damage has been done.
16:20He has made me look weak.
16:22And weakness in politics is a short step to defeat.
16:35Jefferson finds himself being criticized, and he hates it.
16:44He's a sick man. He has migraines. Bad migraines.
16:54What is it?
16:58Are you all right, Thomas?
17:01Is it too much to ask for some good news?
17:05Anything?
17:07Look, I'm sorry.
17:09There is something else that I need to share with you.
17:23The Pasha of Tripoli wishes to declare war on Earth.
17:32Of course he does.
17:34Of course he does.
17:34The Muslim countries of North Africa ran a extortion racket.
17:41They would capture ships and enslave the crews.
17:44Your options are to try and make a deal...
17:47...or try and use military force to get these countries to back off.
17:52And Jefferson tries both of those.
17:55The Tunisians are sending an ambassador to negotiate.
17:59The ambassador's name.
18:05Melly Melly.
18:10His people have sent a list of requests for his stay in Washington.
18:15He wants us to provide him with concubines.
18:29So, first they kidnap our sailors, now they want to steal our women.
18:37Well, good luck, James.
18:39Sir?
18:40As Secretary of State, I'd say this Melly Melly business is very much your concern.
18:47Thomas, you surely can't expect me to purchase prostitutes for a state dignitary.
18:51Terry?
18:54Oh, you do.
19:00Let's go.
19:55What you do?
19:58Eight years.
20:01It's very hard on knees.
20:05Oh.
20:07Well, good for you for sticking it out.
20:13And in.
20:16Quite so.
20:19Quite so.
20:38Mr. Ambassador, I trust your journey was not too arduous.
20:43Melly Melly really created an incredible stir within Washington because here was the first ambassador from a Muslim nation arriving
20:51in the United States.
20:53He says America is too cold.
21:05His Excellency asks if this woman is to be his concubine.
21:09What on earth does he mean?
21:11Oh, it's a mistranslation.
21:12I'm sure if you can come with me, Ambassador, we can discuss all the arrangements for your visit.
21:30A toast to our honored guest.
21:33Trust and friendship.
21:35Trust and friendship.
21:48My very own sword.
21:51And so beautiful.
21:54Thank you, Mr. Ambassador.
22:09His Excellency says you will need it to defend yourself against the armies of men overcome by your beauty.
22:15Oh, my.
22:17Seems to me our American men could learn a thing or two about flattery from our Tunisian friends.
22:28Mr. Melly Melly, please, will you join me?
22:32Thank you very much.
22:35Please.
22:37Later, he learned that Dolly and James Madison had not had children together, and he decided to use what he
22:44called his magical cloak to help with their fertility.
22:50That would be a little odd because she did have children from a previous marriage.
22:55So if there was anybody who needed a cloak thrown over them, it would be James.
23:00James.
23:01Yes.
23:02I'm curious, how'd it go with the concubine?
23:06Fine.
23:07Good.
23:09Everything's in hand.
23:11Oh, God, Thomas, no, not like that.
23:16And is she experienced?
23:20Oh, very.
23:21She's Greek.
23:22Oh, well, Greek.
23:24Practically invented it.
23:27And how will you explain the expensing of this Greek goddess to our friends in Congress?
23:34I've charged her bill to the State Department.
23:39Listing her fee under appropriations to foreign intercourse.
23:56Well, your wife is a political genius.
24:00That man would throw himself under her new sword if she asked.
24:05Well, she certainly enjoys the limelight, and she's a lot better at dealing with people than I am.
24:14I want you to do something very important for me, James.
24:20Name it.
24:24I'm tired.
24:29Constant tired.
24:50But you, darling, I look at you, I see a team.
24:57Two people who have become so much more than one man can ever be.
25:09I have decided I will not stand for re-election.
25:17What?
25:19No.
25:20My man is made up.
25:23I shall follow the example of Washington.
25:26Two terms are enough for any man.
25:33If I were to win a third term, that would be 12 years.
25:3712 years is a reign.
25:40The king.
25:41The queen.
25:43And I refuse to become what we set out to overthrow.
25:50I'm...
25:51I'm still unsure what it is you want me to do for you, Thomas.
26:01I want you to take over from me.
26:05I want you to run for president.
26:07I want you to take over from me.
26:07I want you to take over from me.
26:08I want you to take over from me.
26:10I want you to take over from me.
26:10I want you to take over from me.
26:11I want you to take over from me.
26:11I want you to take over from me.
26:11I want you to take over from me.
26:11I want you to take over from me.
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