Franklin

Start loading those crates. Be careful with them. Quickly, quickly.

Come on. Faster. Let's go.

Careful!

Muskets to the back.

Quickly!

Where are you going?

To take a piss.

There's a whole ocean.

I've never seen you before.

And I know everyone who works this dock.

You'll know me now.

It's not bad. But swift with the lever.

The impression must be even.

Watch.

I can't do it this quickly.

You can if it serves as your livelihood.

I could print 500 pages a day.

But don't worry, boy.

I've got other plans for you.

I might have plans of my own, you know.

Such as?

Never mind.

No, I'm all ears.

Well, I intend to live pleasantly.

To have entertaining friends and exciting adventures.

To reside in a house like this and be regarded as a wit and a gentleman.

Perhaps it would be best for you to learn a trade after all.

Do I disturb your labors?

They're more in the realm of a distraction, Monsieur Chaumont.

To pass the time while Versailles determines whether I, in fact, exist.

This is a philosophic question.

Well, it seems quite practical to me.

I have something to show you.

The demand for them is everywhere.

My factory in the Loire can barely keep up.

What do you think?

Your face is as famous as the moon's.

Yet invisible to Count Vergennes.

You understand that here in France,

to get what one wants, one pretends not to want it.

Well, in that case, I shall pretend to not want to be 20 years younger.

That must be in your pamphlet.

It might suit at that.

The press was smuggled into France.

He's already printed 300 copies of his book.

- Do you want me to confiscate the machine? - Not just yet.

Let's pretend we're unconcerned,

while he pretends not to care about our lack of concern.

I'd recommend a more direct method.

Of course you would, Lieutenant.

But indulge me, won't you?

Some of this is very clever.

Have you bothered to read it?

I never read the books, Monsieur le Comte.

I only forbid them.

"Force shits upon reason's back."

- I expect you'd agree with that. - I've made a career of it.

Is anything going to happen?

It might when you stop fidgeting.

A lass that was laden with care.

Sat heavily under a thorn.

I listened for a while for to hear.

While thus she began for to mourn.

Whene'er my own lover was near.

The birds seemed far sweeter to sing.

The cold nipping wintertime wore.

A face that resembled spring.

So merry as we two have been.

My heart it is like for to break.

When I think on the days we have seen.

I first heard that air 40 years ago in the Allegheny Mountains,

with naught but howling wilderness about me.

Forgive me.

I played it only to please you.

And pleasure it gave.

But

how strange to feel the moment was only yesterday,

and I still young and untested.

With all the time between a mere dream.

You think me a doddering old fool?

I think you a fool to think so little of me.

Is it the nature of Americans to be so ungenerous with their compliments?

I will shower you with them in excess if you give me leave.

You may begin.

Madame, I consider you the most intoxicating person...

- Have you seen Miss... - Jupin?

Is that her name?

That is the name of our governess, yes.

Is that who you seek?

I sent her away for the evening.

That's what I was going to do.

Too many people hanging about as it is.

Tell me something, Doctor.

Have you been kissing my wife?

I, monsieur?

I'd never dream of kissing another man's wife in his own house.

Ah.

Outside the house?

Husband!

You have my undying affection.

Did you really like my singing?

It was like a bird in my hand.

Like a bird.

A bird you caught?

No. No, not exactly.

Is the bird still alive?

Yes. A living bird.

That landed in my hand

and sang.

Birds don't do that.

I didn't really understand what I was singing anyway.

It was about sadness

and love.

Cunégonde, where are you?

I have to go.

I'd say that's quite enough for tonight, wouldn't you?

Give me your strong arms. Your brave souls.

There's a heavy crate for the toughest man!

What is it... Oh! Greetings, friend!

Welcome to our little enterprise.

You swore to exercise caution.

And so I am.

Only legal exports are loaded by day.

Everything else goes under cover of darkness.

Sir, there is make-believe, and there is business.

You pay no heed to cost, no mind to discretion.

These are my ships!

And if this goes awry?

What will happen to me?

Your name appears nowhere in the records of Hortalez and Company.

Any danger falls on me, Rodrigue Hortalez of Valencia.

Any loss is mine to repay.

You don't have a million livres to lose.

And neither do the insurgents.

That's true. But they have goods.

Cotton, tobacco, indigo to fill the holds when our ships return.

If they return.

I have faith, sir. The Americans will win.

The weapons we are providing will secure that victory.

And we will profit by it handsomely.

Not that such things matter to you.

You will give me your assurance that from this moment on...

Nothing to worry about. Men are stabbed here all the time.

So tell us, Temple. Is she pretty?

Is she rich?

- Who? - The girl you are seeing.

I didn't say I was seeing a girl.

- You didn't say you weren't. - The thing speaks for itself.

So tell us.

Well, she's short.

A little cross-eyed. Bit of a mustache.

He's after your sister!

Madame, my most humble apologies.

Fuck off, you prick! Can't you see I'm working?

- Don't start anything. - They can start. We'll finish it.

All hail the great defender of liberty!

Charles. What tavern were you thrown out of today?

None. But it's early yet. When are you off to save America?

Any day now. The court is honoring me with a commission.

- And my ass can play the flute. - That must keep your boyfriend interested.

I'll do for you right now, you little asshole.

Ready when you are.

What are you supposed to be?

I'm Gilbert's friend.

"I'm Gilbert's friend."

How did you get a monkey to talk?

He is the king's brother.

Yankee Doodle went to town Riding on a pony.

Stuck a feather up his ass And called it macaroni.

To victory, General!

A duel at dawn. All I want is a duel at dawn.

- Calm down, Philippe. - For the ladies!

So that Dr. Franklin's face may be the first they see every morning!

Yes, young gentlemen! Delight your paramours!

Even their droppings are like honey!

Do you know Dr. Franklin?

Sorry?

If I got his blessing...

Give it up, Gilbert. Our families will never consent.

Glory ends all arguments.

So does a cannonball.

Do you know him?

Why would he know Dr. Franklin?

He's American, isn't he?

Yes. And you're best friends with Voltaire.

He's my grandfather.

Oh, yes! That's him.

I was in Suriname at the time.

Where on Earth is that?

You'll find it on the northeast coast of South America, madame.

And you may leave it there as far as I'm concerned.

Nevertheless...

The eel.

The torporific eel, much feared by the natives of that benighted region

for its deadly effect.

But how does it kill?

It... bites.

It electrocutes, madam.

As surely as the current from a Leyden jar.

Can this be so?