All language subtitles for Franklin.2024.S01E05.The.Natural.State.of.Man.720p.ATVP.WEB.DL.DDP5.1.Atmos.H.264.FLUX

You are hard to please.

I find that hard to believe.

I find that hard to believe.

I find that hard to believe.

I carry myself poorly.

I carry myself poorly.

I shall withdraw myself from your company.

I shall withdraw myself from your company.

Are your dogs friendly?

Are your dogs friendly?

I won't fail to do so.

I won't fail to do so.

Today, the anniversary

of our Declaration.

Thanks be to God

for our liberty.

I cannot abide Franklin.

Tuck in, Mr. Adams,
there's more than enough.

I have eaten already, sir,
several hours since.

And how are your studies proceeding?

What?

I asked
how your French lessons were going.

Your pronunciation is abysmal.
No wonder I couldn't understand you.

Better the spirited gesture than
the strict correctness, wouldn't you say?

You took the carriage again last night.

Pardon?

I was to attend the opera.
Instead, I was stranded here.

I do apologize.
I was at a banquet for Parmentier.

Who?

The noted pharmacologist.

Never heard of the man.

It's not that I care for
the so-called music. Nothing but noise.

A great mess of pointless yowling,
but I had already purchased a ticket.

May I ask you something?

- Go ahead.
- What are you doing here?

I am not obliged to tell you that.

It would make the work at hand easier.

And what work is that, sir?

Your accounts are in disarray.
You keep no records of expenses.

Your correspondence is a madman's jumble,
and you breakfast at 10:14.

Yet somehow I have managed to negotiate
an alliance with France.

And what good has that done us?

The French Navy is the greatest lot
of seaborne chuckleheads

I've ever had the misfortune to encounter.

We fight alone, deeper in debt than ever.

And still, you curry favor
with your boon companion, Vergennes.

I think it's best to keep
in his good graces.

I think it best to make him honor
his obligations.

And if you don't, I will.

No doubt with your
deep comprehension of all things French,

that strategy will meet
with unqualified success.

And now we shall have a party.

You object to celebrating
our independence?

The day calls for solemn observance,
not frivolous amusement.

Our hosts see it otherwise,
and it's to our benefit to please them.

This act of obeisance will cost us what?

Absolutely nothing.
Monsieur Chaumont is paying for it.

Yeah, that makes it even worse.

How many Americans
are we meant to accommodate?

Ten? Fifty? A thousand?

We have only three, my dear.

- What about that Dr. Bancroft?
- He doesn't sleep here.

He might as well.

Maybe it's time
you discussed charging rent.

I can hardly ask guests to become tenants.

We house them, feed them, give them horses
and servants, and now this party.

At how many livres?

The expense is nothing
against the future profit from trade.

When is this future?
Will any of us be alive to see it?

I don't expect you to grasp
the intricacies of commerce.

Fine. Play your little games.

But I tell you,
this extravagance will be our ruin.

At last. Help me up, you great lump.

And what was his answer?

I couldn't quite follow it.

Something about how they wrap things
at the patisserie.

It could be red, it could be green,
but the pastry inside is the same.

He is saying that beneath
their varied beliefs,

all religions share a fundamental truth.

That's too rich for me.

Then perhaps you should have
thought more carefully

before offering our daughter
to his grandson.

Enough.

I'll be damned
if I let you dispute with me.

Tell him that a Protestant
has no hope of advancement here.

And Cunégonde cannot be bound
to such a fate.

I've already started negotiations.

Do you want me to look a fool?

Your drunken antics did this, not mine.

As if you know what you're talking about.

Is your pride more important
than our family's fortunes?

He has plenty of gold in America.

And how would that benefit us here?

A daughter is a burden to be passed along
as soon as possible.

Your father understood that.

Why don't you?

Perhaps Mademoiselle Jupin
can explain it to me.

She's obviously a woman of discernment.

You are brazen, madame.

If only I was.

You think I'm blind to your flirtations
with a man 40 years your elder?

That you call papa, sit on his knee

and coo honeyed nonsense
in your endless letters?

What colossal impudence.

Yes.

How dare I seek the company
of someone who delights me.

And so disgrace the good name
of my devoted husband.

The name is mine. The estate is mine.
And I'll have my way.

Everyone else can go to hell.

I tore a seam,
and Gabrielle had to sew it up.

What do you think?

Will Franklinet like it?

Ravishing.

Yes?

What?

You're about to say something.

Simply that I came to this country
with a boy,

and now I am looking at a man.

Well, thank you.

You're more skilled in French
than I'll ever be,

you're a diligent secretary...

You have a guileless aspect
that charms women and men alike.

Suppose I've had an excellent teacher.

You mean me?

Dear boy. You know, it is ever in my mind

to secure a place for you
fitting to our family.

Isn't Congress going to pay me a salary?

One can only hope,
but I speak of more lasting arrangements.

Lasting how?

Monsieur Brillon
and I have been discussing an alliance.

Of what kind?

The marrying kind.

Who would marry who?

You would marry Mademoiselle Cunégonde.

She's educated, pretty and well-situated.

And I believe you might even be
a little fond of her.

Does she know?

It's not her business to know.

Is it mine?

We're talking about it now, aren't we?

Do not make the mistake I did.

When you marry, do so for your advantage.

Anything else
is a prescription for regret.

If Cunégonde is to become my wife,
what will I be?

A Frenchman by all appearances.

And you, you--

You'll just leave me here?

Consent to this union,

and I will gladly spend
the rest of my natural days in France.

I want to see you settled, boy,
before I see nothing at all.

All right-- I-- Yes.

All right.

You may do the honors.

Where was I?

"Two beggars traveling along"--

"Blind plaintiff, lame defendant, share,

The friendly law's impartial care,

A shell for him, a shell for thee,"

"The middle is the lawyer's fee."

I say.

What a great show of friendship.

I wonder that
they do not slit each other's throats.

Why would they do that?

I have it on good authority

that they are all routinely engaged in
acts of the most wanton strife

and regard the bonds of matrimony
as a mere farce.

No. Really? Good lord.

He dragged me to dinner
with those Brillons, you know.

Pleasant enough, I admit.

But here is this plain-faced woman
beside me at table...

What do you think?

I cannot guess.

She is the amoureuse of the husband,
quite openly. And the wife?

Madame Brillon.

She consoles herself
with a certain Monsieur le Coq.

- Mr. Rooster.
- An alias, of course.

Are you sure of this?

Franklin told me.
It's just the sort of thing he'd know.

Sobering indeed.

And these are our allies.

I do sometimes doubt their constancy.

Much is promised, but...

- You've discussed this with Franklin?
- No. He won't hear of it.

Well-- There you are.

You and I should talk.

They've all seen you on stage, you know.

But they haven't invited me
to their houses.

You're invited now.

Thirteen stripes.

Did I get it right?

You make the prospect of independence
even more appealing.

Listen to you.

Sounding more French every day.

That's very--

But I'm not sure I like that.

I prefer you as an American.

Is that what you want? I mean--

I mean, is that the kind of person you--

Look at that.

He brought an African to the party.

She's an actress.

How do you know?

Uh, Jacques mentioned something about her.

That's even more scandalous.

They use stage names, you know.

To hide where they really come from.

What have we done to deserve this?

That profligate means to
put me in an early grave.

Don't say anything just now.

I'll throw him out on his ass,
guests be damned.

You'll do no such thing.

Then he can hide from his creditors

and cadge from his whores,
and see how he likes--

Stop!

Mother.

Father.

May I present Mademoiselle Caillot
of the Comédie-Italienne.

How gracious you are
to allow this poor child of shadows

her day in the precious light.

Oh. Well. I--

We saw you in that Goldoni farce.

You were absolutely marvelous!

Madame. What clouds your sun today?

Do I seem gloomy?

Perhaps

I'm mistaken.

The Chaumont boy does as he likes,

without a care what the world thinks.

The world may have the last word
with him yet.

But he will have argued with it.
And that is something.

You are in a mood.

My dear papa...

Can anything come between us?

Madame, we have our treaty.

I do not mean these other women.

What can break the bond of our souls?

Nothing I can think of.

Do I have your promise?

What is it that you wish to say?

Ladies and gentlemen.
Your attention, please.

The Apotheosis of Liberty
is about to begin.

Mr. Rooster.

- What?
- You heard me.

"This doctrine, my friends,

is reason and wisdom."

Reason and wisdom.

"But do not depend too much
on your own industry."

Industry.

"And now to conclude,

experience keeps a dear school..."

But fools will learn no other.

"As Poor Richard says,

they that won't be counseled
can't be helped."

But if you will not hear reason--

"Why, she'll surely rap your knuckles."

And such is the genius of Franklin.

He seized the lightning from the sky...

and slayed the tyrants.

This is pure idolatry.

I hope this is comfortable.

Quite tolerable, Monsieur Gérard.

This inventory from your Congress

has left me quite breathless, Mr. Adams.

49,000 uniforms, clarinets and trumpets,

spoons and sheet music,
paint and thimbles.

I believe you'll find a frigate
and eight ships of the line also itemized.

All amounting to one-tenth
of this government's annual budget.

His Majesty has already spent
one hundred and--

150 million livres
to secure your independence.

And yet New York, the Carolinas,
Georgia, all belong to the British.

Because Admiral d'Estaing's expedition
was unable to break their hold

on the American coast.

We are told the name of France
was cursed by a mob of drunks

from New England.

And I'm told in France, a man
may treat a marriage as just a piece of--

Certain misunderstandings
can be expected during wartime.

Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Adams?

The longer I stay in Europe
and consider our affairs,

the more our alliance seems--

A rock on which we may build.

But France has yet to fulfill
her obligations under our treaty.

We sent you cannons and shot.
Muskets and powder bayonets.

Given you outright-- given enough money--

Our situation remains as precarious
as it did before you joined the battle.

We are undermanned
and lack even the basic provisions

that this alliance was meant to provide.

Nothing would end this war faster

than a powerful French fleet
to break the English at sea.

Are you an expert in naval strategy
as well, Mr. Adams?

Whatever I am, I am not blind.

And I see that France means to hold
our chin above water

but not to keep us from drowning.

Are you all right, Dr. Franklin?

This deuce gout.
I wouldn't wish it on King George.

- Is there anything?
- Nothing. Nothing, alas.

- Let me fetch the court physician.
- No, no, no. Thank you.

The only recourse is rest and empty hope.

If I could beg the minister

to consider the allotment of cloth
and uniforms.

Yes. Yes. Of course.

Gérard?

Three million livres.

A trifle after all. Hmm?

Do you really think he was taken in
by your sudden show of infirmity?

Your notion of diplomacy
will be our undoing.

America cannot suffer any more of
this slow, silent, imperceptible creeping.

We must show spirit in our application.
A bold push. A show of industry.

There is no word in French for industry.

The art here is to achieve much
by appearing to achieve little.

An art which you seem to have mastered.

While I remain above ground,

I will endeavor to please this court
to procure what advantages I can.

We did not throw off the chains of
one tyrant to put on those of another.

Count Vergennes is not our friend.

No, but I rather like him anyway.

Get away!

It's quite the pageant.

Makes you wonder
how the Reformation ever succeeded.

Poor wretches, fingering their beads
and chanting Latin.

Not that they can understand a word.

London sends its compliments, by the way.

Compliments alone do not compensate
for the risks I take.

Be patient, Mr. Bancroft.
You've been generously rewarded so far.

Think of heaven's blessings
that still await.

Yes, well, I doubt our association
will merit any divine rewards.

I prefer compensation in this life.

A man who values money so highly
doesn't tend to be too particular

about where it comes from.

I've given you and London
ample proof of my loyalty.

The war's going badly for America.

Now is the time to drive the final wedge.

Sow doubt as to Versailles's intentions.

Well, you'll have a hard time
convincing Dr. Franklin to believe

Count Vergennes is acting in bad faith.

Mr. Adams is less enamored
with the French.

If Dr. Franklin were to be removed
from the scene--

- I won't be party to that.
- I thought you were determined

to see an end to this war!

A careless word of our deal
to Dr. Franklin or Mr. Adams--

The atmosphere in Passy
is poisonous enough as it is.

Hazarding my exposure
doesn't do you any good.

You're not His Highness's only agent
in France, you know.

But I am the only one
with Dr. Franklin's confidence.

And Mr. Adams's confidence?

Well, Mr. Adams has
a low view of humanity.

Perhaps it is justified.

You're a resourceful fellow.

I'm sure you'll think of something
to win him over.

If you've come
for the July 4th celebration,

you're a bit late.

Don't concern yourself, Doctor.
I received a full report.

The Apotheosis of Liberty.

What a spectacle.

Then to what do I owe this honor?

You object, perhaps,
to our wish to keep you close.

I'm sure that you have
nothing but my well-being in mind.

It would reflect badly on the police
to have you meet with misfortune.

How can that be
when I am so seldom out of your sight?

We're hardly the only eyes upon you.

And not everyone is so kindly disposed
to your presence.

What is it you mean to tell me?

That it might be prudent for you

to exercise some caution
in your comings and goings.

Because?

Certain rumors. Nothing more.

Monsieur Lenoir,
why is it that I can never be certain

if you're trying to help me or to harm me?

Perhaps you have an untrusting nature?

I'm really a very simple man.

Do take care, Doctor.

There's quite enough mayhem
in Paris as it is.

Enter.

I thought you might require
a little fortification.

Mr. Bancroft. Most kind.

Come.

From my private stock
of Shui Xian no less.

Thank you.

Anything in your tea?

Black, please. The blacker the better.

- There.
- Thank you.

He took the carriage again last night.

Yes. Something about a banquet
for Monsieur Parmentier.

The noted pharmacologist.

- You've heard of him.
- How do you put up with this behavior?

One accepts the defects of character
in return for the pleasure of his company.

What pleasure is that?

The truth be told, Mr. Adams.

I'm thankful you've come
to bring some force back to our diplomacy.

I'm glad to hear it, Mr. Bancroft.
Very glad indeed.

You see.

And, of course, our regard
for Dr. Franklin remains undimmed.

In my opinion, it's high time
someone took the French court to task.

Now, I have been urging for
sterner measures for some time and it--

While I'm here, Mr. Bancroft,
Versailles will have no rest.

Thank providence for that.

More tea?

Thank you.

Leave me be!

What is this?

- What does it look like?
- You're kidnapping me?

You'll never get off the grounds.

I bet we will. Know why?

You're going to tell the gatekeeper
you know us.

You'll have to kill me first!

Boo!

You sons of bitches! You--

He's braver than we thought!

"You'll have to kill me first!"

Don't you idiots
have anything better to do?

Maybe no. Maybe yes.

Drink up, Achilles.

You're going to need it.

Coachman, get going!

- Are you going to marry her?
- That's what grandfather wants.

Yes. But, "what do you want,"
is the question.

She's very pleasant.

I like it when she teases me

- and-- I think? And her family is--
- Rich?

- Not that rich.
- Rich enough.

But young Achilles...

Has his eye on someone else.

Don't you?

Are we going to sit here all night?

Consider it good practice.

For what?

Someone's coming.

Do you mean to stick me with that?

Gilbert.

General Lafayette, if you don't mind.

Really?

Of course not.

Let me embrace you, mon ami.

Do I seem American now?

Well, not exactly.

More like Auvergne wrapped up
in a bit of New Jersey.

- Insulting an officer.
- I say hang him on the spot.

Or we just stab him.

Yes, that works.

Why the secrecy?

Technically, I'm under house arrest.

The king doesn't like his marquises
running off to fight someone else's war.

But it's our war now.
It's both of our wars.

And that's what we're here to discuss.

Sit down, friends.

And let's talk about the fight
for freedom.

Portsmouth, Liverpool,
Lancaster, Plymouth, Cork.

A squadron of ships to strike every port.

Force the British to defend the coast,

and they have fewer men and ships
to send to America.

What say you, gentlemen?

And how will this flotilla
be paid for exactly?

We demand tribute from the towns.

Well, that's bold.

And if the towns refuse to pay
for this protection?

We burn them to the ground.

What was that?

He--

My friend, some words of reason here.

The sack of Liverpool alone would be worth
two million pounds sterling.

Say, a quarter for Lancaster,
half a million for Cork.

You don't mean to say
you approve of this imbecilic scheme?

What's the matter, Mr. Adams?
Is this not virile enough for you?

That's absolutely preposterous.
It's impossible.

Impossible schemes often succeed
because no one expects them.

And how many men
would this escapade require?

No more than 2,000 French soldiers.

No, no, no. Too few, Marquis.

Take four or five thousand.
Do some real damage.

What about a detachment of cavalry
to spread terror from the coast?

An excellent notion. Crush their spirit!
Let fear stalk the land.

Yes, but-- Wouldn't inciting terror
just prolong the suffering on both sides?

Giving England a taste of the medicine

that they've been stuffing down
our throats. That would be a right tonic.

And who will lead this horde
in its depredations?

Who else, monsieur? Myself.
With my companions by my side.

A children's crusade.
What a capital notion.

And a herd of elephants to rival Hannibal,
stomping their way across Lancashire.

Their wailing captives driven before them,
bedecked in blood.

Plymouth delenda est.

This is a sorry topic for jest.

This plan is quite serious.

We mean to set sail
and bring England to its knees.

"We"?

Yes. Gilbert, Ségur, Noailles and me.

Gentlemen, would you leave us, please?

This is what happens
when a bastard begets a bastard.

Do you know why I brought you here?

To see me successfully--

To have a child nearby
to close my eyes when I die.

I'm 19.

That's close enough.

Shall I just wait here then?
Until some fatality overcomes you.

And what do I tell your father?

That I took you from him only to leave you
at the bottom of the Irish Sea?

Then you would have to talk to him.

No glory in the grave, boy.

"We mutually pledge to each other our
lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."

Yes, Mr. Jefferson enjoys
his rhetorical flourishes,

but we all signed our names.

We ate a decent supper
and slept in comfortable beds.

Gilbert took a bullet for those words.

The marquis's house has made
a business of war for centuries.

We have been blacksmiths and candlemakers

and lately have done respectably well
in the printing trade.

Let us each pursue our family's calling
and not seek what is not in our nature.

You wish me to be a coward.

I wish you to be alive, Temple.
And at my side.

That would do more good for our cause
than this lunatic farrago.

You do not know all there is to know.

But you do?

You will not go, and there's an end to it.

You understand the difficulty?

I know it to be a delicate matter.

Would he accept to talk to a priest?

I've urged him to be open to all things.

To be honest, for me, what does it matter?

It's the appearance that counts.

And if that obligation were met?

If the priest says good, good.

Of course, tout le tralala,

the business would take some finesse.

But our arrangement would remain the same?

Well, I don't like much the idea

of her turning into--

An American?

We pay for--

I pay to fill her head with music,
dancing and Italian, I think.

That's a lot of money to go to waste.

If we settled the matter of faith
to your satisfaction,

and I gave my assurance that both Temple
and I remain happily in France...

We like the boy, Doctor. We do like him.

No doubt about that.

Good.

It's called a chemise à la reine. Because
the queen was the first to wear it.

Well, not the first, it's really what any
peasant would-- But when she put it on--

And Madame Bertin,
everyone goes to her now.

I say, "Maman, it isn't fair
that you get your dresses made there

and all I've got is some old"--

- You're not listening.
- I am.

I--

You were going to show me your paintings.

But only because you asked.

The garden...

Pipou, his nose is all wrong.

Here's the dress I was talking about.

I'm showing him the watercolors.

You mustn't bore him, dear.

I'm not bored. Really.

Perhaps you'd both like to stroll the
terrace. It's quite a pleasant evening.

It's just walking back and forth.

Do go, if you please.

And be charming.

You can stay.

Is that wise, madame?

I think we can rely on
their good upbringing.

Very well. I suppose I'll just--

- Pardon?
- I said no.

A note. For 100 livres.

Take it and leave.

If you don't take it,
I'll have you seen off the grounds.

And make it known that you are not to be
placed in any house, in any fashion,

for a hundred miles around Paris.

Not even

to empty the privies.

Monsieur Brillon--

Is not worth the trouble.

- Madame.
- Husband.

To what do we owe your graceful presence?

Simply my wish to be between the two men
who most occupy my thoughts.

We were discussing the varieties of faith
and the constancy of the heart.

You are negotiating the marriage
of our daughter to your grandson.

I don't suppose you've told him.

Told him what?

What we agreed.

- I don't recall our--
- Fine.

My good sir.

My husband loves you, as do I.

So, he does not know how to say
what must be said.

- What in blazes are you--
- So, I must say it for him.

In our hearts, we are united in the belief

that there is only one religion
and one morality.

Dear lady, I recognize the need--

But though individuals
may do as they please

and leave others to their prejudices,

families demand a sterner account.

- And so...
- Madame, I warn you--

...without being your children,
we shall be your friends.

And though it pains us to know
you may seek affection elsewhere,

we shall give you all the care
that is in our power.

But this union will not take place.

Some are free of mind, others embrace
their chains and call it liberty.

You cannot reason with them.

But don't be discouraged.
I'll make a match for you.

And we Franklins will have
our perch in the world.

I'll walk back if that's all right.

I'd rather you didn't.

Nothing's going to happen in Passy.

I know you want what's best for me.

Sacking Liverpool?

He was joking.

Doesn't sound funny to me.

Versailles will never agree.
They've already begun to tire of the war.

You discount his powers of persuasion.

He's forbidden his grandson to go.

That leaves 10,000 others to take
his place. What's their blood to him?

Mr. Adams would oppose it. Hmm?
He distrusts the whole alliance.

What if he had full authority?

Well, Dr. Franklin
would have to be recalled,

and there's small chance of that. The
factions in Philadelphia are too split.

We'll try another way.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Là.

Anything to declare?

See for yourself.

With your permission, sir.

Ladies and gentlemen! The second call!

Last call, ladies and gentlemen!

Last call!

I don't much care
for being up before sunrise.

- I thought you wanted glory.
- I do. Just later in the day.

How do you...

How do you sack a city anyway?

He'll know about it.

What happens when we get to Le Havre?

We buy some ships,

recruit a few thousand men,

scrape up some ammunition--

Someone's coming.

My friend.
Your grandfather changed his mind?

Let's burn England.

Let's burn England.