Ben and Me (1953)

Hans Conried: Tom Jefferson, Crook

Quotes 

• Colonist : How about it, men? Are we going to stand for this?

  Crowd : NO!

  Amos Mouse : No taxation without representation!

• Tom Jefferson : I've been racking my brains, working day and night, but it's no use! I'm stuck!

  Ben Franklin : But Red, I thought it was finished.

  Tom Jefferson : It is, it is, Ben, but I don't like the beginning. It just doesn't sound right. Listen to this: The time has come when we the people of these colonies...

  Ben Franklin : Yes, yes?

  Tom Jefferson : No! No! Not big enough! How about this: Now is the time when we the people...

  Ben Franklin : Well, um...

  Tom Jefferson : No! No! Not strong enough! Uh... The time is at hand when we the people mu... Oh! You see what I mean, Ben? If I could only find the words...

  Amos Mouse : [whispering]  Psst! Ben! How about our contract?

  Ben Franklin : [whispering]  No, Amos. Not now.

  Amos Mouse : [whispering]  Yes! Now, or I'm leaving!

  Ben Franklin : [whispering]  Alright, Amos. Alright.

  [reads] 

  Ben Franklin : "When in the course of human events, it becomes necess..."

  Tom Jefferson : Ben! That's it! That's it! When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to disolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the seperate and equal station to which the laws of nature...

  [fade to the House of Representatives] 

  Tom Jefferson : ...and, for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

• Colonist : What happened?

  Colonist #3 : Did he listen?

  Colonist : What about the taxes? Did he lift them?

  Colonist #3 : Did he tell him, Ben?

  Colonist : What did the king say?

  Colonist #2 : What did he say?

  Ben Franklin : Gentlemen, I'm afraid the mission was a failure. The king was unreasonable. He wouldn't listen.

  Colonist : Alright, men! We'll fight for our independence!

  Colonist #2 : It has to be war!

  Colonist #3 : He's right!

  Ben Franklin : War? But gentlemen, there must be some other way.

  Colonist : Some other way?

  Colonist #2 : What way?

  Colonist : No! We've got to fight!

  Colonist #3 : What if we lose? Or we'll hang from trees!

  Colonist : What'll we do, Ben?

  Colonist #2 : Yes, what'll we do?

  Ben Franklin : If I only knew. If I only knew.