NARRATOR: "The American Revolution," a miniseries
starring all your friends from Sesame Street telling the
story of how the United States of America was
born, more or less.
Today's episode of "The American Revolution" would be
about Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of
Independence after John Adams and Benjamin Franklin
gave him some help.
We take you now to Thomas Jefferson in his study.
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : Hm.
You see I must write the Declaration of Independence.
And since this is 1776, I need a quill because that's what we
write with, quills, like I have in my hand.
Ah, I just dip it here in the inkwell, fine.
And now, to begin.
Oh, no.
I broke my quill.
I cannot write the Declaration of
Independence without my quill.
I'll never be able to write the Declaration of
Independence.
Never, never [SOBS].
GROVER: Mr. Jefferson, sir, how is it going with the
Declaration of Independence, sir?
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : Terrible.
I broke my quill.
GROVER: Oh, no.
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : I can't write the Declaration of
Independence without my quill.
I need a quill, Mr. Grover.
I need a quill.
GROVER: Of course you do, sir.
Have no fear, Mr. Grover shall get you one, now!
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : Oh, I'll never right without a
quill, never, never, no.
GROVER: Mr. Jefferson?
Sir, here you are, sir.
Just what you asked for, a drill.
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : Drill?
GROVER: Sir, yes.
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : Drill?
GROVER: Yes.
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : I didn't say "drill." I said
"quill." "Quill"!
GROVER: Well, I--
yes, yes, sir.
I just thought you said "drill."
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : No!
I did not!
I said "quill." Oh, it's true "drill" rhymes with "quill."
They sound the same.
But I didn't say "drill." I said "quill"!
I need a quill!
GROVER: Yes, yes, sir.
Well, I can understand how emotional you
can get about this.
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : No.
GROVER: I will be back, sir, with a, whatever the "quill."
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : I'll never write the
Declaration of Independence without a quill.
Never, never!
GROVER: Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Jefferson!
Here we are, sir.
Here we are.
Just for you as you asked.
[CLUCKING]
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : A chicken?
GROVER: Hm-mm.
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : A chicken?
GROVER: Yes, sir, right here.
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : You brought me a chicken?
GROVER: Yes, I did.
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : How could you have made a
mistake like that?
"Chicken" doesn't even rhyme with "quill." "Chicken"
doesn't even sound like "quill"!
GROVER: No.
But, sir, this chicken's name is Phil.
And "Phil" does rhyme with "quill." Uh, Phil, Tom.
Tom, Phil.
[CLUCKS]
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : Yes, well, how do you--
no, no!
Get that chicken out of here!
I can't write with a chicken.
GROVER: Yes, sir.
I am just a humble Colonist doing my best, sir.
Come on.
And don't fight, please.
[CLUCKS]
GROVER: Sorry, sir.
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : I'll never write the
Declaration of Independence.
Never!
What's this?
Why it's one of Phil's feathers?
What luck, a quill!
For after all, a quill is nothing but a feather.
Oh, I shall be able to write the Declaration of
Independence after all.
Mr. Grover!
GROVER: Yes, sir!
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : Thank you.
Thank you.
I shall be able to write the Declaration of
Independence after all.
GROVER: No need to thank me, sir.
Thank Phil.
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : Why, thank you, Phil.
[CLUCKS]
GROVER: He says, you're welcome.
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : Now, let me see.
GROVER: You're going to write.
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : Well, yes.
GROVER: Oh, good
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : Ahem, dip into the inkwell.
GROVER: How are you starting this?
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : "Once upon a time."
GROVER: Can we--
could I help?
Or suggestion?
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : Why, certainly.
GROVER: Actually, it's Phil's idea.
What was it?
[CLUCKS]
GROVER: All right.
"When in the course of human events"--
MUPPET AS THOMAS JEFFERSON : Ah, by George III, you got it!
"When"--
NARRATOR: And so Thomas Jefferson wrote the
Declaration of Independence, which declared the original 13
colonies to be free from England.