WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.320 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 2 00:00:03.320 --> 00:00:03.320 3 00:00:07.180 --> 00:00:09.760 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 4 00:00:09.760 --> 00:00:12.100 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 5 00:00:14.780 --> 00:00:16.180 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 6 00:00:16.180 --> 00:00:21.440 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 7 00:00:21.460 --> 00:00:23.300 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 8 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:52.760 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 9 00:00:52.760 --> 00:00:53.200 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 10 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:56.180 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 11 00:00:57.880 --> 00:00:59.980 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 12 00:01:02.700 --> 00:01:04.880 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 13 00:01:04.880 --> 00:01:11.320 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 14 00:01:11.320 --> 00:01:11.320 15 00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:14.680 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 16 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:19.460 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 17 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:21.320 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 18 00:01:21.320 --> 00:01:25.080 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 19 00:01:25.080 --> 00:01:25.420 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 20 00:01:25.420 --> 00:01:31.060 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 21 00:01:31.060 --> 00:01:31.060 22 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:37.360 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 23 00:01:47.380 --> 00:01:52.160 You, you left me with your skies. 24 00:01:52.160 --> 00:01:56.480 Your skies are gray as a stone. 25 00:01:59.660 --> 00:02:17.120 You, you left me with your skies. 26 00:02:26.740 --> 00:02:31.820 You, you left me with your skies. 27 00:03:18.460 --> 00:03:18.800 You, you left me with your skies. 28 00:03:23.880 --> 00:03:26.300 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 29 00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:32.080 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 30 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:35.620 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 31 00:03:37.160 --> 00:03:38.340 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 32 00:03:41.760 --> 00:03:43.900 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 33 00:03:43.900 --> 00:03:55.700 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 34 00:03:55.700 --> 00:03:55.700 35 00:03:57.840 --> 00:03:59.680 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 36 00:04:02.380 --> 00:04:03.440 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 37 00:04:05.220 --> 00:04:06.720 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 38 00:04:06.720 --> 00:04:08.200 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 39 00:04:10.260 --> 00:04:11.680 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 40 00:04:19.520 --> 00:04:20.940 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 41 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:24.760 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 42 00:04:25.080 --> 00:04:26.300 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 43 00:04:29.960 --> 00:04:36.300 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 44 00:04:36.300 --> 00:04:36.580 I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I can help you. 45 00:04:56.300 --> 00:05:01.500 I would ride off to some remote place where I wouldn't have to watch the carnage. 46 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:05.780 Ride off to where, General? Certainly not Springfield. 47 00:05:06.340 --> 00:05:11.520 And not even Galena anymore. I'm afraid they have you outflanked this time. 48 00:05:12.220 --> 00:05:14.620 I won't argue the point, Mr. President. 49 00:05:15.780 --> 00:05:23.360 It's funny how one tends to recall the context of some presumed high point of his own brief residence in the flesh. 50 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:30.440 I called you General when I could have more appropriately called you Mr. President. 51 00:05:31.700 --> 00:05:38.680 I apologize. In my view, you are both being insufferably sentimental for proper spirits. 52 00:05:39.500 --> 00:05:44.060 Call him Ulysses and be done with it. As you like it, Mr. Shakespeare. 53 00:05:44.660 --> 00:05:50.360 How sharper than a serpent's tooth is one's own wit turned against himself? 54 00:05:50.680 --> 00:06:03.060 It was most unworthy of me, William. But it is your own fault for saying so much that lesser mortals and former mortals can appropriate and misapply. 55 00:06:03.760 --> 00:06:13.800 Gentlemen, I hesitate to interrupt so lavish a flow of deserved praise, but could an alleged fellow immortal direct today's discussion to a pertinent contemporary issue? 56 00:06:14.400 --> 00:06:17.100 Alleged immortal Alexander? Surely you jest. 57 00:06:17.100 --> 00:06:24.620 What can possibly have induced this unseemly humility in our one and only golden boy? 58 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:31.760 Please, Mr. President, let's leave the unfortunate patina of my presumed likeness out of these considerations, shall we? 59 00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:42.660 You must admit, Mr. Hamilton, that gold is an appropriate material with which to memorialize these countries' estimable first secretary of the treasury. 60 00:06:42.660 --> 00:06:46.280 I'm sure even General de Gaulle would have approved. 61 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:51.000 Take heed, Robert. You know how Alexander felt about the French. 62 00:06:51.820 --> 00:06:59.820 Since he is now in our dimension, I will confront General de Gaulle in good time. But I think I could have worked very well with Monsieur La Salle. 63 00:07:00.440 --> 00:07:04.620 For one thing, he operated substantially to the west of my geographic interests. 64 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:12.180 Also, he was well ahead of my time and hence not readily subject to my youthful prejudices regarding the French. 65 00:07:13.080 --> 00:07:18.020 Oui, I was ahead of your time, Monsieur Hamilton, and my own time too, as I reconstructed. 66 00:07:18.440 --> 00:07:26.260 The recent sesquicentennial year brought it all back to my mind again. So, Illinois became a state in 1818, a mere yesterday. 67 00:07:26.260 --> 00:07:36.020 Do you realize that 137 years before that date, in 1681, I had a great and viable plan for Illinois? 68 00:07:36.700 --> 00:07:43.920 With just a little cooperation in some high and low places, Illinois would be nearing its tricentennial as a political entity. 69 00:07:44.420 --> 00:07:46.660 Think of that, Monsieur. C'est dommage. 70 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:53.140 Robert, my friend, the only certainty about what might have been is that it never was. 71 00:07:53.140 --> 00:07:56.680 Take counsel from one who was even ahead of your time. 72 00:07:57.540 --> 00:08:01.680 The best-led schemes of mice and men gung off the glee. 73 00:08:02.340 --> 00:08:10.700 I cannot believe what I'm hearing. You, William Shakespeare, voting another author to make your own well-considered point? 74 00:08:11.420 --> 00:08:19.880 Why not, Hans? Sometimes, though but rarely, I do submit, one's own may by some slight nuance prove insufficient. 75 00:08:19.880 --> 00:08:23.780 A most laudable attitude, Master William. 76 00:08:24.280 --> 00:08:30.420 Gentlemen, this mutual admiration society doth begin to pour. Could we possibly get back to the here and now? 77 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:39.760 Do forgive our rambling digressions, Alexander. You were on the verge of revealing the nature of some personal travail. Is it serious, really? 78 00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:44.260 Serious, certainly, if the maligning of one's character is serious. 79 00:08:44.260 --> 00:08:49.480 Grossly maligned, I might add, and in the presence of a pretty young lady. 80 00:08:50.040 --> 00:08:51.640 Grossly maligned, Alexander? 81 00:08:52.040 --> 00:09:02.800 This young man, a most pompous and self-righteous example of the political illiterate, invoked my name in support of an attack upon the principles of a lithe and supple lass of liberal persuasions. 82 00:09:02.800 --> 00:09:16.240 Of course, I did not observe you that closely, Alexander, but is it not said that you yourself were wont to lay siege to the principles of beauteous young ladies when time and circumstance permitted? 83 00:09:16.920 --> 00:09:24.880 Good point, William. I had forgotten those stories of Alexander's predilection toward paltritude on the wing, so to speak. 84 00:09:25.920 --> 00:09:31.220 Gentlemen, I beg of you. The principles I speak of as here being under assault are political. 85 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:44.200 This young blackguard is even now essaying to substitute a most reactionary set of ideas for the girls' own, and he had the effrontery to call them expressions of a conservative philosophy. 86 00:09:44.880 --> 00:09:53.220 Moreover, he asserted baldly that, and I quote, Hamilton would agree with me since he was the first great American conservative. 87 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:58.360 Baldedash! Where do these simpletons learn their history? 88 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:04.940 Nobody really learns history, Alexander, least of all those who helped make it. 89 00:10:05.300 --> 00:10:07.080 I'll second that estimate, William. 90 00:10:07.700 --> 00:10:19.260 And along that general line, Abraham, did you really believe that men would little note what you said there? I refer to your little Gettysburg speech, of course. 91 00:10:19.260 --> 00:10:27.000 Well, to be truthful, I did think, or at least I hoped, that what I was saying might be noted. 92 00:10:27.780 --> 00:10:34.340 But it never occurred to me that what I said there would turn out to be my most memorable statement ever. 93 00:10:34.580 --> 00:10:41.760 I would imagine you would be hard-pressed, William, to choose your own most memorable passage out of so very many. 94 00:10:41.760 --> 00:10:47.100 True enough, Hans, but fortunately or not, it is not really my choice. 95 00:10:47.700 --> 00:10:56.660 The evidence to date strongly suggests that to be or not to be, that is the question, is most likely the most often quoted. 96 00:10:57.680 --> 00:11:01.440 And you know, out of its proper place, it isn't much of an expression. 97 00:11:02.160 --> 00:11:05.540 Still, it has a resolute cadence to it, Mr. Shakespeare. 98 00:11:05.540 --> 00:11:15.920 I used it more than once, under my breath, of course, on those not infrequent occasions when I was agonizing over a decision in the field. 99 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:26.740 Why, thank you, Ulysses. I am flattered indeed that a great general of history uses one of my lines without my having ascribed it to him, after the fact. 100 00:11:26.740 --> 00:11:34.920 Please, Mr. Shakespeare and gentlemen, I yield to no man in my high regard for the good thought translated to the noble phrase. 101 00:11:35.260 --> 00:11:41.140 But there is a contemporary situation that, in my opinion, merits our collective attention. 102 00:11:41.760 --> 00:11:45.120 Of course, Alex, your self-appointed fellow traveler. 103 00:11:45.920 --> 00:11:54.420 But even if we were here bodily, I doubt that we could effectively counter strongly held attitudes distinctly contrary to our own. 104 00:11:54.420 --> 00:11:58.180 I was certainly unsuccessful in many such confrontations. 105 00:11:58.900 --> 00:12:07.580 And believe me, I am not at all happy at being presumably aligned with many today who so loudly proclaim adherence to my ideas. 106 00:12:08.460 --> 00:12:15.020 I am even losing ground with certain segments of the society who have long been legitimately claiming me as their champion. 107 00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:18.360 But that's the way the tides of history have inflow. 108 00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:21.140 Of course, you are far more the firebrand than I, Alex. 109 00:12:21.140 --> 00:12:28.600 Perhaps that accounts for the desire to be involved directly, even though you departed this life sixty years ahead of me. 110 00:12:29.880 --> 00:12:35.640 And I departed, not by design, I assure you, more than a century ahead of you, Monsieur Hamilton. 111 00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:47.320 In all due respect to your sense of honor, if I were faced with your dilemma, I would ignore the square young man and look at the round young lady. 112 00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:52.280 Bravo, Robert, spoken like a true Frenchman of any age. 113 00:12:53.180 --> 00:12:59.560 Alexander, we do sympathize with your rather earthly view of the situation that has brought you into conflict with this time. 114 00:13:00.180 --> 00:13:02.260 But what could we do about it in any case? 115 00:13:02.880 --> 00:13:09.680 Perhaps we could all concentrate our spiritual powers into a confluence of extrasensory admonition or encouragement. 116 00:13:10.680 --> 00:13:18.360 But given the present low sensitivity of human response, it could be effective in only the most special instances. 117 00:13:19.060 --> 00:13:29.400 Besides, if your young lady is at all secure in her own convictions, she can most likely resist the implications of so misguided a youth as you described. 118 00:13:29.880 --> 00:13:31.740 I suppose you're right, all of you. 119 00:13:31.940 --> 00:13:36.380 Actually, she does appear to be withstanding his assaults on her reason quite admirably. 120 00:13:36.380 --> 00:13:41.420 Perhaps our being momentarily concerned strengthened her resolve. 121 00:13:41.920 --> 00:13:48.200 Perhaps it did, Alexander, but I do not believe we should pursue such a course of intervention, at least not for some time. 122 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:55.360 While we're on that subject, Mr. Hamilton, would you call yourself a conservative in today's terms? 123 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:04.440 A conservative, yes, General, but not a reactionary, which is a more appropriate label for many today who call themselves conservative. 124 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:08.320 I was never against change or even experimentation. 125 00:14:09.040 --> 00:14:12.660 Maybe I appeared to be so on occasion, but the point is I never felt that way. 126 00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:30.780 And as a highly vocal advocate of strong central government, Alex, you would most likely be at odds with many today who, while calling themselves conservatives, fear the implications of a preeminent federal government, yet would never hesitate to invoke it against dissent. 127 00:14:30.780 --> 00:14:38.920 Well, Mr. President, there never has been any doubt that power can be grossly misused in any age, as Mr. Shakespeare's plays so eloquently note. 128 00:14:39.420 --> 00:14:49.460 But could you imagine 13 states holding together for long with all of their options for contrary action left open, let alone 50 states? 129 00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:56.240 I must say, Master Hamilton, you were most precocious in expressing your attitudes back there in the colonial ferment. 130 00:14:56.240 --> 00:15:03.340 Why, you were a veritable teenager when your protests appeared in well-noted pamphlets in those revolutionary times. 131 00:15:03.880 --> 00:15:07.160 I was at least 20 before my activities attracted much following. 132 00:15:07.540 --> 00:15:13.860 Well, that's not significantly beyond teenage, so precocious is the proper term. 133 00:15:14.160 --> 00:15:18.460 I was more impressed by his being a battalion commander at age 26. 134 00:15:19.460 --> 00:15:21.680 I was a practicing failure at 38. 135 00:15:22.040 --> 00:15:23.940 But only temporarily, General. 136 00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:31.040 You may have started late, but history is recorded well and truly that you most successfully closed the gap. 137 00:15:31.780 --> 00:15:43.900 But while we have Alexander on the podium, so to speak, I would like to say that in addition to his many other high achievements, the fact that he wrote most of President Washington's farewell address impresses me. 138 00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:49.660 Heaven knows that statement has remained an enduring and oft-quoted legacy. 139 00:15:49.660 --> 00:15:55.180 It was no less President Washington's message because of my involvement, I assure you. 140 00:15:55.660 --> 00:16:00.020 Of course not, Alexander. I used to feel that way about the lines my character spoke. 141 00:16:00.540 --> 00:16:04.640 To be credible, the words must fit the character and vice versa. 142 00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:06.480 Wouldn't you say so, Hunts? 143 00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:14.480 By all means, William. But I would hardly think that Mr. Hamilton would have considered President Washington his character. 144 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:17.080 Oh, well, hardly. 145 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:31.040 The terms are relative, gentlemen. A character is not necessarily inferior to the author, and privileged characters might, in special circumstances, be permitted to modify their lines to some slight degree. 146 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:34.120 Look at them! Just look at them! 147 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:40.700 What do you see, Mr. LaSalle? Some new threat to your beloved portage base? 148 00:16:41.300 --> 00:16:44.220 No, nothing new. Just more of the same. 149 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:49.640 One cannot imagine how pure this place was when I first saw it. 150 00:16:49.880 --> 00:16:54.400 Mon Dieu! How we could have used one of those boat trailers. 151 00:16:55.320 --> 00:17:01.580 And with one of those noisy beasts, I could have got home from Bixberg in time for supper. 152 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:10.620 Are you saying, gentlemen, that the here and now has some few good points to offset partially its ominous negative aspects? 153 00:17:10.620 --> 00:17:14.700 My vote is aye to the visual side, Mr. Shakespeare. 154 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:25.060 They are not so different from my time. There are just so many more influences. Perhaps this is no time for a simple storyteller. 155 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:36.080 I disagree, Hunts. I believe that a simple storyteller, at least one of your magnitude, might make a lot of points, even in all of this clatter. 156 00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:44.540 Looking back again, which is really easier for all of us, think what television could have done for the Lincoln-Douglas debates. 157 00:17:45.540 --> 00:17:52.420 I don't know about that. You see, mine would have been the make-up problem in that series. 158 00:17:53.280 --> 00:17:59.320 What do you think, Ludwig? We haven't heard from you since your noisy interloper left the scene. 159 00:17:59.320 --> 00:18:08.620 You know how I abhor discussion of politics from any age. I have put in a useful afternoon of work on my twelfth symphony. 160 00:18:08.780 --> 00:18:15.740 Oh, no, my thirteenth. The twelfth is completed. Though I shall reconsider the third movement one day soon. 161 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:18.060 Only your thirteenth, Ludwig? 162 00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:25.200 I would have expected you to be well up in the twenties by now. You were always such a prodigious worker. 163 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:35.700 In due course, Herr Shakespeare. After all, there's plenty of time now. Ah, so much time.