¡Hola, Diego!
Pedro!
Hey, de Vargas! Come! Join us!
What's this, de Silva? It's not the hunting season. What are you out for?
A runaway servant.
I gave the wretch some lashes yesterday for the good of his soul...
and he rewards me by running off.
When I get my hands on him, he'll run no more.
- Are you with us, Pedro? - With pleasure, Diego. Have you picked up his trail?
He was last seen along the Guardia, heading south.
But I know these Indians. They're sick for their islands.
He'll strike for Málaga and the sea.
Perhaps. But they're also shrewd as foxes.
I'll wager he let himself be seen up here...
then headed straight for Sanlúcar on the seacoast to the north.
That's well reasoned. You hunt in the valley toward the north.
We'll continue in this direction.
Very well. You scour the hills with your men and your dogs while I bring him in alone.
That would indeed be a feather in your cap, Pedro, and a joke on me.
Loose the dogs!
You! You there!
- What's in that bundle? - Clothes to be washed, señor.
Sure you're not taking food to someone?
- Oh, no, señor. - Well, open it up. Let me see.
Have you seen anything of a man around here? A runaway slave?
No, señor.
Well, keep your eyes open. If you see anyone, report it to the authorities.
Yes, señor.
Señor Pedro.
Coatl. I didn't know it was you who ran away.
I sorry, señor. You forgive me?
I not hurt you. You my friend. We hunt. We eat together.
Why did you run away, Coatl?
Look, señor.
Five years ago, I am captured and brought to this country and sold as a slave.
But Coatl no slave. In my own country across the sea, I am lord. I am prince.
There de Silva be beggar beside me.
I kill him if I could.
Well, be that as it may, the whole countryside will be on your trail soon.
De Silva has his dogs set on you now.
You better go back and give yourself up while you still can.
I die first. I see what happen to others who run away from de Silva.
He cut leg muscles here. Never walk again.
Crawl in and out his door for street boys to laugh at.
No, señor. I never go back.
Here, take these. I wish I had more.
But you must hurry. Keep down the barranca and head for Sanlúcar.
Once there, you ought to be safe. Good luck and God go with you.
- Thank you, Señor Pedro, my friend. - Here.
Let go!
Let go! Let go!
Señor! Call them off, please!
Let go!
Let go! Let go!
Devil take you! Let go!
Careful, you wench! Don't hurt that dog!
Then call him off, blast you!
- I said don't hit that dog. - Let go! Devil take you! Let go!
Let go!
Stay away! Stay away! Don't touch me. I'll kill you.
Stay away! Stay away!
Hey, hombres. What's happening here?
Nada, señor. This wench was teasing our dogs.
Swine! Liar!
Look, señor, my tablecloth. Holy saints, look at it.
Señor, those are Señor de Silva's dogs.
They're worth 10 of her.
Señor de Silva will not thank you for risking them for one of your stupid jokes.
Now be off with you! Or I'll spare your master the trouble of laying your backs bare.
Be off!
Madre de Dios. Lopez will murder me.
Lopez? Who's Lopez?
Sancho Lopez.
Owner of the Rosario Inn where I work.
His best tablecloth... ruined.
All right, come along with me.
I'll take you to the inn and explain to Lopez how it happened.
Here, give me your hand.
Me, señor? On your horse with you?
Afraid?
No. No, caballero.
- Señor? - Yes?
- I have seen you before. - Where?
In church one day. Of course, you did not see me.
You were in front, near the bishop's nose. I was in the back.
- What's your name? - Catana. Catana Perez.
Hold on tight, Catana. We're going over the wall. Come on!
Welcome, señor. Welcome to the Rosario Inn.
Oh, an honor, señor.
Señorita.
- Gracias, señor. - My pleasure, señorita.
Lopez, if it hadn't been for the caballero, you might never have seen me again.
Not see you again? Why?
- Look what the dogs did to this tablecloth. - The dogs?
- Whose dogs? - Diego de Silva's.
Diego de Silva? Holy saints!
It wasn't Catana's fault. She defended your property as best she could.
You wait. Just wait till my brother, Manuel, hears of this.
Be quiet. The cloth can be mended.
I don't want no trouble with Diego de Silva.
- Now come, señor. What's your pleasure? - To quench my thirst.
Jose! Jose! Quick! Quick!
The caballero's horse.
It's not every day we have the honor of serving a caballero at the Rosario Inn.
Hurry up. Hurry up. Wine for the señor. The best.
Bread and cheese too. Pronto!
This way, señor.
Catana, pronto!
- By your leave. Juan Garcia's my name. - Pedro de Vargas.
- The son of Don Francisco de Vargas? - Yes.
Ah, a great cavalier, Don Francisco. I've seen him.
That is, I've heard of him often. As who has not?
Do me the honor to join me in a drink to his health.
- Gracias, señor. - Innkeeper!
- Sí, señor. - Your best Malaga.
Right away. Pronto.
Yes, in the Indies, I've heard many soldiers from the Moorish wars...
and several from the Italian, speak of your father.
The Indies? You have been to the Indies, señor?
For many years. Ten years to be exact.
Came home and landed at Sanlúcar just two days ago.
- That's not Malaga. - No, señor.
Tell me about the Indies, señor.
That word sets your imagination on fire, doesn't it?
Well, why not? It's a new world, my friend.
Listen, I stood on the waterfront of Santiago and looked north.
Ah, you could feel the great land out there.
Tell me, señor, is it true that there's a country on the southern sea...
where heathen Indians live in palaces and eat their food off plates of gold?
Aye, and all that.
Kingdoms, empires, mountains of gold...
just waiting to be taken by the first cavalier with guts enough to venture.
- To your health, caballero. - Gracias.
Do you plan to go back to the Indies, señor?
The only reason I'm here now is to see my mother.
She's had a thin life. But not from now on.
Gonna take her back with me to the Indies where she'll have a house of her own...
a mule, meat every day.
I haven't done badly of late years.
My share of a property in Santo Domingo brought me 2,000 gold ducats.
2,000?
- Another cup of wine, caballero. - Uh, gracias.
To the New World, señor.
The New World.
You do not drink.
Uh, no. But please don't let it disturb you.
I buy wine for the good of the house.
A penance?
Something like that.
I'm an ordinary man when sober.
When drunk, I'm not a man, I'm a beast.
I want to kill.
Probably, I have a devil in me. Though heaven knows, I've done what I could to get rid of it.
Spent a pile of money on candles and— But they never worked.
So— So I don't drink.
- Lopez. - Señor.
My horse.
Thank you for your hospitality, señor. It's getting late. And if you will excuse me—
- Does it happen that you're riding into Jaén? - Yes.
Well, then, by your leave, I'll ride with you.
- Girl. Have the boy bring my animal too. - Sí, señor.
And, uh, here.
- This'll fetch you a new dress. - Gracias.
But it's gold. It's a gold ducat.
I've never had one before. It would buy 10 dresses.
Then buy yourself a trousseau. If you can't find a husband, call on me.
We need her kind in the Indies.
- Adiós, Lopez. - Adiós, señor.
- Good-bye, señor. - Adiós, Catana.
- Thank you again, caballero. - It was a pleasure, señorita.
- Did you give my animal his oats as I told you? - Sí, señor.
Gracias, señor.
- What magic is this? - Clever, isn't it?
There's a rascal at Sanlúcar makes a specialty of such tricks.
Tips you off what disguise to use and teaches you how to put it on.
They say he's been schoolmaster to the ablest rogues in Spain.
One thing you can be sure of, I paid him a fat price. But what the devil?
Anything that saves your life is worth money. Adiós, Lopez.
Adiós, señor.
When Christopher Columbus made his first voyage 26 years ago...
he took the prison scum of Cádiz with him.
Rascals. Deserters.
Lawbreakers.
And it's been that way ever since.
I don't know about that, sir.
But, Father, this man I met today...
tells me that there are new lands, empires, gold, just waiting to be taken.
That proves he's a rogue.
Columbus discovered some islands peopled with naked savages.
What little gold they found hasn't even paid for the good ships wrecked...
or the funds wasted, let alone brought in a return.
Don't listen to such gossip.
Yet, Father, this man says he left Spain poor and came back with 2,000 ducats.
Probably a lie. Why not make it 50,000?
Ah, Señor de Silva.
Señor de Vargas.
Your servant, señora. Señorita.
- Pedro. - Diego.
I apologize for stopping in unexpectedly...
but I was passing and could not resist the temptation.
- A cup of wine with us, señor? - Gracias.
By your leave, señora.
This weather, while excellent for the crops, is a little warm for much riding.
I confess I feel slightly fatigued after the hunt for my servant.
You found no trace of him?
Excellent wine. Unfortunately not.
It's my belief that someone gave him aid.
It's not the loss of a servant alone that concerns me.
Rather, it's that a heretic, an unbeliever, should have been permitted to escape unredeemed.
But he'll be taken...
at which time the Inquisition will deal with him.
You are an intimate of the inquisidor general, are you not, señor?
I have the honor to be el supremo of the Santa Hermandad...
which is entrusted by His Majesty, Don Carlos...
with the duty of passing sentence on those poor sinners...
whom the Holy Office have found guilty of heresy.
A great privilege, señor.
By the way...
it seems strange to me that a man of your name and fame should not be one of us.
- I am not a theologian. - Nor am I.
Of course, I regret that at times we must use severity. But what would you have?
Bloodletting and dosing are often necessary to save the body.
Surely one cannot object to medicine that saves the soul.
With your permission, we will not pursue this conversation.
There are ladies present. The subject is most unpleasant.
Unpleasant to know that there are those who are defending Christianity...
by spending themselves to uproot the detestable sin of heresy?
Is it possible, señor, you do not approve the Santa Hermandad?
I do not approve, sir.
I am a Catholic and have given more blood for the faith than you have in your entire body...
and I regard the Santa Hermandad as an evil.
I am against any organization, sir...
which turn friend against friend, child against father.
Do I make myself plain?
Quite plain, Don Francisco.
But why do you wish to pick a quarrel with me?
I came here peaceably and alone, though injured by your son.
Perhaps I should have brought witnesses.
- Injured? How injured? - If I attacked two of your servants...
opened the face of one and slashed one of your dogs, wouldn't you call it injury?
Add to it that your men set their dogs on a girl, señor. That makes a difference.
Oh, yes, I forgot.
I believe my men were having some innocent fun with a wench at the Rosario Inn...
of whom, it appears, your son is unduly fond.
- That's a lie! - A lie?
That you stayed behind to fondle the wench and ride with her to the privacy of Rosario?
Or did my fellow see wrong?
At least I'm sure that the Lady Luisa de Carvajal—
Be careful not to bring the Lady Luisa into this.
And her father, the marquis, will not be amused to hear of it, either.
Señor, my son's conduct is a matter I'll settle with him.
If your men were innocent, I shall pay any proper claim.
But that has nothing to do with what we were discussing.
If anything I have said displeases you...
I shall be glad to give you satisfaction at your pleasure.
And I, señor.
Thank you.
But suppose you leave the question of satisfaction to me.
What did he mean by leaving the satisfaction to him?
Nothing. The man is a coward. Excuse us, my dear.
Come, dear.
Now, about this girl.
It's true, Father. She rode with me on my horse to the Rosario.
- Who is she? - A servant girl, sir. She works at the inn.
Son, I'm no hypocrite.
I've had sweethearts in my time.
But I warn you. It's unbefitting your name to have such stories spread abroad...
especially now since you've openly paid your respects to the Lady Luisa de Carvajal.
- Yes, sir. - By the by, are you calling on the Lady Luisa this evening?
- With your permission, Father. - With it or without it, I warrant.
- Give her my respects. - Yes, sir.
That was beautiful, señorita.
Thank you, Señor de Vargas.
May I tell you something, señorita?
If you wish.
Yesterday in church...
a ray of sunlight, slanting through one of the narrow windows, rested on your face.
I held my breath, señorita.
- I knew at once that it was a divine revelation. - Pedro.
That you were destined to be my lady of ladies.
I knew then that I would always adore you, serve you...
and— and I hope that one day I may be worthy.
That you may care for me...
- and love me as I love you. - Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.
Is it the custom of a gentleman to forget the proper distance?
It was the enchantment, señora. I didn't realize what I was doing.
Well, at least you're a charming liar.
We must go in, Luisa. There are lights in the upper floor. Your father has returned.
Oh, yes, señora.
May I keep this as a token, as a favor to wear?
Yes. Though I wish I had something better to give you.
Better? The Golden Fleece from the hands of His Majesty could not mean half so much.
Tomorrow night, señorita?
Perhaps.
Good night.
Señora.
Did you notice the way his eyes light up when he smiles?
Yes. He's not unattractive.
- Señor. Pedro de Vargas. - What do you want?
- Who is it? - It's me, Catana Perez. Manuel.
We've been here for an hour hoping to head you off.
- Head me off? From what? - You mustn't go home. They've laid a trap for you.
- They? Who? - The Inquisition.
Your father, mother and sister have been arrested.
- What? - This is my brother, Manuel, turnkey at the prison.
He saw them brought in and heard the talk about arresting you.
- But what have they done? - Well, the charge is heresy.
Heresy?
- My father and mother heretics? It's a lie. - You've no time to lose.
A friend of mine has a hiding place in the mountains near Granada.
Perhaps he can get you to the sea. It's your only chance.
No.
Father DeLora, the inquisidor general.
- He knows my father. I'll go to him. - His Reverence, Father DeLora...
was at the prison with Señor de Silva when your father, mother and sister were brought in.
The Marquis de Carvajal, my father's best friend. He'll advise—
You know best, señor. Only, señor, if anything goes wrong, if you need me—
Thank you, Catana. And you too, Manuel.
Forget or remember. I only did it for Catana.
I've got to hustle back or it's a twisted neck for me.
Yes. You'd better go too. They mustn't catch you helping me.
God go with you, señor.
Who? Whom did you say it is?
Pedro de Vargas, Señor Marquis.
He says it is a matter of life and death.
- Whose life and death? - He didn't say, mi señor.
Well, let him enter.
Will you please enter?
- Señor Marquis. - Come closer, young man. Here, if you please.
The son of Francisco de Vargas always has the bedside privilege with me.
I apologize, Señor Marquis, for intruding at this hour.
Oh, don't mention it. I'm always at your father's service.
- There's no one whom I more affectionately admire. - Thank you, sir.
I gather from your manner that all is not well.
It's an honor that you've turned to me.
It will be a double honor if I am privileged to help you.
My father and mother have been arrested by the Holy Office.
The Inquisition?
But you know my father and mother are not guilty of heresy.
And my sister, why, she's just a child.
I knew that if I came here you would give me advice.
If this were a case before the civil courts...
but the Inquisition is a different matter.
What right has a layman to intervene in spiritual affairs?
Perhaps something in your parents' lives—
But you know them, sir. You know there couldn't be anything.
My boy, you're blinded by natural affection.
If there's no guilt, your parents will go free.
Your advice then?
Is to rely on God, my dear boy.
In the meanwhile, proceed at once to the prison and give yourself up.
And deprive my family of the one voice outside the prison left to take their part?
It would tend to show your innocence and be an act of loyalty to your parents.
- I thank you, Señor Marquis, for your advice. - You're quite welcome.
It's a pleasure to be of help to the son of an old friend.
My servant will show you to the door.
If my father were in your place...
and a member of your family came to him for help...
he would have advanced to the very gates of hell without looking back to give you aid.
I hope he never learns that I have brought dishonor on his name by even coming to you.
- Get out! - Yes, sir, I will.
- ¡Alto! - There he is! Get him!
¡Alto!
You lied!
And you lied again when you said you gave no aid to this escaped heretic...
this Indian dog who calls himself a great lord.
Admit you lied because you hate the Santa Hermandad.
Your silence calls for a physic you may not like.
It will do you little good to waste your threats on someone who does not fear them.
It would be wiser for you to explain this outrage upon my family.
I demand to know what you have done with my father, mother and sister!
You... demand?
The charges that you have brought against them...
have no foundation in truth and you know it.
I here and now accuse you of bearing false witness for reasons of cowardice.
- Bring in the other prisoners! - Yes, señor. Bring the other prisoners!
Move on. Move on.
Move along. Move along!
- Father. - My son—
- Silence! - Silence yourself.
- I'll have no prison whelp ordering my parents. - Hmm.
I thought there was a cursed bad smell in this place.
This is not the moment for swagger, Francisco de Vargas.
A gag may teach you what old age has not.
Do you confess to the crime of which you stand charged?
Confess that I'm a heretic, an unbeliever, that I taught irreverence to my family?
Huh. The lie stinks.
From the lips of children, we're apt sooner to hear the truth. Begin with the girl.
- Sí, señor. - No, you can't—
- No! No! - Mother! Mother!
Mother! Mother!
- No! No! - Mother!
- No! - Mother! Help me!
No! No, no, no! Please! Please, señor!
Take me! Take me! Please, señor! Take me!
She's so young, so innocent.
Don't, wife! Don't! Would you give this lout the satisfaction—
No. Wait. No, please. Not her! I'll confess.
- I'll confess anything if you'll just release her. - No. Do not save her by a lie.
Silva, if you do this thing, look to your own soul.
- Apply the cords! - Apply the cords.
Please. Please, señor. I beg of you, have mercy.
Hail, Mary, full of grace.
- The Lord is with thee— - Mother!
Señor el Supremo, the girl has fainted.
- Well, revive her! - Please.
Please, señor. She's just a baby.
Please, señor. She's just a little baby.
Señor el Supremo, the girl is dead.
You bungling fools.
Have you no skill in your craft?
God has shown his mercy. Upon you rest his curse.
Return the prisoners to their cells.
- Are you awake? - Juan Garcia.
How did you get in here?
I bought this job of turnkey to be here near my mother.
Your mother, in here?
The Inquisition accused her of heresy.
They sentenced her to be burned at the stake.
They'll not burn her now.
She's dead.
Dead?
Catana Perez told me about you, so I came here to help.
We'll make a break for it as soon as we can.
But my father and mother are here in prison.
If I run away, there's no telling what they'll do to them.
Everything's arranged. Your father and mother will come with us.
Keep these on. Others may come in here to look at you.
Hide this. You'll need these when the time comes.
- I don't know how to thank you. - Save it until later, caballero.
Perhaps you wonder why I trouble with the de Vargas family.
Because of the unfortunate accident to your sister...
I am prepared to offer you leniency...
provided you sign a confession...
that you and your parents are guilty of heresy.
Otherwise, I shall have no recourse but to remove you.
When you remove someone, señor...
you are careful not to risk your own skin...
which is probably wise.
If you mean that I do not give swashbucklers...
the satisfaction of a duel, you're quite right.
My object is simply to dispose of them as a warning to others.
In the end, you will learn that my method is thorough.
As thorough as your dishonor, if possible.
Dirty-tongued infants must be taught politeness.
Stand up when a gentleman speaks.
Hey, guard! Guard! You out there!
What about satisfaction now, de Silva? Where is your policy and method?
- One by one, de Silva. - Mercy.
For God's sake, have mercy.
You wouldn't kill an unarmed man.
De Vargas, you wouldn't murder me.
- Bareheaded before death, coward. - I'll let you go free.
You have one moment left.
Spend it thinking of the child, my sister, that you murdered.
Oh, have mercy. Have mercy. I beg you. I beg you.
- You'd make amends, perhaps? - Yes.
- Secure our release? - Yes.
- Pay a suitable fine? Make public apology? - Yes. Yes. Anything. Everything.
- Can I trust you? - I swear it. I swear before God.
Oh, no, not before God, de Silva.
Perhaps if you renounced your faith in God, I'd believe you.
You've defiled everything that the Church stands for.
Now...
renounce your faith in God.
Yes. Anything. I'll renounce God.
Spare my life.
Now answer to God for your crimes.
Hurry. Come on. We've got no more than a minute.
For heaven's sake, hurry, señores. The others are waiting.
- Pedro. - Pedro.
- Mother, Father, this is Juan Garcia. - Señor.
Quick, señores. Hurry. I must sound the alarm.
- Your horses are there. - God bless you.
- Catana. - Hurry, señor. We'll have to race for it.
- Mother, Father, Catana Perez. - Señorita.
- This horse is for you, señora. - I fear it will be of no help riding with a woman like me.
What we lose in speed we gain in honor...
- riding with Doña Maria de Vargas. - Come along.
Guards! Guards! Prisoner escaped from the lower cell!
Gracious sir and lady, Your Mercy's servant, Hernán Soler.
I never expected the honor of serving so renowned a captain...
- or so noble a lady. - Thank you, señor.
And now may I ask what are your plans?
To leave immediately. Don't dismount.
Señor, my wife is almost spent. If she could have a carriage—
Impossible. There's no road for a carriage where we're going.
Wait for me here, chiquilla. I'll be back tomorrow.
And see that you look your best for my homecoming.
I'll take orders from you when you've carried out your part of the bargain.
What bargain?
My part was to take you across the mountains, señor.
And the other part?
That you get started quick, señor, so— so my Hernán can get back to me.
I'm his girl now.
I love him.
Señores.
I've a notion to take you with me.
Why not? I can ride with the señora.
I can hear the horses on the road.
- Go! Go! - We'd better hurry, señores.
There are horses on the road.
- Soler, you lead the way. Juan and I will guard the rear. - Come on.
They're pressing us fast. We'll have to make better time or they'll overtake us.
My wife can't go any faster.
¡Alto! ¡Señor Soler! ¡Señor Soler! ¡Alto!
Look, you! Here! I remember this trail from the Moorish wars.
Good only for goats, señor. A woman could never make it.
In that case, the ladies will keep to the road, and I'll stay with them.
You gentlemen wait here for our pursuers.
Let them have a glimpse of you, then take to the trail.
My guess is they'll think we all went in that direction and follow you.
I bargained to lead you to the coast, not to fight.
Either I ride with the ladies too or adiós.
You're quite right, señor. A bargain is a bargain.
Juan and I will stay behind. Good-bye, Mother.
Bear yourself well, my son. My blessings go with you.
- God be with you, señor. - And with you, Catana, always.
- Good-bye, Father. - Good-bye, Son.
Be ready. They're coming. We must act fast.
Señor! Señor!
¡Alto! There they are! After them!
- There is tu papá. - Papa.
- Such abominable treachery. - Treachery, Father? What kind of treachery?
The worst. The blackest.
Señor de Silva entered that scoundrel Pedro de Vargas's cell...
with a view to getting a confession which would help him before the tribunal—
an act, mind you, of Christian charity—
and de Vargas sprang upon him unawares...
drove a sword through his body, then escaped.
Escaped? Are you sure?
But never fear, he'll be taken. La Santa Hermandad has a long arm.
Oh, how terrible.
Mmm. There's one cheerful aspect to the affair.
The sword was deflected by a rib and missed the heart.
Oh, Señor de Silva is, of course, in a grave way.
But unless mortification sets in, the doctors have hope of his recovery.
Only three days ago, Señor de Silva called on me.
And at his entreaty, it was practically arranged that I give you in marriage to him.
Isn't that a fine choice?
Haven't I done well by you?
As I have often told her, my lord...
you're a very fortunate girl, my dear, to have so thoughtful and generous a father.
Oh, tut, tut. Why shouldn't I be generous?
The child's happiness is my only concern in this world.
- Do you think Pedro will be captured? - I hope not.
It would be dreadful. I'd die.
If he were caught and they found my handkerchief—
Oh. We must pray for him.
Yes. Let's go pray now.
- I promise 10 candles to San Cristobal if he escapes. - Good for you, my dear.
Señor, you do not have to gather wood. I would do that.
You steal the chickens. I'll get the wood.
- Is she beautiful, señor? - She? Who?
The lady whose handkerchief you carry over your heart.
Very beautiful.
A great and lovely lady whom I am privileged to serve.
Who is she, señor?
The Lady Luisa de Carvajal.
Oh, yes, señor. She is beautiful.
I have seen her in church. And once I saw her riding in a procession with her father.
All eyes were on her.
I said to myself then, she looks like a jewel in the sunlight.
You are very fortunate, señor.
Yes.
It's me.
- Well? - Nothing to fret about.
I went right into Sanlúcar in this, God forgive me...
and not a hint of trouble.
- Mmm! Smells good. - Chicken's almost done, señor.
You should have been with me, lad.
I ran into an old friend of mine, Jorge Santerra.
He's master of the Boniface, which sails for the Indies tomorrow and—
Never mind about that. Did you find out when there's a ship for Italy?
Uh, your ship's the Julia. Sailing in about a week.
But this friend of mine, he was telling me that before he left Cuba...
all the talk was of a vast armada that Governor Velázquez was fitting out...
to take over a new land, a country full of gold.
He told me that every politician in the place...
is hanging around the governor like a pack of dogs after meat, scheming for command.
But the talk was that Hernán Cortez would get it.
Who's Hernán Cortez?
A very courageous soldier...
and a very popular gentleman, especially with the ladies.
Come on, lad, this is the chance of a lifetime.
Forget Italy. Let's go to the Indies.
They say every man that goes with Cortez will share in the profits and come back rich.
No, it's impossible.
If my family are still alive, they're in Italy. They'll be expecting me.
I mustn't fail them.
Besides, what's this itch that's got hold of you?
Isn't there anything else in life but gold?
Perhaps.
But there's a lot to be said for gold too.
It got you out of prison, didn't it?
Besides, you're wrong about the islands.
We talk of gold, but maybe we mean something else. Gold is just the excuse.
Have you space for me on the Boniface, señor?
- For you? - Why not?
What has Europe to offer me?
If I'm taken here, it means death.
Italy would be no better.
Spending the rest of my days scratching fleas in some big lord's kitchen.
I've got no kinsmen to give me a leg up.
Catana, my mother's kinsmen are the Strozzis. One of my uncles is a cardinal.
- If you went there, they'd look after you. - Perhaps.
But I'd be a sow's ear just the same.
In the islands, it's different.
Juan says it's what you are, not who you are, that counts. It's a new world.
So it is. Europe's an old road. This is a new one.
Change your mind, lad. Think what can happen.
You'll come home, your head high, on horseback, rich, famous, exonerated.
All the things you hanker for.
Isn't this the answer, señor, to everything you want...
for yourself, for your family...
for the one whose handkerchief you carry?
All right, I'll go.
Bravo! Now you're talking good sense.
To the Indies. The new road.
Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear ye!
"In His Majesty's name.
"Tell everyone that the fleet now in Havana harbor...
"will sail by authority of His Excellency...
"Diego Velázquez...
"governor of Cuba...
"for trade, settlement and discovery...
under the command of Hernán Cortez. "
"Enroll for God and His Majesty, Don Carlos...
"under his banner.
Carry the light of our blessed faith to those in heathen darkness. "
Blast my guts! If it isn't Bull Garcia!
Humpback Botello!
I thought I'd find you here. Seen Cortez yet?
That's what I'm here for. Meet my friends, Pedro de Vargas, Catana Perez.
This is Professor Botello. He's an astrologer and a sawbones.
Can reads the stars better than I can a book.
What are you doing here, Professor?
I signed on to give Captain Cortez the divine wisdom...
of what the stars have in store for him and to mend any bones that are broken.
We're beginning to be quite an army already.
Over 400 strong, not counting seamen, the Indian lords and servants.
Come on. Let's have a drink.
- Oh, no. Not until after we've had a talk with the captain. - All right. See you tonight.
- Come on. Let's go inside and sign up. - You wait out here, Catana.
"...under the command of Hernán Cortez."
"Enroll for God and His Majesty, Don Carlos...
"under his banner.
- Carry the light!" - Sign the articles here.
- Your name? - Emilio Eduardo.
- Can you write? - Sí.
- Your name? - Gonzalo Ochoa.
- Where from? - Santo Domingo.
- Where from? - Córdoba.
- Sign the articles. - Sign the articles.
- Your name? - Juan Garcia.
- Sign here. - Where from?
Santo Domingo.
Sign the articles here.
- Your name? - Pedro de Vargas.
Sign here.
- Where from? - Jaén, Spain.
Are you a relative of Francisco de Vargas?
- His son, sir. - I am Hernán Cortez.
Our fathers were friends, though mine never reached the eminence of yours.
- Your illustrious father is well? - When I last saw him, sir.
I'm delighted to have you join us in this venture.
If you have the spirit and merit of your father, you'll prove worthy of promotion...
- and a command. - Thank you, Captain.
Oh, gentlemen. A good omen.
The son of Francisco de Vargas joins our company.
- This is Corio, the first officer of the Gallega. - How do you do?
- This is Captain Sandoval. - Captain.
- Señor. - Captain Alvarado.
- Welcome to the expedition. - Thank you.
And this is our chaplain, Father Bartolomé de Olmedo.
- Father. - De Vargas.
And here we have Señor Juan Escudero and Señor Diego Cermeno.
- Señores. - These two gentlemen...
are representatives of His Excellency, the governor of Cuba.
They came from Santiago at the last moment to relieve me of my command...
but I believe I've successfully convinced them...
that I am going to be the captain of this company...
or there isn't going to be any captain...
eh, gentlemen?
And who might you be?
- Catana Perez, sir. - One of our ladies, eh?
We've quite a few in the army already.
Some married and some in hopes of it.
Sometimes I think you women will end up with more gold out of this...
one way or the other, than any of us.
You wish to inscribe your name on the roll of the company, little one?
Oh, yes, sir. Thank you, my lord.
Oh, Father.
Don't get up, Pedro. I'll join you.
Thinking of Jaén, eh?
Yes, Father. How did you know?
When a young man sits staring to the east with a lady's handkerchief in his hands...
what else should he be thinking of but his home and his sweetheart?
Well, cheer up. Perhaps your dreams will come true.
If I get only half of what I want, Father...
I'll be satisfied.
Now, let me ask you a simple question.
Why haven't you been to Mass?
Because...
I killed a man.
And I'd kill him again without hesitation.
Go on.
But I—
I duped the coward into renouncing God before I killed him.
That's why I haven't been to Mass.
Who was the man?
Diego de Silva, el Supremo de la Santa Hermandad in Jaén.
Why did you kill him?
He caused the death of my sister...
the imprisonment of my parents, the loss of everything I loved.
And now, Father, I—
I place myself in your hands.
No, my son...
you've been in my hands for two days.
Except for forcing de Silva to renounce God, you've told me nothing I didn't know already.
Only I wanted to hear it from your own lips.
This is an order from the Santa Hermandad...
for your arrest.
I am not in sympathy with the actions of the Order of Santa Hermandad.
However, had you not told me this yourself...
I would not have done this.
You have a penance to perform, my son.
Pray for the soul of Diego de Silva.
This is more of a penance than you think.
God's love is a heavy burden.
Are you prepared to carry it out?
What is demanded of you is not easy.
Do you, as you hope for salvation, accept the penance?
Yes, Father.
Milords, the ambassador has been sent...
by the great emperor, Moctezuma...
to present these gifts to the great white god.
By my soul, the generosity of the people of this New World.
In Yucatán, a chief presents me with a treasure beyond price—
this lovely creature who gives me the voice of these people.
And now this.
Doña Marina, say to the ambassador...
that on behalf of His Majesty, Don Carlos of Spain, the mightiest ruler on Earth...
- I thank the Emperor Moctezuma. - Yes, milord.
Milord, the ambassador regrets...
to say that the emperor's kingdom is many leagues to the west...
and dangerous to reach.
He desires you to accept these gifts and return at once to your own country.
The great emperor Moctezuma sends nuggets of gold to us prospectors—
- Looks very pretty on you, my dear. - Thank you, milord.
And then asks us kindly not to visit the mine.
- Moctezuma has made a very wise request, Captain Cortez. - How wise, Escudero?
We came here to trade and have a look at the land...
- not to start a war and try to conquer an empire. - We came to settle, to colonize.
There wasn't a word about settlement in the governor of Cuba's instructions to you.
Do you think that 500 men and 11 ships sailed all this distance...
with the idea of riding back and forth in trade?
Or that the great emperor Moctezuma has stripped himself for our benefit?
That there isn't a thousandfold more where this came from?
By my beard, gentlemen, these are but scraps and samples.
Are we going to be content with trifles...
when we could help ourselves to the whole treasury?
And mark you, he fears us, or he would have sent nothing at all.
- But Governor Velázquez— - I take no orders from Governor Velázquez! I am the law here.
Men...
this land holds out to us a glorious prize...
but it must be won.
Great things were never achieved without exertion.
We are few in numbers, but strong in resolution.
Put your faith in me and in the Almighty...
and we will go forward and carry to a glorious conclusion...
the work so auspiciously begun here this day.
Oh, try to bite me, will ya?
Oh, you want to kick too, hmm?
Good horse. I like your spirit.
Reminds me of my father's horse, Campeador.
- Well, you ride him. No more horses or blisters for me.
Come, señores, and get your suppers before the others get it.
Thank you, señorita.
There's a female for you.
Just fits in to this New World.
Good deal on your mind, isn't she?
Well, she's free.
But you're giving me only the juice from the top.
Dig down deep and give me some meat from the bottom.
I will, señor, if you do me a little favor.
I'll do anything, if you're only generous with the meat. What do you want?
Señor, I'm in love.
Oh, bless my soul. Then it's your fortune in the stars that you want.
No. I want the love of a certain gentleman.
Does he love you?
All he thinks about is a fine lady in Spain.
If it's Pedro de Vargas that you're talking of...
he's of noble birth and you're just a wench.
- Give me my meat. - If I could only make him love me...
1/10th as much as I love him, I wouldn't ask for anything more.
Well, what can I do about it?
You're wise and have secret powers.
If you could give me a charm...
something that would win him, that would make him care for me.
Oh, the devil. Do you take me for a witch selling love powders?
Oh, vaya, vaya, vaya. You're just a wench, and you mean no harm.
Give me the meat.
Then it's a bargain?
You will give me just one little charm?