Don't you think
the most important part of a meal
is the wine?
Everything must follow the wine
and in this case
I could favor a red Bordeaux.
A red Bordeaux at lunch?
Your late husband would never have approved.
William?
William, stay away from the edge.
The edge is no place to play.
Yes, ma'am.
What is it, William?
I don't know.
He's got a knife in his back.
William!
Watch where you're...
William!
Joseph, over there.
Get down, Eden.
Damn.
Joseph!
Oh!
Leave us alone. You hear?
Get back.
Leave us alone. Oh!
Come, girl.
Come on.
I am the Raisuli.
Do not laugh at me again.
Secretary of State to the President:
I regret to inform you
that I have received the following dispatch
from Samuel Gummere
United States General Consul, Tangier, Morocco.
On October 15
Mrs. Eden Pedecaris and her children
were kidnapped from their residence in Tangier
after the brutal murder of her servants and a guest
Sir Joshua Kenyon-Smith, a British subject.
This act of barbarous criminality
appears perpetrated by Mulay El-Raisuli
Sherif of the Riffian Berbers
and the last of the Barbary pirates.
The British minister and myself concur
there exists alarming prospects of danger
for all foreigners in Morocco.
Request warships.
Gentlemen, the presidency was never won
by a Vice President filling out
his fallen predecessor's term of office.
Now, that may not obtain in this instance...
The only thing that people will remember about McKinley
is he had the good sense to get himself shot.
Teddy's the most popular President since Washington.
Why drag in Washington?
Ah, you know it, and I know it
but that damn cowboy doesn't know it.
What he wants is some issue to hang his campaign on
something to arouse the populace.
A cavalry charge?
So to speak.
Morocco?
You know as well as I do we can't have Arab desperadoes
running around kidnapping American citizens.
If I had my way, I'd go in there with a couple of Winchesters
a battalion of Marines
but I can't do that. Can I?
No.
- Has this Raspuli... - Raisuli.
Raspuli, Raisuli, whatever.
Has he made any terms?
No.
Hmm. Good. That gives us an excuse.
He will, though.
What makes you so sure?
He kidnapped a British consul once
but they became friends, and he sent him back.
- He spat on the blood money. - Spat on it?
Yes. There's been others, though
Spanish and French emissaries.
Did he send them back too?
- Parts of them. - Parts of them?
Obviously, he has no respect for human life.
Threatening the lives and property of American citizens.
It's an insult in the eyes of the world community, you realize that?
Arabian thief holding me up like a common desperado.
Theodore, you're on to something.
I don't quite know what.
What is it that you want, Theodore?
What do I want? I want respect, that's what.
Respect for human life and American property
and I'll send the Atlantic squadron to Morocco to get respect.
That's illegal.
Now, why spoil the beauty of a thing
with legality?
Well...
the fleet sails tomorrow.
America wants Pedecaris alive, or Raisuli dead.
Very good.
Pedecaris alive...
or Raisuli dead.
Bull's-eye.
Ah! Ah!
Horses! Come on now. We go to the horses, madam.
Don't touch me with that thing again.
I'm quite capable of understanding your gibberish.
Jennifer? William? William!?
Your hand, lady.
Oh, get away from me, for God's sake, you...
Get on those horses, Jennifer.
Let go of this.
Now, I don't know who you are or what you want with us
but I will tell you that I am no coward
and if you or any of these men
should dare to lay a hand on me
I will try with all the strength in me to kill you.
And with my last breath, I shall curse you to God.
God will listen.
Do you play checkers?
No. I play chess.
Better.
This is the Rif.
I am Mulay Achmed Mohammed El-Raisuli the Magnificent.
Sherif of the Riffian Berbers.
I am the true defender of the faithful
and the blood of the Prophet runs in me
and I am but a servant of his will.
You have nothing to say?
It has never been my intention to encourage braggarts.
Your shell is strong, like a turtle's
but it is brittle.
Your tongue is clever and fast.
Be careful you do not trip over it.
You are a great deal of trouble.
Now, see here, Abal.
I don't intend to waste any more time watching you eat.
This is an effrontery.
Have you ever heard of the "big stick," Bashaw?
Do not threaten me, Mr. Gummere.
I have been threatened by the French...
Germans...
and the English.
I've been threatened by experts
Mr. Gummere.
And yet Morocco is still the only sovereign Muslim throne
west of Constantinople.
Yes, but it is shaky.
Yes, we have French infantry and German cavalry.
Our currency is Spanish
but my nephew is the Sultan of Morocco.
And it is as it shall be.
Well, if you wish it to stay that way
then I implore you
to send your French infantry and your German cavalry into the Rif
and bring our people back.
Better to serve the leopard than the fox.
I am only a servant of the Sultan
the chosen one, the defender of the faithful.
I can make no such decision.
Very well then, we shall seek an audience with the Sultan himself.
He will not see you
unless it pleases him.
Now, listen here
we represent a modern power.
We're talking about Marines, battleships, big guns.
- We are not fooling about. - Richard.
We are not here to make threats,
merely entreaties.
Now, tell me, Bashaw,
what would please the Sultan? Gold?
More bicycles?
Another carriage?
Lions.
Lions?
Lions would please the Sultan.
Lions are noble.
Very well.
Mr. Dreighton will leave this afternoon for Fez
with a pair of lions.
Lions?
We shall drink from my well.
Thank you, William.
That's rather refreshing.
Here children, have some of these. They'll give you strength.
Mama, who do you think he really is?
Is he a pirate?
He's a brigand and a lout. Pay him no serious mention.
We shall see the better side of this, God willing.
He has the way about him, doesn't he?
He sure has the way.
Woman, I want you to understand this.
I am not a barbarous man.
I am a scholar and a leader to my people.
I am not a barbarous man.
These four men have dishonored me.
They have eaten from my trees.
They have drunk water from my wells.
They have done all of these things to me
and they have not even evoked my name to God, in thankfulness.
I am treated this way
because I make war upon the Europeans.
You see the man at the well?
How he draws the water?
When one bucket empties, the other fills.
It is so with the world.
At present, you are full of power.
But you are spilling it wastefully
and Islam is lapping up the drops
as they spill from your bucket.
Oh!
Did you see that?
And you are not a barbarous man.
They had broken God's will.
You mean they had broken your will!
I have no will, only that of God.
I had to kill the two or I could not trust the other two.
A barbarous man would have killed them al...
Of course.
Be not so quick to judge our ways.
Ignorance is a steep hill with perilous rocks at the bottom.
Do you pray often?
I pray to Mecca five times a day.
Is that so? I wonder how you find time.
You're so busy cutting off men's heads
and kidnapping women and children.
If I miss the morning prayer, I pray twice in the afternoon.
Allah is very understanding.
You gonna build that canal in Panama, Teddy?
I'll dig it with my own hands if I have to.
Remember the Maine!
I remembered it, did you?
Teddy, you ain't gonna let them push us around in Morocco?
Madam, I have something to say about Morocco.
This is a good time as any to say it.
It is my policy.
It's my policy
to protect American citizens and American interests
whenever, wherever they are threatened.
And... And furthermore. Furthermore
I am not a man to stand by and condone barbaric acts
which are perpetrated against innocent women and children.
We shall mete out justice that is swift
and retribution that is final.
America wants Pedecaris alive or Raisuli dead.
I was good, wasn't I, John?
It was a marvelous speech.
I'd even vote for you myself.
Have the train go slowly.
I want to listen to them a while.
You will be more pleased here.
Sleep better.
It is the wish of the Raisuli.
Be sure and thank him for me.
You will sleep here.
Yes, I was told.
Good.
You do not want to eat?
This is not a good move. I can take your knight.
- You can? - Yes.
Well, the loss of my knight does not mean you will win.
The lion takes long strides
but the path is worn smooth by pygmy armies.
Yes, and a fool and his money are soon parted.
I've checked your queen also.
You are in a lot of trouble.
You should never have moved that bishop or kidnapped me.
Both will see you undone.
It is not I who decides the outcome of these events.
It is the will of Allah.
I am but an instrument of that will.
It is the wind that passes, but the sea remains.
A stitch in time saves nine.
Make your move.
What do you intend to do with us?
It is my intention to embarrass Mulay Abdul Azziz
the Sultan to Morocco.
The tribesmen will see that he is the bought dog
of the European armies,
a slave to French and German masters.
The tribesmen will join me in a jihad
to abolish this foreign pestilence.
And this is your way?
Abducting women and children, killing unarmed servants?
I prefer to fight the European armies
but they do not fight as men.
They fight as dogs.
Men prefer to fight with swords
so they can see each other's eyes.
Sometimes this is not possible.
Then they fight with rifles.
The Europeans have guns that fire many times, promiscuously
and rend the earth.
There is no honor in this. Nothing is decided from this.
Therefore,
I shall take women and children when it pleases me.
What have you demanded for our return?
Gold, rifles...
the head of the Bashaw in a basket of melons...
the sovereignty of my people.
The English have paid very well in the past.
Well, you'll not have your way with the Americans.
President Roosevelt will have your head for this.
Roosevelt.
This President Roosevelt
he would try and take it himself?
He certainly would.
He is a man of grit and strong moral fiber.
He does not kidnap women and children.
What kind of rifle does he use?
A Winchester.
Winchester?
I have no knowledge of this rifle.
You will.
Sherif of Wazan, Lord of the desert.
Mrs. Pedecaris.
The pleasure is mine.
Charmed.
The Sherif has honored me
by carrying my entreaties to the Europeans.
What is that?
That is a tongue.
Well, why would anyone want to cut out a man's tongue?
Perhaps the previous owner had nothing pleasant to say.
I believe I'm about to be sick.
Must be the heat.
- What is it? - Some kind of tongue.
What kind?
Children, get up from that tongue. Good God.
The reply from the American Bashaw.
Himself speaking for the Lord of the Americans.
- President Roosevelt? - Mm-hmm.
"Pedecaris alive or Raisuli dead"?
You are not in a position to laugh.
Do not laugh at the Raisuli!
Go to Zinat.
Cut the small finger from a woman.
Take it to these Americans.
Tell them it is a finger of the woman Pedecaris
and that the Raisuli is a man of patience,
but not unending.
Does this President, this Roosevelt
does he have no respect for human life?
Hey, what'd you bring in, Colonel?
Got some venison and a cougar.
Heard about the bear, have you?
Big one, I heard.
Coffee, Mr. President?
Is that the bear?
Yes, this is the bear that attacked the horse camp at dawn.
He knew that men would be asleep or at their worst, at dawn.
You know, he injured one of the Indians quite severely.
Killed several of the horses too.
Did you yourself participate in stopping the bear, Mr. President?
Yes, I regret to say.
Why do you regret, Mr. President?
Because he's a fine creature.
This is his valley.
This valley belonged to the bear and we're the intruders here.
We're accustomed to wild animals taking flight
at the sight of men with guns.
The American grizzly fears nothing
not man, not guns, not death.
Do you intend to have this bear as a rug in the White House, Mr. President?
Rug? No.
No, I intend to have him stuffed and placed on exhibit.
The Smithsonian Institute.
The American grizzly bear
is a symbol of the American character:
Strength, intelligence, ferocity.
A little blind and reckless at times
but courageous beyond all doubt.
And one other trait that goes with all previous.
And that, Mr. President?
Loneliness.
A bear lives out his life alone.
Indomitable, unconquered, but always alone.
He has no real allies, only enemies
but none of them are as great as he.
Do you feel this might be an American trait?
Certainly.
The world will never love us.
It may respect us
they may even grow to fear us, but they will never love us
for we have too much audacity
and we're a bit blind and reckless at times too.
Are you perhaps referring to the Panama Canal
and the situation in Morocco?
If you say so.
The American grizzly embodies the spirit of America.
He should be our symbol, not that ridiculous eagle.
He's no more than a dandified vulture.
Dandified.
Do you speak English?
Yes, sire.
Tell me,
why doesn't the Sultan build the road to Fez?
I had to bring these lions by camel.
Do you know what that's like?
No, sire.
It wasn't easy.
The ease of others is not the concern of the Sultan.
We'll build a road some day.
A road? Here?
Foolish.
The desert is like the sea.
You cannot build a road in the sea.
We will.
We have men that can do anything.
Absolutely anything.
We have men that can fly.
Fly?
Fly.
Watch the goal.
Say, haven't I seen you somewhere before?
Nein.
Perhaps Your Highness Abdul
would care to fire the Maxim gun?
Herr Sultan is displeased?
This is broken.
Mend it.
The ambassador of the Americans, Your Exultancy.
I am Mulay Abdul Azziz, Sultan to Morocco.
It has been said that you have brought me lions.
Yes, sir, two of them.
It's out of bounds.
It would please me to take the pleasure of this meeting
in my carriage of state.
You will come.
Beautiful.
It is quite extraordinary.
You may sit.
You wish to discuss the Raisuli?
Yes.
Have you made any contact with his people?
He wishes for the return of the woman Pedecaris
that he be granted the lands of the Rif by formal decree,
and that the Bashaw of Tangier's head
be presented in a golden jar.
He didn't ask for money?
Yes, but that is honorable.
You have offered to pay it, I presume.
Do not distress me by such a question.
Now, see here, we will have our people back and right quick
or we are prepared to do something about it.
I will not endure this treatment.
Have you ever heard of the "big stick," Sultan?
Right now, there are squadrons of warships
in your coastal waters.
In days, there will be Marines, cavalry
and artillery to enforce my demands.
Now, my country wants the woman Pedecaris alive
or Raisuli dead.
You cannot talk to the defender of the faithful
in this manner!
You do not understand it!
It is so difficult to be Sultan.
You do not understand.
What do you know of this Raisuli?
He is a wonderful man, a servant of God
but he is a brigand and a criminal as well.
He taught me to shoot a rifle when I was five years old.
You know him?
He is my uncle.
But the Bashaw in Tangier is your uncle.
They are both my uncles. They are brothers.
It is so difficult to be Sultan.
You foreigners do not understand.
These are my true riches.
A man's worth is counted in the number of his rifles.
Does this Roosevelt, does he have such men?
Probably not.
Well, with such men
who needs guns that fire many times promiscuously?
Machine guns?
Yes. Who needs such guns?
Well, maybe I don't believe it, either.
Look at this.
Where'd you get it, William?
Did you steal it?
No. He gave it to me.
Gayaan the Terrible.
He's a brigand who's killed over 30 men.
Did he kill any with that?
Certainly.
What will they do with us, William?
Keep us.
Teach us to ride, shoot, cut men's throats
and be brigands.
Even girls?
Yes, but you'll have to wear a veil.
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday, Father.
Happy birthday.
Blow out the candles, Father.
Takes a big wind, lots of hot air.
Then I'll need some help from you, Mr. Hay.
I propose a toast.
To the Panama Canal.
Yes, and Jupiter Pierpont Morgan.
Likie knifie? You Likie forkie?
Splendid.
And now, Mr. President, blow.
May the breath of Theodore Roosevelt
be like the wind that he has sent across the Pacific.
Wind that bends the trees of aggression and injustice
but a true wind marked also for its warmth.
An American wind.
You Likie speechie?
Well, I suppose I should make the first cut here.
See? Nothing to it.
There you are.
See how easy that was?
Now, you all go on and finish it.
Not having any, Mr. President?
Oh, no. No cake for me, John
birthday or no.
I have to remain fit and trim
vigorous and active.
After all, this Raisuli fellow is reputed to be over 50
and still a very formidable brigand.
You may well make a formidable brigand yourself.
You've made a good start in life
and we all have high hopes for you
when you grow up.
Now I shall have some of your cake.
Let them eat cake, huh, kid?
Not good for you, John.
Neither are those cigars.
At my age, I can afford it.
Let me see that.
Take a note to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company
New Haven, Connecticut.
Dear Sirs,
I have received my improved model
1895 Winchester in .405 caliber.
As you and I both know, this is a very fine rifle.
However, once again you have blundered
both in regard to the stock dimensions
and the recoil pad.
How long will these mistakes be repeated?
After all, I am the President of the United States.
I see no reason why an American President
can't get satisfaction from an American gun maker.
Huh? What must I do for a proper fitting?
Go to England?
- I should hope not. - No, sir.
Why are you standing there like that, young man?
- In regard to your... - Well, speak up. Speak up.
This is a government, not a rest home. What is it?
- Your bear, sir. - My bear? What bear?
- Your grizzly bear, sir. - He's from the Smithsonian.
Oh, the Smithsonian. Yes, you have the sketches.
Thank you.
Now, let's see. Let me see these.
Oh, I'm sorry. That won't do.
No, that's... No, that's all wrong.
That's terrible.
And that one.
You see, what's wrong here, young man
is the position.
You've made this fine specimen of a grizzly
look like a hairy cow.
Now, would you like to be portrayed as a hairy cow if you were a grizzly bear?
Perhaps the President had a position in mind.
Certainly. There you are.
Now, watch.
The American grizzly
must always be portrayed in a fighting stance.
That's the sort of animal he is.
You see, upright, rampant, on his two hind feet.
His great forepaws extended like that.
Teeth bared, clawing, growling.
Understand?
- Would you like to sketch that? - Yes sir.
Take a photograph.
Good. Ready?
Growl again, Father.
You like that?
See that he gets a copy.
Now, where was I with Winchester?
Um. "What must I do for a proper fitting?
Need I go to England?"
Yes, uh.
Oh, that's all right the way it is. Send it out.
What must a man do, anyway, to get a proper-fitting rifle?
You can bet that Raisuli fellow's got a rifle that fits him.
Those people know the value of a good weapon.
The rifle is the very soul of the Arab.
Raisuli's a Berber, Mr. President.
Well, it goes double for Berbers.
What sort of rifle does he use, do you suppose?
- I don't know, sir. - Well, send him a cablegram.
Find out what kind of weapon the old bastard uses.
I think you're the best shot
that's ever occupied the office, sir.
Oh, I don't know.
Andrew Jackson back there was quite a shot.
Carried a brace of pistols all the time, you know.
Shot a fellow right off the porch right out there.
Caned another one to death.
Admiral Chadwick, I presume.
I'm Vice Consul Richard Dreighton.
- Ray. - Admiral.
It's certainly good to see you.
Captain.
I must say we've been awaiting your arrival
with a great deal of anticipation
and I must say, not a little nervousness.
You see, gentlemen
what we have here is a problem
of enormous diplomatic complexity.
Now, the Sultan of Morocco...
Make yourselves comfortable, gentlemen.
The Sultan of Morocco favors the German Kaiser
while the Bashaw, who is the real power here
is leaning toward the Czar of Russia.
Now, in the middle of all this
an American woman is kidnapped by some desert pirate
and our President, of course, gentlemen, only wants to know
what kind of a rifle this brigand carries.
And he probably wants to build a canal too
for all I know.
It's been done before, you know.
Now, now, Admiral.
Mr. Dreighton, see if the gentlemen care for a cigar, would you, please?
You and I are both old men
and we've seen these disasters come and go.
Now, our problem is to make this one go
and make it look good.
I must remind you, sir
that I was at Santiago Bay when this President
was running up San Juan Hill.
I'm afraid that we'll have to do more than just look good this time.
Well, what did you have in mind, exactly?
Military intervention.
Yes. We are, at this moment
the most powerful naval force in Tangier Harbor.
Well, I... I don't see what that has to do with anything.
We are a major power at this moment.
We carry the biggest stick.
Now, just how many men do you have, captain?
Two reinforced rifle companies, sir.
Well, you see, the Sultan of Morocco
has three foreign regiments in Fez.
That's right, sir. They're at Fez.
The Bashaw has only his household cavalry and guard here.
The power lies with the Bashaw.
Who is this boy?
Let him go on.
It would be as useless chasing Raisuli
as the redcoats on Bunker Hill.
And the Sultan, if I'm correct in my assumption
will not meet his demands.
Yes, go on.
The Sultan is not the power. The real government is here.
That's right.
Well, it'd seem quite obvious, I would think, sir.
We must seize the government and make our own negotiations.
Seize the government?
At bayonet point.
I certainly would like to see
that old son of a bitch at bayonet point, huh?
But it's ridiculous. It's outrageous. It's lunatic.
Yes, isn't it, though?
I should think Teddy would love it.
What about the French, the Germans, the British?
Why, we're in the Shadow of Gibraltar.
Damn the legations.
You realize, of course
that if we fail in this, in even the slightest way
we'll all be killed.
Yes
and the whole world will probably go to war.
Gentlemen, if we fail and are killed
I certainly hope that the world does go to war.
World at war.
A world war.
Now that would be something to go out on.
William. Jennifer. Jennifer!
What is it, Mama? I was sleeping.
Dress quickly in the robes they gave you.
Why are you dressed like that?
Where are we going?
We're going to make good an escape.
An escape?
Right now? I was asleep.
You cannot wait for these things to occur at your convenience, Jennifer.
Now, I've bribed a man with jewels.
Now, come on. Get dressed and hurry up.
William!
Come along. Be quick about it.
The rifle, boy. Rifle.
Yes, it is mine.
Give me your riffle. Give it to me, yeah?
You'll get the rifle when we reach safety and not before.
Now move ahead.
I'll take the rifle, I want it.
Be careful.
Help!
William!
William. William.
Mama.
William.
Get back.
William, get those loose horses there. Quick.
Jennifer, go with William.
Mrs. Pedecaris
you're a great deal of trouble.
There is all that you need here.
Clothes of the finest silks
spiced meats, figs for you when you wish to eat.
Scented water to bathe in.
But where are your guards?
Is it your intention to let us roam about freely?
You're the guests of the Raisuli.
In the Raisuli's house,
I don't need guards.
My eyes are with you wherever you go.
Allah is with me
and no one can escape from God.
What will you do if they do not accept your terms?
What do you mean?
What will become of us, my children and myself?
I will play chess with you one more time
and then return you to your house.
Alive?
Yes, of course.
Then you're just bluffing them.
You've never had the intention of killing us.
Raisuli does not kill women and children.
That's a silly question.
Why do you do this?
Because I am bluffing too.
Mrs. Pedecaris, you trouble me.
Ship, oars!
Present arms!
Good morning, sir. The company is formed.
Sergeants, take your post.
Company
fix
bayonets.
Move!
Right
face.
Port
arms.
Column left,
march!
Column right,
march!
Eyes
right!
I don't think the French and Germans are gonna like this.
Too early in the morning for rattling sabers.
Double-time
march.
Right on me.
Column left, now!
Column left,
march!
Column left!
Quick-time.
March!
Third and fourth squads, column right, march.
First and second squads
column right, march.
Mark time
march.
Company
halt!
Hostiles to the left.
Left face!
Firing positions, move!
Aim!
Fire!
Prepare to charge the palace!
Charge!
Capt. Jerome, United States Marine Corps
and you are my prisoner, sir.
You are a very dangerous man, captain
and your President Roosevelt is mad.
Yes, sir.
He's gone cowboy again.
Stand back. Let me deal with him, or try.
Theodore, what are you doing?
Isn't that the Czar?
A facsimile.
But that's like shooting at your own brother.
Oh, Kermit's in the pits.
That's his idea of a little joke.
Obviously, you relish jokes in view of your approval of the Gummere report.
I try to go along with them, John.
I suppose a declaration of war would be a joke too?
Well, you have to admit it would be entertaining.
A barrel of laughs.
Have you any idea of the risk you're running?
Have you any idea of the territory I'd be gaining?
Theodore.
You're dangerous.
You might even shoot somebody.
Accidentally, I mean.
John, I'd never shoot anyone accidentally.
I need their votes.
Madness.
- Madness. - Sir?
Utter madness.
Why are you closing your left eye, Father?
You've always told us to shoot with both eyes open.
Well, the light bothers me. I can't see out of that eye anymore.
What do you mean?
I'm blind in my left eye.
- Since when? - Since Saturday. Boxing.
Now, don't say anything to Edith about it, do you hear?
Maybe it'll go away.
And don't let anyone come up on my left side either.
Father, is Raisuli a real pirate?
Yes, indeed, Quentin. He's the last of the Barbary pirates.
Why do you say that?
Well, the world is fast outgrowing pirates of that sort, anyway.
Do you know any others?
Yes, J.P. Morgan.
He's the only other real pirate I know.
I hope you have him brought before you in chains.
J.P. Morgan? I should hardly...
No, no, no. Raisuli. Have Raisuli brought before you.
I should like to see that.
Oh, I should like to see him too but not in chains.
Let's have the Winchester, Alice.
You like him, don't you, Father?
You like J.P. Morgan too, don't you?
Of course I do, Alice.
But they're your enemies.
Well, sometimes
one finds that your enemies are a lot more admirable than your friends.
You pick the road to greatness
and you'll have that choice some day.
You come to realize that the road traveled by great men
is dark and lonely
and lit only at intervals by other great men
and sometimes they're your enemies.
But they're the only true luxury you have.
Yes, it's a dark and difficult road and I do not look down upon anyone
who has the good sense not to take it.
I was young
and full of the sayings of young men.
I did not yet understand the ways of the Prophet
the will of God.
I thought that men could oppose such will.
I was very foolish.
A man can trust no one, yet often trusts women.
I trusted my brother
and openly opposed the old Sultan at Fez.
He was letting the Europeans give him money
and money is always followed by more Europeans.
My brother betrayed me, and I was sent to Mogador.
Mogador?
It is a dungeon on the edge of the sea.
I was sent there to die
but I was young and strong.
My brain was as agile as my fingers.
The confinement. Speak of the confinement.
It was the intention of my brother
to permit the flies and the ants to consume me
but as the years passed
and the chains were replaced many times
it was always I who remained.
It was then that the guards saw that the Baraka was with me.
They arranged my escape.
I thanked them for the years of wisdom they had given me
and I wandered into the mountains.
- Are you asleep? - No. Did I look like it?
No, but you made no noise
and well, others have fallen asleep while I speak.
The wandering, Raisuli.
Uh, yeah.
I wandered into the mountains.
I wished only to hear the voices of women
babbling about common things. You permit me to say
the conversation of women does not interest me very much.
But when one is in prison one is inclined to have
a different sense of disposition.
The Riffians found me.
I learned to read and to speak again.
The women aided me in this because of my lineage
but the men
they wanted to sell my head to the old Sultan at Fez for rifles and gold.
There was but one thing to do:
Challenge Abdel Malak the Cruel.
We fought with swords on horseback
and the Baraka was with me.
I cut off his arm
and he wounded me
many times.
The tribesmen judged him
and every voice was against him.
And his eyes
which had witnessed much injustice
were burned out with heated copper coins.
And today, he wanders the land
a blind beggar.
Thus, I became the true defender of the faithful
for the blood of the Prophet runs in me
and I am but an instrument of his will.
Salaam.
Raisuli, Lord of the Rif. Salaam.
Salaam.
I have never seen such fierce retainers.
Well, these are my immortals.
They have such...
- Jennifer, put that thing down. - Let it be.
They are feared in the streets of hell
and their courage is such that golden thrones await them in paradise.
You are pleased, Sherif?
I am pleased
the Raisuli will be pleased.
The Bashaw offers this:
70,000 pieces of Spanish gold
all foreign soldiers to be removed from the Rif
and the Raisuli and his followers
are to be granted the freedom to travel
in the cities and marketplaces.
And last
all those held in the dungeons of Mogador
who swear fealty to Raisuli
shall be placed under Raisuli's care.
This in return
for the American woman and her children.
It is the word of the American Sultan Roosevelt
and his honor.
Even with treachery, such an offer is impressive.
The American Bashaw wished that the Raisuli act in haste
as the other Europeans are not pleased.
You must take their offer.
Each day that you keep us here
the Europeans use as an excuse to land more troops.
Everything that you have fought for is wasted.
They are using you, Raisuli.
You are becoming a dupe to them.
Do not call the Raisuli a dupe.
I do not need the counsel of women.
The American woman is true.
Every day, more Germans travel to Fez.
They have guns that need wheels to carry them.
What is stopping you?
Can't you see?
It is no longer our concern.
The great powers want this land
and they will fight each other to take this land
and when they are done, there will be nothing.
Not your mountains, nor your palace
not pride, nor your honor.
It is a wind so strong no tree can stand in it.
And where there are no trees, there is no shade from the sun.
And what is land without shade from the sun?
Desert.
The desert I know very well.
Mrs. Pedecaris, you speak like a Berber.
It must be the heat.
Why do you do this?
I do not ordinarily ask the counsel of any man
let alone the counsel of women.
You're not even one of my wives.
I should certainly say not.
I am not.
Children, come here.
We have no more business here.
Let these brigands decide for themselves
what they shall do with us.
Mrs. Pedecaris, I have decided it would please me
to return you to President Roosevelt
because you're a lot of trouble.
Perhaps he will know what to do with you.
It is not my fate to find out.
Even you laugh at the Raisuli.
This woman has taken the Raisuli.
You say such things in front of my men.
What has become of honor, respect?
Everything is changing, drifting away on the wind.
It's been a bad year.
The next one will probably be worse.
Where do we have to take them to get our gold?
I will take them. You need not risk your life.
What does my life matter? I've nothing else to do.
Prepare to ride.
I do not understand this woman.
My entire education has been horses and the Koran.
What have I learned?
Look what I've become.
You are Lord of the Rif.
Yes, and you would think I would understand this woman.
Where is it exactly where we are going?
To a small village east of Rabat at the foot of the mountains.
It is good.
What is good?
It is good to know where we are going.
What are they singing?
They are singing songs to God.
Why are you not singing?
I am the Sultan. They do the singing.
That is ridiculous.
It is customary.
There is just one thing I'd like to ask you.
Yes, what is it?
What is your first name?
My first name?
Yes, your Christian name.
I mean what is the name
that precedes all your other names?
My first name? My Christian name?
I am Mulay Achmed Mohammed
Raisuli the Magnificent, Lord of the Rif.
Mulay. Mulay, that is a nice name.
Yes.
Mulay.
I am Eden, Mulay.
Eden.
Of course.
You need not go any further.
My retainers will bring back the gold.
What good is the word of the Roosevelt
if it is not met by the word of the Raisuli?
My brother knows this.
I do not fear treachery or fate.
I fear only God.
It is foolish and silly to talk as such.
These Europeans are not men.
They do not respect the laws of men.
Let me take the woman.
He is right. It is no longer your concern.
No longer my concern?
It is I who took you.
It pleased me to do so.
It pleases me now to bring you back.
No longer my concern.
Sherif, bring your retainers.
The woman Pedecaris must not be endangered.
She must return to President Roosevelt.
If there is to be treachery,
Allah will not leave my side, but you must.
Ride back.
Lead the mahalla. Let there be jihad.
Let the swords run with the blood of the infidels.
We will all eat lamb in paradise.
Throw down your arms.
They obey only my will, and I am the Raisuli.
I am Mrs. Pedecaris.
I do not intend to have my family endangered any further.
Mrs. Pedecaris.
Capt. Jerome, U.S. Marine Corps.
- Help the children. - Yes, ma'am.
Better take cover inside, ma'am.
Inside. Inside.
I am the Sherif of Wazan.
These are my retainers.
They do not ride with this brigand.
Take him if you want.
What will they do to him?
That can't be our concern, ma'am.
We're quite outnumbered here.
Let's go inside.
I expect gold and rifles for his head.
I do not do this for a lackey's wages.
Can't we get out of here?
Not until it's light, ma'am.
I wouldn't trust these sorts in the dark.
Mother.
Mother, aren't you going to do anything about the Raisuli?
William, the Raisuli is not our concern.
Aren't you going to do anything about him?
Go to sleep, William.
Mother.
William.
William, have you got your dagger?
Captain?
Captain!
Could you bring us some water, please?
Of course, ma'am.
Here we go.
For the boy first, Captain. He has a fever.
Here, son, hold your head up.
There we go.
Oh, man!
Don't any of you move!
I shall cut this man's throat as surely as you stand there
if you do not do exactly as I say.
I am not fooling! Now drop those weapons.
You know, you could hurt somebody...
Don't touch that. William, get them.
Jennifer, help him. Get the pistols, too.
William, give me the short one.
Get up.
Now, easy with that thing, ma'am.
I have shot grouse in Scotland and quail in North Carolina.
Believe me, I know how to use this thing.
Just what are you trying to do, Mrs. Pedecaris?
Just what are you trying to get across?
Now, President Roosevelt made an agreement
with that man being held over there
and President Roosevelt keeps his agreements.
Now, there's no need to do this.
We're all Americans here.
What exactly did you have in mind?
I intend to free the Raisuli.
Alone, I suppose.
With my children.
Well, now, ma'am, I wish you'd said that in the first place
because if you're going to try it alone with your children,
you haven't got a chance.
What do you suggest I do, then?
Captain?
I'd like to throw in with you
and God help us.
Draw your weapons from the boy here.
Check for a full load.
My pistol, please.
Halt!
We want to see your prisoner.
I said, we want to see your prisoner.
We want to see the Raisuli.
President Roosevelt negotiated in good faith...
What do think you're doing?
Let's go.
Hurry up! Cover us.
Oh, my God.
Oh, Mrs. Pedecaris.
The Baraka has not deserted me.
Cut me down quick before it does.
The sword, woman!
The sword!
Better.
Oh, my...
Are you hurt?
Mrs. Pedecaris, you're a lot of trouble.
Whoo!
I'll see you again, Mrs. Pedecaris
when we're both like golden clouds on the wind.
There was nothing to worry about, John.
All I have to do is go to Oyster Bay for the weekend
and the government of Morocco falls.
By the way, how is Mrs. Pedecaris?
Oh, she's in fine health, sir.
Quite a remarkable woman.
According to Capt. Jerome,
during the fighting at Ar Sarib, she displayed commendable courage.
Yes, so did that Jerome, boy.
I want to see him decorated with something.
Whatever you think is appropriate.
And Gummere and, what's his name? The other fellow...
Well, decorate the whole outfit, all of them.
I must say, Theodore, you should thank your lucky stars.
Why, luck had nothing to do with it, John.
I had God on my side.
Maybe Allah.
What's that?
Well, that's your bear. Your grizzly bear, sir.
First reports are we can get anything we want in Morocco, sir.
Coaling rights. We can put anybody we want on the throne.
Their camps were divided. It's as simple as that.
At this moment, Theodore is the most popular President
in the history of the office.
Take that cover off.
What, sir?
Take the cover off. I want to see my bear.
Later perhaps, Theodore.
No, I want to see him now.
A good speech would be appropriate in the next few days, sir.
Even the papers are cheering you.
There's no doubt about the outcome of the election, Theodore.
Gentlemen
nothing in this world is certain, absolutely nothing.
The fate of the nation will be decided by the American people in November
and the fate of Morocco will be decided tomorrow by me.
Now, gentlemen,
if you don't mind, I'd just like to be alone with my bear.
I trust he was a Democrat.
To Theodore Roosevelt.
You are like the wind
and I, like the lion.
You form the tempest.
The sand stings my eyes, and the ground is parched.
I roar in defiance, but you do not hear.
But between us, there is a difference.
I, like the lion, must remain in my place
while you, like the wind, will never know yours.
Mulay Achmed Mohammed El-Raisuli the Magnificent
Lord of the Rif
Sultan to the Berbers.
Great Raisuli, we have lost everything.
All is drifting on the wind just as you said.
We have lost everything.
Sherif, is there not one thing in your life
that was worth losing everything for?