MEDELLIN (SPAIN) 1499
Go on, Aisha. Take it off.
You know I can't.
Just for a minute. Take it off.
Your cousin is watching.
Gonzalo, what did I tell you? Go away! Go!
And now?
Go away, Hernan.
I have to finish this before my father gets back.
I can help, if you like.
Our hands say it all.
Yours belong to a gentleman.
They have never known work.
It's true.
I have never known work.
But I do know how to kiss!
Cousin! He's coming! He's coming!
You have to go!
Run! Come on!
Hey, you two!
Round here again?
You'll see when I speak to your parents!
Whatever you have to say, you can say it to me.
Run!
Are you coming, or what?
Run!
On guard!
Run!
Look...
the sea is right over there.
But...
you cannot see the sea from here.
I can, in my imagination.
And what else do you imagine?
Well, Amazon women, giants with one eye,
monsters with three heads,
extraordinary landscapes...
and treasures never before seen.
You know what?
One day I will leave here,
I will set off to see that world.
- And you will come with me. - Really?
Yes, you will be my squire.
Promise me.
Promise you will take me with you.
I promise, cousin.
I will not leave here without you.
You see?
All that will be ours some day.
Garrido! That rope.
Get to work, soldiers!
Will they withstand it?
Tighten that!
There are hundreds of us, Alvarado.
We'll be loaded up with weapons and shields.
- Gold. - And the gold.
Do you think the bridges will withstand it all?
Do not fret, Sandoval.
What did the Captain say?
All I know is that we will leave by the Tacuba road.
When?
Well, the last bridge still isn't ready.
Sandoval, don't worry!
Don't worry!
Come on!
Come on! Give me that.
Holy Mother...
rid us of our enemies...
and from all these idolatrous savages.
Blood!
Botello!
Blood!
What's wrong, Botello?
The Virgin was crying tears of blood...
for us.
That is a wooden board.
It cannot bleed.
Hunger...
makes us see things that do not exist.
Soldiers.
The Virgin was crying tears of blood, for us.
Either we leave this place,
or they will rip all our hearts out!
Enough, Botello!
You are scaring everyone.
Botello is right. We're all going to die!
Cortes deceived us!
He promised us riches and we are starving!
Silence!
Listen to me...
we are the King's soldiers.
Together we have fought...
and won many battles.
And that is what we must continue to do.
Work as one!
We will finish these damned bridges,
and we will get out of here. Alive!
Alive!
You can't see that girl anymore.
We are longstanding Christians of pure blood.
Do you agree, Mother?
The Moors aren't like us.
If they wish to live here we allow them to,
but we can't mix with them.
Don't delude yourself. They also think we're different.
- But why? - Be quiet!
This doesn't concern you. Always covering for your cousin,
meddling in things not of your age.
If you were my son, I'd give you a good slap!
Don't say that, Mother.
He's done nothing wrong.
- Aisha is my friend. - Not anymore.
She'll be my friend, Father.
Whatever you do.
I'm taking you to Salamanca tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
You'll stay with your Aunt and study Law.
- No! - Yes!
Your mother and I have decided.
You will study and carve out a good future.
We have two bridges.
If we work all day,
we will have a third by tomorrow.
Three bridges.
Three will be enough.
No. Tell your men not to rush the work.
Melting down the gold is going very slowly.
Let's take the gold that is melted
and leave tomorrow.
Botello...
had one of his visions.
Everyone is scared and nervous...
Superstition!
Just like you always say.
We are not going anywhere without the gold.
Listen...
No, I won't listen to you, Gonzalo.
God is on our side.
I know.
Now I need you to be, too.
You more than anyone.
I'll follow you unto death and you know that...
Very well.
But don't bring God into this.
I want nothing to do with him.
Dear cousin and brother Gonzalo,
Sorry so much time has passed since my last letter.
With the start of a new year,
I have had to attend the many people I know here.
Gentlemen, the sons of great families,
future bishops...
who came to acquire the wisdom
that only this city can provide.
I am perfecting skills that I will keep all my life...
...like sharpening my wit and making quick decisions,
before my opponent in the debate
takes advantage of my weaknesses...
I won.
...or my hesitation.
Cheat!
Do you accuse me of cheating?
From the very start.
Liar! I demand you retract and apologize.
Let's make our apologies outside.
Well then, the only option is to fight.
Do not imagine it is all confinement,
study, Latin phrases and libraries.
There is still time to roam the streets
and enjoy the open air and our camaraderie.
Kill him!
Come on!
First blood, Cortes.
Admit you cheated!
You are defeated.
To the death!
I take it all back!
Mercy, Cortes, for pity's sake. Mercy!
Never accuse me of cheating again!
Long live Cortes!
How about another jug of wine?
How about it!
Who's buying?
I will. And if the money runs out...
I am a resourceful man!
Long live Cortes!
Dearest cousin and brother Hernan,
Do you remember our moments reading
The Adventures of Esplandian and Amadis?
When we used to imagine the warrior women
and their queen California...
Men with fishes' tails
or the giants with one eye in the seven enchanted cities.
Soon, we will see them with our own eyes.
You must know, cousin,
that the new governor of the Indies,
Nicolas de Ovando,
of your father's acquaintance,
is organizing his next expedition.
I can see it in your faces...
What lies on the other side of the ocean?
Is it true what they say about the lands beyond the sea?
How many times have you wondered?
I heard about a monster with three heads.
There is no such monster.
No monsters at all, just men.
Men like us?
Yes, like us. But different.
In what way?
In every way.
It cannot be explained!
You have to see it.
Listen carefully.
What opportunities do you have here?
Is there land for everybody?
Are you content to feed your children
on crusts?
You could have a new world.
Noblemen, merchants, farmers...
anyone can serve God and the King in this adventure.
Are you men of faith?
Are you courageous, ambitious men?
Do you wish to be rich?
Then...
join us!
As soon as I heard, I ran to find paper and ink
to tell you about it.
I swear, this has to be our moment!
Adventure awaits us, Hernan.
Remember your promise.
We will cross the ocean together...
and go to the land that,
from what they say, truly is paradise.
I will not continue studying.
I know all I need to know.
You are a bachelor in Law...
with only two more years before you graduate.
- But I want more. - More than the Court?
Because that's where you're heading.
A man who practices Law has a secure livelihood
- and is respected by all. - I don't want that.
I don't wish a comfortable life in the Court.
So, what do you want?
The sea.
Adventure.
A sword and action!
Who put such notions in your head?
I will set sail for the Indies.
My only son wants to go to sea!
Thousands will set sail with Nicolas de Ovando?
It's the spirit of the age, Mother.
You hear dreadful things about those lands.
And magnificent things, too.
You'll go back to Salamanca.
Tomorrow, at first light.
I will not go back.
This time...
I will not obey you.
Here.
Twelve ducats...
The price of the voyage.
I don't know how to get them.
I have some money...
I don't think they will allow you on board.
They will let me, I'm with you!
Your parents don't agree.
You haven't even begun to shave!
Convince them.
Please, Hernan.
You're right.
We will go, Gonzalo.
We'll get the money on the way.
We are off on an adventure!
- Aisha. - She is Sara now.
They are the Ximenez family.
All Moors living now in Medellin...
became Christians.
What are you doing here?
Your name is Sara now?
Please go.
There are people watching us.
If they see you here, they will whisper...
they will not let you live.
I don't care.
You took your time!
I am going to marry her, Gonzalo.
Married? And our voyage?
Not the time for travel.
Your parents won't let you get married.
Aunt Catalina specially,
you know how she thinks.
I don't care what my parents say.
But you can't.
We're going. You promised.
Not now. I can't leave.
You promised.
You came back to take me to the Indies!
The Amazon women,
the monster with three heads...
In the future...
Maybe there will be more expeditions.
I am sure.
Now let's go,
come on, Gonzalo.
You are telling me this girl pretends to be Christian.
And her parents...
pretend, too?
I think so.
You think...
or you know?
Why are you so frightened?
Did you see the devil in that house?
I don't know.
I will tell the Captain.
Marina, no.
Marina!
Is there a problem?
The Tlaxcalteca are tired of waiting.
They don't trust you.
I don't either.
Don't say that, Marina.
I would do anything for you!
Did you want something?
Yes...
Hernan wants to see you.
Captain...
Marina is here.
Leave us alone.
You heard, get out.
You too, Gonzalo.
We will be leaving soon.
It will be a desperate escape.
No one knows how all this will end.
I need to consider
what would happen if something befell me.
I wouldn't be able to protect you.
I wouldn't have the means.
Come, come here.
Look.
What are you trying to say?
Take what you want.
Take some!
This here is from my share...
take whatever you like. Take it.
No, Hernan.
I don't need your gold.
What are you looking at?
Your good self, what else?
And Cortes's concubine taking our gold.
How dare you suspect your Captain or her!
They've saved our lives.
Some lives too many times!
Stop!
Get off!
Be careful, Captain!
Move, soldier!
- What is happening, Gonzalo? - I don't know.
This was hidden in a hollow in the wall.
Come on, faithless Moors.
Heretics! Heretics!
Where are you taking her?
Where are they going?
Are you crazy?
I have to stop this, Gonzalo!
I won't let you go anywhere near.
I have to do something!
I am Hernan Cortes, son of Martin Cortes
and I wish to beg clemency for Sara Ximenez and her family.
I know who you are, son.
Father, please!
They are honest people.
They have never harmed anyone.
I know them since I was a child.
They are Christians now.
- Isn't that what matters? - They pretend to be...
Pretend...
but in secret they keep their heathen practices.
Did you not see that book?
The father was a Faqih.
And he helped others escape
to continue living as Moors.
How do you know?
He confessed.
Under torture.
The only way to get the truth from a heathen.
No one is close to God under torture.
You think so?
I was going to marry her.
Then thank me.
I've saved you from a bitter marriage!
Now get away from here.
You don't want the Inquisitors to know
you're a friend of infidels.
Go with your cousin.
Will you confess?
It was my mother.
No.
Confess!
You said...
she'd do anything to stop it.
- She betrayed them. - No, she didn't.
- Then who did? - Anyone.
Everyone knows them.
They are heathens, Hernan.
No, please, no!
Heathens must be converted.
Not murdered.
Why does God allow this?
No!
I no longer believe in God.
Please!
No!
Please!
Tie it!
All not needed, to be melted...
Every last piece.
That trunk too, burn it!
Hernan Cortes!
Captain!
Hernan Cortes, Alvarado...
Give up in the name of the Governor and the King!
What are we accused of?
Give up or you won't get out of here alive!
Mercy, Captain!
Mercy.
Mercy, Captain!
I should have killed you in Veracruz.
But I'll have the pleasure of judging you...
and watching you hang on the gallows.
Take this traitor away.
All of them!
Get up, you dog.
I prefer the gallows to what awaits you all.
Those savages will tear your hearts out.
Move!
Come on!
What's wrong?
Are you injured?
It's not that.
Son...
they are coming out.
The Ximenez family.
Mohammedan heretics condemned to the stake.
ROSARIO XIMENEZ CONDEMNED FOR HERETIC
When I was 11 years old...
my mother sold me to a Mayan Lord.
Two sacks of cacao.
A lot.
I have always belonged to a generous master.
With the Captain, I thought I was free...
I wanted to be with him...
But to him, I am just his interpreter.
I am only his tongue.
Do you know what my people call him?
Malinche.
“He who accompanies Marina.”
He was me...
and I was him.
Marina...
About the gold. Hernan didn't mean to buy you.
It was his apology, he wanted you to be free.
You only speak of gold!
It doesn't matter.
We must get out of here! Now!
Don't be afraid, Marina.
We won't die in here.
No, I cannot.
I cannot die.
In my cave that gives life,
Hernan's child grows.
Take it.
You will need it.
Where will you go, son?
This is your home!
My home?
Did you denounce them?
No!
No! Of course not!
I'd never do anything like that. Never!
That poor girl.
Son, please.
Please!
It's fine.
I believe you.
Forgive me.
But I have to get away from here.
You came here because you wanted to.
No one forced you...
did they?
Maybe I was mistaken.
The devil is testing you. And your cousin too.
The devil tempts us. Again and again,
until we offend God.
You told me...
that girl, your cousin's friend, despite her baptism,
is part of the Mohammedan sect.
You told me that,
and I believe you.
But saying it is not enough.
If you want to save yourself,
and your cousin,
you must give me more.
How do you know they deceive us?
Speak.
Speak!
- Forgive me. - Me?
What for?
I promised not to go without you.
But I can't wait for you.
I understand.
Are you sure?
It wasn't my parents...
but I can't stay with them.
It's only six ducats.
I'll make good use of them.
Gonzalo...
I'll keep my word.
I'll find a place for both of us.
A place worth living, not like this one.
If you leave me on my own there,
I'll come back and drag you with me!
Understand?
I need you to come and protect me...
...to stop me from making mistakes.
Together, Gonzalo. Together.
Our way.
As ever before, like always.
Do you hear?
With me, forever.
One, two, three...
Four days, Gonzalo.
Four days and we can leave.
Enough, Hernan!
The bridges are ready, it is more than enough.
We have not finished yet.
What happened wasn't enough for you?
Do you want us to kill each other?
This is the King's gold!
One, two, three, four...
And how much do you mean to carry
without delaying us all?
How much can a mule carry
before its back breaks?
Tell me, Hernan!
How much time before the Mexica
realize we're gone?
Hernan... Don't you understand?
The King will get nothing if we die here!
Nothing!
All you've done...
will be in vain...
if they kill us.
Please.
We won't die here.
We won't die here!
You're right, cousin.
Absolutely right.
What we have is enough.
It is enough.
We'll leave this very night.
We are leaving!
- We are leaving, Botello! - Yes, Captain!