Captain from Castile Page #3

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 Seor 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, seor. Only, seor,

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, seor.

Who?

Whom did you say it is?

Pedro de Vargas, Seor Marquis.

He says it is a matter

of life and death.

- Whose life and death?

- He didn't say, mi seor.

Well, let him enter.

Will you please enter?

- Seor Marquis.

- Come closer, young man. Here, if you please.

The son of Francisco de Vargas always

has the bedside privilege with me.

I apologize, Seor 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, Seor 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, seor. 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.

- S, seor.

- No, you can't

- No! No!

- Mother! Mother!

Mother! Mother!

- No! No!

- Mother!

- No!

- Mother! Help me!

No! No, no, no! Please!

Please, seor!

Take me! Take me!

Please, seor! 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, seor.

I beg of you, have mercy.

Hail, Mary, full of grace.

- The Lord is with thee

- Mother!

Seor el Supremo,

the girl has fainted.

- Well, revive her!

- Please.

Please, seor.

She's just a baby.

Please, seor.

She's just a little baby.

Seor el Supremo, the girl is dead.

You bungling fools.

Have you no skill in your craft?

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, seor...

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.

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