Terra queimada Page #4

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but because it is the best.

No one can do this better than you.

- You've already done it once.

- Ten years ago.

The situation is the same.

Yes, but the problem is different.

Ten years is a long time.

It can be a very long time.

Even so, it's still only 10 years.

No, I only want to explain, gentlemen...

that, very often,

between one historical period and another...

10 years certainly might be enough

to reveal...

the contradictions of a whole century.

And so often we have to realize that...

our judgments and our interpretations...

and even our hopes may have been wrong.

Wrong, that's all.

Does that mean our interests

no longer coincide?

Yes, our interests do.

Royal Sugar pays me well enough.

And our ideas?

My ideas at the moment are concerned

with how to get something done...

not with why to do it.

All right, on what basis do I negotiate?

Equal rights for all citizens,

better wages, and a general amnesty.

Is that a good basis for discussion?

No, but I don't think

that you can offer more...

unless you give up the government

and the plantations of Queimada.

I believe that you will succeed.

And that you believe it, too.

Right, Sir William?

Well, we must wait to see

what Jos Dolores believes.

You, there. Wait!

What is it, senhor?

- That one. Bring him here.

- This one?

No, no, the fourth one.

No.

I told you, the fourth one.

One, two, three, four, this one.

Come on.

Put your hands down.

Well, at least you won't die today.

Does that make you happy, Martino?

You don't remember me, do you?

Well, that was a long time ago.

Martino! Hold your fire!

Martino, don't be a fool!

Hold your fire, we need him alive.

Now, Jos Dolores says...

that if what we have in our country

is civilization...

civilization of white men...

then we are better uncivilized because...

it is better to know where to go

and not know how...

than it is to know how to go

and not know where.

- And then?

- And then, Jos Dolores says...

that if a man works for another,

even if he's called a worker...

he remains a slave.

And it will always be the same.

Since there are those

who own the plantations...

and those who own the machete

to cut cane for the owners.

- And then?

- And then, Jos Dolores says...

that we must cut heads instead of cane.

- There's a tidy program.

- Yes.

Very well, then, tell Jos that we must meet

and discuss this question...

wherever and whatever time he wishes.

Do you understand?

Yes.

Martino, tell him that...

I shall be pleased to see him in any case.

Martino...

give this to Jos Dolores.

Tell him it's from me.

Why are you here? Why aren't you

in the Sierra Madre with the others?

Why?

Capito!

Now we must realize, gentlemen,

that if we are to succeed...

in eliminating Jos Dolores,

it's not because we're better than he is...

or that we're braver than he is,

it's simply because we have more arms...

and more men than he has.

And we must also realize that the soldier

either fights to earn his pay...

or because his country forces him to do so.

But the guerrilla, on the other hand,

fights for an idea.

And therefore he's able to produce...

20, 30, 50 times as much.

Is that clear?

No, Sir William, I don't agree.

No?

Well, I think it's a rather simple calculation.

What does a guerrilla have to lose,

except his life?

Whereas you, General, have a lot to lose.

Wife, children, house, career, savings...

personal pleasures and private aspirations...

and it's nothing to be ashamed of...

that's simply the way of it.

Now, according to your information,

Jos Dolores has less than 100 men...

few arms, very little ammunition,

and no equipment.

But you have thousands of soldiers

and modern arms and equipment.

And yet, in six years,

you've not been able to defeat him.

Why?

Because their bases are here

on the Sierra Madre.

And on the Sierra Madre,

there's no possibility of survival.

There's not a tree, not a blade of grass...

and the only animals

are vipers and scorpions.

And yet, in the last six years...

it is here that the guerrillas have made

their headquarters.

You see, up here,

on the peaks of these mountains...

there are a handful of small villages.

Now, these people are destitute...

with subhuman living standards,

and they haven't anything to lose, either.

The guerrillas are their only hope.

Now, these villagers are the roots

on which the guerrillas survive.

They must be cut.

They came out from the fire, naked...

covered with flames, like devils.

This is where they've crossed the river...

in the marshes in the Sierra Trinidad.

Now they're here.

There are five villages in this area. Five.

Tomorrow we start again.

You well know that it is not we

who are responsible for this tragedy.

It is Jos Dolores who wanted this war.

But the government promises you

that the war will end soon.

Peace will come.

And order will again be established.

And you will be able to go back...

to your houses and to your work.

Have faith a little longer.

We will do everything possible

to alleviate your suffering.

I beg you, my fellow citizens, listen to me.

Believe me. Trust us.

And now, bread will be distributed to you...

offered personally by President Sanchez.

Stay in your places!

Bread.

Mr. President.

No! Don't shoot. Don't shoot!

General, I want you to take back

the effective command of our army.

From now on,

you will consult personally with me...

on every decision concerning the war

and any possibility of peace.

And Sir William Walker?

He'll go back to England.

But the Royal Sugar Company,

Mr. President.

The Royal Sugar was supposed

to help our independence, General...

and not the other way around.

There's always Jos Dolores.

Who knows?

If there hadn't been a Royal Sugar,

would there have been a Jos Dolores?

Who knows, General?

Come in.

Hello, Teddy.

You wanted to talk to me?

Sir William Walker, in the name

of the Government of Queimada...

Mr. Teddy Sanchez,

in the name of the people of Queimada...

I declare you under arrest.

I think we've said all there is to say.

Citizens of Queimada...

the special military tribunal has decreed...

that Ex-President Sanchez

is guilty of high treason.

Citizens, it is your duty to declare

your allegiance to the new government...

to our heroic army,

and to the soldiers of England...

who have so generously come to our aid.

Citizens of Queimada...

the bandits of Jos Dolores

will be annihilated.

Peace will return to our beloved country.

Signed, General Alfonso Prada,

head of the provisional government.

Battery two, fire!

Battery four, fire!

Battery three, fire!

Battery four, fire!

Battery one, fire!

Two, fire!

Three, fire!

Keep your hands up!

What you got in that sack?

Empty it out now, come on.

Got any weapons?

You there, keep your hands up!

Let's have a look at this one.

How many have you counted?

Sixteen, with this one.

I don't think there are anymore.

Must have been their rear guard.

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