Manhã Submersa (1980) - full transcript

For Frederico - 1979
"The International Year of the Child"

- What time is the train?
- At nine.

We'll be there on time.
There's no need to hurry.

Hard winter coming.

Winter in the mountain is great!

Hardship...

I like winter in the mountains!

You're lucky. I've never been on
a train. I've seen one three times,

but I've never been on board.

MORNING MIST

Be decent, boy!



Come in.

Wait here a minute. I'm going
to call the rôle.

Alvaro Campos.

Come. Sit here.

Amílcar Esteves.

António dos Santos Lopes.

Is that you?

Adolfo Almeida.

In those days, Jesus said to the
Scribes and Pharisees:

"Wherefore, behold, I send unto you
the prophets, and wisemen and

scribes: and some of them ye shall
kill and crucify; and some of them

shall ye scourge in your synagogues
and persecute them from city

to city; That upon you may
come all the righteous blood

shed upon the earth, from the blood
of righteous Abel unto the blood



Of Zacharias son of Zarachias,
whom ye slew betwee the temple

and the altar...

"Verily I say unto you, All these
things shall come upon this

generation".

- What's your name'?
- Antonio Santos Lopes.

- Where are you from?
- Linhares.

-What does your father do?
- He worked in the fields.

- What's your name?
- Gaudêncio da Silva.

- Where are you from?
- Vale de Prazeres.

- And what does your father do?
- I haven't got a father.

He was a miner. He's dead.

Don't cry Gaudêncio.

I want to go home.

You'll see, you'll stop missing
home.

I want to go home!

- Why are you crying?
- I want to go home.

When break is over,
go to my room.

Silence!

- What did Father Alves say to you?
- Nothing!

Did he give you a row?
Did he hit you?

What did he say?
- Nothing!

Silence!

Would all boys who have
any kind of foodstuffs please go

and get them and hand them over
immediately.

Well?

I'm not giving them my figs!

Put the food in here.

Come on!

Everyone!

I'm not handing over my figs!

In the name of Christ our Lord
I welcome all you seminarists,

and above all you who have entered
this college for the first time.

"Beati mundo corde, quoniam ipsi
Deum videbunt",

were the words of Christ spoken
by St. Matthew.

Blessed are the pure in head,
for they shall see God.

And this is the prime virtue you
must cultivate within yourselves.

Because if the head is pure,
if the body and soul are pure,

and if you cultivate within
yourselves the innocence of children,

then all the other virtues
will be granted you.

You cannot meditate enough on the
infinite mercy of God that has chosen

you from so many boys of your age
who are out there in the world,

exposed to all the dangers to their
souls and salvation.

You cannot meditate enough on the
infinite grace of the Lord that has

made you distinct from the others
in being His representatives

on earth, and agents in the
salvation of men.

Good! Now, if you like,
you can write to your families.

"Dear Mother and Brothers,

I miss you very much.
I'm very sad here.

There are lot of boys of my age,
but we can't talk to one another.

At night I feel cold and miss you,
mother, and our village.

I'd like to be there with you all.
I'm so lonely, and this school

is so big and dark! I want to leave
here! I want to go home.

I don't want to stay here any longer.
I've almost finished the figs.

My love to everyone, especially to you
mother, asking for your blessing...

All letters must be handed in open.

Don't you know the rules yet?

So, aren't you handing
in your letter?

Show me your letter.

António Santos Lopes!

- Are you António Santos Lopes?
- Yes, Father.

You must go and see the rector.

What have you done, child?

Well, what have you done?

I wrote a letter saying I wanted
to leave here.

Childish nonsense!

Go on, son. Don't be afraid.
It's not serious.

Come in.

Sit down.

Do you know why you're here?

Yes, I know, Sir. No, I don't know!

Well, where are we?
Do your know or not?

I think it's because of the letter,
but I'm not sure.

You're not happy in the seminary?

Yes, I am, Sir. I'm very happy
in the seminary.

So why did you say you wanted to
leave?

Haven't you been well treated?

Yes, Sir, I've been very well treated!

Haven't the Fathers been friendly
towards you?

Yes, they have, Sir.
They're very friendly.

Don't you get on well with your
colleagues?

Yes, Sir, I do very well, but,
it's that I miss home.

No suffering can pay for God's
favour.

Homesickness or whatever else are
nothing, beside divine grace.

God has cast a glance of infinite
mercy over you.

- Don't you understand that?
- Yes, I understand very well, Sir.

The dignity of the priesthood is
above all the glories in the world

and it is almost blasphemy to
compare wordly affairs with the

unique privilege of being
another Christ on earth.

God could have chosen another boy,
but He chose you, and lifted you

from misery and perdition. Don't
you realise that this is a priceless

favour?
- Yes, Sir.

What could you hope for living
with your family?

That virtuous lady,
Madame Estefânia, lifted you

out of misery and possible eternal
condemnation.

You have no father...
- No, I haven't, Sir.

What could you hope for, even
with respect to material assets?

A destiny of misery and poverty.
But that's not important, because

a priest cannot aspire to wordly
wealth.

More important for a priest is the
perfection of his soul and through

divine grace gaining a place amongst
the elect in the heavenly paradise.

How long does a life last?
God's plans are unfathomable.

But were He to grant us in His
infinite mercy a long life,

of pleasure what is that to infinite
eternity? What point is there

in a life of pleasure if at the end
an eternity in Hell awaits us?

But here in the seminary,
and later in the divine office

of the priesthood, you have the
possibility of deserving eternal

salvation.

Do you really think you
want to go home to your family?

No, Sir, I don't.

Go in the peace of God.

Pray to Him that He may free you
of evil temptations.

Yes, I'll pray, Sir.
I'll pray right away.

Thank you very much, Sir.

"Dear Mother, I' am very happy to
be here in this fine seminary,

freeing myself of the sins of man
and trying to attain the supreme

goodness of God.

Everyone is kind to me.

Everything is very pleasant and
when I miss you I have to dominate

the feeling because it is the
work of the Devil.

How are you a||?..."

I choose Gaudêncio for brigadier.

I choose Lourenço.

For colonel I want Fabião.

I want Semedo.

I want Peres as captain.

And I'll have Taborda.

For second soldier I'll have
António.

I'll have Raul.

Florentine!

I'll take Carlos Pereira.

Go back to your seats.

Now, I'm going to explain how the
game works.

The class is divided into two armies,
or two parties which are going

to fight. And each soldier
fights for himself.

Each pupil who wants to be promoted
can challenge any other in a

higher rank in the same army.
But no one can challenge someone

in a lower rank. However, you can
challenge someone of equal rank

in the opposing army. A religious
image will be allotted to the army

that commits the fewest mistakes.

Perhaps you haven't quite understood.
I'll explain again.

Let's take the example of Florentino
who is drummer-boy, that is the

lowest rank. He can challenge all
the colleagues in his army and

also the other drummer-boy in
the opposing army.

Now let's take the case of Tavares,
who is first soldier.

He can challenge the sargents, the
lieutenant, the captain, the major

and on up to the general
in his army if he wants promotion.

He can also challenge the first
soldiers in the opposing army.

When a challenge is made to an
opponent the mistakes are counted.

At the end of the week a small
religious image will be drawn

by those in the winning army.

Challenges can be made
in the next Latin lesson.

Anyone wishing to make a challenge
chooses his opponent in writing,

on a paper to be given to me.

Now, before the battle each general
must commend his army to a saint.

Both Adolfo and Amílcar can choose
patron saints for their armies.

Father Lino, I choose Saint Anthony
as the patron saint of my army.

Our patron saint is Saint Louis.

On your knees.

You will stay there for an hour.

Everyone will study!

Carlos Pereira challenges
his opponent, Florentino.

Come to the blackboard.

Who wants to be an arbiter?

Tavares, you put your hand up first.

- Dative plural of "filia"?
- "Fillis". No, no, "Filliis".

"Filiabus". What's the vocative
singular of "deus"?

- It's "dee".
- No, it's "deus". Now, what's

the genitive plural?
- It's "deorum".

- But there's another.
- I don't know.

It's "deum". And what's
the vocative of "filius"?

- It's "filie".
- No, it's "fin".

- What are heteroclite nouns?
- "Heter" what?

- Heteroclites.
- I don't know.

They're irregularly declined nouns,
either in some or all cases.

Fine! That's enough for today.

Florentino, do you want to take
your revenge?

Don't you want to ask
Carlos Pereira anything?

I haven't got anything to ask.

In that case sit down, please.

Lopes, do you like the seminary?

No, Gama, I don't like it at all.

Me neither! I'm going to try and
tell my mother again that I haven't

got the vocation. She wants me to
be a priest. But if she makes me

come back here again, then I'll...
- You'll what?

Nothing!

Well, Gama, you're going back to
your village now and I to mine.

We probably won't see
one another again.

It's possible.

Stop. Slowly.

Spiritual reading will always be
preceded by reading three

articles of these rules and followed
by an examination of your own

conscience.

Article 19:
On Moral and Civil Duties.

Seminarists should take great care
to keep their heads pure of any

blemish. They should guard well
the entry to the senses.

They should not have private
friendships, so unfavourable

in any community.

Such friendship is prohibited as
well as any familiarity.

Without exception,
all should practice one with another,

a truly brotherly, attentive
and dedicated affection.

Article 20:

Touching one another immodestly
or grossly, is prohibited, as well

as catching one another and rolling
on the ground.

Consequently all pranks and games
are prohibited for those who

aspire to the priesthood.

Article 21:

Passing papers, letters or
notes to one another

is prohibited.

You, infamous sinners, only
concerned with the pleasures

of the world now accomplish the
journey that cannot be escaped.

Be thrown to the flames of hell.
- Come to us sinners, come to us.

The eternal fire awaits you.
- Lord, have pity on us!

Accept our repentance
and lead us to your paradise.

You must follow the chosen path.
Nothing can save your from

perdition and the dark. Your
destiny has been dictated.

Pay the consequences.
- Mercy!

You who have tasted the pleasures
of the earth, now feel the damnation

of hell the flames that consume
your sinner's soul!

Come my children to
the eternal glory...

...of the saved and raise
yourselves...

above evil and the
demons of temptation.

With the end of this play it is time
to read you some advice for

the holidays that are near
at hand...

Silence.

The arrival of the holidays should
not worry you.

I warn you not to fall prey
to childish happiness that is

undignified at your age
and for clerical gravity.

Instead of rejoicing, the arrival
of the holidays should only

worry you with respect to the dangers
to which you will be exposed,

far from the protective walls of
this school.

And now, some advice for the
holidays.

The seminarist should have a fixed
hour for getting up so that

he is not in bed for more than
7 hours, nor for long after he

wakes up. Dress quickly and
modestly in silence, thinking

about the theme for meditation.
Do not appear before no one without

being properly dressed.

Avoid bad company.

Do not read unfavourable books,
papers or novels, and do not

frequent places where religion is
condemned and condemnable acts

are practiced, unsuitable for a
seminarist.

Attend the Holy Sacrifice of mass
every day.

Just before dinner read a chapter
from the New Testament on your

knees. Undress modestly and fall
asleep with some good thought,

crossing the arms over the chest.

If it is your habit then kiss
your mother, aunts or sisters,

but it is suffice to greet more distant
relatives, neighbours and friends

courteously.

Under all circumstances, the manners
and words of a churchman

should always show a certain
composure,

the result of long training. Manual
work that you can do for pleasure

should be in accord with suitability
to your studies and habit.

You should not forget your present
state. It would not be suitable

for your to work in the fields with
the workers, or even with your

parents. And if they ask you or
order you to carry out these task

you must excuse yourself politely.

See you after the holidays.

- Perhaps...
- Goodbye.

- Write to me.
- OK, Gaudêncio. I'll write.

- So how's our priest?
- Fine, Sir.

Look, it's António!
When will you say mass?

I don't know yet. Not for a
while yet.

Good evening, Sir.

Hello! Already on holiday? What a
fine life, your holiness!

Joana, take António to his room.

António, arrange your things
and come and have dinner.

This year you will still eat
in the kitchen.

Next year you will eat with us.
A future minister of God should

get used to coping with all
the social classes.

Well, my love, do you like
the seminary?

Yes, Aunt Joana.

Some priest!

António. It's time to get up!

I'll wait for you downstairs
to go to mass.

- You called, Captain?
- Bring my breakfast.

Really, Sir!

Is he healthy enough to come
early to mass?

Healthy enough? My dear Prior!

Why shouldn't he be healthy enough
to come to morning mass?

I've already told him: as long as
he is in my house he will not miss

morning prayers, meditation, mass
and evening rosary for one day...

And he shouldn't forget the little
visit to the Holy Sacrament.

Nor his prayers at night, the
examination of the conscience

and spiritual reading.

Do you think he can visit his
mother?

Yes, of course,
she is his mother after all.

You don't realise that these people
only set bad examples.

If his mother wants she can come
to my house and see him.

Yes, maybe, why not.

No scenes like this here.
Go into the kitchen if you want.

There's no point, Madam.
I'm going right away.

Goodbye, António.
See you soon.

Goodbye, mother. I'm glad you came.

Well, Tónio, what's become of you?
Are you already a priest?

That'|| be a long time yet.

Aren't you coming with us
to fetch firewood?

He doesn't want to mix with us.

Come in. Sit down here with us.

Move up. Let António sit down.

Give me the bowl.

- Did you have a good journey, son?
- Yes, mother.

And your godmother? Is she well?
Eat something.

Watch how you're eating, pig.

Have some bread.

There are problems at the factory.

Things aren't going well
in Covilhâ either.

Here are some sweets.

They're not just for you,
they're for everyone.

Be quiet.

Tell me something, nephew, now that
you're learning to be a priest,

why do they say mass in Latin?
What are the padres saying?

Latin's a very ancient language.
It's very difficult. There are

six cases alone. I've only learnt
a little so far, I don't really know

what it all means.

Another thing. How much
do you think a padre earns?

Is it worth it? If it paid something,
I'd become your sacristan.

You, a sacristan? Do you think
you'd learn how to assist at mass!

Only if it were to eat cheese and
drink the wine from the cruet.

Scoundrel I am! I could
stuff myself there!

But with the cheese and all
you've still chosen some life.

Damn it! Can't you at least have
a woman!

That's enough, you brute.
Don't talk like that to him.

- Well, I'm going.
- Already, son?

It's time. They don't know
I'm here.

God bless you, my boy.

Don't you bother with what
these brutes say.

There's nothing worse than them.

"Dear Gaudêncio,

I'm writing as promised. I'm sorry
I haven't written sooner

but times goes so quickly here
that I didn't notice the days

passing. Now there are only
a few days before we go back.

Are you still not coming back?"

Is that good?

You fancy it already, don't you?

Tónio, when are you going
to say mass?

What are you doing here with that
expression?

Nothing, Madam.
I'm going to my room.

No, you're not. I must have a
long talk with you.

I'll join you in the drawing room.

Sit down.

No, no. Here. Closer.

I've noticed that you look sad
these days, Antonio.

Very sad, I can see it clearly.

On one hand it's normal. You have
to leave us and your village again

when the holidays end.

But there's sadness and sadness.
Your is different.

It's malignant.

Demons have come upon you and
darkened you soul.

But we shouldn't predict God's
plans.

When I brought you here it was
for the greater glory of God

and the greater spiritual honour
and gain for you and me.

God's plans are unfathomable and
we cannot dream of opposing them.

"Many are called, but few chosen",
said Jesus.

I wanted you to be a priest of Christ.
But that will only be if God has

chosen you.

How many times we fool ourselves?
We think we hear God's voice,

but God is silent.

But it can also
be that we do not hear God's voice

because we are full of the sounds
of the Devil!

Before calling you here, I asked
the Lord to enlighten me.

But I don't know if the infinitive
mercy of the Lord heard me.

Because I've been wondering in the
last few days if you really have

a vocation.

What do you think, António?

You are still, of course, very young
not to be mistaken in you judgment.

I spoke to the Prior about this and
he said I should ask you to ask

yourself.

You can imagine the immense
disappointment I would feel

if Divine Providence
had not chosen you.

But shame on me if I were to
oppose those schemes.

The life of a priest is a life of
sacrifice.

But a clergyman is another Christ
and there is no glory in the world

compared to this.

Your are a child, but you can
already understand this clearly.

What do you think?

Have you a vocation or not?

Be careful of what you say!
Think well.

Ask God to enlighten you!

If you like I'll leave you while
you meditate.

You don't have to, Madam.
I have no vocation.

What!

No vocation!

Good-for-nothing!

What will become of you, wretch?

In rags, starving, you'll eat stones
if you're hungry!

He has no vocation!

He has more vocation for picking up
crust of bread and lice.

Look at the little lord with
no vocation!

Perhaps you prefer to be a graduate.

Your mother can send you to study
in Coimbra.

So if you have no vocation
then get out!

Go and die of hunger at home!
Go and eat straw!

Not one more minute here. Out!

Well, António? Have you reflected
with God on what you said?

Do you feel you have vocation?

Yes, Madam, I have.

So, you've changed your mind.

Are you sure you have a vocation?

Watch what you say.

If you have no vocation no one
will oblige you to go back

to the seminary. You'll go home
to your mother.

Have you really got a vocation?

Yes, Madam, I have.

Good, my boy. Thank God for saving
you from temptation.

Go and ask God to defend you always
from the snares of the Devil.

And pray for me too, because you
have made me ill.

Tell Carolina that you will have
dinner with us today

in the dining-room.

Have you finished your essays?

No more writing now!

Let's hear how António Santos Lopes
describes a spring morning.

"Before the sun rises the men go
to work".

Just a moment.

You still don't know how to develop
the potential of the theme

sufficiently.
You must create poetry.

Surround reality of facts with the
delicacy of the word.

Amílcar. Read what you've written.

"Like the sacred Host rising from
the pyx of the mountain,

the sun rose sowing golden rays
and the little birds hopped from

branch to branch chirping gently...

Do you see? Do you all understand?

Father Thomas, what does pyx mean?

Do you know why they've called
us here?

No, I've no idea.

- Have you seen Gama?
- No.

How can one think of this house
of God as a prison?

How can the priesthood be thought
of as violence?

"My yoke is light", said Christ.

It is true that not all those
called, are chosen.

It is true that God has not given
all of you the infinite grace

needed for the priesthood. But
those chosen should humble

themselves in prayer and ask God
to enlighten them.

Those should go to their spiritual
advisor and ask his council.

An, unfortunate seminarists who
prefer the giddiness of the mondaine

world to the unique glory of being,
here on earth, an "alter ego"

of Christ. It is true that one can
achieve eternal salvation

in the world. But what misery and
dangers to overcome!

Ah, how these unfortunate seminarists
are mistaken, looking at wordly

pleasures with infernal imagination.
Hallucinated by the Devil,

they prefer to soil their hands in
crime and ignominity.

Because expulsion is a stain that
can never be removed.

Ah, what pain! What and unspeakable
affront when out there one day

someone throws this bloody blemish
in you face:

"He was expelled. He was expelled
from the seminary".

Do you really not know what's
happened?

Two seminarists ran away last night,
but they caught them this morning

at the station. They're locked in
their rooms and now they're

going to expel them.
- Expel them, Gama?

Yes, expel them. So what?
Or do you believe the story

of the stain means something?
This guy's a fool. Making us

afraid doesn't work. I know a lot
who were expelled and they

couldn't give a damn now. These
two were idiots to get caught.

But one day...
- How did they escape?

They got to the station and hung
around there 'till morning.

Someone must have seen them and
warned the seminary and the

station master. Father Thomas went
and brought them back in the cart.

He was questioning them all morning.

- Who planned the escape?
- Just us. No one else.

There must be more involved!
You will confess even if I have

to beat you!
Confess!

Forgive them, Sir! They didn't know
what they were doing!

It was the Devil! What's going
to become of them?

They should have thought
of that before!

Shame on you!

Well? Have you forgotten
where you are?

Beg the Rector's forgiveness.

- Forgive us, Sir! Don't expel us!
- Never! That would be a scandalous

example. Go and follow the path of
perdition that you have chosen.

"Search for death by causing death.
Sebastian seeks death crying:

It is time.
This death is the salvation".

- What's going on?
- I don't know.

Looks nasty!...

"The Black Hand has left a letter
in the parlour saying that one

of these days he'll set fire
to the seminary".

Attention!

Water! Bring water! The fire
is spreading up the mountain!

- And the seminary?
- Nothing's happened to it.

The wind is carrying the fire
towards the mountain.

Quickly! Bring water!

Do you know what happened to
Black Hand?

They've caught him!
- Here in the seminary?

On the mountain.
The National Guard.

After a hold-up he hid in a
disused mine.

The National Guard surrounded him,
and there was a lot of shooting.

The Guards has pistols, rifles,
machine guns and swords.

Black Hand was hidden at the
entrance to the mine until he had

no more ammunition. Then the Guard
advanced and killed Black Hand.

His photo was in the paper.

I saw the page in the toilets.

"To the rector:

Either you release all the
seminarists in eight days,

or the Seminary will blow up...

"Seminary" isn't like that.

"Black Hand does not forget".

What's this?
Off to class, all of you!

"Dear Mother and Brothers,

I hope this letter finds you all
in good health. Everything's fine

at the Seminary. The time is going
by and in this second year we have

more subjects. Besides Portuguese
language and Latin, we also have

Geography, which I quite like.
Latin gets harder and harder,

we have to work hard
but I have good marks.

One of these days I'll be back
again for the holidays...

It was him. They've caught him!

He wrote Black Hand's letters.

Father Thomas caught him putting
another paper on the wall.

Who are your accomplices?
Who helped you?

Was it you who set fire
to the Seminary?

Who knew about your plan?
Who helped you?

You won't get anywhere
with this silence!

You're going to be expelled,
and never allowed here again,

damned soul.

Father Pita!

Call those who had bad marks in
behaviour and Gama's friends.

I'll question them and find out
who's behind this folly.

I will find out even if I have
to beat all of them.

I did it all alone. Nobody
knew anything!

Come in!

Come in.
Come here.

Why have you been looking so sad
lately?

I'm not sad, Father Alves.

Why do you lie, my son?

How old are you?

- I'm thirteen at the end of July.
- Thirteen? So, you're a man.

Time flies and one forgets
and falls behind.

A man!

The dangers are coming, the great
and only dangers.

The world and its dream.

You must have thought of that often.

Listen... One day the world came
to meet me.

It came complete, horribly full of
pride and blindness.

And what strange blindness!

What pride!

The great flame!

And after? After, ashes
and nothing else, my son.

You see... Ashes and nothing else.
Nothing remains of this flesh

that torments us.

Have you already
spoken to your spiritual advisor?

No, Father.

You should go and see him
and confess your temptations,

the appetite that tries
to blind you with pride.

Off you go now.

And don't forget. Speak to your
spiritual advisor.

Father Alves told me I should
call you.

It seems that all is not well
with you.

Tell me what your problems are then.

I'm not sure, Father Fialho.
Father Alves said I looked sad.

Work of the Devil, my son.
The Devil crossing your path

and trying to tempt your flesh
which is weak.

Have you felt the temptation
of the Devil, my son?

No, Father. If I look sad, it's
because I miss my village and

my mother and family sometimes.
- That's all?

I'm also sorry that Gama
was expelled.

You shouldn't be.
For several reasons.

Gama was not a good companion. He
was full of hate and God teaches us

to love our neighbour.
He was bad company.

In any case, all our love is for
God, and consecrated to His service.

The rules forbid private friendships
between seminarists.

You ought to know this.
- I know, Father.

And what was your relationship
with Gama?

He and I went on holiday
to the same region...

And in the seminary, did you
meet alone?

We sometimes met in the corridors.

- Did you touch one another?
- Touch one another, how?

- Did you stroke one another?
- Stroke?

Haven't you already confessed
you liked him, that you miss him?

He was my friend. He was my protector
when I entered the Seminary.

Your protector?

He stopped the others from getting
at me, when I was green...

This is all very strange between
two seminarists.

Did you like him in the way
you like a woman?

Voluptuously? Sinfully?
- In the way you like a woman?

Yes, with desire.
With the will to sin.

With the flesh drawing us towards
Evil, towards lascivious pleasure.

Don't you feel the heat going up
your legs, a wild desire,

an uncontrollable desire to sin,
and sin and sin?!

At night, when you're alone in bed,
alone with no one to see you,

but only with God as a witness,
wouldn't you like to have Gama

beside you, to kiss him and
hold him...

Kiss Gama? Hold him?
No, Father.

I only feel like that with girls.
With Carolina and once with

Mariazinha...
- With girls! Sinner!

The Devil is guiding you.

Have you already had
carnal experiences

with persons of the opposite sex?

What are carnal experiences, Father?

To sin! Allow yourself to be
possessed by the Devil!

To go with girls and women! To touch
their secret parts, to hold and kiss

them shamelessly.

Have you already kissed a girl
on the mouth?

No, Father.

Besides everything else,
it's not hygienic.

You have to overcome
the sin within you.

Pray to rid yourself of wicked
thoughts.

Don't put your hands in your
pockets. Never lean up

against others. You must look for
uncomfortable positions when

it's necessary. Always keep your
hands outside the bedclothes.

Never have them close to your body.

You must occupy your mind with
study and pious thoughts.

Don't sleep in tight clothes, wear
wide underpants.

Avoid sinful meetings.

The Devil tempts us.

All of us.

The Portuguese Empire extends into
how many continents?

Answer, Tavares.

The Portuguese Empire is found
on four continents.

In Europe we have Portugal and the
Archipelagos of Madeira and Azores.

In Africa, Guiné, Cape Verde,
São Tomé and Principe,

Angola and Mozambique.

In Asia, the State of India
and Macau.

In the East India, Timor.

Silence. Let's start to rehearse.
Carlos Pereira.

Good. That's not bad.

But in the good old days we had
really good playing.

This used to be a first class band!
Faustino played the trumpet;

Rebelo the clarinet. And the drum
was first class too!

Well, those were the good old days.
Now, it's as you can see.

Good afternoon.

Don't you know that seminarists
can't speak to the servants?

There's no one here now.

Don't you get me into trouble.

I don't want problems.

I'm here thanks to the goodness
of the Fathers.

The Rector gave me this job.
It's always difficult for a cripple

to find work.

I was a seminarist here
but one day in the holidays

I had an accident.
It happened in a mine.

That ruined my life.
I left the seminary.

Why?

That's the rule!

Priests can't be cripples.

I lost the opportunity but I did
manage to stay on here working.

Go on. Don't cause trouble for me.
Go off your mates.

Be seeing you.

In my village there's a girl called
Dulce who teaches catechism

and who's pretty. We used to go to
catechism just to see her.

One day I walked between her and
the wall and rubbed up against her.

You're making it up!

You don't believe me? Look.
I've got a magazine here

with half-naked women. I've never
shown them to anyone, but I'll

show them to you.
- I don't want to see them!

I'm an old hand at this
kind of thing.

They keep me company every night.
Don't you want to see?

I don't think you believe me.
Here, look.

I've even been with a real woman,
not just a photo...

You're lying. Big mouth!

- Look for yourself!
- I don't want to!

All right, I'll tell you
everything.

The woman I was with is this one.
The one that's just got a scrap

of tiger skin covering her.

Leave it.

António dos Santos Lopes,
two steps forward.

Have you got your ribbon there?
- Yes, Father.

Do you know why you won it?

Yes, Father. The green ribbon
means that I had more than 13

for behaviour in the first year.

Put it on!

Father Thomas, please.

Two steps back.

All of you go to class now!

But I didn't do anything,
Father Alves. I didn't even touch

the magazine.

That has been taken into
consideration, as well as your age.

If not you would have been expelled
like Peres.

But it's not fair! I didn't want
the magazine!

All will be forgotten. Learn a lesson
from it and let time do the rest.

Everyone will forget about it.

What did Father Alves say to you?

That I should be content! That it
will all be forgotten!

- You'll see it will...
- No, Gaudêncio.

I want to leave here.
Even if it kills me!

Don't go yet. Wait another year.

No, Gaudêncio, I'm leaving.
I've been here almost two years.

I can't stand it any longer!

Listen... In a year... Don't tell
anyone, but in a year,

I'll leave with you...

António Santos Lopes. Come here.

Do you know why you are going
to be punished?

Yes, I know, Father Thomas.

Confess your fault aloud, so that
everyone can hear.

I hit Taborda.

And why did you hit Taborda?

Answer!

Because he called me a fan.

Taborda, come here.

I didn't say nothing, and he hit me.

- He's lying, Father Thomas.
- Apologise!

I'm sorry, Father Thomas.

On your knees!

On your knees, did you hear me?

I'm sorry.

Get up!

Hold out your hand.

The other one!

Go and sit down.

António, you rascal, I thought
you'd never get here!

How are things at the seminary?

Come along, boy.

It is time to go to the table.

António, when are you going to say
mass?

Isn't Dr. Albedo here?

I haven't seen him yet.

Excuse me.

Well, on holiday already?

How were your marks this term?
What's for dinner today?

Something you like.
See if you can guess.

What kind of soup is this?
Carolina, take this away!

- But you must eat, son.
- No. Take it away.

Well then, your marks?
Pass me the wine.

What kind of wine is this?

Carolina, bring that other wine.

It's the kind you like...

Are you going to tell us
the marks, or not?

I had 13 in Latin, 12 in
Portuguese...

13 in Latin! Fine. So you must
know a lot about it.

You already know "rosa, rosae,
dominus, domini", and much more.

More or less.

Fine, fine. Mother, that door,
please. I can't sit in a draught...

Carolina! Why did you leave the
door open?

So, 13 in Latin. Fine. Mariazinha,
pass me the bread.

Yes, Sir, 13 in Latin.

You don't have lessons in correct
manners in the seminary, do you?

Oh yes, Madam. I even had 14 in
manners.

One day Father Raposo questioned
me and I knew everything.

How to cut duck, how to write
sympathy letters, how to distinguish

a wine glass from a water glass...

I was told in the seminary one
taught you so that you could get

on in all social classes.
But...

Listen. Since you had 13 in Latin,
you must know this.

Tell me, what case does the
verb "utor" take?

The verb "utor", I don't know.

It takes the ablative.
You don't know anything...

You don't even know what case
the verb "utor" takes.

It will be a long time until you
can say mass...

Mother... I don't want to
go back to the seminary.

What are you saying?

I don't want to go back to
the seminary!

- Why not?
- I don't want to!

What do you know about life?

All my life I've been
a half starved work horse.

If you were a priest I could have
a comfortable old age,

and your brothers would
have some support

I never thought about these things,
but it seems I may have to one day.

Now what am I going to do?
I guessed as much!

No, the mother of a priest.
It was too good to be true!

To be able to eat aged cheese
in the winter!

To mix with rich religious ladies!
That couldn't be for me.

Not for my old bones!

But you need the vocation.

What does that mean? Don't talk
to me in Latin, I don't understand!

I can't be a priest! I want to be
a man! I want to have a woman!

Go and find one!

I didn't manage this time either.
My mother...

Ah, but I'll escape, António.

When I'm bigger, if my mother
won't let me leave, I'll escape.

I've got an uncle in Lisbon
and he said to me:

"You can come to my house
whenever you want".

He really likes us. One of my
sisters is there almost all the time.

Have you really, truly never thought:
"What if God doesn't exist?"

How can you say such a thing?

Well, I've also had the same though.

- But you actually said it!
- Don't be afraid. I didn't say

that God didn't exist. I only said:
"What if God doesn't exist?"

There's no harm in that.

How many are missing?

- Ten!
- That many? The flu is attacking

in force this year.

- What's wrong with you?
- I'm cold.

Go to the infirmary so that they
can see what's wrong with you.

You too. Go and have
your temperature taken.

Father Thomas. I feel ill too.

- How do you feel?
- Cold. Shivers and dizziness...

Go as well.

- I managed to get off too...
- But do you feel ill?

Not really. But I'll have a few days
holiday.

No lessons and no prayers. And I can
stay beside you in the infirmary.

- What do you want here?
- Father Thomas sent us to the

infirmary.

There's no room here.
Go and lie down in your dormitory.

Someone will come and see what's
wrong with you.

- What's going on?
- Were going home.

The rector's sent all those
who aren't sick home.

Only those who are sick are staying.
Seems it's an epidemic.

- And me?
- You stay here until you're better.

Gaudêncio!

- Hello, António. Well?
- I'm better. I wish I hadn't said

I was sick. And you?

My head's aching and I'm
awfully cold.

- Is that better?
- Yes, much better.

You haven't got a temperature
at all. Get up.

If you've nothing better to do
then come and help.

Father Alves!
How's Gaudêncio?

Is he very bad?

Silence because of the sick!

Is he dead?

He is already before the Lord.

Be quiet, my son. Silence.

Love of discipline, love and respect
for his superiors, the living faith

that always stirred him, made him a
model seminarist, an example

to all his colleagues.

The unfathomable designs of God did
not allow him to attain the sacred

dignity of the priesthood, which
was his most ardent dream.

Gaudêncio is today at the feet
of God.

We ask him to intercede on our
behalf, and we will try...

"Don't tell anyone, but in a year
I'll leave with you".

We are sure that the best way of
paying homage to this memory

is to carry out our duty strictly,
as he carried out his.

His deepest desire was to
prepare himself with dignity for

the priesthood and to find an equal
fervour in all his colleagues.

Let us fulfill his desires by
renewing our own pious intentions

and by intensifying our faith and
our love of God.

What's wrong child?

Nothing, mother.

Are you still sad?

There's nothing wrong with me,
mother!

My poor boy! My poor boy!
Always so sad.

How hard it is to live! Sometimes
I think about what I've suffered

since I was born. And about
what your father suffered.

And about what the poor suffer.

Are you going already?

- Are you angry for what I said?
- No, mother.

Today it's Doctor Alberto's
birthday.

There's a party with fireworks.
They want me to be there earlier.

Off you go then. And forget about
what a silly old woman says.

Mariazinha, come here.
Don't play with fire.

Don't set off the rockets, you
may burn yourself!

Leave them to António!

Be careful, António! Turn the fuse
the other way.

- Lend me your cigarette, please.
- You can keep it.

"Priests can't be cripples.
That's the rule".

António!

Mother...

Now that I have one hand less, they
won't want me at the Seminary...

What have you done my child!

You didn't have to go so far.

Translation by Sheilah Cardno
and Ana de Freitas