São Bernardo (1972) Movie Script

LEON HIRSZMAN PROJECT

HIGH RESOLUTION PICTURE AND SOUND DIGITALLY

RESTORED FROM THE ORIGINAL 35mm NEGATIVE

RESTORATION SPONSORED BY THE

PETROBR?S CULTURAL PROGRAM

S. BERNARDO

To continue.

I want to tell my story.

It's difficult.

I might omit superfluous

details...

that seem indispensable.

Also, being used to deal

with peasants,

I might not trust the

reader's understanding...

and repeat insignificant

events.

Besides, none of this is

ordered, as can be seen.

It doesn't matter.

The half-breeds around

me say...

all roads lead to a pub.

My aim in life was to get

the lands of S?o Bernardo.

To build this house,

to grow cotton,

castor oil plants, to build a

saw-mill and a cotton-gin.

To introduce pomiculture and

aviculture in this wilderness.

Get a regular stock of cattle.

All this sounds easy...

after it's done.

But if you

look around and...

don't know where

to begin...

the difficulties are terrible.

If I tried to tell you

about my childhood

I'd have to lie.

I was just knocking about,

I suppose.

I remember a blind man

who pulled my ears

and old Margarida

who sold sweets.

The blind man is gone.

Old Margarida lives here

in S?o Bernardo...

in a clean little house.

Nobody bothers her.

When I turned 18 I had

worn out many hoes

getting 5 cents for

12 hours of labor.

Then I did my first

memorable act.

During a watch that turned

free-for-all

I grabbed Germana, quite

a juice morsel,

and gave her a big pinch

on her rounded bum.

She liked it so much

she piddled.

But then she took off and

hitched up with Jo?o Fagundes.

As a result of that

I boxed Germana's ear

and slipped my knife into

Jo?o Fagundes.

So I was arrested.

I got a sound spanking

and all that

and was put away for 3 years

9 months and 15 days.

In jail, Joaquim Cobbler

taught me to read

from a small Protestant bible.

Joaquim Cobbler died.

Germana went bad.

When I got out,

she was a cheap whore

- and a sick one.

By then I didn't think of

her any more...

I thought about making money.

I got registered as a voter.

And Mr. Pereira, loan-shark

and big wheel in politics,

lend me 10O Mil Reis at

5% interest per month.

I paid him back and got 20O with

the interest reduced to 3%.

It didn't get less than that.

I learned arithmetic in order not

to be robbed more than convenient.

At first, money ran away

from me.

I restlessly hunted it,

traveling the wilderness.

Trading in hammocks, cattle,

hole statues and rosaries...

small things, here making

money, there losing it...

working with borrowed money,

signing promissory notes.

Highly complicated transactions.

I went hungry and thirsty,

slept in dry river beds...

quarreled with people

who talk shouting...

some deals were wound up,

cocked guns in hand.

What do you mean, justice?

There's no such thing!

You have no religion! You

must pay the 30 Contos.

And 6 months interest!

Pay, or I'll skin you slowly!

I decided to settle here,

in Vi?osa, Alagoas.

And I planned to buy the

farm S?o Bernardo

where I used to work for

5 cents a day.

Without letting on I went

to see Luis Padilha,

the owner of S?o Bernardo.

Excuse me.

Why don't you work S?o Bernardo?

Perdon?

With tractors, ploughs,

decent agriculture.

You never thought of that?

How much you think this will

yield, worked as it should?

It's horrible, Mr. Paulo.

A disgrace.

Ploughs.

There's nothing like ploughs.

I've thought of ploughs.

A manioc plantation.

A modern flour mill.

Money.

If I only had money!

This Pereira is an idiot,

an idiot!

I made a minute exposition...

demonstrating that it'd

be a great business.

He understood nothing!

The idiot!

There's nobody to understand

anything here, Mr. Paulo!

This land is poor.

Here you find only

politics and shamelessness.

Mr. Paulo...

maybe this del interests you.

20 Contos.

I need 20 Contos.

Padilha...

did you ever make a cigarette?

It's easier to by them

ready made.

But it's more expensive.

If you had made one,

you'd know it's more difficult

to make a thousand.

Now, it's more difficult

to earn 10 Cents

than to make a cigarette.

One Conto of Reis

is worth a thousand

bill of 10 Cents.

20 Contos of Reis...

are worth 20,000 bills

of 10 Cents.

You seem to ignore that.

You say 20 Contos...

as if you meant just

dirty paper!

- Money is money!

- I can count, Mr. Paulo.

But the ploughs cost...

Do you think I'm a capitalist?

- Do you want to ruin me?

- No, no.

And the mortgage of S?o Bernardo?

Nonsense...

S?o Bernardo isn't worth

chicken feed.

Pereira is right.

The father

ruined the property.

20 Contos, Mr. Paulo.

Everybody will profit.

We'll see, Padilha.

We'll see.

Money is money.

Padilha got the 20 Contos less

what he owed me and the interest.

He bought a printing plant

and founded a newspaper.

The independent

"Correio de Vi?osa"

which folded after only

four editions.

As regards agriculture

he was expecting...

machinery catalogues

that never came.

He started to hide from me.

When we met,

he tried not to see me.

The lest bill came due

on a winter day.

You're here? How are you?

Fine, thank you.

I thought about the business.

I thought about it a lot.

I can't even sleep any more.

I wanted to see you yesterday

but couldn't.

With this rain.

Forget the rain.

I have serious troubles.

I wanted to ask you for a

deferment with interest.

- Resources I don't have.

- And the flour mill?

And the ploughs?

A winter like this spoils

everything. Resources I don't have.

Deferment with interest...

isn't worth while.

We'll liquidate.

What you mean, liquidate!

I told you I can't!

Only if you take the

printing plant.

What printing plant?

You're an ass!

One does what one can -

using what one has.

Sure, I owe you.

But I can't pay like that.

If you stand me on my head...

you won't find a cent.

I'm broke.

That's not the way to talk.

Look, Padilha, the promissory

notes are due.

I already told you I'm broke.

Want me to steal?

I can't and finish!

What is finished?

It's just starting!

I'll take everything, you dog!

I'll leave you in your

underwear!

Patience, Mr. Paulo.

With noise we get nowhere.

- I'll pay, wait a few days.

- I'll wait not even for an hour.

I'm serious and

you talk nonsense!

You want an amicable solution?

Make a price for your property.

For him, S?o Bernardo was

an useless thing...

but he held it in regard.

There he hid bitterness

and poverty.

Bird-hunting, swimming

and sleeping.

He slept too much, afraid

to meet Mendon?a.

Make your price!

I always wanted to keep the

farm, Mr. Paulo.

What for?

S?o Bernardo is worthless!

I talk as a friend,

as a friend.

I don't like to see a man

with a rope round his neck.

Those lawyers are as

hungry as wolves!

If I sick Nogueira at you

you'll end up with a just

bundle on your back!

Lots of expenses, Mr. Padilha.

Lots of expenses!

Come on, give you price!

- 80 Contos.

- You're crazy.

A long time ago your father

wanted 50, and that was too much.

Much too much.

To-day the mill is in ruins.

The neighbors' cattle

broke the gates.

The houses are decayed.

And Mendon?a? What's for him?

I'll give you 30 Contos.

70, Mr. Paulo.

32.

- Mr. Paulo, please... 66.

- Not more than 32.

We haggled for hours and

came to an agreement.

I promised to pay in cash...

and with the house I had...

10 Contos.

Padilha put 7 Contos on the house

and 43 for S?o Bernardo.

I wrest another 2 Contos. 42 for

the property and 8 for the house.

Early next day, he put his

tail into the trap

and signed the deed.

I deducted the debt, interest,

the price of the house

and gave him 7 Contos,

550 Mil Reis.

And I didn't regret it!

You did wrong!

You shouldn't have bought the

property without consulting me.

Why? The old owner wasn't of age?

Of course.

But you should have made an

investigation first.

I don't want to investigate.

That's for you.

The old boundaries are only

provisory, did you know?

We better straighten this out!

Each one in his place!

Don't bother fixing the fence,

I'll throw it down again!

To make sure about the border.

The fence stays.

If you want to,

Mr. Mendon?a,

you may send for cedar wood

good wood for your building.

Thanks, no. Wood one

always finds.

There's always some around.

But, look, if you want to

barter some cattle...

Mr. Mendon?a,

about the boundaries

I think we can discuss them

some other day...

- at leisure.

- Sure.

In this 2nd year there where

some terrible difficulties.

Torturing work...

days and days, in sun and rain, with

machete, gun and cartridge-belt...

eating, during the rest

periods, some fried codfish...

and a hand-full of flour.

Casimiro.

I was visiting old Mendon?a.

I promised him a sheep.

Sunday is a holiday.

Elections.

I invited Mendon?a too.

We go to town.

We must give him a

hot welcome.

This business of men snooping

round the house each night...

is just not right.

You know what you have to do.

Sunday night, on his way back

from the election

Mendon?a fetched a bullet

in the small of the back...

he kicked the bucket right

there on the Bonsucesso road.

At the hour of the crime

I was in town

talking with the vicar

about the church

I was planning to build in

S?o Bernardo.

How terrible, my God!

- Mendon?a had enemies?

- Did he have enemies!

He had enemies like ticks!

To continue, Padre Silvestre.

How much costs a bell?

The tough guy

I met one day

in Mendon?a's house

also came to a bad end.

A clean-up...

this sort of people almost

never dies well.

Poison snakes take them...

or drink...

others get themselves shot.

One I lost at the stone-quarry.

The crow-bar slipped, hit his

chest, and that was that.

He left a widow and small

children. They got lost.

One of the boys fell

into the fire...

one got eaten up by worms...

the last one got angina...

and the woman hanged herself.

In those 5 years I often wanted

to give up...

by-passing difficulties...

so many curves!

Do you think I did wrong?

The truth is... I never knew

which were my good deeds...

and which were my bad ones.

For doing a lot of good things

I suffered losses...

an I profited from

many bad things.

Since I always wanted to own

the lands of S?o Bernardo,

I considered legitimate any

acts helping me to do so.

With your permission,

Excellency,

we want you to know

that we are very proud of

your visit here.

Your Excellency will remember...

I liked your property

very much.

- Excellent real estate.

- Thank you, Excellency.

The school?

Where is this school?

It's been taken care of,

your Excellency.

I already asked Dr. Nogueira to

file the necessary papers.

School!

What did I care if people could

read of if they were analphabets?

These government people are

all cracked.

Take an educated picker

of beans...

and watch the result!

Send me Padilha here tomorrow.

After he cures his hangover.

I must talk to him, urgently.

Don't forget!

All devils! This visit brings

me a lot of benefits!

A capital! I want to see

how much it will pay me.

All devils! The school

will be a capital.

The church-funding was

also a capital.

All devils! A capital.

- What legs! Greek columns!

- And the breasts!

And her breasts!

She's an educated woman.

We came with our Padilha,

here.

Such a nice holiday, so

we came on foot.

- Whose legs?

- Madalena's.

- Who?

- A teacher. You don't know her?

- She's pretty!

- Educated.

A brunette, about 30.

- 30 years, more or less.

- 20... if that much!

You never saw her closely,

- or you wouldn't say that!

- What? I saw her...

at Marcela's birthday party.

20!

You saw her from afar! At night,

it's different at day.

- 30!

- 25...

Very well, Padilha,

25 so close the matter.

You'll have supper with me.

You can return by car.

Padilha, I must talk to you.

It's like this, I'm thinking

of opening a school.

Very well. So you decided to

follow my advice.

Good.

I was thinking about the school.

Get Madalena, Mr. Paulo.

Excellent acquisition. Learned...

An ornament for the house,

Mr. Paulo.

Nonsense! Am I looking

for ornaments?

I didn't say I didn't want her.

But that I was

a very busy man.

But I asked about the salary.

I asked about the salary.

That depends.

I don't know how much

you're worth.

100 Mil Reis a month.

Let's say 150, as a trial.

Room... board...

good conversation...

150 Mil Reis a month, and

8 hours of work a day.

Agreed?

But let me tell you:

Work is work

Nobody drinks here.

- Only guests drink here.

- I understand. I'll think it over.

As regards drinking, no need

to tell me: I don't drink.

Sometimes during meal,

but not always.

And from time to time,

if a friend offers me one.

I might accept.

That morning I found myself

thinking about marriage.

I got the idea without having

seen any girl.

I don't bother with love,

you must have noticed.

I always thought that females

are strange creatures.

Difficult to govern.

So I didn't feel inclined

to anyone.

What I wanted was to get

an heir...

for the lands of S?o Bernardo.

Robbery! That's what is

categorically demonstrated

by the philosophers in all

the books.

More than 3,5 miles of land,

with houses, weirs,

cattle, woods... all belonging

to one man. That's wrong!

That's right. Mr. Padilha

is right.

I don't understand, I'm stupid,

but I lose sleep thinking.

One kills oneself working for

strangers. Right, Casimiro?

Nonsense. The land has owners

since time began.

What you mean, owners!

One kills oneself working to

enrich others.

Working at what? What are

you working at, parasite?

- Idler! Scullion!

- It's nothing, Mr. Paulo!

I was just explaining some

theories to the people.

Not on my land!

Get lost!

Behind my gates, nobody

pisses out of line.

Get your asses out of here!

With a teacher like that

I'm fucked! Fucked!

What are you teaching your

pupils, you scoundrel?

E eu meto a m?o em cumbuca?

Would I propagate

subversive ideas?

Ungrateful dunce!

Chicken brain!

You got the wrong boat!

This time I'll let it pass...

but if I catch you again,

like jumping flies

I'll call the Police.

This is not Russia!

Hear me? And get lose!

Sorry.

Excuse me.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome, Dona Gloria.

This Great Western

us rubbish. A mess.

This isn't a coach, it's

a chicken coop.

- They're no good?

- The worst there is, Dona Gloria.

I think we met before.

I don't remember.

I have very bad memory.

At the judge's, last month.

You were with a girl whose eyes...

Oh, right.

Here is a very good article

about agriculture.

The author knows his stuff.

Now I remember.

You were with Mr. Nogueira,

discussing politics.

That's it.

- Do you live in the capital?

- No, in the hinterland.

- Vi?osa?

So do I. Recently.

Small town.

- An ugly small town, isn't it?

- Small town? And the big ones?

All ugly. I like the country...

understand?

My God, the country is for

animals.

- Do you live there?

- S?o Bernardo.

It's a nice farm.

There's none of the dirty

water one drinks around here.

Mud? No, madam... There's all

comfort. Hygiene.

I don't like it. I was

brought up in town.

Leaving it, I'm like a fish

on dry land. I was hoping for

a transference to a school at

the capital. But I don't know

- any influential people.

- You're a school-teacher?

No, my niece is.

That girl that was with you

at Dr. Magalh?es'?

What's the name of you niece,

Dona Gloria?

Madalena.

She was a brilliant student,

you see.

Wait, Nogueira and Gondim

were telling me about her.

Attractive girl, beautiful...

Of course...

Gondim talked a lot...

He is a boring fine talker.

A girl like that,

hiding away in a hole, Mr...

Paulo Hon?rio, Dona Gloria.

It's a pity.

It's silly to teach the ABC.

Excuse my indiscretion.

How much does your niece

make teaching the ABC?

- 180 Mil Reis.

- How much?

180 Mil Reis.

That's a disgraceful, Madame.

How the devil can a Christian

live with that?

You want me to tell you?

It makes one angry to see

decent folk

subjected to such misery.

I have servants who never went to

school and who make more than that.

Why don't you advise your niece

to abandon this profession?

Pleased to meet you.

I already knew you by sight.

But I didn't know you

were alone.

- We met some days ago, didn't we?

- A month ago.

Exactly.

By the way, I was

telling this to your aunt.

A great traveling companion.

Dona Marcela told me that you

have a beautiful farm.

Beautiful? I didn't notice.

It might be beautiful.

What I know is,

it's quite a good farm.

The invitation stands.

And you promise that you'll

stay a few days at the farm.

I hope you bring the teacher.

It's only 10 minutes by car.

No.

No, why?

With the holidays...

Excursions...

that's for rich people.

And then what would your

family say to have two strangers?

Family? What family, Madame?

I never had one.

- I live alone with God.

- Then it's worse. Inconvenient.

Pity. It's such a nice place

to rest.

Well, so it's over.

If it's inconvenient,

I haven't said a word.

But now, why inconvenient?

I'd like

to show the Peking

dukes to Dona Gloria.

Do you know Peking ducks,

Dona Madalena?

Not yet.

That's it, one studies a lot,

I wonder what for?

Carrier?

- Shall we rest a while?

- Thank you. I'll get to the hotel.

You're very badly installed

here, ladies.

Good bye.

If you want to see S?o Bernardo

I'll send you a car.

Of course. And thank you

for your company.

You're very welcome.

Let's go.

Dr. Nogueira,

- who is this Dona Gloria?

- The teacher's aunt?

- Yes. How's her family?

- In which sense?

In general. I traveled with her in

the train today. She's sympathetic.

But what's your interest?

She indirectly touched on

an ambition of hers:

Her niece's transference.

- I never saw the director of...

- Public Instruction?

I know Silveira,

who makes the rules.

Perhaps this transference

won't be difficult.

- Lf they deserve it, of course.

- But she's an excellent teacher.

Noble character. And you want

to take her away. Cheers.

If she leaves, do you know

what will happen?

They'll send us and

old analphabet.

Yes, you're right.

Gondim, some time ago you

spoke to me about a teacher.

Madalena?

I met her the other day.

I liked her. Is she serious?

A great girl. Only the articles

she writes for the "Cruzeiro"...

- So she writes?

- Very educated.

Do you have anything

to do with her?

Projects. I want her to

teach in S?o Bernardo.

She might not accept.

To live in the wilderness...

That's the aunt, an old fool.

But the other one, if she's

as bright as you say...

Yes, it might be advantageous

for her. More money, right?

- Of course.

- Did you already speak to her?

No. If I had, I wouldn't

consult you.

Gondim... do me a favor.

Sound her out.

I hardly know her.

You do it yourself.

No.

I must get back to

S?o Bernardo today.

And then I wouldn't know how

to treat people like that.

Complicated.

Gondim... talk to her, please.

All right.

I'll talk about the landscape,

country poetry...

the simplicity of the pupils

and if she's not convinced yet

I'll hit her with patriotism!

How are you?

- Fine, thanks, and you?

- How is the farm?

- I can't complain.

And your school and Dona Gloria?

Nothing new?

Of course you're not interested

in the farm.

I'm here for another reason.

The offer you made me

through Gondim?

More or less.

I should have told you

that I can't accept.

The Devil! And the pay rise,

what about that?

It's not convenient. I'm a

public teacher 6 years now.

I won't lose my security

like that.

Those private schools are open

today and closed tomorrow.

Congratulations for your

prudence.

We really would have taken chances.

- Lf you say so yourself...

- I do.

I have another offer for you.

To be frank, that school

business was a pretext...

What I have to say is

very difficult...

You must agree...

But let me come to the point.

Let me be frank, heart in hand.

Here it is:

I decided to get married.

You please me.

I liked you the fist time

I saw you.

It's clear that I'm not the

ideal man you've dreamt of.

I'm 40 years old.

You must be 20.

27.

Twenty-seven?

Nobody's give you more than 20.

Very well...

We're getting closer.

With a bit of good will...

we can be in church

next week.

Your proposal is very

advantageous for me.

Very advantageous.

But I must think it over.

Anyway I'm very grateful to you.

It's true I'm as poor as Job,

and all alone.

Don't say that, girl.

And your education?

And your person?

You don't count that?

Do you want to know something?

If we reach an agreement

it's me who gets the swell deal.

How are you, Dona Madalena?

- Very well, thanks, and you?

I found the keys.

Mr. Paulo Hon?rio, you here?

Good to see you.

- Congratulations.

- What's that?

Your marriage. Everybody talks

of it. You didn't tell.

When is it going to be?

You're drunk!

I didn't think it a secret.

Everybody knows.

Idiot!

You see?

They're talking about it.

It's all they talk about,

according to Gondim.

I'll never come back here.

In the first place, I don't

want to aggrieve you.

And then, it's ridiculous.

Of course you've thought

it over.

I always wanted to live

in the country.

Awake early, take care of

the garden.

You have a garden there,

don't you?

Why don't you wait a

little more?

To be frank with you,

I don't love you.

Now listen to that!

I wouldn't believe you if

you had told me you did.

I don't like people

who just fall in love

and make rash decisions.

Especially one like this.

Let's set the day.

There's no hurry.

In a year, perhaps.

I must prepare mylself.

A year?

A business after a year

is no good.

What's missing?

A white dress one can make

in 24 hours.

Can we tell your aunt?

All right.

Dona Gloria, let me inform you

that I and your niece will be

hitched up in a week.

To speak property,

we are going to be married.

Of course you'll come with us.

It's a big house.

There's a lot of shacks too,

and where 2 can eat, 3 can.

Starting a new life,

right, Paulo?

Very well.

Quite a woman.

How much do you make,

Mr. Ribeiro?

200 Mil Reis.

That's very little indeed.

When he was working for Brito,

he got 150 a month.

So, 200, bed and board,

washing included, isn't bad.

That's true. I'm all right.

I get enough money.

And if you had 10 children?

That's enough.

You too?

Take care of your Romans.

Don't be angry. We all have

our opinions.

Sure. But it's stupid to

voice opinions

about things one doesn't

understand.

The Devil! I'm not

discussing grammar!

The business of my farm

I understand.

You make me lose patience!

That was imprudent.

It was. Inconsiderate.

One must think before

one speaks.

Certainly.

I forgot they were employees.

Sorry I was inconvenient.

Very inconvenient!

Now you exaggerate. Why?

It was a misunderstanding.

Thank you. Little sugar.

That's the word: Misunderstanding.

Things here are different

from outside.

Cinema, bars, invitations,

shouting, billiards - the Devil!

Here there is nothing of that.

And sometimes on doesn't

know how to spend the money.

Do you want me to tell you

something?

I started out in life with

100 Mil Reis.

Yes, Ma'am, 100 Mil Reis,

and borrowed.

Well, they went a long way.

I believe you.

I still don't know how things

are here. I'll get used to it.

What I feel...

I never regret anything.

What's done is done.

But then, a sad face never

helped anybody.

If you want to join

Dona Gloria...

She didn't pay attention to

our talk, poor thing.

It was just talk.

It was on for the Devil.

Will you do me a favor?

Talk to her, tell her

I didn't mean to hurt her.

An elderly lady, respectable.

That I didn't mean to,

do you hear?

I'm like that, rather

ill-tempered.

Madalena,

why don't you take care of

the correspondence?

Do you want a salary?

Of course.

Later we talk about that.

Mr. Ribeiro will open an

account for you.

But then, in spite of all

precautions,

all the asbestos we used

to isolate our attritions...

new discords arose.

Then, there were many...

In the morning, Madalena

worked at the office but

in the afternoon she went out and

visited the huts of the tenants.

That's bad.

Marciano!

Go to work!

- I've already finished, Mr. Paulo.

- Finished, nothing!

Yes I did. I swear it by

this light that shines on us.

You lie! The cattle

are starving! Gnawing wood!

Just now it was filled.

I never saw cattle eat more.

Nobody can live here

any more.

No rest...

Are you getting cute,

you bastard?

To work, you tramp!

You are to blame.

Filling their block-heads

with stories.

I wasn't filling anything,

Mr. Paulo. That's injustice.

He came to complain, truly.

I even told him:

"You better feed the cattle,

Marciano."

He didn't believe me and hung

around, twaddling. I was sick of it.

By God, I can't stand

the face of his.

Insolence...

You give the foot

and they want the hand.

Taking fresh air?

It's horrible.

Pardon?

- It's horrible.

- What?

Your behavior.

How barbarous. Preposterous.

What a story, the Devil. I don't

understand. Explain.

How can you beat a human

being like that?

Ah, yes, because of Marciano.

I thought it was something

serious. It frightened me.

To beat a man like that!

How terrible!

That was nothing. You're

drowning in a puddle.

Those people only work if they

must. One must kick them.

And then, Marciano is not

really a man.

- Why?

- Who knows. God's will.

- He's weakling.

- Sure. You're always humiliating him.

I protest! When I met him,

he was already a weaking.

I suppose he always was

kicked around.

Nonsense. He was born

a weakling.

That's cruelty...

Why did you do that?

Because I thought

it should be done.

And I'm not used to explain

my actions, understand?

Big deal!

A guy got boxed 2 or 3 times.

What the devil have you with

Marciano to care so much?

We must help Dr. Caetano.

If I could convince Madalena

that she's not right...

If I explained that we

must live in peace.

She doesn't understand me.

We don't understand

each other.

What will happen not be

what me hope for.

Absurdity!

Not to hear the tic tac

of the clock.

What time is it?

When I sat down here

I heard the pendulum.

I heard it very well.

It would be convenient

to wind the clock.

But I'm unable to get up.

Look at that!

Are you sleeping? Wake up!

Houses, church, road,

weir, pastures...

are like new.

The cotton field is almost

3,5 miles by 2.

The woods are rich.

Yellow-trees, cedars...

See the cotton-gin,

the saw mill...

All this just grew here,

all by itself...

To hell and gone,

to the pest-house!

Go see that brat.

Must things be that way?

Let the world come down!

The boy screams his head off!

Madalena got a baby. A boy.

Really, it must be delicious

to live in S?o Bernardo.

It's beautiful for outsiders.

We here get used to it.

I don't keep this as an

ornament. It's to be sold.

- The flowers too?

- Everything!

- Flowers, vegetables, fruits...

- There,

that's common-sense.

If all Brazilians would

only think like that

- we wouldn't have so much misery.

- Politics, Padre Silvestre?

Why not? You must agree that

we're at the brink of an abyss.

Very well said.

- What abyss?

- The system...

dishonesty... villainy...

Who're the villains?

I'm not to accuse anybody.

But facts are facts.

- Look around.

- It's best to point out.

Whom to point out? The

dominant class are rotten.

The country is going down.

What happened to you

for you to talk like that?

You sound as

if your income didn't pay

your expenses.

I suppose business goes

very well.

But it's not about me.

State finances are sick.

And are getting worse.

But don't make a mistake,

a revolution will come.

That would do it!

Spoil everything!

- Why?

- Are you also a revolutionary?

I only wonder why?

Why! No credits,

money devaluation.

Imported merchandises get

deadly expensive.

And then, this political

complication.

That would be great! Then

everything would get well.

I wonder why Padre Silvestre

wants a revolution.

- What advantage would you have?

- None.

No advantage at all.

But I think the collectivity

would gain with this.

Just wait. They're already

building a fire to fry you in.

- Literature.

- Literature no.

But something good

might come out of it.

Fascism.

That's what you think.

We'd get communism.

God beware!

- Afraid. Mr. Ribeiro?

- I already saw many changes -

- all to the worse.

- None of this.

Those absurd doctrines

don't prosper amongst us.

Communism is misery,

degradation of society.

At Dom Pedro's time

there was little money

and a Conto of Reis

made you rich.

But there was abundance.

Pumpkins rotting on the land.

Castor beans, cotton seed,

were worthless.

After the proclamation of the

Republic, they became dear.

That's why I say

changes are always for

the worse.

A Nation without God!

They shot all the priests.

Not one got away.

And the drunken soldatesca

broke images and

danced on the altars.

Madness! Is that possible?

On the altars?

Thy did not! Anti-revolutionary

propaganda!

Do you work for them,

Padre Silvestre?

No. I stay quietly in

my corner.

But I do think that the

Government is no good.

I do think there must be

a reform.

As for those ideas,

this communism -

I don't believe they could

prosper here amongst us.

The people has religion.

The people is Catholic.

I don't think so. Nobody

knows the doctrine.

If a Protestant preaches

the gospel

all the devotees from our

processions will listen.

Others preach Spiritsm.

And the rabble believes

in witchcraft.

Some even worship trees.

Many enter Catholicism as if

it were a hotel.

They chose their dish

with great fastidiousness.

The more advanced ones

are sceptics.

You're wrong,

Padre Silvestre.

They hear the Mass,

but they are no Catholics.

You can look at it from one

side - or from the other.

In this case...

what would you lose,

Mr. Ribeiro?

I don't konw. I might.

All that disgrace.

At least here I have

a piece of bread.

If this disgrace come,

I'd get not even this.

No, Mr. Ribeiro, you're wrong.

Madalena tried to convince him.

But I didn't understand what

she was saying.

All of a sudden I felt

a suspicion.

I had felt a sentiment

like this before.

When?

It got clear in a moment!

It was that same day in

the office

when Madalena gave me

the letters to sign.

A plot with Padilha

to spoil the good employees.

Yes, Sir!

A Communist!

I building -

she tearing down!

Corruption!

Dissolution of society!

Padre Silvestre is right.

Religion is a bridle.

Nonsense! Who's a horse to

need a bridle?

What would be Madalena's

religion?

None, perhaps.

She'd never spoken of this.

Materialist!

I remembered Costa talk about

historical materialism.

What did this mean?

I truly worry little

about the other world.

I'm for God, heavenly paymaster

of my workers

so badly rewarded here on earth

and for the Devil

future torturer of the thief

of a priced cow of mine.

I therefore have

a little religion...

albeit I think it is partly

dispensable in a man.

But a woman without religion.

Horrible!

Communist!

Materialist!

A nice marriage!

Friendship with this

imbecile Padilha.

What were they talking about?

I have confidence -

But I magnified Nogueira's

beautiful eyes...

his well-made clothes,

his insinuating voice...

mixing it with Madalena's

materialsm and communism

and I started to get jealous.

Madalena, Dona Gloria,

Padilha... what a crowd!

I wanted do grab Madalena

and kick even her palate.

An educated woman.

All I needed was proof.

To find her in bed

with another man.

Please show me this.

There's nothing to show.

It's only for me.

All right.

But please show me.

I already told you it is

of interest only for myself!

Will you please show me

this letter?

Go to hell! Look after

your own affairs!

Give me this letter, you cow!

People hear you outside.

Damn, fuck yourself!

This girl, face like a saint...

Fuck yourself.

If you're not satisfied, get lost.

You and your niece.

Go away both of you.

Fuck yourself, both of you.

- Give me this letter, you bitch!

- Wretch!

- Give me this letter, bitch!

- Wretch!

- Murderer!

- Bitch!

Madalena, Dona Gloria and Padilha

go all fuck yourself!

Murderer!

What did she know of my life?

I never confided in her,

everybody has his secrets.

It would be interesting if

one would tell everything.

Everybody has his vices.

Madalena, coming from a school,

must have many.

Could I know her past?

Her present was bad.

She didn't call Casimiro a

murderer, but me!

Nex she would insist that

Casimiro and I were one.

Madalena, Dona Gl?ria, Padilha...

Go fuck yourselves!

After calming down

I changed my mind.

Madalena was honest, of course.

She didn't show the paper

because of her strong will.

Dignity. Of couse.

Stupid jealousy.

Better behaved than her,

only in a monastery.

And good even to the

wild animals.

After the morning's violence,

I felt full of optimism.

And my inherent brutality

turned against Padilha.

Scoundrel!

Fire him.

At your service,

Mr. Paulo Hon?rio.

Bad news for you.

I don't need your services

any more.

Why? What did I do?

You ask me that?

You should know what you did!

I didn't do anything.

What have I done wrong?

I'm worse off than a

prisoner in jail.

I don't go out.

If I try,

Casimiro follows me.

What have I done?

Show me one thing!

I don't give explications.

All right.

Always busy, and now this.

Year in, year out

the stupid employee works.

Doing his duty,

trying to please.

When one expects a raise,

there comes a kick-out.

Give me at least a few days,

to get my affairs in order.

I can't leave like this,

with empty hands.

- You have a month.

- Thanks very much.

And one must be grateful on top.

Well done!

If I hadn't helped your wife,

this wouldn't have happened.

- What?!

- Very helpful, yes!

"Go get me a book, Mr. Padilha"

and there I'd go.

"Get me a paper, Mr. Padilha"

I'd get it.

"Copy this page,

Mr. Padilha" I'd copy.

"Some oranges, Mr. Padilha"

I even got her oranges!

Helpful.

That woman was the reason

for my disgrace.

- Watch your tongue!

- What did I say?

I was helpful.

That's why you send me away.

No.

That's not it!

It's because you were intriguing.

- Making trouble!

- What intrigues?

Which trouble?

You can't show me one!

Am I to blame if your wife

has advanced ideas?

- It's not because of that.

- Then I don't know.

Listen, Padilha...

I see a lot of things

and close my eyes.

Now when I say that you

were making trouble

it's because you were

making trouble!

Say it then.

My conscience is clear.

Say it!

If one knows, one tells.

Don't come me like this.

You told Madalena lies.

Didn't you talk badly about me?

Did you? Tell me!

I did not, Mr. Paulo.

I don't know anything.

Don't give me that, man.

I heard you.

All right, if you heard me,

one can't argue.

Of course you heard

what I didn't say.

I heard what you said.

I hear well!

Or you heard about

Mendon?a's death.

Dona Madalena knew.

- Knew what?

- What the people say. Slander.

I explained everything

and defended you.

"Dona Madalena,

that's an old story."

"To mess with it doesn't give

his life back".

"Old Mendon?a

was a blighter

who went about stealing

other people's land."

"Now don't believe everything

they tell you around here."

"Mr. Paulo has a good heart,

he wouldn't kill a bird".

Padilha...

why did you say Madalena

was your disgrace?

What do you want?

Didn't I lose my job

because of her?

It was her. And look here,

I don't like that.

Many times I said, openly.

"Dona Madalena, Mr. Paulo is

set against socialism."

"You better leave

this sort of talk".

There you are.

I'm blameless.

I'm blameless!

Damn...

What were you talking

about so much?

Literature, politics...

Art, religion...

An educated woman,

Dona Madalena.

Intelligent. A library.

Well, all this is no news.

You know better then I what

sort of wife you have.

You know the wife

you have.

I knew nothing.

That was exactly what

spoiled my appetite.

To live with somebody

in the same house

to eat at the same table

to sleep in the same bed

and to discover years later

that she was a stranger.

Who's there?

Who's there?!

Flesh and blood or a ghost?

Won't you answer?

What was it?

Your partners surround the house.

But be sure

any day now...

one of them will get

dropped dead.

He whistled, didn't he?

Did you fix an encounter

here, right on top of me?

That's all I needed!

Do you want me to leave?

Do you want me to leave,

your cow? Don't be shy!

Stop that crying.

Just because they whistle

in the orchard

or walk about in the garden

you don't have to be

awash in tears.

You better stop this magic.

If I had proof that

Madalena was innocent

I'd give her a life

she couldn't imagine.

I'd buy her dresses to

last for ever.

Expensive hats

dozens of silk stockings...

I'd be attentive

I'd call the best doctors

to cure her paleness...

I'd let her give clothes

to the women of the workers.

If I knew that she

betrayed me...

Ah, if I knew that

she betrayed me...

I'd kill her! I'd open a vein

in her throat, slowly...

so she'd bleed a whole day.

Another one, Mr. Paulo!

What the hell!

If that fly were any good,

if she were smart

she would be here to

enjoy all this beauty.

In spite of being only

reasonably impressionable

I'm convinced that this is

not a bad world.

8 meters over the ground

one has the vague sensation

of being 8 meters tall.

And when, that tall, we see

cattle herds at our feet

plantations covering large

tracts of land...

All ours.

And we see the smoke that

rises from our houses.

Where there live people who

respect us, fear us.

They might even love us,

since they depend on us.

A great calm involves us.

And we feel good,

we feel strong.

And if there are enemies

nearby, dying...

even if they are

unimportant enemies

that a boy could finish off

with a club...

our feeling of power

becomes steady

and augments.

In the face of this

a doll that traces

invisible lines

on paper that's just only visible

deserves little consideration.

So I came down in peace with God

and with mankind.

Son of a bitch!

A letter, man!

Am I some sort of Marciano?

Goddamn band of sons of bitches!

Turn around. We've got business.

Still?

What were you doing here?

Praying?

You might just say

you were praying!

Still?

You wrote a letter.

That's the way it is.

Go away!

Let me come see it, Mr. Paulo.

Of course.

I'll come back later.

It's still early.

There's a letter.

I must know, do you understand?

So?

I read it.

Say something.

What for?

Three years we lead this

horrible life.

When we try to understand

each other

I'm certain that we will

end up fighting.

This letter.

The rest is in the office

on my desk.

This leaf probably was blown

into the garden-

Whom to?

You'll see.

It's on the desk.

It's not a big deal,

you'll see.

Well...

Will you forgive me for the

troubles I cause you, Paulo?

- I had my reasons, I suppose.

- That's not the point.

Will you forgive me?

What spoilt everything

was your jealousy.

Be a friend to my aunt, Paulo.

When all this fighting

has passed

you'll recognize that

she's a good person.

This misunderstanding.

She's to blame too.

A bit sour.

Ribeiro is an honest working

man, don't you think?

Yes.

Once he was a gambler

cards hark...

today he's garbage.

An honest fellow!

Poor devil!

- And Padilha...

- No, no. This is cheating.

It's not right for you to

be on his side.

- A scoundrel!

Marciano...

you're rude to Marciano...

Oh well...

That's bullshit...

Don't be angry...

- What I wanted...

- What did you want?

I don't know!

If I should die suddenly...

What's that for a story, woman?

- That's really too fast.

- No.

You know very well how my end will

be. If I should suddenly die...

Will you stop this, woman.

Why talk like this?

Give my dresses to the family

of Caetano and to Rosa.

Give my books to Ribeiro,

Padilha and Gondim.

What a stupid way to talk!

I feel like going on a trip.

After the harvest, Ribeiro

can take care of my farm -

we go to Bahia,

to Rio de Janeiro,

let's stay away a few months

and rest.

You take care of your stomach,

have fun, fill up...

It's good to get new air.

The whole time in this hole,

working like a Negro...

The we'll have a look at

S?o Paulo. All right?

This morning, there were

flowers in the forest.

I counted four.

In a week they'll be beautiful.

Pity they fall so fast.

What do you tell me

about the trip?

Yes, I was praying.

Not quite praying,

I don't know how to pray.

No time.

I wrote so much that

my fingers hurt.

Small letters,

to economize paper.

Before exams I only slept

2, 3 hours a night.

I didn't have any protection,

understand?

In spite of everything, our

house was humid and cold.

In the winter I took my books

into the kitchen.

I could go to church...

I studies always, always,

afraid not to pass the exams.

The houses of the workers here

are also humid and cold.

It was so sad.

I was praying for them.

For all of you.

Praying!

I was just talking.

My God, it's so late,

and here I'm talking.

Farewell, Paulo.

I will rest.

For God, nothing is impossible.

For two years Madalena is dead

now. Two difficult years.

I'm a crushed man.

III?

No.

I'm in perfect health.

Thanks God, I never

needed a doctor.

I don't suffer from disease.

It's evident that,

once this crisis is past,

the farm could go back

to normal business.

Everybody killing themselves

working again,

eating flour and dried cod-fish.

Trucks could roll again,

loaded with merchandise.

The farm could resurrect

with busy noises.

But what for?

"What for?",

you'll ask me.

Behind this noisy bustle

there would be many tears

and curses.

Little children,

devoured by vermin,

would die slowly in the

humid, cold huts.

And Madalena wouldn't be here any

more, to send them medicines.

Men and women would be

but sad beasts.

Beasts!

Because the people who worked

for me were just beasts.

There were some trained

ones, like Padilha...

and wild ones,

like Casimiro Lopes.

And the others, harmless ones,

who worked the plantations,

Tame calves.

I raised myself above

my own class.

I think I raised quite high.

I'm sure that the manuals

for commerce,

agriculture and cattle raising,

which constitutes the base

for my instruction,

didn't make me a better man

than I was before.

Then, at least,

I didn't dream to be this ferocious

exploiter I have become.

I think I lost my way.

To-day,

I don't sing and I don't laugh.

I always think of Madalena.

If it were possible

to start over again...

If it were possible

to start over again...

everything would happen

just the same way.

I simply can't change myself and

that distresses me most of all.

Madalena came here

filled with good feelings...

and intentions.

They shattered on

my brutality and my egotism.

I don't think I was always

a brutal egotist.

But my job brought out those

bad qualities of mine.

Mu terrible suspiciousness

makes me see only enemies.

This suspiciousness is also

a consequence of my job.

This way of life that

destroyed me.

I'm a cripple.

My heart must be very small,

my brain full of empty spaces,

my nerves different from those

of other people.

And a enormous nose...

an enormous mouths...

enormous fingers...

It's horrible.

If only somebody would come!

But they're all asleep.

If only my son would cry!

But not even for my son

I feel friendship.

What misery!

Casimiro Lopes sleeps.

Marciano sleeps.

Scoundrels!

And I'll stay here,

in the dark,

till I don't know what time.

Till, dead-tired,

my head will rest

on the table,

and I may sleep a few minutes.

São Bernardo (1972) - full transcript