The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969) - full transcript
The Spanish explorer Pizarro captures the Inca god-chief Atahualpa and promises to free him upon the delivery of a hoard of gold. But Pizarro finds himself torn between his desire for conquest and his sense of honor after friendship and respect develops between captive and captor.
(dramatic music)
- [Francisco] Save you all.
My name is Francisco Pizarro.
I'm a bastard and
a soldier of Spain.
Once the world could have
had me for a petty farm,
two rocky fields and
a Senor to my name.
But the world said no.
Said no and said no.
Well now the world is
going to remember me.
(dramatic music)
- It is quite plain
your majesty that
the petitioner Francisco Pizarro
has suffered great hardships in
his search for this
kingdom of gold.
It is also evident that he
is a man of great endurance.
On his first voyage he took with
him 60 men and returned with 34.
On his second
voyage he took with
him 80 men and returned with 12.
All very admirable
no doubt but how many
such voyages can Spain afford?
How much more Spanish
blood must be wasted
in this quest for a land that
no one knows really exists?
What books have you
read that make mention
of this kingdom of
gold, name them.
- Your majesty I
cannot read or write.
But I say it's there.
- You petition from the
Crown exclusive rights
to explore and
Governor as Viceroy
all territory south of Mexico.
An explorer is not
simply a vagabond.
An explorer makes discoveries.
What in your time have
you ever discovered?
These golden trinkets but
have been cast in Seville.
These maps you have
drawn can be bought
by the dozen in
any street bazaar.
And this Indian savage.
- Jesus Christ is
my lord and savior.
- Is already converted.
(muted laughter)
You have been a good soldier.
The Crown remembers
its faithful.
Why not forget these
grandiose schemes
and return to Trujillo where
you can live in comfort?
You will be granted
a modest pension.
- All my life fighting for Spain
and the cross is
this how it ends?
- There are other
petitioners awaiting
an audience Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty your
Vedor questions
why so many men died
on my past voyages
and yet I always survived
well that's no accident.
Not in a land where
by day the sun
boils the marrow in your bones
and by night freezes the
water in your kidneys.
When the food runs out you've
had alligators for crawfish,
jaguars for the price of snakes.
At nights vampire bats can
suck out your lifeblood.
But Your Majesty beyond
these gates of Hell
lies the kingdom of gold,
of gold Your Majesty.
Who would you trust to make
a journey through Hell?
A scholar, a saint, or
a soldier who has fought
with death from
Africa to the Indies?
- Your capacity for
survival is not in question.
But you are a dreamer.
If you would
accomplish something
my loyal subject you
must be something.
- Your Majesty your court
is filled with cold precise
perfect men, they're
all something.
But they dare not dream for fear
of making a mistake
so they do nothing.
Your Majesty is how long can
Spain endure doing nothing?
- Make note the petitioner
Francisco Pizarro is granted
providing he finds his own means
to finance this expedition.
The Crown will retain one
fifth of all he discovers
but will give him no
ships, no men, no money.
Amendment, Crown does grant
the services of two priests
to bring the mercy
of Jesus Christ
and the words of his holy
gospel to all creatures
whom the petitioner encounters.
(dramatic music)
- General!
General!
General?
I would like to
be your page sir.
I know Latin sir, 300 words.
And I can write 600
words in Spanish.
- A soldier doesn't
need any of that boy.
- Well I can keep your
charts for you sir.
- What's your name boy?
- Martin sir.
(church bell ringing)
(men chanting)
(dramatic music)
- You are the huntsman of God.
The weapons you draw are sacred.
Oh God show us our
way to beat the savage
out of these dark forests onto
the broad plain of thy grace.
- You will bring to all tribes
the nourishment of pity...
- [Francisco] Took me a
year to raise this Army.
Gentlemen, cutthroats,
mercenaries, and priests.
- Don't think we go
merely to destroy--
- [Francisco] And for all my
promises my promises of gold,
couldn't have done it
without the Cavalier,
my friend the Cavalier do Soto.
- He who helps me lift
this dark man into light
I absolve of all crime
he ever committed.
Go then and be blessed.
(speaking in foreign language)
- You had word of my coming.
You should not have allowed
anyone to be blessed before me.
- Your pardon Vedor.
I do not understand matters
of before and after.
- That is evident.
General on this expedition
my name is the law.
It is spoken with
the kings authority.
- Your pardon Vedor on this
expedition my name is the law.
They'll be no other.
- [Vedor] In matters military.
- [Francisco] In all matters.
- Pizarro in the name of
Spain our holy country
I appoint you a second
in command to me
subject only to me, adelante.
- Yes General.
- You will do well not
to incur my disfavor.
In the eyes of the Crown
you are still an adventurer.
- Take up your banners.
(trumpet music)
March!
(trumpet music)
(dramatic music)
(speaking in foreign language)
(dramatic music)
- Hey you brownie.
- Gently, you'll get
nothing from him in terror.
- Well let's see?
- [Hernando] Put up your knife.
Talk to him.
- We want gold.
(speaking in foreign language)
- He has no gold all was taken
by the great king in his war.
- What king?
(speaking in foreign language)
- Holy Atahuallpa Inca over
Earth and sky his kingdom is.
- Who's this king,
who did he fight?
(speaking in foreign language)
- Holy Atahuallpa.
His father the great
Inca Wyna grew two sons
Vasca buy a wife,
Atahuallpa by not wife.
At his death he cut the kingdom
in two for them but
Atahuallpa wanted all.
So he made war and
captured his brother.
Now he is Lord of Earth and Sky.
- And he is the bastard?
Answer.
Atahuallpa is the bastard?
(speaking in foreign language)
- He is the son of the sun.
He needs no wedded mother.
He is god.
- God?
- God.
- Oh my brothers
where have we come?
This is the land of Antichrist.
We must, the cross will
save you, stay him.
Repeat Jesus Christ Inca.
- Jesus Christ Inca.
- Jesus the Christ Inca.
- He's a god alright, they're
scared to hell of him.
And a bastard too.
That's civil war,
bastards against bastards.
- We have a surprise for him.
- You hear that Inca god?
You're not gonna like
that because we've
got a God worth 1000 of yours,
a gentle God with
gentle priests,
and a couple of great big canons
to blow you out of the sky.
(laughing)
(speaking in foreign language)
(dramatic music)
(calm music)
- Listen to them.
There's the world.
Eagle rips the condor,
that condor rips the crow.
Crow would blind all
the eagles in the sky
at once if he had
the beak to do it.
(bird cawing)
(groaning in pain)
A wound from long ago.
A knife to the bone a savage
put it in to me for life.
It troubles me at times boy.
You'll stop before me with your
wounds and your killing too.
I wonder how you'll like that.
- You watch me sir.
- I will.
It's a soldiers job
to deal in death.
All your study will
be how to kill them,
what scratches kill
and what to cut.
- But surely sir there's
more to soldiering than that.
- You mean honor, glory,
tradition to the service?
- Yes sir.
- Listen boy know something.
Men cannot just stand
as men in this world
it's too big for them
they grow scared.
They build themselves shelters
called army, church, court.
They're not real boy
they're not true Martin.
Do you see that?
- No sir not truthfully sir.
- No sir?
Not truthfully sir?
Why must you be so young?
Army loyalty is blasphemy.
The world of soldiers is a
yard of ungrowable children.
They wear ribbons.
They make up ceremonies just to
keep up the rest of the world.
They count up the
number of the blue dead
and the green dead and
they call that the history.
Boy.
That's just the flower the
bandit carves on his knife
before he plunges
it into your side.
Martin I've had a life of it.
I tell you.
It's nothing but a
game played by brutes
to give themselves a reason.
(bird caws)
Help me up will you?
- [Martin] Is it better sir?
- It's gone now, it's gone.
(coyote barking)
(dramatic music)
(speaking in foreign language)
- I speak for Atahuallpa Inca,
Lord of the four quarters,
King of the Earth and sky.
- I will speak with him.
A king's man must always
greet a king's man.
We bring greetings
from King Carlos
Emperor of Spain and Austria.
We bring blessings from
Jesus Christ son of God.
- We are sent from
the son of god.
He orders you to visit him.
- Where is your king?
- He rests.
A great army rests with him.
It is not wise to
raise his anger.
- I said I came to
give him blessing.
How can that raise his anger?
- Why will you bless him?
- He is a god, I am a god.
- General.
- Be silent Father.
Where is your king?
(speaking in foreign language)
- Behind the great mountains.
- Must we march
before we find him?
- One life of Mother Moon.
- A month, for us two weeks.
(dramatic music)
- The way is clear.
Let's have church
on the last day.
(dramatic music)
(suspenseful music)
- On your feet soldiers.
Boy play your drum.
The church will precede us.
Father.
(drum beating)
(suspenseful music)
- Here you.
One shiver dooms the lot of us.
One yelp of fright you'll
never be heard of again.
We'll serve you like cattle
pressed with a knife.
Come on you cattle crash.
(indistinct dialogue)
(horse neighs loudly)
(suspenseful music)
(calm music)
- Give the order General.
- I know his orders, adelante.
- We came for gold Vedor.
I promised you this kingdom.
Here it is.
Didn't promise you life
or everlasting happiness.
So adelante.
(calm music)
- I bring greeting from
Atahuallpa Inca, Lord of the
Four Quarters.
- King of the Earth and sky.
Atahuallpa god makes
this space empty
for reason his people
do not like strangers.
You must not go from here.
Outside it is great anger.
This day and night god fasts.
Tomorrow he will come with his
soldiers here to look on you.
- [Francisco] How many
soldiers will he bring?
- It is not for you to question.
- My captain would like to know
so that he may
prepare his welcome.
- Your captain gave
word he is a god.
A god has no fear.
- The army's encamped
about two miles away.
- There's nothing between
the town and their camp.
Let's pay our respects.
- No we wait here
inside these walls.
- No it's a trick
a brownie trick.
He's got us all
marked for death.
- It's the divine hand
of providence Vedor.
- In what way General
explain yourself.
- One entrance, one
exit perfect ambush.
- It's madness.
- We're not fighting
10,000, one man.
Get him the rest collapse.
- Even if we can they will kill
every one of us to get him back.
- With a knife at his throat?
What do worshipers do
when you snatch their god?
- Pray to you instead.
- Then pray all.
Disperse, confess them father's,
battle orders first light.
- Brace up boy.
It's what you came for isn't it?
Death and glory.
- Yes sir.
- The devil is strong in me.
I believe nothing or
I believe too much.
- I have denied God and
placed my faith in my king.
Oh Lord give me the courage
to reconcile the two.
- If I should die tomorrow
then let it be remembered
that I seek nothing for myself.
I want nothing for myself.
If I must take
the life of others
then let that spring from
the corruption of my flesh.
But oh God keep my soul pure.
(calm music)
- General.
When we met the Inca
priests on the mountains
you told them you were a god.
Why did you say that?
- I sent him news to amaze him.
- I cannot condone blasphemy.
- To conquer for
Christ one can surely
usurp his name for
a night Father.
- No not even for that.
- Then I will recant
at my next confession.
- I'll remind you.
- Where does the
sun rest at night?
- Nowhere it's a heavenly
body set by god to
move around the world
in perpetual motion.
- Do you know this?
- All of Europe knows it.
- What if they were wrong?
What if it settled
here each evening
in these great mountains?
A god laid down to sleep.
- To a savage it
must make a fine god.
How fantastic that
anyone on Earth
should dare to say it's
my father up there.
My father the sun.
(calm music)
(suspenseful music)
(dramatic music)
- They're coming!
They're coming.
They're coming.
They're coming sir.
- Out of sight boy.
- Until the fighting sir?
- No all the time for you.
- Oh no sir.
- Do as he says.
(calm music)
(grandiose music)
(speaking in foreign language)
- Where is the god?
- I am a priest of God.
(speaking in foreign language)
- He doesn't want the
priest he wants the god.
- Our God cannot be seen.
(speaking in foreign language)
- [Translator] I may see him.
- No he was killed by man
and went into the sky.
I am the answer
to all mysteries.
Hark pagan while I expand.
First God created
heaven and Earth
which the better punished
with eternal suffering.
And the good rewarded
with life hereafter.
And this God created
man from dust
and gave him a spiritual life
which we called the soul.
No man is free from sin except
our savior Jesus Christ.
He was killed and
crucified on a wooden cross
like the one you see here.
Now Jesus Christ
by his own virtue
rose from the dead
and 40 days later
ascended into
Heaven where he sits
at the right hand of the Father.
He wished that his
apostle Saint Peter
be the prince of all is apostles
and the successor as well
as all other Christians.
And that the Roman pontiffs as
we Christians call the Pope's
have the same power given
to Saint Peter by God.
The Roman pontiff who
now lives on Earth
understands that the people
and nations of this kingdom
ignore our creator
their true God
and blindly worship idols and
images in the shape of demons.
Therefore he has commanded
our King Carlos V
to bring all men to
belief in the true God.
In Christ's name I charge you
declare yourself
his willing vessel.
(speaking in foreign language)
- By what power do you speak?
- By this the word of God.
- God.
God.
- God?
(yells in foreign language)
(dramatic music)
Francisco Pizzaro!
- Why do you stay your hand
when Christ is insulted?
Let this Satan feel
the power of your arm.
I absolve you all, Santiago.
(dramatic music)
(cannons and guns firing)
(upbeat music)
(singing in foreign language)
- Enough, enough.
Enough, enough, enough.
(singing in foreign language)
(dramatic music)
- I am Francisco Pizarro
General of Spain.
It's my honor to speak to you.
Would you not speak to me?
- I am Atahuallpa
Kabak, son of the sun,
Son of the moon, Lord
of the four quarters.
Why you not kneel?
- Milord I kneel
only to my king.
- Why you come here?
- For God and King.
Spain has many things your
country doesn't possess.
- You wanted gold that's
why you came here.
- You have gold?
- It is the sweat of the sun.
It belongs to me.
- How much gold do you have?
- Make me free.
I will fill this room.
- [Hernando] It's not possible.
(babbling)
- How long?
- Two strikes of my Mother Moon.
(speaking in foreign language)
- [Francisco] No,
you say no, why not?
- You must swear to free me
and you have no swear to give.
- You're wrong my Lord.
- No it's in your face.
No swear.
- I never broke my word.
I never promised you safety.
If I had you'd have it.
- Francisco.
Refuse sir, you
could never free him.
- It'll never come to that.
- It could.
- Never do you realize how
much gold that would take?
Even half would
drown us in riches.
- So at your age
gold is no lodestone?
- I promised my men gold yes?
He stands between
them and that gold.
If I don't make this
bargain he'll die.
The men will demand it.
- And what's it to
you if he does die?
- I want him alive.
There's a meaning for
meeting this man god.
- General be careful.
I don't understand you in
full but I do know this.
What you do now
cannot be undone.
- Words my Cavalier,
words that don't touch me.
This way the men will have their
gold and I'll have him safe
that's enough for the present.
Now my Lord let us
know what we say.
You must strive
to keep the peace.
You must not escape.
You must not urge
your men to help you.
So swear.
(speaking in foreign language)
- I swear.
- Then I swear too.
You fill this room with
gold I set you free.
(speaking in foreign language)
- I think this man
performs what he swears.
Pray God we don't
pay bitterly for it.
(speaking in foreign language)
(inspirational music)
- But this is the truth my Lord.
This land belongs to Spain.
Well a few years ago
a great call arose
between the king of Spain
and the king of Portugal.
Well Spain claimed this land
because of Christopher Columbus
Portugal because
of Vasco da Gama.
His Holiness the
Pope acted as judge
and he gave this land to Spain.
- Who?
- Pope.
- He's mad.
He gives away
country are not his.
- [Francisco] I find you
wanting in honesty my Lord.
A month is past your
rooms not quarter full.
- [Atahuallpa] My
kingdom is great.
Porters are slow.
You will see more
gold before long.
- The rumor is I shall
see a rising before long.
- If you not trust
me send to Cusco.
See how quiet my people sit.
- You leave immediately
with 20 men.
- I will General.
- God is tied by
his word like you.
But if he raised one
nigh of one finger
of one hand you would all die.
- If you declare us false
both these will die before us.
- They are my priests,
these can die.
- Mother of God
there's no confession
possible for this man.
- You cannot say that
for certain Father.
- Satan has many forms
and there sits one.
Tell me I'm only
a simple priest.
As an undoubted god you'll
live forever here on Earth.
- Here on Earth where god's
come one after another
young and young again to
protect the people of the sun.
Then they go up to his great
place in the sky at his will.
- What if they are
killed in battle?
- If it is not the sun's
time for them to go.
He will bring them
back to life again
at the next day's light.
- How comforting and has
any Inca so returned?
- [Priest] No.
- Curious.
- This means only that all gods
have died in the sun's time.
- [Estete] Clever.
- No true.
- Tell me how can
the sun have a child?
- How could your
God have a child
since you say he has no body?
- He is a spirit inside us.
- Your God is inside
you how can this be?
- Well they eat him.
First he become biscuit
and then they eat him.
- We have seen this
at praying you say
this is the body of our God.
- And then they drink
his blood, is very bad.
Here in my empire
we not eat man.
- You are being
deliberately stupid.
Beware Pizarro give him the
slack he will destroy us all.
- Father has great zeal.
- Yeah great zeal to see the
devil in the poor dark man.
- Not so poor General.
The man who is the
soul of his kingdom.
Look hard you'll
find Satan here.
Because here's a country which
denies the right to hunger.
- You call hunger a right.
- Course, gives life meaning.
Look around you.
Happiness has no
feel for men here
since they are
forbidden unhappiness.
They have everything in common
so there's nothing
to give each other,
a pass of the seasons no more.
As indistinguishable as mules,
as predictable as trees.
All men are born unequal and
want is their birthright.
Atahuallpa I will not rest until
I have brought you
to the true God.
- No it's not the truth.
Where is he?
(operatic singing)
Where is my father sun?
You see now only by his wish.
(operatic singing)
Looking to him.
He will darken
your eyes forever.
Do not speak to me
again of your God.
He is nowhere.
- Milord you shouldn't
anger our holy men.
You promised me you wouldn't.
- They are fools.
- No they're not fools.
- You believe with them?
Look into me.
You do not believe with them.
- You shouldn't say that to me.
- You do not believe with them.
Their God is not in your face.
(singing in foreign language)
How was the song for you?
- Robber birds?
- Yes.
- You're a robber bird yourself.
- Yes, no...
Explain.
- You killed your brother
to get the throne.
- He was a fool.
Atahuallpa was a man
Vasca was a child.
- He was the rightful king.
- I was the rightful god.
My sky father shouted raise up.
Your brother is fixed
only to tend herds.
You were born to tend my people.
So I killed him and land smile.
- That was my work long
ago, tending herds.
- Was not your work,
you are warrior.
It's in your face.
- You see much in my face.
- I see
my father.
- You do me great honor.
- No speak the truth.
If in your home your
brother was king
and only fit for herds you
would attack his crown.
- [Francisco] If I could.
- And then you would kill him.
- Let me put to
you another case.
I come to a country
I seize the crown
but for fear of an
uprising I cannot
keep the crown unless
I kill the king.
What do I do?
It's only a game we
play milord only a game.
Did you hate your brother?
- He was ugly.
Putayama was his mother.
My mother was beautiful.
- I didn't know my mother.
She wasn't married to my father.
- You are not then...
- Legitimate?
No milord no more than you.
- So.
- So.
- To be born so is the
sign of a great man.
(laughing)
- I think it is.
(calm music)
- Only most important
man wearing this.
You must kneel to me.
- I've never been so
distinguished to myself.
(babbling)
(grunting)
- Now you dance.
(laughing)
- Over there.
(calm music)
- Welcome back sir.
- Cavalier, Vedor, Candia
I'm glad to see you.
- [Cavalier] What's it
like is there trouble?
- Very quiet and terrible.
They're just standing in the
fields for hundreds of miles
waiting their god to come back.
- If he does they'll
become fighters again.
Then it's us for the line pit.
- How is the General?
- An altered man.
No one's ever seen him so easy.
He spends hours each
day with the Inca.
It seems they have more in
common than their lowly birth.
- The General's going to find it
difficult when he has to do it.
- Do what?
- When he has to kill him.
- He can't do that
not after a contract
witnessed before the whole army.
- You call this rabble an army?
Most of them
volunteered simply to be
absolved of their
previous crimes.
- The General made his
pact with the Inca.
- Well we can't let him
go that's for certain.
- He gave his word.
- Yes Cavalier when a Christian
swears with a Christian--
- Christianity isn't
the issue, it's trust.
- What's Cusco like?
- Nothing but women,
children, and old men.
- The gold room is full.
- The gold room is full!
The gold room is full!
(all shouting at once)
- Where do you
think you're going?
You know the orders.
Nothing till share out.
Penalty for breech
death, now disperse.
- Get back to your stations.
Keep a sharp lookout the
danger isn't over yet.
- I'd say it had
only just begun.
- General how's your journey?
- The country's as
quiet as a grave.
Cusco is like a dead city.
The gold room is full.
- [Francisco] I know it.
- You must make
the share out now.
- Have Diego melt
everything down.
- But there are objects
of great beauty.
- What a tender man you are.
Boy your pen.
Milord you are now going
to learn a Spaniards honor.
Take this down boy.
Let this be known
throughout my army
the Inca Atahuallpa having
discharged his obligation
to General Pizarro
is today a free man.
(dramatic music)
- Milord your freedom.
(dramatic music)
- What is that you have done?
- This is writing milord.
- Explain.
- These are signs.
This is Atahuallpa,
this is free.
- You put this is sign and
he will see and know free?
- Yes milord.
- No.
- Yes milord I'll do it again.
- Here on my hand.
- What's the one you put?
- God.
- What is put?
- God.
- God?
Show me again more signs.
- What is put?
- What?
- Put put.
- It's only a game.
- The General never
learned the skill my Lord.
A soldier does not need it.
- A king needs it.
There is great power
in these marks.
You are king in this room.
You must teach us too.
We will learn together
like brothers.
- You'd stay with
me here to learn.
- No tomorrow I wish go.
- And then?
What then?
- I will not hurt you.
- [Francisco] Nor my army?
- That I not swear.
- You must.
- Do not say this thing now.
- No I do say it.
Before I let you go
Atahuallpa you must swear
you will not hurt a
man in all my army.
- I not swear this.
- For my sake.
- 2000 of my servants were
killed, 2000 without arms.
- There's a way of mercy.
- It is not my way
it's not your way.
- Swear it to me then.
- Keep your swear first.
- Cannot.
- Cannot?
- Not immediately you must
see you are many we are few.
- Is not important.
- It is to me.
- You gave
your word.
- And we'll keep it
only not now, not today.
- When?
- Soon.
- When?
- Very soon.
- When?
(both shouting at once)
(shouting in foreign language)
- I will kill every man.
- Will you?
Boy what did I put?
- This is today a free man.
- Continue.
But for the welfare
of the country
he will remain for the
moment as guest of the army.
- Ever seen so much gold Father?
(dramatic music)
- Soldiers of Spain
you have fought
and won the good
fight of the cross.
We have overcome
a deceitful king.
To make amends this
treacherous monarch
has delivered to us reparations
which we will now share out.
(men cheering)
- Keep in line lads
you'll all get yours.
There's enough for everyone.
Now these are the orders.
That each man take his share to
his quarters and carve his mark.
- How is the General?
- In a bad temper.
His old wound is
acting up again.
- Well I'm sorry to hear that
he's still subject
to distresses.
I had hoped that
victory would have
brought him a calmer spirit.
- Must be his new wealth Vedor.
So much so sudden must be
a great burden for him.
- The burdens of the General sir
are care for his men and
for our present situation.
Let us try to lighten
them for him as we can.
- Vedor.
- Let us indeed.
One throat cut and
were all lightened.
- It would greatly relieve
the Crown if you would cut it.
- If I?
Oh you mean I'm not Spanish so
don't have to
trouble with honor.
- You're not a subject.
It could be disowned by
my king and you have none.
- So Palace of Disinterest
has a crap house after all.
Look man you're the
overseer so do your job.
Go to the General tell
him the brownie must go.
- General mutiny's smoking.
Act now or it'll be a
blaze you'll not put out.
- What do I do?
- Take our chances
what else can we do?
You have to let him go.
- What happens then?
Tiny army's wiped
out in five minutes.
The whole story's
forgotten for always.
Later on somebody
else will conquer Peru
and no one will ever
even remember my name.
- What kind of name will they
remember if you kill him?
- A conqueror is that at least.
- A man who butchered his
prisoner after giving his word.
There's a name for your ballads.
- I won't be around
to hear them.
What do I care?
What does it matter?
Whatever I do what
does it matter?
- Nothing if you don't feel it.
Look I wish you've never made
this bargain but you made it.
Now you've no choice left.
- This is my kingdom.
In Peru I'm an absolute
I have the choice always.
- No you did have
it but you made it.
- Then I take it back.
- And that will be
from your own fear.
That's not choosing.
- May the Crown
be allowed a word?
- I know you your word, death.
- What else can it be?
- Your army's in jeopardy
you care nothing for them?
- You here that Cavalier?
Do you care nothing for them?
- I care about them less
than I care about you.
God knows why.
- The issue is simple.
You are the Viceroy
here ruling in
the name of the
king who sent you.
You have no right to risk his
lands for any reason at all.
- What has this king
ever done for me?
Allowed me salary if I
found money to pay it?
Permitted me to fit out this
expedition at my own expense?
Allowed me governance if
I found land to govern?
Magnificent.
- This is ridiculous.
- For years I strove to
make this expedition,
years of scars and hunger.
If I fail this time
this king of yours
would have cast me off with one
shrug of his royal feathers.
Now I cast him.
Francisco Pizarro casts
off Carlos V of Spain.
Go and tell him.
- You miserable creature.
Where would you be without
your king and country?
- My country?
What has my country
ever done for me?
The only place I know in it is
that filthy village
I was born in.
For 22 years I drove
pigs down those streets
because my father
couldn't own to my mother.
22 years without a
single day of help.
When I turned soldier
and dragged my boots
along the roads to Italy I was
so famished I was beyond eating.
I got nothing from my country.
Though I groaned for that
once I'm glad of it now.
Because I owe my
country nothing.
Tell you real.
You'll have to
furnish me with better
argument before I
give up Atahuallpa.
- For verse man what
is Atahuallpa to you?
- Someone I promised life.
- Promised life how quaint.
The sort of chivalrous idea
that you pretend to despise.
If you want to be an
absolute king my man
you have to learn how
to act out of self will.
Break your word just
because you made it.
Till then you're nothing but a
pig man trying to
copy his betters.
- Sir listen to me.
No promise to a pagan
need bind a Christian.
Simply think what's at stake,
the lives of 167
of the faithful.
Are you willing to sacrifice
them for one savage?
- [Francisco] You know
lives have no weight.
10 cannot be added up to 1000.
- One, can good count
against one evil?
And this man is evil.
His people kiss his hands
as a source of light.
- As we do yours.
All day you play at being God.
You only hate my Inca
because he does it better.
I despise you.
Kill who I bid you kill
and I will pardon it.
You with your milky fingers
forcing them the blade.
How dare you priests bless
a man going into battle.
Rip you scream, tear blind
in the name of Christ.
Tell me soft Father.
If Christ were here
would he kill the Inca?
And you brother De Nizza,
lord of all the answers.
Would you have me kill him?
- Don't try and trap me.
I know as well as you how
terrible it is to kill.
But worse it is to spare evil.
When I came here first I
thought I'd found paradise.
Now I know it's hell.
There's a sinful
core of the soul.
For the sake of the free spirit
in each of us it
must be destroyed.
- There's no Christian charity?
To save my own soul
I'll kill another man.
- To save love in the world
you must kill lovelessness.
- Hail to you father
sole judge of love.
No salvation
outside your church.
No love it in either.
Father.
I do not know love.
But if I have none
for Atahuallpa
what can I ever know of it?
- [Soldier] Go on get him.
(all shouting at once)
- I didn't mean to kill him.
We were playing dice
I caught him cheating.
I didn't mean to kill him.
- Fighting's forbidden
you know that.
You know the penalty.
Confess him Father.
Atahuallpa.
- General.
General.
General!
Another fight broke out
so there's one more dead.
- Who?
- Mendoza he drew a knife.
I only meant to
split his leg but
he slipped and got
it through the guts.
- You do well to
punish fighting.
- Yes sir.
May I speak free sir?
Well to me you're the
greatest General in the world
and we're the greatest company.
- So you want me to
kill him is that it?
- Well what other way is there?
The men are out of their wits.
There's death all around them.
- Death is all around them.
I promised you gold not life.
I've kept my part
of the bargain.
- I'll give you death.
When I get back to
Spain a commission
will hail you to the state
for what you've said today.
- If I free the Inca Father
you'll never get back to Spain.
- You mad man.
Now see here you put him
underground by sunset
or I'll take the
knife to him myself.
- They ache for your death.
Some of them will
die before you.
- Batalia.
- What a touching scene,
prisoners and jailers.
But it's over now General.
Do you think I'm gonna die so
that you can dance with a darky.
- Sorry sir but
it's gotta be done.
- There's nothing you
can do about it General.
The whole camp's against you.
- De Soto?
- No General I'm not with them.
But I'm not with you.
- You will have
to kill me first.
- Is no matter.
They can not kill me.
- Cannot?
- Only my father can
take me from here.
And he not execute me
killed by men like you.
Men with no word.
You may in this
town but never go.
And if you kill me tonight
I will raise at dawn
when my father first
touch my body with light.
- That's not possible.
- All of my people know it.
Is why they left
me stay with you.
- Your people let
you stay with me
because they knew I
could not kill you?
- So.
- Don't any kind of reason.
- [Francisco] Is it boy is it?
- Sir how can a man die and
they get up and walk away?
- Let's hear your creed.
I believe in Jesus
Christ the Son of God
that he was crucified dead
and buried and then what?
- Sir?
- Then what?
- On the third day he
rose again from the dead.
- You don't believe it?
- I do sir I believe on my soul.
I believe with perfect faith.
- But Christ is to be
the only one is that it?
- It's impossible my Lord.
- Look at him boy look at him.
Supposing I have gone god
hunting and caught one.
- But how can that be sir?
- Because he returns
over and over again
to the source of
life to the sun.
- [Martin] General it cannot be.
- You want your freedom?
Go on walk out of the camp.
They may stop you but what's
that to you you're immortal?
Go on, go on.
Go on!
- Pizarro you will die soon and
you not believe in your God.
Is why you struggle
and keep no word.
Believe in me.
For you I will do a great thing.
I will swallow death
and spit it out of me.
- The prisoner has been tried
on the following charges.
Usurping the throne
and assassinating
his brother Vascar,
worshiping idols,
adulterous practices
with a plurality of wives,
attempting to incite
an insurrection against
his Spanish masters.
On all of these charges how
do you find the prisoner?
- I challenge that
the evidence brought
on these charges is
wholly insufficient.
I consider this cruel mockery,
a poor requital for the favors
bestowed on us by the Inca.
If he were in Spain
and his cause brought
before the Emperor our
sovereign who alone--
- Full account of
these proceedings will
be sent to Castile
and the Emperor informed who are
loyal subjects to the Crown
and who are its enemies.
Cavalier I offer
you an opportunity
to have your statement
stricken from the records.
- I will retract nothing.
- On all of these charges
how do you find the prisoner?
- Guilty.
- Guilty.
- Guilty.
- Guilty.
- Guilty.
(dramatic music)
- Guilty.
(dramatic music)
- The sentence to be carried out
this very night is
death by burning.
- No no you cannot do it!
The body must stay in one piece.
- Let him repent his idolatry
and be baptized a Christian.
He will receive the
customary mercy.
- Strangling instead.
- You must do it you
must be baptized.
You cannot let your
body burn to ashes.
There must be something left.
Some flesh left for your
father to warm alive at dawn.
- You must do it my Lord.
- [De Nizza] I baptize
you one Atahuallpa
in honor of John the Baptist
whose sacred day this is.
- [Vedor] The 29th
day of August 1533.
- [Estete] And may
our Lord in his angels
receive your soul with joy.
- [All] Amen.
(dramatic music)
(chanting in foreign language)
(rope grinding)
(grandiose music)
(gasping)
(chanting in foreign language)
(somber music)
- Martin.
Stay Martin.
- No General.
You did for me.
Now I've done for you.
(somber music)
- [Atahuallpa] Inca!
(upbeat music)
- [Francisco] Save you all.
My name is Francisco Pizarro.
I'm a bastard and
a soldier of Spain.
Once the world could have
had me for a petty farm,
two rocky fields and
a Senor to my name.
But the world said no.
Said no and said no.
Well now the world is
going to remember me.
(dramatic music)
- It is quite plain
your majesty that
the petitioner Francisco Pizarro
has suffered great hardships in
his search for this
kingdom of gold.
It is also evident that he
is a man of great endurance.
On his first voyage he took with
him 60 men and returned with 34.
On his second
voyage he took with
him 80 men and returned with 12.
All very admirable
no doubt but how many
such voyages can Spain afford?
How much more Spanish
blood must be wasted
in this quest for a land that
no one knows really exists?
What books have you
read that make mention
of this kingdom of
gold, name them.
- Your majesty I
cannot read or write.
But I say it's there.
- You petition from the
Crown exclusive rights
to explore and
Governor as Viceroy
all territory south of Mexico.
An explorer is not
simply a vagabond.
An explorer makes discoveries.
What in your time have
you ever discovered?
These golden trinkets but
have been cast in Seville.
These maps you have
drawn can be bought
by the dozen in
any street bazaar.
And this Indian savage.
- Jesus Christ is
my lord and savior.
- Is already converted.
(muted laughter)
You have been a good soldier.
The Crown remembers
its faithful.
Why not forget these
grandiose schemes
and return to Trujillo where
you can live in comfort?
You will be granted
a modest pension.
- All my life fighting for Spain
and the cross is
this how it ends?
- There are other
petitioners awaiting
an audience Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty your
Vedor questions
why so many men died
on my past voyages
and yet I always survived
well that's no accident.
Not in a land where
by day the sun
boils the marrow in your bones
and by night freezes the
water in your kidneys.
When the food runs out you've
had alligators for crawfish,
jaguars for the price of snakes.
At nights vampire bats can
suck out your lifeblood.
But Your Majesty beyond
these gates of Hell
lies the kingdom of gold,
of gold Your Majesty.
Who would you trust to make
a journey through Hell?
A scholar, a saint, or
a soldier who has fought
with death from
Africa to the Indies?
- Your capacity for
survival is not in question.
But you are a dreamer.
If you would
accomplish something
my loyal subject you
must be something.
- Your Majesty your court
is filled with cold precise
perfect men, they're
all something.
But they dare not dream for fear
of making a mistake
so they do nothing.
Your Majesty is how long can
Spain endure doing nothing?
- Make note the petitioner
Francisco Pizarro is granted
providing he finds his own means
to finance this expedition.
The Crown will retain one
fifth of all he discovers
but will give him no
ships, no men, no money.
Amendment, Crown does grant
the services of two priests
to bring the mercy
of Jesus Christ
and the words of his holy
gospel to all creatures
whom the petitioner encounters.
(dramatic music)
- General!
General!
General?
I would like to
be your page sir.
I know Latin sir, 300 words.
And I can write 600
words in Spanish.
- A soldier doesn't
need any of that boy.
- Well I can keep your
charts for you sir.
- What's your name boy?
- Martin sir.
(church bell ringing)
(men chanting)
(dramatic music)
- You are the huntsman of God.
The weapons you draw are sacred.
Oh God show us our
way to beat the savage
out of these dark forests onto
the broad plain of thy grace.
- You will bring to all tribes
the nourishment of pity...
- [Francisco] Took me a
year to raise this Army.
Gentlemen, cutthroats,
mercenaries, and priests.
- Don't think we go
merely to destroy--
- [Francisco] And for all my
promises my promises of gold,
couldn't have done it
without the Cavalier,
my friend the Cavalier do Soto.
- He who helps me lift
this dark man into light
I absolve of all crime
he ever committed.
Go then and be blessed.
(speaking in foreign language)
- You had word of my coming.
You should not have allowed
anyone to be blessed before me.
- Your pardon Vedor.
I do not understand matters
of before and after.
- That is evident.
General on this expedition
my name is the law.
It is spoken with
the kings authority.
- Your pardon Vedor on this
expedition my name is the law.
They'll be no other.
- [Vedor] In matters military.
- [Francisco] In all matters.
- Pizarro in the name of
Spain our holy country
I appoint you a second
in command to me
subject only to me, adelante.
- Yes General.
- You will do well not
to incur my disfavor.
In the eyes of the Crown
you are still an adventurer.
- Take up your banners.
(trumpet music)
March!
(trumpet music)
(dramatic music)
(speaking in foreign language)
(dramatic music)
- Hey you brownie.
- Gently, you'll get
nothing from him in terror.
- Well let's see?
- [Hernando] Put up your knife.
Talk to him.
- We want gold.
(speaking in foreign language)
- He has no gold all was taken
by the great king in his war.
- What king?
(speaking in foreign language)
- Holy Atahuallpa Inca over
Earth and sky his kingdom is.
- Who's this king,
who did he fight?
(speaking in foreign language)
- Holy Atahuallpa.
His father the great
Inca Wyna grew two sons
Vasca buy a wife,
Atahuallpa by not wife.
At his death he cut the kingdom
in two for them but
Atahuallpa wanted all.
So he made war and
captured his brother.
Now he is Lord of Earth and Sky.
- And he is the bastard?
Answer.
Atahuallpa is the bastard?
(speaking in foreign language)
- He is the son of the sun.
He needs no wedded mother.
He is god.
- God?
- God.
- Oh my brothers
where have we come?
This is the land of Antichrist.
We must, the cross will
save you, stay him.
Repeat Jesus Christ Inca.
- Jesus Christ Inca.
- Jesus the Christ Inca.
- He's a god alright, they're
scared to hell of him.
And a bastard too.
That's civil war,
bastards against bastards.
- We have a surprise for him.
- You hear that Inca god?
You're not gonna like
that because we've
got a God worth 1000 of yours,
a gentle God with
gentle priests,
and a couple of great big canons
to blow you out of the sky.
(laughing)
(speaking in foreign language)
(dramatic music)
(calm music)
- Listen to them.
There's the world.
Eagle rips the condor,
that condor rips the crow.
Crow would blind all
the eagles in the sky
at once if he had
the beak to do it.
(bird cawing)
(groaning in pain)
A wound from long ago.
A knife to the bone a savage
put it in to me for life.
It troubles me at times boy.
You'll stop before me with your
wounds and your killing too.
I wonder how you'll like that.
- You watch me sir.
- I will.
It's a soldiers job
to deal in death.
All your study will
be how to kill them,
what scratches kill
and what to cut.
- But surely sir there's
more to soldiering than that.
- You mean honor, glory,
tradition to the service?
- Yes sir.
- Listen boy know something.
Men cannot just stand
as men in this world
it's too big for them
they grow scared.
They build themselves shelters
called army, church, court.
They're not real boy
they're not true Martin.
Do you see that?
- No sir not truthfully sir.
- No sir?
Not truthfully sir?
Why must you be so young?
Army loyalty is blasphemy.
The world of soldiers is a
yard of ungrowable children.
They wear ribbons.
They make up ceremonies just to
keep up the rest of the world.
They count up the
number of the blue dead
and the green dead and
they call that the history.
Boy.
That's just the flower the
bandit carves on his knife
before he plunges
it into your side.
Martin I've had a life of it.
I tell you.
It's nothing but a
game played by brutes
to give themselves a reason.
(bird caws)
Help me up will you?
- [Martin] Is it better sir?
- It's gone now, it's gone.
(coyote barking)
(dramatic music)
(speaking in foreign language)
- I speak for Atahuallpa Inca,
Lord of the four quarters,
King of the Earth and sky.
- I will speak with him.
A king's man must always
greet a king's man.
We bring greetings
from King Carlos
Emperor of Spain and Austria.
We bring blessings from
Jesus Christ son of God.
- We are sent from
the son of god.
He orders you to visit him.
- Where is your king?
- He rests.
A great army rests with him.
It is not wise to
raise his anger.
- I said I came to
give him blessing.
How can that raise his anger?
- Why will you bless him?
- He is a god, I am a god.
- General.
- Be silent Father.
Where is your king?
(speaking in foreign language)
- Behind the great mountains.
- Must we march
before we find him?
- One life of Mother Moon.
- A month, for us two weeks.
(dramatic music)
- The way is clear.
Let's have church
on the last day.
(dramatic music)
(suspenseful music)
- On your feet soldiers.
Boy play your drum.
The church will precede us.
Father.
(drum beating)
(suspenseful music)
- Here you.
One shiver dooms the lot of us.
One yelp of fright you'll
never be heard of again.
We'll serve you like cattle
pressed with a knife.
Come on you cattle crash.
(indistinct dialogue)
(horse neighs loudly)
(suspenseful music)
(calm music)
- Give the order General.
- I know his orders, adelante.
- We came for gold Vedor.
I promised you this kingdom.
Here it is.
Didn't promise you life
or everlasting happiness.
So adelante.
(calm music)
- I bring greeting from
Atahuallpa Inca, Lord of the
Four Quarters.
- King of the Earth and sky.
Atahuallpa god makes
this space empty
for reason his people
do not like strangers.
You must not go from here.
Outside it is great anger.
This day and night god fasts.
Tomorrow he will come with his
soldiers here to look on you.
- [Francisco] How many
soldiers will he bring?
- It is not for you to question.
- My captain would like to know
so that he may
prepare his welcome.
- Your captain gave
word he is a god.
A god has no fear.
- The army's encamped
about two miles away.
- There's nothing between
the town and their camp.
Let's pay our respects.
- No we wait here
inside these walls.
- No it's a trick
a brownie trick.
He's got us all
marked for death.
- It's the divine hand
of providence Vedor.
- In what way General
explain yourself.
- One entrance, one
exit perfect ambush.
- It's madness.
- We're not fighting
10,000, one man.
Get him the rest collapse.
- Even if we can they will kill
every one of us to get him back.
- With a knife at his throat?
What do worshipers do
when you snatch their god?
- Pray to you instead.
- Then pray all.
Disperse, confess them father's,
battle orders first light.
- Brace up boy.
It's what you came for isn't it?
Death and glory.
- Yes sir.
- The devil is strong in me.
I believe nothing or
I believe too much.
- I have denied God and
placed my faith in my king.
Oh Lord give me the courage
to reconcile the two.
- If I should die tomorrow
then let it be remembered
that I seek nothing for myself.
I want nothing for myself.
If I must take
the life of others
then let that spring from
the corruption of my flesh.
But oh God keep my soul pure.
(calm music)
- General.
When we met the Inca
priests on the mountains
you told them you were a god.
Why did you say that?
- I sent him news to amaze him.
- I cannot condone blasphemy.
- To conquer for
Christ one can surely
usurp his name for
a night Father.
- No not even for that.
- Then I will recant
at my next confession.
- I'll remind you.
- Where does the
sun rest at night?
- Nowhere it's a heavenly
body set by god to
move around the world
in perpetual motion.
- Do you know this?
- All of Europe knows it.
- What if they were wrong?
What if it settled
here each evening
in these great mountains?
A god laid down to sleep.
- To a savage it
must make a fine god.
How fantastic that
anyone on Earth
should dare to say it's
my father up there.
My father the sun.
(calm music)
(suspenseful music)
(dramatic music)
- They're coming!
They're coming.
They're coming.
They're coming sir.
- Out of sight boy.
- Until the fighting sir?
- No all the time for you.
- Oh no sir.
- Do as he says.
(calm music)
(grandiose music)
(speaking in foreign language)
- Where is the god?
- I am a priest of God.
(speaking in foreign language)
- He doesn't want the
priest he wants the god.
- Our God cannot be seen.
(speaking in foreign language)
- [Translator] I may see him.
- No he was killed by man
and went into the sky.
I am the answer
to all mysteries.
Hark pagan while I expand.
First God created
heaven and Earth
which the better punished
with eternal suffering.
And the good rewarded
with life hereafter.
And this God created
man from dust
and gave him a spiritual life
which we called the soul.
No man is free from sin except
our savior Jesus Christ.
He was killed and
crucified on a wooden cross
like the one you see here.
Now Jesus Christ
by his own virtue
rose from the dead
and 40 days later
ascended into
Heaven where he sits
at the right hand of the Father.
He wished that his
apostle Saint Peter
be the prince of all is apostles
and the successor as well
as all other Christians.
And that the Roman pontiffs as
we Christians call the Pope's
have the same power given
to Saint Peter by God.
The Roman pontiff who
now lives on Earth
understands that the people
and nations of this kingdom
ignore our creator
their true God
and blindly worship idols and
images in the shape of demons.
Therefore he has commanded
our King Carlos V
to bring all men to
belief in the true God.
In Christ's name I charge you
declare yourself
his willing vessel.
(speaking in foreign language)
- By what power do you speak?
- By this the word of God.
- God.
God.
- God?
(yells in foreign language)
(dramatic music)
Francisco Pizzaro!
- Why do you stay your hand
when Christ is insulted?
Let this Satan feel
the power of your arm.
I absolve you all, Santiago.
(dramatic music)
(cannons and guns firing)
(upbeat music)
(singing in foreign language)
- Enough, enough.
Enough, enough, enough.
(singing in foreign language)
(dramatic music)
- I am Francisco Pizarro
General of Spain.
It's my honor to speak to you.
Would you not speak to me?
- I am Atahuallpa
Kabak, son of the sun,
Son of the moon, Lord
of the four quarters.
Why you not kneel?
- Milord I kneel
only to my king.
- Why you come here?
- For God and King.
Spain has many things your
country doesn't possess.
- You wanted gold that's
why you came here.
- You have gold?
- It is the sweat of the sun.
It belongs to me.
- How much gold do you have?
- Make me free.
I will fill this room.
- [Hernando] It's not possible.
(babbling)
- How long?
- Two strikes of my Mother Moon.
(speaking in foreign language)
- [Francisco] No,
you say no, why not?
- You must swear to free me
and you have no swear to give.
- You're wrong my Lord.
- No it's in your face.
No swear.
- I never broke my word.
I never promised you safety.
If I had you'd have it.
- Francisco.
Refuse sir, you
could never free him.
- It'll never come to that.
- It could.
- Never do you realize how
much gold that would take?
Even half would
drown us in riches.
- So at your age
gold is no lodestone?
- I promised my men gold yes?
He stands between
them and that gold.
If I don't make this
bargain he'll die.
The men will demand it.
- And what's it to
you if he does die?
- I want him alive.
There's a meaning for
meeting this man god.
- General be careful.
I don't understand you in
full but I do know this.
What you do now
cannot be undone.
- Words my Cavalier,
words that don't touch me.
This way the men will have their
gold and I'll have him safe
that's enough for the present.
Now my Lord let us
know what we say.
You must strive
to keep the peace.
You must not escape.
You must not urge
your men to help you.
So swear.
(speaking in foreign language)
- I swear.
- Then I swear too.
You fill this room with
gold I set you free.
(speaking in foreign language)
- I think this man
performs what he swears.
Pray God we don't
pay bitterly for it.
(speaking in foreign language)
(inspirational music)
- But this is the truth my Lord.
This land belongs to Spain.
Well a few years ago
a great call arose
between the king of Spain
and the king of Portugal.
Well Spain claimed this land
because of Christopher Columbus
Portugal because
of Vasco da Gama.
His Holiness the
Pope acted as judge
and he gave this land to Spain.
- Who?
- Pope.
- He's mad.
He gives away
country are not his.
- [Francisco] I find you
wanting in honesty my Lord.
A month is past your
rooms not quarter full.
- [Atahuallpa] My
kingdom is great.
Porters are slow.
You will see more
gold before long.
- The rumor is I shall
see a rising before long.
- If you not trust
me send to Cusco.
See how quiet my people sit.
- You leave immediately
with 20 men.
- I will General.
- God is tied by
his word like you.
But if he raised one
nigh of one finger
of one hand you would all die.
- If you declare us false
both these will die before us.
- They are my priests,
these can die.
- Mother of God
there's no confession
possible for this man.
- You cannot say that
for certain Father.
- Satan has many forms
and there sits one.
Tell me I'm only
a simple priest.
As an undoubted god you'll
live forever here on Earth.
- Here on Earth where god's
come one after another
young and young again to
protect the people of the sun.
Then they go up to his great
place in the sky at his will.
- What if they are
killed in battle?
- If it is not the sun's
time for them to go.
He will bring them
back to life again
at the next day's light.
- How comforting and has
any Inca so returned?
- [Priest] No.
- Curious.
- This means only that all gods
have died in the sun's time.
- [Estete] Clever.
- No true.
- Tell me how can
the sun have a child?
- How could your
God have a child
since you say he has no body?
- He is a spirit inside us.
- Your God is inside
you how can this be?
- Well they eat him.
First he become biscuit
and then they eat him.
- We have seen this
at praying you say
this is the body of our God.
- And then they drink
his blood, is very bad.
Here in my empire
we not eat man.
- You are being
deliberately stupid.
Beware Pizarro give him the
slack he will destroy us all.
- Father has great zeal.
- Yeah great zeal to see the
devil in the poor dark man.
- Not so poor General.
The man who is the
soul of his kingdom.
Look hard you'll
find Satan here.
Because here's a country which
denies the right to hunger.
- You call hunger a right.
- Course, gives life meaning.
Look around you.
Happiness has no
feel for men here
since they are
forbidden unhappiness.
They have everything in common
so there's nothing
to give each other,
a pass of the seasons no more.
As indistinguishable as mules,
as predictable as trees.
All men are born unequal and
want is their birthright.
Atahuallpa I will not rest until
I have brought you
to the true God.
- No it's not the truth.
Where is he?
(operatic singing)
Where is my father sun?
You see now only by his wish.
(operatic singing)
Looking to him.
He will darken
your eyes forever.
Do not speak to me
again of your God.
He is nowhere.
- Milord you shouldn't
anger our holy men.
You promised me you wouldn't.
- They are fools.
- No they're not fools.
- You believe with them?
Look into me.
You do not believe with them.
- You shouldn't say that to me.
- You do not believe with them.
Their God is not in your face.
(singing in foreign language)
How was the song for you?
- Robber birds?
- Yes.
- You're a robber bird yourself.
- Yes, no...
Explain.
- You killed your brother
to get the throne.
- He was a fool.
Atahuallpa was a man
Vasca was a child.
- He was the rightful king.
- I was the rightful god.
My sky father shouted raise up.
Your brother is fixed
only to tend herds.
You were born to tend my people.
So I killed him and land smile.
- That was my work long
ago, tending herds.
- Was not your work,
you are warrior.
It's in your face.
- You see much in my face.
- I see
my father.
- You do me great honor.
- No speak the truth.
If in your home your
brother was king
and only fit for herds you
would attack his crown.
- [Francisco] If I could.
- And then you would kill him.
- Let me put to
you another case.
I come to a country
I seize the crown
but for fear of an
uprising I cannot
keep the crown unless
I kill the king.
What do I do?
It's only a game we
play milord only a game.
Did you hate your brother?
- He was ugly.
Putayama was his mother.
My mother was beautiful.
- I didn't know my mother.
She wasn't married to my father.
- You are not then...
- Legitimate?
No milord no more than you.
- So.
- So.
- To be born so is the
sign of a great man.
(laughing)
- I think it is.
(calm music)
- Only most important
man wearing this.
You must kneel to me.
- I've never been so
distinguished to myself.
(babbling)
(grunting)
- Now you dance.
(laughing)
- Over there.
(calm music)
- Welcome back sir.
- Cavalier, Vedor, Candia
I'm glad to see you.
- [Cavalier] What's it
like is there trouble?
- Very quiet and terrible.
They're just standing in the
fields for hundreds of miles
waiting their god to come back.
- If he does they'll
become fighters again.
Then it's us for the line pit.
- How is the General?
- An altered man.
No one's ever seen him so easy.
He spends hours each
day with the Inca.
It seems they have more in
common than their lowly birth.
- The General's going to find it
difficult when he has to do it.
- Do what?
- When he has to kill him.
- He can't do that
not after a contract
witnessed before the whole army.
- You call this rabble an army?
Most of them
volunteered simply to be
absolved of their
previous crimes.
- The General made his
pact with the Inca.
- Well we can't let him
go that's for certain.
- He gave his word.
- Yes Cavalier when a Christian
swears with a Christian--
- Christianity isn't
the issue, it's trust.
- What's Cusco like?
- Nothing but women,
children, and old men.
- The gold room is full.
- The gold room is full!
The gold room is full!
(all shouting at once)
- Where do you
think you're going?
You know the orders.
Nothing till share out.
Penalty for breech
death, now disperse.
- Get back to your stations.
Keep a sharp lookout the
danger isn't over yet.
- I'd say it had
only just begun.
- General how's your journey?
- The country's as
quiet as a grave.
Cusco is like a dead city.
The gold room is full.
- [Francisco] I know it.
- You must make
the share out now.
- Have Diego melt
everything down.
- But there are objects
of great beauty.
- What a tender man you are.
Boy your pen.
Milord you are now going
to learn a Spaniards honor.
Take this down boy.
Let this be known
throughout my army
the Inca Atahuallpa having
discharged his obligation
to General Pizarro
is today a free man.
(dramatic music)
- Milord your freedom.
(dramatic music)
- What is that you have done?
- This is writing milord.
- Explain.
- These are signs.
This is Atahuallpa,
this is free.
- You put this is sign and
he will see and know free?
- Yes milord.
- No.
- Yes milord I'll do it again.
- Here on my hand.
- What's the one you put?
- God.
- What is put?
- God.
- God?
Show me again more signs.
- What is put?
- What?
- Put put.
- It's only a game.
- The General never
learned the skill my Lord.
A soldier does not need it.
- A king needs it.
There is great power
in these marks.
You are king in this room.
You must teach us too.
We will learn together
like brothers.
- You'd stay with
me here to learn.
- No tomorrow I wish go.
- And then?
What then?
- I will not hurt you.
- [Francisco] Nor my army?
- That I not swear.
- You must.
- Do not say this thing now.
- No I do say it.
Before I let you go
Atahuallpa you must swear
you will not hurt a
man in all my army.
- I not swear this.
- For my sake.
- 2000 of my servants were
killed, 2000 without arms.
- There's a way of mercy.
- It is not my way
it's not your way.
- Swear it to me then.
- Keep your swear first.
- Cannot.
- Cannot?
- Not immediately you must
see you are many we are few.
- Is not important.
- It is to me.
- You gave
your word.
- And we'll keep it
only not now, not today.
- When?
- Soon.
- When?
- Very soon.
- When?
(both shouting at once)
(shouting in foreign language)
- I will kill every man.
- Will you?
Boy what did I put?
- This is today a free man.
- Continue.
But for the welfare
of the country
he will remain for the
moment as guest of the army.
- Ever seen so much gold Father?
(dramatic music)
- Soldiers of Spain
you have fought
and won the good
fight of the cross.
We have overcome
a deceitful king.
To make amends this
treacherous monarch
has delivered to us reparations
which we will now share out.
(men cheering)
- Keep in line lads
you'll all get yours.
There's enough for everyone.
Now these are the orders.
That each man take his share to
his quarters and carve his mark.
- How is the General?
- In a bad temper.
His old wound is
acting up again.
- Well I'm sorry to hear that
he's still subject
to distresses.
I had hoped that
victory would have
brought him a calmer spirit.
- Must be his new wealth Vedor.
So much so sudden must be
a great burden for him.
- The burdens of the General sir
are care for his men and
for our present situation.
Let us try to lighten
them for him as we can.
- Vedor.
- Let us indeed.
One throat cut and
were all lightened.
- It would greatly relieve
the Crown if you would cut it.
- If I?
Oh you mean I'm not Spanish so
don't have to
trouble with honor.
- You're not a subject.
It could be disowned by
my king and you have none.
- So Palace of Disinterest
has a crap house after all.
Look man you're the
overseer so do your job.
Go to the General tell
him the brownie must go.
- General mutiny's smoking.
Act now or it'll be a
blaze you'll not put out.
- What do I do?
- Take our chances
what else can we do?
You have to let him go.
- What happens then?
Tiny army's wiped
out in five minutes.
The whole story's
forgotten for always.
Later on somebody
else will conquer Peru
and no one will ever
even remember my name.
- What kind of name will they
remember if you kill him?
- A conqueror is that at least.
- A man who butchered his
prisoner after giving his word.
There's a name for your ballads.
- I won't be around
to hear them.
What do I care?
What does it matter?
Whatever I do what
does it matter?
- Nothing if you don't feel it.
Look I wish you've never made
this bargain but you made it.
Now you've no choice left.
- This is my kingdom.
In Peru I'm an absolute
I have the choice always.
- No you did have
it but you made it.
- Then I take it back.
- And that will be
from your own fear.
That's not choosing.
- May the Crown
be allowed a word?
- I know you your word, death.
- What else can it be?
- Your army's in jeopardy
you care nothing for them?
- You here that Cavalier?
Do you care nothing for them?
- I care about them less
than I care about you.
God knows why.
- The issue is simple.
You are the Viceroy
here ruling in
the name of the
king who sent you.
You have no right to risk his
lands for any reason at all.
- What has this king
ever done for me?
Allowed me salary if I
found money to pay it?
Permitted me to fit out this
expedition at my own expense?
Allowed me governance if
I found land to govern?
Magnificent.
- This is ridiculous.
- For years I strove to
make this expedition,
years of scars and hunger.
If I fail this time
this king of yours
would have cast me off with one
shrug of his royal feathers.
Now I cast him.
Francisco Pizarro casts
off Carlos V of Spain.
Go and tell him.
- You miserable creature.
Where would you be without
your king and country?
- My country?
What has my country
ever done for me?
The only place I know in it is
that filthy village
I was born in.
For 22 years I drove
pigs down those streets
because my father
couldn't own to my mother.
22 years without a
single day of help.
When I turned soldier
and dragged my boots
along the roads to Italy I was
so famished I was beyond eating.
I got nothing from my country.
Though I groaned for that
once I'm glad of it now.
Because I owe my
country nothing.
Tell you real.
You'll have to
furnish me with better
argument before I
give up Atahuallpa.
- For verse man what
is Atahuallpa to you?
- Someone I promised life.
- Promised life how quaint.
The sort of chivalrous idea
that you pretend to despise.
If you want to be an
absolute king my man
you have to learn how
to act out of self will.
Break your word just
because you made it.
Till then you're nothing but a
pig man trying to
copy his betters.
- Sir listen to me.
No promise to a pagan
need bind a Christian.
Simply think what's at stake,
the lives of 167
of the faithful.
Are you willing to sacrifice
them for one savage?
- [Francisco] You know
lives have no weight.
10 cannot be added up to 1000.
- One, can good count
against one evil?
And this man is evil.
His people kiss his hands
as a source of light.
- As we do yours.
All day you play at being God.
You only hate my Inca
because he does it better.
I despise you.
Kill who I bid you kill
and I will pardon it.
You with your milky fingers
forcing them the blade.
How dare you priests bless
a man going into battle.
Rip you scream, tear blind
in the name of Christ.
Tell me soft Father.
If Christ were here
would he kill the Inca?
And you brother De Nizza,
lord of all the answers.
Would you have me kill him?
- Don't try and trap me.
I know as well as you how
terrible it is to kill.
But worse it is to spare evil.
When I came here first I
thought I'd found paradise.
Now I know it's hell.
There's a sinful
core of the soul.
For the sake of the free spirit
in each of us it
must be destroyed.
- There's no Christian charity?
To save my own soul
I'll kill another man.
- To save love in the world
you must kill lovelessness.
- Hail to you father
sole judge of love.
No salvation
outside your church.
No love it in either.
Father.
I do not know love.
But if I have none
for Atahuallpa
what can I ever know of it?
- [Soldier] Go on get him.
(all shouting at once)
- I didn't mean to kill him.
We were playing dice
I caught him cheating.
I didn't mean to kill him.
- Fighting's forbidden
you know that.
You know the penalty.
Confess him Father.
Atahuallpa.
- General.
General.
General!
Another fight broke out
so there's one more dead.
- Who?
- Mendoza he drew a knife.
I only meant to
split his leg but
he slipped and got
it through the guts.
- You do well to
punish fighting.
- Yes sir.
May I speak free sir?
Well to me you're the
greatest General in the world
and we're the greatest company.
- So you want me to
kill him is that it?
- Well what other way is there?
The men are out of their wits.
There's death all around them.
- Death is all around them.
I promised you gold not life.
I've kept my part
of the bargain.
- I'll give you death.
When I get back to
Spain a commission
will hail you to the state
for what you've said today.
- If I free the Inca Father
you'll never get back to Spain.
- You mad man.
Now see here you put him
underground by sunset
or I'll take the
knife to him myself.
- They ache for your death.
Some of them will
die before you.
- Batalia.
- What a touching scene,
prisoners and jailers.
But it's over now General.
Do you think I'm gonna die so
that you can dance with a darky.
- Sorry sir but
it's gotta be done.
- There's nothing you
can do about it General.
The whole camp's against you.
- De Soto?
- No General I'm not with them.
But I'm not with you.
- You will have
to kill me first.
- Is no matter.
They can not kill me.
- Cannot?
- Only my father can
take me from here.
And he not execute me
killed by men like you.
Men with no word.
You may in this
town but never go.
And if you kill me tonight
I will raise at dawn
when my father first
touch my body with light.
- That's not possible.
- All of my people know it.
Is why they left
me stay with you.
- Your people let
you stay with me
because they knew I
could not kill you?
- So.
- Don't any kind of reason.
- [Francisco] Is it boy is it?
- Sir how can a man die and
they get up and walk away?
- Let's hear your creed.
I believe in Jesus
Christ the Son of God
that he was crucified dead
and buried and then what?
- Sir?
- Then what?
- On the third day he
rose again from the dead.
- You don't believe it?
- I do sir I believe on my soul.
I believe with perfect faith.
- But Christ is to be
the only one is that it?
- It's impossible my Lord.
- Look at him boy look at him.
Supposing I have gone god
hunting and caught one.
- But how can that be sir?
- Because he returns
over and over again
to the source of
life to the sun.
- [Martin] General it cannot be.
- You want your freedom?
Go on walk out of the camp.
They may stop you but what's
that to you you're immortal?
Go on, go on.
Go on!
- Pizarro you will die soon and
you not believe in your God.
Is why you struggle
and keep no word.
Believe in me.
For you I will do a great thing.
I will swallow death
and spit it out of me.
- The prisoner has been tried
on the following charges.
Usurping the throne
and assassinating
his brother Vascar,
worshiping idols,
adulterous practices
with a plurality of wives,
attempting to incite
an insurrection against
his Spanish masters.
On all of these charges how
do you find the prisoner?
- I challenge that
the evidence brought
on these charges is
wholly insufficient.
I consider this cruel mockery,
a poor requital for the favors
bestowed on us by the Inca.
If he were in Spain
and his cause brought
before the Emperor our
sovereign who alone--
- Full account of
these proceedings will
be sent to Castile
and the Emperor informed who are
loyal subjects to the Crown
and who are its enemies.
Cavalier I offer
you an opportunity
to have your statement
stricken from the records.
- I will retract nothing.
- On all of these charges
how do you find the prisoner?
- Guilty.
- Guilty.
- Guilty.
- Guilty.
- Guilty.
(dramatic music)
- Guilty.
(dramatic music)
- The sentence to be carried out
this very night is
death by burning.
- No no you cannot do it!
The body must stay in one piece.
- Let him repent his idolatry
and be baptized a Christian.
He will receive the
customary mercy.
- Strangling instead.
- You must do it you
must be baptized.
You cannot let your
body burn to ashes.
There must be something left.
Some flesh left for your
father to warm alive at dawn.
- You must do it my Lord.
- [De Nizza] I baptize
you one Atahuallpa
in honor of John the Baptist
whose sacred day this is.
- [Vedor] The 29th
day of August 1533.
- [Estete] And may
our Lord in his angels
receive your soul with joy.
- [All] Amen.
(dramatic music)
(chanting in foreign language)
(rope grinding)
(grandiose music)
(gasping)
(chanting in foreign language)
(somber music)
- Martin.
Stay Martin.
- No General.
You did for me.
Now I've done for you.
(somber music)
- [Atahuallpa] Inca!
(upbeat music)