"FEVER RISES IN EL PAO" "Ojeda, an island in the Atlantic." "8,000 square kilometers, two hours by plane from America." "Capital:" "El Pao." "The palace of the government, built by the Spanish, dates from the 16th century." "Resources: copra, bananas... and fishing." "Another Spanish colonial vestige: an old monastery." "This decription does not appear in the guides," "Because no tourist is permitted to disembark in El Pao since long!" "Next to the hovels of the poor exploited by landowners and official envoys from the continent," "The penitentiary is found, where there are two thousand prisoners," "Among them more than 500 political prisoners, victims of the government of president Carlos Barreiro." "The relatives of these political prisoners will never see them again until the day they will pray at their tombs..." "With the governor's permission, whose luxurious villa hides in amongst the tropical vegetation." "It's Vázquez!" " Did he see us?" " I don't mind." "Come." "The governor sent me to look for you." "The festival starts." "Colonel Olivares will accompany me to El Pao." " Forgive me, but his Excellency..." " Didn't you hear her?" " Tell my husband that I am coming." " Yes, madam." " Why did you treat him that way?" " He is an informer." " He will tell your husband about us." " I don't think so." "He is an idealist." " Believes in honour." " And I don't?" "Not in the same way." "Bad luck that they send me to the continent." "This is insufferable." "Everybody finds out about everything." "Will we meet next week?" " No." " Then when?" "Never!" "Do you love your husband?" "I can hardly believe it." "You are both equal." "It seems I can't decide." "I love you, my darling!" "Great words for what's between us." "My love!" "You kiss well, but I do not want to have any regrets." " Look at that bandit hung up there!" " Don't worry, he will hang one day." "A drink?" " Did the meat trucks arrive yet?" " I don't know." " Put some guards, keep them in line." " Why?" "It's for free!" "Throw meat to them as if they were dogs, so that they do not bite us." "You are crazy, García, shut up!" "At your orders!" "Are you afraid that swine Vargas will hear us?" "I thought of that." "You know very well." "Yes, but you scared stiff and that way you do not risk anything." "You are drunk." "Hold your tongue." "You make me sick, be a man!" "Come, Vázquez!" "I should take my men to the penitentiary." " I will inform his Excellency." " Swiftly." " They're waiting for you." " Let them wait!" "Come here!" "I didn't know that you were a painter." "Does my woman model for you?" "Do you get off on her perfume?" "How did you get this hanky?" "When?" "Mme Vargas left it on your desk and I wanted to give it back." "I'm not an imbecile!" "Both of you're making fun of me!" "I'm not blind!" "I'm on to your games since a long time." "Have fun." "You have very little time!" "When I have proof, I'll kill you both like dogs!" "Excellency, your suspicions are unfounded." "Mme Vargas never took notice of me." "Now I know who it is!" "Olivares!" "I'm not mistaken." "It's true?" "Confess!" "I'll find out in the end." "Inés hates me because I agreed to come here to this cursed island." "Talk!" "What are you concealing from me?" "I appointed you as my secretary, otherwise you would be a poor official." " I control your future, big shot!" " ..." "Mariano!" "You don't want to talk?" "Bad luck!" "I will force a confession." "From her!" "This was in Vázquez's drawer." "And what were you doing in his drawer?" "Tell me!" "I want to know the truth!" "Do you suspect Vázquez?" " What imagination!" " Is it Olivares?" "Calm down." "It's the national holiday." "You are sweating." "Look at your uniform." "Leave me alone!" "What are you doing?" "Tell me that I make you sick." "Confess that there is another one that you prefer!" " And if I do, what will you do?" " I will not allow you!" "I have authority here!" "I will show you right now." "You can't mock me!" "I'll stop you chasing after others, even if I have to kill you, Bitch!" "Take that!" "Slut!" " Your Excellency!" " What?" "Get out!" "Do you hear me?" " Where are you going?" " Excuse yourself to your secretary." "We will settle this later." "I should thank you for saving me." "But I believe that you have been indiscreet." "I heard you shouting." "Keeping this hanky was a stupid thing to do." "Yes, forgive me." "Why did you act that way?" "Because my husband was in a rage?" "Because I want you." "Distribition will take place after the speech." "In this heat flies will have eaten the meat away." "Put up awnings and fix this!" "We waited a year for this day." "This will not alleviate our hunger." "Forgive me for this." "Rest weapons!" " Let's begin." " Yes." "Your speech." "On the 25th anniversary of the constitution," "Our president, the general Carlos Barreiro," "with his genius, effort and will consecrated to the fatherland, has given us back peace, freedom and honour." "For many years we were on the sidelines of the modern nations." "Anarchy and ruin isolated us..." "And led us to tragedy." "Open!" "Open!" "Open!" "Calm down!" "Get back, there is enough for everyone!" "Get back!" "At last, we meet minister!" "I'm gonna show you Guarumbo." "The son of the winner of the "Barreiro Goblet"." "He will enter the history books of horseriding." "Carlos, don't forget to sign the arrest warrants... of García's accomplices." "I will sign them soon." " Arrest them immediately anyway." " We did already." "Vice-president, Vargas's death is an isolated incident, the work of a fanatic." "But he will provoke others, and we should avoid it." " And did you find García?" " He will not be able to leave the island." "But didn't I leave the island myself after escaping from jail?" "And in a month, you unseated Sotomayor;" "let's not forget that!" "Have the veterinarian see to that horse." "Yes, Excellency." "When rising to power, I gave prosperity to the country." "Freedom would make them poor again." "They must not believe that I am weak." "While you try to find García, make an arbitrary arrest." "Don't let them think a crime can be left unpunished while I'm in power." "Let's make a spectacular arrest." "Cárdenas!" "What?" "Cárdenas?" "But he's the congressional president of global political rights." "The veterinarian wants to talk with you." "I'm coming." "That horse is a champion." " Cárdenas was coming to see me today." " I know that." " Alejandro Gual will take care of him." " Gual?" "Ah, yes!" "Mr. Cárdenas, sorry for the delay." "His Excellency will see you now." "Wait here dear, It won't take long." "Nice to meet you, young lady." "Follow me." "It is an honour for our country that they named you... congressional president of global political rights." "But the president is concerned." "He's afraid that from your post you will criticize his regime." "Barreiro knows me." "Our internal problems, we should fix them ourselves... without resorting to outsiders." "You calm my anxieties." "If only Barreiro would show more humanity..." "Of course." "What's going on?" " Let go of me!" " Do not resist." " This is illegal." " Off we go!" "What infamy!" "Tell Miss Cárdenas that her father will have lunch with the president." " Has the commander arrived?" " Yes." "Give him the prisoners' list." "It is forbidden to chain the political prisoners." " They 're all treated the same." " Vargas was making a decision on his own, no?" "Sign this for me." " You will warrant that I'm not responsible." " I won't sign anything." "I will communicate it to the capital." "Unchain the political prisoners." "Are you satisfied?" "Old men and sick persons should go in a truck." "Ask for more precise orders from the commander." "Professor!" " What do you want now?" " I am Raymond Vázquez." "You gave me classes in Law School." "Ah, yes, Ramón Vázquez!" "I did not expect to see you working as a jailer." "I became secretary to the governor." "Still I remember your teachings." "You ignored my teachings, If you do a job like that." "Talking with the prisoners is prohibited." " You are strange man." " Why?" "Your husband's mail." "I observed you." "They were unchained without you shouting orders." "And you dared to talk to that prisoner." "One second of courage does not compensate for years of cowardice." " You defend your ideals." " Can I have ideals as a secretary?" "A French immigrants' son, I studied with scholarship." " They expect my gratitude." " In the end, they will respect you." "I prepared a report on how to improve the situation on the island." " I think it's useless to send it." " Send it." "Give it to me!" " What?" " My family is connected with Barreiro." "I will help you." "I want to be useful." "I do it for me." "And remember the day you said that you wanted me." "Forget it." "Impossible!" "Even if I should want to forget." "I come from the south side." "García is at the big beach." " He will not escape." " I will accompany you." "I can't save him, but I will prevent that they maltreat him." "Poor guy;" "I hope he manages to escape!" "You are lucky." "We've executed those who helped a fugitive in the past." "If you see him, detain him and inform us." " Yes." "What's this?" " What's going on?" " Hands up!" "Don't move!" "... ...don't make me shoot you, Ramón." "Surrender; you will not escape." "I prefer to die fighting." "Move!" "García!" "García!" " Tell them to stop working." " Again!" "We don't get the work done;" "the mayor will get angry." "It's not my fault;" "it's Vázquez's orders." "Until there's another governor, I follow his rules." " Who is he?" " I don't know." "Look around López, wouldn't you like to be emprisoned here?" "Excelency, congratulations on your nomination." " Didn't know that you were coming." " I like to surprise." "We come from the penitentiary." "Inspectors López and Villa." "So this is the mayor's plantation?" "I have the best prisoners put to work here." "Cheap manpower... but they do not seem to be very active." "I follow the new regulations." "Things were different with Vargas, but with Vázquez..." "It's careless." "Look at those men." "While they rest, the prisoners think, they talk, and the trouble starts." "Yes, let's restore order." " Manuel!" " Yes?" "Put them back to work!" "Now!" "Good." "To work!" " It is not time yet." " We have not rested." "Come!" "To work, swiftly!" "Let's go!" "To work!" "I want to see the workshop of the political prisoners." "With the new regulations, they do not work." "No?" " Another one of Vázquez's orders?" " Not exactly an order." "And why don't they have the right to work, like the others?" "I see that you are very busy." "We will talk tonight." " You left the university?" " Ten years ago." "They hired me at the interior." "I couldn't finish studies." "Lack of money!" "I did not start by having very much." "The young ladies should not work." " What would you have wanted to study?" " Anything." "I would have wanted to be free, having friends of my age." "My parents elected my friends." "And I married the first one that appeared, Vargas." "I took years to discover freedom." "Sometimes, at the expense of errors." "I want to forget them." "Starting from scratch." "Mr. Gual!" "I could not wait to come and express my condolences." "I thank you for that." "Take a seat." "Thanks." "I understand that you're in grief and would prefer to be alone." "I thought often of you, since poor Vargas's nomination..." "The beautiful Inés, exiled in Ojeda!" "I always admired you very much, but you never took notice of me." "I was of no importance to you." " That was long ago." " Yes?" "I confess than at that time I loved you in secret." "Please!" "Yes, forgive me." "Before coming here, I saw your friend Colonel Olivares." " He told me that you were affected." " What is he insinuating?" "That you have been kinder with other ones than me." "That look of disdain suits you." "Leave!" "You're not welcome here." "I know what to expect from you." "We shall become better acquainted." "We'll get along quite well." " How hot it is!" " At this rate, we will be scorched." "He's not far away;" "we'll find him." "In the tree!" "This way!" " I think I have found him." " Yes or no!" "?" " He may be armed!" " And you're not?" "It's true; we go." "Look at that!" "He got swamp fever." "He's not dangerous anymore." " It will be difficult to make him talk." " Don't worry, we will do the talking." "If he's to weak, we will hold his hand signing his confession." "Get him down!" "What a country!" "Eat, Charlotte!" "Take it." "Good." "Be good!" "Take a seat, Mr. Vázquez" "We couldn't talk before." "I've been busy." "Take a seat." "They have told me a great deal about your initiatives." "Captain Real, Indarte, Mrs. Vargas." "You have the report that I wrote up... on my activities since the death of Vargas?" "An admirable woman." "Inés Vargas values you highly." "The beautiful Inés!" "We all were in love with her." "When Vargas died, I thought of the possibility that her beauty... maybe caused a crime of passion." "You understand?" "Read my report, the case is simple." "Yes, I will read it." "The sun horrifies me so much." "García was a friend, no?" " He was a good officer." " And a rebel." "You should have caught him and prevented the policeman's death." "Lucky that García did spare you!" "This case is in my report." "Read it and we will talk then." "You like reports very much." "Very interesting, you sent one to minister Sáenz." "He liked it." "He has appointed you Chief of Security of the island." "Let me be the first to congratulate you!" "I like your ambition." "We will collaborate nicely." "Excellence!" " What now?" " The murderer is in prison." " Is he alive?" " Not yet." " He is with the doctor." " I'm coming." "I will take care of this, "Chief"." "Professor!" "You again!" " I cannot talk with anybody." " I bring word." "They have let your family alone." "I thank you for your interest." "I will make sure that they give you another easier job." "No, I prefer to stay with my comrades." "Why are you interested in me?" "I will prove to you that I am reliable." "Have a section watch here and another one there." " Is it really necessary?" " I have 20 years of experience." "I know by intuition that they are up to something." " Do they still distribute water?" " This is brutal." "I'm sorry!" "New orders of the governor." "That they get back in harness." "They didn't drink for the whole day!" "Well I could do without as well." "Suspend the delivery and get to work." "Enough of giving water." "You've had enough!" "Didn't I tell you?" "Three hours on the pole." "Or does that seem too harsh to you?" "No, it's your decision but don't endanger the security of the island." "What I saw was inhuman..." "And I couldn't do anything about it." "Neither you nor anybody can do anything, for the moment." "I accepted this position to carry out my ideas and I betrayed them." "You're too impatient." "In order to defend your ideals, you've to aspire to a superior position." "Your objectives are the heart of the matter." "I will help you to accomplish them." "But forget your scruples or you will fail." "You must remember your objective." "The first obstacle is Gual." "Use the same weapons." "You will see men hurt, and you will feel impotent." "But think of how many you will save if you win." "And remember that I will back you up and that I love you." "Come in!" "Mr. Gual waits for you in the salon." " I cannot receive him." " Good." "You will make an enemy." " He will want to ask you for something." " I now know what." "You know what he wanted?" " To know if you were my lover." " No!" "What does he want?" "I have told him those were my private affairs." "If you were my lover, it was after my husband died." "I have forbidden him to visit me, but he won't give up." "The madam regrets it, but she cannot receive you." " I will see her at the palace." " Follow me." "Get out!" " Why did you stop?" " Because we won't go further." "The truck from jail will pick you up." "Here, drink." " What are you going to do me?" " No, we are satisfied." "You have answered all our questions." " The truck will not take long." " Walk a little." "Come!" "What do you want gentlemen?" "The governor wants to talk about the murder of your husband." "The summons." "Tell him that I will come later." "Something else?" "His excellency gave orders that you should come with us." "I'm sorry!" "I cannot right now." "We'll wait; we are not in much of a hurry." "All right;" "You wait." "I'll be back." "Mmm, there you are..." "Sing!" " Mrs. Vargas is here." " Then let her come in." "Thank you for coming." " I could hardly refuse!" " Take a seat." "Let us alone and López can wait." "I preferred a more informal meeting, but..." "You said Vázquez became your lover since you became widowed." "You lied to me and I know why." "This is an investigation, no unhealty curiosity involved." "If your relationship didn't start earlier Vázquez would have no motive to get rid of your husband." "Vázquez has nothing to do with this." "And you know that very well?" "García has confessed." "According to him, Vázquez led him to commit that crime..." "And helped him to flee." "If the only motive is passion, we would be lenient." "But he will not be forgiven if it has a political component." "This is a lie!" "Your men can make everybody confess, whatever they want." "But in court García will tell the truth." "Alas!" "García will not appear." "He tried to flee, and my men killed him." "I'm sorry, but I must order to have your lover arrested." " You wouldn't dare!" " You think so?" "What do you hold against Ramon?" "For what reason?" "I am not jealous;" "I am not so ridiculous." "But when I want something, I take it." "Maybe I could give you a chance to proof your love for Vázquez and save him." "There 's nothing new in this situation." "Some moments of abandonment in order to save your loved one." "Never!" "Never!" "You are a despicable coward!" "Beyond imagination!" "And even if I wanted, I couldn't do it;" "You are too hateful and repugnant!" " Do you renounce Vázquez?" " Renouncing him?" "Listen to me!" "Perhaps you think yourself to be the owner of the island but touch Vázquez and I will use my contacts to make you regret it!" "You will risk the life of this charming boy?" "He is young and perhaps too impatient to wait for your help and attempt to flee like García." "You wouldn't do that!" "López!" "An arrest warrant against Vázquez." "Wait!" "Do you agree?" "Hand me back the order, I changed my mind." "Stay there!" "Will you keep your word?" "You have to trust me." " Here?" " Yes." "No, Leave the stockings on." "I yearned to see you that way, not arrogant, but submissive and pleasing..." "I would be able to force you to kneel down." "You have called him;" "I have seen you" "You only wish to humiliate me." "This is what you bought." "Now pay!" "Get dressed!" " What?" " I changed my mind." "You were ready to go all the way!" "You think that would please me?" "Waiting 5 years for 1 sec. of pleasure?" "Any woman good give me that!" "I have my pride!" "I lack Vázquez's charm, but I'm able to break the will of people stronger than you!" "You can leave!" "I no longer need you." "And Ramón?" "He is free, for the moment." "With that paper I'm sure You'll show up when I call you." "Accompany Mme Vargas." "Leave." "One, two, three, four, five!" " Ready?" " Almost." "Where were the weapons?" "At the barracks, and we kept on searching." " Search the kitchen and workshops." " Yes, they are very cunning." "I suspected they would try something like that, for a long time." " Where do they come from?" " I don't know." "There are no more." "Shut the leaders in waterless holes today." "Good." "If you are lax in punishing them, it won't have any effect." "This week there were over 20 sick persons, and 10 have died now." " They are willing to do everything." " Your desk has been placed over there." "You want guards during the interrogation?" "No; they will speak more alone." "We should talk." "It is here." " Who do you begin with?" " Bring in the section leader." "Bring that old man, in the meantime." "Leave us." "I am going to tell you something very serious." " Only you I trust." " Count on me." "I will tell it to you because of the interest that you have shown." "Take a seat." "The common prisoners arranged for a mutiny." "They have proposed that the political prisoners join them, but we have refused." " But they will fail!" " I wouldn't be so sure." "So much brutality has driven them to be savages." "I am not an informer." "I will tell you their plans..." "Because I know by intuition the consequences of a revolt." "Barreiro would take the opportunity to blame the political prisoners." "For that reason, I cannot tell it to Gual." "If Gual learns about a mutiny..." "He will just wait until it happens And stop at nothing to squash it." "He would kill everyone." " We have to stop the mutiny." " I agree." "Tell me your plan and who the leaders are." "They will not be punished;" "I will only stop what they are planning." "I will explain it to you." "Give me some paper." "The dining room is here," "Workshops..." "And here, the chapel." "They will do it on Sunday at mass." "There will be few guards and no soldiers." "They will render the guards powerless." "Then they will go through the sacristy, at ten meters from the gunsmith's shop." "It is a great plan." "There will be almost no soldiers." "Many will be on leave." "Already Vargas had a mutiny before arriving" "The governor had left without permission and he was executed." "Ramón, this is our great opportunity to get rid of Gual." "He should be away... and then..." "Let the mutiny break out!" "You're crazy!" "You know what that means?" "Many would die!" "How could you think of that!" " And who could make Gual leave?" " I could!" "Do you have so much influence?" "Be frank!" "What is between you and Gual?" " Do you want the truth?" " Yes." "Gual wants to accuse you of being an accessory to García." "He will have you arrested and killed for a false escape attempt." "What does he wait for?" "In order to save you, I have to give myself to him." "We are his slaves;" "we will have to obey him." "We never will be his slaves!" " I prefer to kill him!" " Let's get rid of him." "He should die but if you kill him, they will arrest you and he will manage to separate us." "We will defeat him if the mutiny breaks out and he doesn't know." "I cannot do it;" "it is a barbarity!" "You would endanger the political prisoners." "I should stop it." "There won't be any mutinies." "Don't even mention it!" "Come in." " Do you need something else?" " I have told you to leave!" " I have waited just in case." " Leave right now." "You are already here?" "You are early." " You were in a hurry?" " I like to be punctual." "Everything is ready for the sacrifice." "Will you try to keep your threat today?" "I will not attempt it;" "I will keep it." "Your stage setting is useless;" "I will not yield to your blackmailing." " Do you urgently need to get rid of Vázquez?" " Don't be ironic." "I have told him the whole thing, and he wants to kill you." "But I am not planning to lose him!" "Saloppe!" "Slut!" "Great death-blow Better than you tried on me." "I am happy to be here." " Would you have killed me?" " I would still be able to do it." "If I would have treated you better," "I would not have discovered what kind of woman you are." " Is that your love declaration?" " We love differently." "But we are very similar." "How have you managed to make me leave Ojeda for a bullfight?" " You only came for this?" " You know better." "Behind your passion there is something hidden, and I want to discover it." "What will Vázquez say when you fail to see him?" " Let's not talk about him." " Maybe you 'll see him tomorrow." "Attention, the governor Gual is begged... to call on the Interior Ministry for an urgent matter." "How do they know that I'm here?" "Alejandro Gual, attend to the Interior Ministry... on an urgent matter." " They will have recognized you." " No reason to call me to the Ministry." "Let's go, swiftly!" "I hoped to find you here." "Quick, to the delegation." "What's going on?" " What are you doing?" " Sorry, we've to arrest you." " I have authority here!" " No, there's a new delegate." "Since yesterday we are under siege." " What delegate?" " His Excellency Raymond Vázquez!" "Congratulations;" "You are even more remarkable than I thought." "Let's go, chief; do not make it even more difficult for us." "Pity!" "The delegate sends me to look for you." " What's going on?" " It's the mutiny." " It has not yet finished?" " It has just begun." "They have taken the quarters and they have armed themselves." "Vázquez has held them at the mountain pass, but if they can advance, they will get to El Pao." "Father!" "We are going to transfer the wounded persons." "They stopped firing." "And will not advance until dawn." "Be on the alert." "Real!" "How long can you resist?" "We have hardly 30 cartridges left per gun." "After the first attack, there will be no ammunition." " And the prisoners?" " There." "Let's go." "What are you going to do?" " Execute them?" " Oh no, talk with them." "There are only 300 armed rebels." "I should say 1,500 more unarmed." "Get up!" "Let's go!" "Do you hear?" "Get up!" "Leave them." "You know the penalty for rebellion." "Whoever has weapons will be punished by law... if they shoot at soldiers!" "I will forgive those who don't shoot... on the condition that the fight ceases before 8 in the morning." "After that, the army will act, and I will not be able to intercede." "Even if your comrades advance and get to the boats, they will die." "And you as well." "All of you!" "The planes will destroy the boats." "You have no chance to save yourselves." "Except the one that I offer you." "You are free." "Let's go; you are free!" "And remember!" "Whoever is armed after 8, will die." "If not, you will live." "Tell the others." "I am going to talk with the minister." "I will escort them and make sure our soldiers won't shoot at them." "Good." "Keep me informed." "Ramón!" "My love!" "Oh, Inés!" "It was horrible!" "I was afraid that they would come to announce your death." "We are lost, Inés" "Enter!" "The Home Secretary." "Hello?" "Here's the delegate." "Yes?" "I will try to resist, but I need reinforcements." "I cannot do more!" "Hello?" " Hello?" " What does he want?" "The prisoners will get to El Pao." "No reinforcements to hold them." "Impossible!" "In order that the vice-president will be kept out of this," "Sáenz wants a compromise." "Just me!" " We die here while they scheme!" " That's a crime." "And haven't I done a crime?" "I have been atrocious!" "The rebels have killed almost all the political prisoners... because they refused to join the revolt." "Professor Cárdenas has died." "He also." "It's our fault." "It is as if we killed them with our own hands." "We never will repair the damage we caused." "Enter!" "Excuse me, Excellency." "We have gathered all possible weapons, but there is not enough ammunition." "Place all your men at the entrance to the city." "And sink the boats if they get to El Pao." "You see what we have done in order to get rid of Gual?" "Perhaps you forget García's declaration?" "It's true." "While we fought, you only thought about yourself and Gual." " What has happened between you?" " Nothing." "I promised to spend the night with him to get him away from here." " Now it's in your hands." " At what price!" "You pay for what you bargained for." "I am left with nothing, Carlota." "Nothing." "What did you want to see me for?" "You have won; congratulations." "Great performance." " You wanted to see me to say this?" " They have not yet executed me." "When the vice-president learns about this farce... it will be too late." " The sentence will have been executed." " Vázquez won't do it." "He won't dare to execute me, without the government's consent." "We have to take a risk, no?" "Have you foreseen everything?" "I 've also taken my precautions." "When I'm dead you won't be rid of me yet." "Because of García's declaration?" "You can threaten me, You'll find out it is useless." "Inés!" "I did not know how to treat you." "And yet we were made for each other." "Pity!" "Don't you feel ashamed doing that?" " What if we dealt?" " If you like." "It will be left in the family." " We were his only friends." " Yes." "Hello?" "Yes?" "Who is this?" "Captain Real?" "Tell me." "What?" "Please repeat?" "No!" "Incredible!" "How many are there?" "Won't it be a ruse?" "Congratulations." "Thanks." "How did this happen?" "Yes." "I'm heading there." "I will send men for him." "Call the Home Secretary." "Pass it to me here." "What joy!" "I almost went crazy;" "I dared not call you." "But you are here." " What happened?" " The danger is over." "What?" "Truly?" "They all have surrendered," "Except some that have retreated in the mountains." "Soon we will catch them." "What a great success!" "Aren't you happy?" "What's the matter with you?" "We have conquered;" "a new life awaits us." "You think so?" "We have killed Gual." "We were all in this together, but we are assassins." "I want to talk with you." "Congratulations." "You are the hero of the day." "I never will forget that you have finished the mutiny." "But what's most important is that with your strength and ability, you have avoided a bloody revolution." "Great men like you start from nothing and achieve great things." "I was a worker, and I'm proud of my origins." "Vázquez, you have known how to keep order; we are proud of you." "Congratulations." "Our vice-president is not going to attend this meeting?" "No!" " What's going on?" " I will explain it to you." "Come to see me at four." "Excuse me." "I've never seen the president so warm with anybody." "I congratulate you; you have gained his confidence." " But your work is not yet finished." " I'm at your disposal." " Whisky." " Thanks." "Barreiro has driven away his brother the vice-president from the capital, because he schemed to follow up the president as soon as possible." "He couldn't hide his impatience." "In order to counter his bad influence," "I want to prove that the vice-president conspired along with Gual... in order to remove Barreiro from office." "They provoked the mutiny." "That was the fuse, and you put it out." "But..." "I should prove that Gual conspired with the vice-president... when coming to the continent the day of the mutiny." "We know that Mrs. Vargas accompanied Gual... and that they were lovers." "I swear that is false." "I know, but she appeared with him in public." "I need you to do me a certain delicate favor." "It's a declaration where she affirms... that Gual knew of the vice-president's plans." "Here it says that they were lovers." "She won't sign." " Neither will I ask her to." " I expected this." "I congratulate you." "I need loyal and faithful men." "But if she agrees, you would do your country a great service." "I would help her to escape to a foreign place safe and sound." "I'll show you something." "With this, I know that you will collaborate." "I ignored this declaration made by García." "Gual sent it to the vice-president, but we blocked it." "How is this possible?" "Gual made García sign two declarations." " It is a compelled confession." " I know." "If we want justice and freedom, help me to neutralize the vice-president." "Soon you will be governor and you should collaborate with Barreiro... and get Mrs. Vargas to accept my conditions." "No; she has helped me." "And besides, I love her!" "I won't do it!" "." "Only you can get her to sign this declaration." "I trust you to be more advisable." "How could you wait four days to tell me?" "You know what that means if I sign this?" "A scandal, my exile, and our separation." "Don't sign." "Let them condemn me." "I did not kill Vargas, but I will pay for what I have done." "There is only one solution." "I will sign and we will both leave the country." "And Cárdenas and his friends died for nothing?" "I cannot do it." "We should have fled from Gual." "Now it is too late." "Serving Sáenz, you never will silence your conscience." "He acts like Gual." "Look at this letter." "You already know his intrigues, and you want to stick with them?" "Spread your ideas elsewhere!" "The world is very large!" "Send it to Sáenz, and we will go in the morning." " Good morning." " Hello." " You should sign these." " Thanks." "Today 30 prisoners will come." "How soon they replace the dead!" "The official mail." "There are new orders for the prisoners' regimen." " I leave at two." " For how long?" "It depends." "Ah, and Cárdenas' daughter asked for a meeting." " Where is she?" " At the cemetery; she will return." " And these orders?" " Soon." "Miss Cárdenas?" "I am Ramón Vázquez, the governor." "Did you want to see me?" "I wanted to pick up my father's things." "We have some." "I will order them brought for you." "I will accompany you to the palace." "You wrote me about what was happening to my father?" "Yes." "I couldn't do more." "I was a pupil of his." "I don't remember seeing you ever at the house." "I never went there." "I didn't dare." "Leave!" " You are all alone now?" " That's right." "The worst thing is those guilty of his death... don't realize the damage that they have done." "They know it." "And perhaps they'll dedicate their life to repair it." "Aren't you ready?" " We should leave." " I won't go." "What?" "Yesterday you convinced me, but I cannot leave." "That's settled then." "Good, we don't leave." "We won't care about what Sáenz will do to us." "You're right." "Nobody will separate us." " Isn't there another option?" " No." "Let's destroy my declaration." " We cannot do it." " What?" "With your confession we will destroy the vice-president." " Are you serious?" " Yes." "You have progressed;" "Gual would be proud." "On behalf of duty, anything goes!" "Understand me, I must do it." " Do it in memory of my love." " I remember something else." "Humiliations that I suffered for you, which you ignore." "I will not accept that you humiliate me now." "Let's avoid getting hurt." "We should pay for what we have done." "Your ideals, your carreer." "You only think about yourself." "You may be thinking to get rid of me in an elegant way." "Having me killed simulating an escape." "You're just like Gual!" "I will not be dumped like a servant." "Neither will I accept Sáenz's blackmailing." " You don't want to understand!" " I leave for Mexico." "Alone!" "If in 15 days you do not return, I will denounce you." " No!" " I will say everything." "About the riot and the false confessions that you forced out of me!" "You are warned now." "My decision is final." "Quickly or I will not arrive on time!" " Swiftly!" " We're at a control point." "They will recognize the car." " Your safe-conduct." " I don't have it." "There are rules." "I am Vargas's widow." "Let me go by;" "I should take an airplane." "Wait." "I'll call the palace and ask." " Let's go." " But..." "I will take full responsibility Quick!" "Stop!" "Stop them!" "Shoot!" "Fire!" "The palace?" "Here checkpoint Miranda." "Give me the governor." "There has been an accident!" "An official car has tried to flee, and its occupants have died." "Yes, Your Excellency!" "The prisoners have arrived." "There are twelve politicians." "You should sign." " What is that?" " Prisoners." " Are they political prisoners?" " Yes." " Chained?" " Yes." "Why?" "Who disobeyed my orders?" "I have already given you the president's new orders." "They reestablish the chains for all." " Juan García." " Yes." "Wait!" "Stand firm!" " Are they political prisoners?" " Yes." "Separate them." "Politicians, go ahead." "Unleash them." " But..." " Obey!" "Unleash them!" " I have executed the order." " You can continue." "What are you waiting for?" "Right, face!" "Advance, march!" "Swiftly!" "Right, face!" "Stop!" "He had sacrificed everything for his ideal... everything that he hated and all that he admired and loved." "But he wanted to go further." "Tearing up that paper," "Refusing to accept an unacceptable order... means his death warrant and the loss of his freedom." "Ramón Vázquez's destiny has come true." "rt"