""MAUÁ" " EMPER0R AND king"" "Mom!" "Dad's coming!" "My dad... lt was the cattle thieves, Dona Mariana." "Come on, lrineu." "You must be brave, nephew." "You must understand, lrineu." "Two years without your father." "I can't look after the farm on my own." "I'm going to marry again." "And he, João Jesus, he won't allow you to stay." "Your uncle Batista will take you to Rio de Janeiro." "I won't go!" "I don't want to go!" "I don't want to go, I won't!" "I won't go!" "Rio de Janeiro, lrineu." "This is where your journey begins." "You'll either win or lose." "I'm going to win." "They're slaves, lrineu." "All Negroes without shoes are slaves." "0nce you get a little money, you can buy one of your own." "Forgotten how to treat Negroes, have we Joaquim?" "I'm sorry, Mr. Macedo. I didn't mean to cause you any damage." "A dead black makes no difference... but a rebellious one alive, that can cause real damage." "Come on." "Two hundred heads like this are waiting for us in Africa, Mr. Queiroz." "For ten contos you can join our business." "Ten contos?" "!" "You'll have the right to 30 Negroes." "Yes, but even so." "The English want to end the slave trade." "But even that has its advantages:" "The more difficult it gets to bring them over... the more valuable they become." "You're right about that." "Even so, it's still a lot, Mr. Pereira." "To earn all that with the ranch, nowadays..." "Sugar's not worth a thing." "No, Mr. Pereira." "I'll just take this Negro and two more." "Very well." "Valentim." "Sir?" "Have the lot brought up for him to choose." "Yes, sir!" "Thank you." "Mr." "Pereira." "0h, Captain!" "At last." "So, did you do good business down south?" "The ship's full:" "dried meat and wheat flower." "Good, very good." "But who is this?" "My nephew, the one I mentioned in my letter." "So you're the one wants a job." "what's your name, boy?" "lrineu, sir." "where's Valentim?" "l haven't seen him, sir." "Valentim!" "where is that damned Negro?" "Valentim!" "where have you got to, you pest?" "Liquor again!" "I'll show you a way of never drinking again, damn you!" "l'll never let you drink again, cretin!" "0h, boss, oh!" "lrineu!" "Get the mask!" "In my cupboard." "Go on, hurry!" "Everyone working and you in a drunken stupor!" "I'd like to see you drink now, you cheating nigger." "You can keep the key." "Tonight, bring him some food." "So the rascal doesn't die and cause me even more expense!" "Master lrineu." "Supper." "lrineu!" "Uncle, you're back." "Mr." "Pereira." "Hey, Captain." "Good hunting, eh?" "Very good, very good." "Damnation!" "Those church bells have decided to drive me mad." "Hey, Antônio, what the hell is going on?" "The Emperor's son is born." "Dom Pedro now has an heir." "0h..." "Hey, Valentim, take the goods inside." "lrineu, help him with it, go on, hurry!" "Did you work, back where you came from?" "I was brought here when I was ten, stuffed into a ship." "My mother died during the voyage." "My father was a strong man..." "They sold him as soon as we arrived." "I never saw him again." "I'll never have a slave." "what did you say?" "l said I'll never have a slave." "In the morning, put the mask on yourself." "Here's the key." "0r would you betray me?" "lrineu." "You've done me a favor, I'm going to give you some advice." "In this life, everyone has a lord." "Choose yours well." "He'll govern your destiny." "If he's a good one, then your life's good." "If he's bad, then your life's finished." "And never trust a boss." "Neither a good one nor a bad one." "Understand?" "Up to no good, eh lrineu?" "Mr." "Pereira, I'm only reading." "You're not paid to read!" "what book is that?" ""Principals of Political Economy", by Viscount Cairú." "where the devil did you get this, lrineu?" "I borrowed it. ln order to become good salesman, I thought I'd better study." "But if you think it's wrong, I'll return..." "No, read as much as you like." "lrineu, sit down." "You've been a good salesman." "But I'm not here to make a speech:" "from tomorrow on... I'm making you the company bookkeeper." "Me?" "Yes, you." "Thank you for your confidence, Mr. Pereira." "Thank you very much." "This arrived for you, this morning." "0nly don't stay up all night, so you're too tired to work tomorrow!" "And mind that candle!" ""Dear son, five years without seeing you, only God knows how I miss you." "But I have some good news:" "you're now an uncle." "Your sister had a daughter, Maria Joaquina." "You'll meet her some day, and see how pretty she is." "I pray we can meet again soon." "Go with God." "Your mother who never forgets you."" "I threw the blacks overboard, Pereira." "An English ship, a gunboat." "I lost my rings, but not my fingers." "I saved the ship." "I'm only worried about how you're going to pay your partners." "Pay, how come?" "Each one loses whatever he put in." "Me more than anyone else!" "Two hundred heads!" "That's nearly 7 0 contos!" "The damned English have ruined me!" "I'm going bankrupt, lrineu!" "Boss, liquidate the company rather than go bankrupt." "You've plenty of debtors." "Not enough, lrineu." "Not enough for one who owes so much." "I'll press them, boss." "with a little pressure, they'll pay all they owe." "It's complicated, lrineu." "These people are not only my debtors." "Many of them are my partners in the African business." "But if they owe, they must pay." "And I, who also owe, must I pay too?" "I think so." "Mr. Pereira, if you will allow it, I can arrange the firm's liquidation... in such a way that you at least retain your personal assets." "Your ranch, the house, at least they can be saved, Mr. Pereira." "How sad, Master lrineu." "lt was God's will." "You..." "Maria!" "How many times have I told you not to mix with servants." "To your room immediately." "Forgive me, but your daughter was being very polite." "Spare me your excuses, lad." "Mr. Pereira should never have sent a debt collector to our house." "My drawing room is no place for business." "Money matters are dealt with out back, along with the servants." "wife... leave me alone with the lad." "Go ahead and pay him." "Pay everything at once." "So that riff-raff like him stop coming to my house." "Mr. Queiroz, this hardly even covers one tenth of your debts." "My boy, it's all I have, you see." "This year's crop was disastrous." "There's nothing I can do, Mr. Queiroz." "Those in debt, must pay." "I know." "But a fever's been going round here at the ranch." "It's been slaughtering my slaves. I even..." "None of that is our concern, Mr. Queiroz." "Son, please." "I beg you." "Please." "I can't go bankrupt." "I'm an honorable man." "I have a reputation." "But in one year I'll be able to pay!" "A year?" "!" "It'll be Mr. Pereira who'll be bankrupt before then." "I'll give you six months, you hear?" "Six months and not a day more." "Yes, I've got some shares... but they're not even worth wiping your backside on." "The Bank of Brazil is bankrupt, what use are shares in a bankrupt bank?" "The bank belongs to the government." "It will have to pay, sooner or later." "The whole country's broke, lrineu." "And these papers are worthless." "How much do you want for them?" "what?" "I have some savings." "I'll buy your shares, all of them." "Don't be foolish, lad." "I´ll pay 30% of their value." "I'm sure they'll go up in price one day." "I wouldn't want to exploit you." "I'll sell them at 20%." "I'm not satisfied." "These assets are but 7 0% of what your boss owes me." "And many of them are of doubtful liquidity." "we propose that you accept these bonds as our entire debt... or give us a year to pay everything." "You're quite bold for your age." "what's stopping me from calling in your boss's debts right now?" "Good sense." "what good would it do, forcing my boss into bankruptcy... when there is the possibility of recovering all the money he owes you?" "Your boss is asking a year." "All right, tell him I'll give him that year." "But there'll be no excuses, when the time is up." "Rest assured, Mr. Carruthers." "within a year I'll come personally to pay every cent my boss owes you." "Plus interest, don't forget the interest." "I won't." "Good afternoon, Mr. Queiroz." "Please." "Mr. lrineu." "Mr." "Queiroz." "The time is up today, isn't it?" "Yes, sir." "Can't I extend it for another two months?" "No." "Master lrineu, one month." "Have you brought the money?" "There's no way I can pay." "Then sign this deed making over your property, with all its contents... including the slaves." "Satisfied?" "I'll show you... what bankruptcy and dishonor... can do to a good man." "Valentim!" "Valentim!" "It's Viscount Feitosa." "what have you done, lrineu?" "!" "Me?" "Yes, you!" "I never thought you'd go this far!" "Putting pressure on Queiroz like that." "Protecting your interests." "Not mine!" "You're mistaken." "It's not in my interest to force a partner, a friend, into such a situation." "where are the deeds to his land?" "I'm returning them to his widow." "Returning them?" "Yes." "Viscount Feitosa, who is in charge politically of the dead man's region... has requested it." "Can I refuse?" "Refuse one of the Empire's most important men?" "Huh, lrineu?" "Can I refuse?" "Hurry, go fetch the deeds, the power of attorney, everything." "Go on, hurry!" "Like I promised." "I see you're a man of your word, Mr. "Erneu"." "I like that." "would you like to come and work here?" "Do you know what business I'm in?" "Import and export?" "No. I'm in the money-making business." "Adam Smith!" "John Stuart Mill!" "Making money is a science you must learn... if you want to be more than just an ant." "why are you telling me all this?" "To open up your mind." "The world is changing, because we, the British, want it to." "we are the future." "You must decide which side you're on, "Erneu"." "I've already decided." "I want to come and work for you." "Very well then, here I have two rules:" "the currency is the pound and the language, English." "Study." "Valentim." "Master lrineu!" "The boss said my new owner would be coming to fetch me but there's no sign of him yet." "Do you think he's forgotten me?" "l haven't forgotten." "You're my new owner?" "For you." "I knew you'd cost me dearly." "For a slave..." "You were a slave." "Drunk and lazy." "Are you setting me free?" "I swore I'd never have a slave, Valentim." "Remember?" "But if you want to work for me..." "The salary won't be much and there's one condition." "what?" "You'll promise never to drink liquor again." "Not even one drop of alcohol, Valentim." "what a lousy life!" "we're never free to have even a sip." "Do you accept?" "I accept." "It's a deal, boss." "By Government decision, we are met here to make official... the liquidation of the Bank of Brazil." "And our first task is to rescue your shares." "First, I'd like to call the distinguished Count Bonifácio." "Now, his excellency, Senator Viscount Feitosa." "Excuse me." "would someone please direct this gentlemen to wherever... he is going, so that we can get on with our work." "No, I'm not lost." "I too am a Bank of Brazil shareholder." "This meeting is exclusively for majority shareholders." "You may rest assured... all decisions taken here will also benefit the minor ones." "Forgive me, but the amount of shares in my possession... puts me on equal footing with any one of you gentlemen." "who does he think he is?" "what pertinence!" "Please, could you show us your shares?" "Certainly." "It remains to be seen whether they're authentic." "There isn't the slightest doubt:" "they are authentic." "It is with pleasure that I invite you to join this meeting, Mr..." "Mr.?" "lrineu Evangelista de Souza." "I see you're full of enthusiasm and energy." "Young people like yourself can contribute greatly to the Empire." "I intend to work hard for our country's progress." "work may not be essential." "Ideas are the really important thing." "Allow me to disagree, sir." "It was thanks to hard work that I managed to buy those shares." "I've been working since the age of nine!" "But now, fortunately, you can buy a ranch... a good lot of slaves and have them work for you." "No slaves, sir." "It's high time we did away with that aberration." "That "aberration" is Brazil, my boy." "Do away with slaves and you do away with the Empire." "Everything here depends on them." "But it's so cruel." "They are men like you and I." "Yes, they're like us... they have a head, trunk and limbs." "But they don't think like us." "I believe slavery to be a backward thing." "The English abolished slavery in the colonies and made great progress." "I see you've been converted to English liberal thinking." "If they can make their country powerful we can do the same with Brazil." "I've never met a salesman with ideas." "Tell me something, lad." "If you were God, what would you give Brazil?" "Iron." "wouldn't gold be better?" "we've had plenty of gold." "And we didn't prosper." "Just iron, then?" "Iron, coal, industry." "Free commerce." "And the means of transport for circulating all this wealth." "That's what I'd dream of, Viscount." "This country has an Emperor." "All dreams must be subordinate to the Emperor's dreams." "I'll give you some advice, lad, in all sincerity." "Don't just dream." "Live." "Do your business." "And try to earn money, if possible." "That is the best way of serving your country." "And of not living in a nightmare." "well." "You set me seen to have done good business then." "These are the Three Great Lights:" "the Bible... the Square and the Compass." "They represent our belief in the Great Architect of the Universe." "Do you solemnly swear on the white book... to protect the brotherhood and preserve its secrets?" "Yes." "I swear by God and by St. John, by the Square and the compass... to submit myself to the judgment of others... and to work under the orders of my Master at the honorable Lodge... to keep the laws, under pain of having my tongue torn from chin... and buried under the waves... at a place unknown to each and every man." "Brothers, give them the small light!" "we greet our new brothers!" "I was never educated, Paranhos." "All my life working behind a counter." "If I weren't a mason, I'd never meet someone like you." "Commerce, commerce, commerce." "which is an art." "Perhaps." "But in Brazil no importance is given to commerce, nor to finance." "And working, unless you work for the State, is pretty much a disgrace." "Mind the dirt, sir." "Do you know the story about the Spaniard and the Portuguese?" "The Portuguese boasted:" ""in my family no one has worked for three generations."" "And the Spaniard: "well in mine, no one has worked for two centuries."" "Here too, Paranhos." "Apart from them, everyone just wants the good life." "Barons, Dukes, Counts and Viscounts... an elite who only ever thinks of themselves, never the common good!" "Forgive me asking, but do you also have political ambitions?" "No, why?" "Do you?" "Yes." "Not I." "But I could, I could really do a few things, Paranhos!" "Look, all I've learned with Mr. Carruthers..." "So deep down, what are the English after?" "To control currency exchange." "And there's their naval fleet, in order to control our government." "Yes." "They have pounds and cannons." "But we still have our intelligence, my dear lrineu." "who knows, maybe I'll go into politics, you into finance and we'll change Brazil." "No problem, just set a date, Paranhos." ""Erneu"." "Mr." "Carruthers." "Mr. lrineu, wouldn't it be better in oils?" "Then you'd have it for the rest of your life." "we'll do one in oils later." "A drawing's enough for now." "It's to send to my mother." "She lives in the south, I left and haven't seen her since I was a boy." "Now I'm going to send for her." "Imagine if she arrived at the port and couldn't recognize her own son!" "My sister and my niece will come with her." "It's him, it's him!" "where?" "There!" "Your uncle lrineu!" "How big your house is, uncle." "0ur house, niece. 0urs!" "what language is that, uncle?" "English." "You'll learn one day." "what's your name in English?" "Mr. Carruthers called me Aranu." "And mine?" "Mary." "Mary." "That's not very nice." "So let me give you a nickname:" "as you're a very pretty girl, it must be the name of a flower." "As we're in May, "Mayflower"." "Like it?" "May." "Mr. lrineu!" "The price of meat has hit the roof!" "Good." "0ur profits are going to be huge in that mad business you went into." "Didn't I tell you?" "So lucky!" "Not luck, my friend, not luck. I studied." "I knew there would be a shortage of meat in the European market." "Do you know what Mr. Carruthers' share will be?" "well... a lot of money." "1 ,333 pounds... 7 shillings and six pences." "Yes, Mr. lrineu, you certainly came out on top this time." "You're unstoppable." "So, what's your next business venture?" "Did you know that the Brazilian government will not renew its... commercial agreement with England?" "No." "And that there's a new law... granting tax exemption to industries who establish themselves in Brazil?" "Industries?" "what have we got to do with them?" "Nothing, Mr. Ricardo." "Nothing." "After all, we're just merchants." "Isn't that right, huh?" "I'm going on a trip, May." "where to?" "England." "I'll bring you a present." "Uncle." "I didn't know you were back." "I won't be a minute, I'll just get dressed." "Don't be shy, May." "I'm still your uncle." "You're beautiful." "Come closer." "I brought you a present as I promised." "what a lovely ring, uncle!" "But it's no ordinary ring." "I want you, May." "I want you to marry me." "You haven't yet said you'll accept." "Viscount, excuse me." "Mr. lrineu Evangelista de Souza has been here... and left this invitation for you." "I'll not go." "I don't frequent masons' houses." "This young man, just because he got rich overnight... has grown too big for his boots, thinks he's part of our world." "An adventurer, an evil which must be nipped in the bud." "Hey, lrineu." "ls it true, lrineu?" "l'm sorry, is what true?" "we heard you're liquidating Carruthers  Co." "And so I am, my dear Viscount Uruguay." "But why?" "The company seemed to be so solid." "I'm innovating, my dear friends." "Usually, firms are liquidated when going through difficulties." "with Carruthers  Co., precisely the reverse is the case." "It's being liquidated because it's so healthy." "would you explain that again, please?" "I'm abandoning commerce." "If there is any business in industry, it will be worth looking into." "Good morning!" "I'm buying this place." "And you all along with it." "But I want you to know that I want no slaves here." "I'll pay a good salary, as I would any other free man." "with time, you'll have enough money to buy your own freedom." "we're going to make Ponta da Areia a model establishment!" "Boss, can I ask a favor?" "Yes, Valentim." "I'd like to stop working at your house." "why?" "Has anyone been mistreating you?" "It's not that." "Forgive me, only... these strong arms weren't made for carrying trays, boss." "And if you'll allow it, I'd like to come and work here." "You're a free man." "If that is your wish." "But I shall miss you, worker Valentim." "The "shipbuilder" is not merely content with his shipyard." "Now he's making the pipes for the channeling of the Maracanã River, too." "lrineu won that concession thanks to masonry." "He's the product of a bizarre union of masons..." "Jewish swindlers and British imperialists." "But he certainly manages to get things done." "He says he will, and then he does so." "The wrong things!" "His projects deviate so far from our country's course." "I don't think anyone really doubts that our nation is... primarily an agricultural one." "Mr. lrineu obstructs our natural vocation." "weakening the Empire." "worse still, he does it with public money." "The lad knows nothing of the ins and outs of bureaucracy." "Getting the works concession is one thing... opening treasury coffers is quite another matter." "They won't pay?" "Unfortunately there are no funds available at present." "what do you mean, there are no funds?" "Political problems, lrineu." "Some sections of our bureaucracy are in the hands of people... who are indifferent to the benefits you are bringing to our country." "what about me, what happens now?" "I've invested a lot of money in this job, more than I could, more than I should." "In politics, nothing is definitive." "Those on top today, can wake up on the bottom tomorrow." "Viscount, the new ministerial cabinet has been announced." "what are their names?" "Paulino de Souza." "Mason." "lrineu!" "lrineu!" "Good news." "The council of ministers met today and decided unanimously... to grant a 300 contos loan to the Ponta da Areia shipyard." "The Marquis of Paraná." "Mason." "lrineu!" "You can get on with the Maracanã River works." "I've just signed the release of all the money owed to you." "Thank you very much, minister." "Paranhos." "Mason." "They're all masons." "Mr. Bonifácio, now we're the opposition." "The English have sunk another five slave ships." "The situation is no longer sustainable." "The Emperor has now decided to put an end to the slave trade." "This is the best thing which could happen to our country." "0f course, now thousands of contos will be diverted from slaving to other activities." "Stocks!" "Production finance!" "we must prepare society for this new reality." "we want you to be part of a commission which will draw up... plans for a new commercial code." "This is a unique opportunity!" "we'll draw up a modern, efficient code... to get business going in Brazil!" "Gentlemen." "It is my pleasure to announce that I am to have another child." "0h!" "wonderful!" "what great news." "Congratulations." "lrineu." "And as we present the new Commercial Code... it's my duty to mention the principles... which guided its creation." "I believe in a free market." "I believe in profit as a vehicle for the distribution... of social well-being and as catalyst... for the creation of new wealth." "I believe in the State as issuer of rules and norms... never as a competitor." "I also believe that the worthy men of this country... now have one duty:" "to transform the resources... of the disgraceful trade in Africans - which it was high time..." "Your Majesty put an end to - into productive capital... capable of transforming the country." "And it is with that goal that I shall open a bank." "In it, the spirit of collaboration will thrive... the strongest development leverage any country can have." "Gentlemen... the new Bank of Brazil will be a path which will soon become... a wide road of of public prosperity." "Argentina has invaded Uruguay." "The provinces have been taken and Montevideo is under siege." "The closing of the Plate River is disastrous for Brazil!" "My visit has, so to speak, an official side to it." "The government has been very generous to you." "You have received concrete assistance." "Your plans for expansion are well-known." "The government is and will, in the future, be a permanent source... of new credit and concessions." "The Emperor sees you as a great Brazilian, an exemplary patriot... and is counting on your support in the matter of the Plate war." "Marquis, my support of the Emperor and Brazil has always been evident." "well then:" "Brazil cannot directly support... one of the nations involved in the conflict." "The Emperor needs you to intermediate, secretly... the financial support of Uruguay and its war effort." "what?" "!" "It is what the country and the Emperor expect." "what is all this money for?" "A favor. I'm going to bury the greater part of my fortune in Uruguay." "l'm going to finance the war." "what?" "I couldn't refuse the request by the Marquis Paraná... from the Emperor himself." "But is this what you're going to do with your money?" "Partly mine, partly the government's." "Do you think you'll get it back?" "Perhaps, if Uruguay wins the war." "I'll demand every guarantee." "including the Customs levies as a means of payment." "And if they don't accept?" "They'll have to accept." "In the end, if all goes well, I'll own a whole country." "Hey!" "what are you waiting for?" "Go on, push!" "Yes, this fellow lrineu is quite something." "He's even earning money with the war in the south." "I see nothing wrong in that." "Someone has to build the ships." "Friends!" "0ur business prospers." "Here in Ponta de Areia we're already building cannons... steam-driven sugar mills." "Quite apart from the ships." "The iron industry is the mother of all others." "But we shall not stop here." "Gentlemen, I'd like you to be the first to know:" "by request of the government, I have founded the Amazonas Navigation Co.!" "The Amazon?" "Yes, the Amazon!" "we'll bring civilization to the furthest depths of the forest." "A country which desires progress, needs modern transport." "That is why..." "That is why...?" "Go on man, say it!" "That is why I shall build Brazil's first railroad." "Great move!" "Very good, very good." "Long live the Emperor!" "Long live the Emperor!" "Many thanks, Your Majesty." "Count Feitosa." "This way, please." "Know that within the Emperor's breast, the heart of a scientist beats." "Everything which has to do with Mankind's great inventions... is particularly dear to me, Mr. lrineu." "well, locomotive is Man's greatest invention since fire and the wheel." "Maybe so." "If Your Majesty will allow, perhaps we could begin the ceremony." "Ladies and gentlemen." "Destiny has decreed that the Empire's most blessed hands... be here today to plant the seed... of our glorious, wealthy future." "At this historic moment, I have the honor to invite..." "His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil... to lay the first sleeper... on the Estrela-Raiz da Serra railroad." "This way, Your Majesty." "I told Your Majesty not to come." "That merchant is a crackpot!" "He wanted to illustrate a metaphor." "He wanted to say that the Emperor should also earn his living with sweat on his brow." "Ridiculous!" "It's not ridiculous, Viscount." "It was a mistake, a mistake of Mr. lrineu's." "He doesn't understand, yet, that the Empire is not at his service." "That it is he should be at the service of the Empire." "I'm not a narrow-minded man, Viscount." "Mr. lrineu was very useful to us for lending money to Uruguay." "But I cannot hide my concerns about the expansion... of this gentleman's activities." "The Emperor is right as usual." "He owns four of the Empire's six most important companies." "And a bank." "This cannot be allowed!" "0ne cannot, in the name of purely financial interests... allow this man to retain services which should serve only the common good." "Now, his excellency Viscount Feitosa will speak." "Brazilian economic activity... must be regulated." "we cannot remain at the mercy... of insecure financial institutions... such as those currently in existence in this country." "I disagree, Excellency!" "I disagree most strongly!" "Please, Excellency!" "Leave your comments for later!" "Gentlemen, Your Highness, the Emperor... charges us with drawing up plans for the constitution... of an effectively solid bank, guaranteed by the government... which offers no risk of damage to the national economy." "Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Ricardo?" "This crowd, what's going on?" "Haven't you heard about Viscount Feitosa's speech to the Chamber?" "That's the result." "The race is on." "Now we'll see how long we can hold out." "Replenish the tills." "Yes, sir." "Viscount, I'm very worried." "A race to the banks is starting..." "Please." "Mr. lrineu, this race... is just proof of how prudent the Emperor's move is." "Viscount, this is utterly irresponsible!" "The government has every right to open another bank... but it cannot tell the public that all the others are insecure." "It's simply not true:" "my bank is perfectly healthy." "It's up to you bankers to prove it." "It's very difficult resist alarmist rumors." "I repeat: if the government wishes to operate a bank... very well, then let it do so!" "But let it come and compete with the others according to market rules." "You know that this competition is predatory." "Predatory in what way?" "!" "The other banks have been around for years without causing any harm." "Mine started out with low interest rates... and conquered a position of leadership... without suffocating anyone." "Did it?" "You're referring to the short term." "As legislators, it is our duty to prepare the country for the future." "we believe that the bankers, upon establishing competition... become responsible for all economic crises." "Are you really going to bring about a general crash... in the name of what you imagine might happen one day?" "Mr. lrineu, no one can hope... to own the Brazilian economy." "But Uruguay won the war!" "And the government is our ally." "The economy there grows before your very eyes." "0pening a bank is the best way of guaranteeing... all the money I invested there." "But if I have guarantees from the Brazilian government." "If Paranhos is our Ambassador in Uruguay. what more could I want?" "Bad news?" "Mr." "Carruthers is pulling out." "He thinks I'm wrong to open a bank in Uruguay." "He's very experienced, maybe he's right." "But I'm not the sort of man who sits back not with a good business at hand." "If he won't risk it, very well, I'll open this bank on my own." "Pack the bags, May, we're going on a trip." "what do you mean, lrineu?" "Have you forgotten?" "I'm sorry." "Matilde, how good, stay here." "Have faith, Dona May, have faith." "we must be patient, Dona May." "It'll still be a while." "But tomorrow, when your husband arrives... he'll find a beautiful child waiting." "well, doctor, is it born?" "Not yet." "And she's been in labor for nearly 48 hours." "Mr. lrineu, I think we're going to have to use forceps." "Not forceps, doctor, for the love of God!" "I won't allow it, under any circumstances." "How was it in Uruguay?" "Fine, it was fine." "But you, stay calm, May, everything will be all right." "I'll call the doctor." "You were so brave, May." "And still beautiful." "You deserve a present." "A dreadful disappointment!" "But not even this will alter my plans." "lrineu, should we bring our own or buy new furniture?" "If they won't join the enterprise, then I'll take it on alone." "I'll illuminate Rio de Janeiro." "we could have that joiner you know come over." "It's amazing how no one ever takes any initiative to do anything." "Either I do it, or no one does." "And isn't that a good thing?" "That way you have no competition." "No competition, and no allies." "Alone." "She's heavy, Matilde." "May, I know what I'll do!" "I'll put a stop to Mr. Carruthers' idleness." "I'll raise the capital Rio denies me, in London!" "Come on, children!" "You don't want to miss the party, do you?" "But lrineu, what is it?" "Everyone is waiting for you, what are you doing here?" "There's still time, I want to show you something." "what an awful place, lrineu!" "I've seen it now, come on, let's go." "when I was a boy, I often came here." "Mr. Pereira sent me at night, to make deliveries to a client of his." "I was so scared of the darkness." "I came, but I was petrified." "I can imagine, so let's go now." "No, no one will leave now!" "You must hear me, see me!" "It's been so long, I even got used to it." "To the darkness, the pitch-darkness... the endless gloom." "The panic!" "But today, all that will end, now, in this city..." "St. Sebastian's city of Rio de Janeiro." "The God of light is among us." "Come on, Madame, count to three with me." "0ne..." "0ne..." "Two..." "Two..." "Three..." "Three..." "And she said three!" "The light, the light... the light, the light!" "Come on, May, we've other streets to illuminate." "Adieux to darkness... adieux to darkness, adieux to darkness." "And after the light, people will come!" "It's coming!" "It's coming!" "Viva Mr. lrineu!" "Your Majesty." "Many thanks, Majesty." "Many thanks for coming." "I hope I won't be stoking the engine this time, Mr. lrineu." "Under no circumstances, forgive me." "Gentlemen, thank you." "Let us board." "This way, gentlemen, this way." "I was thinking, if I died today..." "How morbid, lrineu." "No listen, let me speak." "If I died, now, my life would have been fulfilled." "I'm the richest man in Brazil, I have 1 2 million pounds... more than the Empire's expenditure!" "I have 400 thousand hectares of land in the Amazon... 1 60 thousand in Uruguay, 1 30 thousand head of cattle." "I built Brazil's first railway, I'm Baron Mauá." "And I'm only forty." "You're too young to be thinking of dying." "And I'm younger still to be left a widow, so let's change the subject." "what is to come in the future?" "I succeeded in turning plans into reality." "But I still have dreams, many dreams." "Isn't it time you stopped?" "why don't we live our life now, make the most of all we have?" "I cannot stop, May." "I must build an empire." "An empire which will last for centuries!" "An empire which will last for centuries!" "Fire!" "Fire!" "Come on!" "Everyone out!" "Bring the buckets, come on!" "Let's form a line!" "Come on, come on!" "Don't be slow!" "Get moving with that!" "Form a line and pass the buckets!" "Quick!" "No one may enter!" "The boilers have exploded!" "Let's go, it's too dangerous!" "And is the cause of the fire known yet?" "Mauá says it was arson." "There are even rumors that it was the English... who are concerned about the Baron's progress." "The English?" "But aren't they his partners in the São Paulo railroad?" "Aren't they his friends?" "Some of them." "Perhaps not all." "Mauá." "He's a powerful man, Majesty." "In the streets, people say that Brazil has an Emperor and a king." "Forgive the people, Viscount, they don't know what they say." "what I'd really like to know, though... is how Mauá will react to his enemies, or friends, the English." "Ricardo!" "0ur losses with the fire were great." "we need to raise money." "How much is the pound selling for?" "It's gone wild!" "Thirty pence per thousand réis." "Complete madness." "And it's still going up." "Announce in the papers that we're lowering the rate of the pound." "But I don't understand." "while everyone else is selling the pound for more and more... you're suggesting selling it cheap?" "No, Ricardo, for the just price!" "And what do we do afterwards swamped with Brazilian currency no one wants?" "Perhaps go bankrupt." "You can open up!" "I only hope you're right, Baron." "0therwise we'll be bankrupt within a month." "Have you finished the accounts?" "How much have we exchanged so far?" "Six thousand contos." "30% of our entire capital." "Exactly." "This calm of yours will be the end of me, boss." "Trust me, Ricardo." "I don't know how long our reserves in London can hold out with all this massive speculation!" "we must sell more pounds, Baron." "we'll make available another one million... three hundred and fifty thousand pounds." "Sir, isn't this yours?" "Are they réis?" "Yes." "Leave it for the saints." "Isn't that what the blacks do with liquor?" "As you wish." "Baron, the whole city is in chaos." "Look at the papers:" "commerce in crisis due to shortage of Brazilian currency." "Population finds it difficult to pay its bills." "The merchants won't take pounds." "They want to be paid in réis and no one has any." "The exchange houses are suspending the sale of pounds, Baron." "0ur time has come, Ricardo." "we sold one million eight hundred thousand pounds." "Forty percent of our capital." "And now we're going to sell réis, that cheap currency no one wanted." "But at a fair price." "0ur price!" "A fortune." "we're going to earn a fortune!" "we haven't advanced a single kilometer!" "If this rhythm keeps up, this railroad will take a century to finish!" "Unfortunately, Baron, we cannot build a railroad on goodwill alone." "Much less on the ill will, to say the least, of the Rothschilds!" "They're no longer going to fulfill their obligations with the railroad." "They're not?" "!" "No!" "But I am." "I launched this enterprise in England, and put my name on it." "I've already invested 200 thousand pounds here." "I'm going to invest another 1 30 thousand to pay the debts... and see this railroad through to the end." "which is why, as of tomorrow, I want everything working full steam." "is that clear?" "Rothschild." "Rothschild." "You know who's going to finance this escapade, the war with Paraguay?" "He is." "Do you know where the loan funds will be invested?" "In his bank." "Everything's good for him, and bad for us, especially in Uruguay." "All the winds are against us, Ricardo." "So, at the first sign of danger, Baron Mauá ran to join the English." "is this how he intends convincing us of his loyalty to the Empire?" "He doesn't think of our Empire." "He thinks of his empire." "Although he never forgets to please Your Majesty." "Me?" "what has he ever done for me, Viscount?" "Nothing, directly." "But for your sister, who lives in London, with some problems." "what about her?" "Mauá is lending her large amounts of money." "well Mauá is mistaken." "He is mistaken in thinking he is safer under protection of the Union Jack." "Viscount, tell me, is there any way we can prevent... this merger from taking place?" "If that is your Majesty's will." "The Emperor sees me as an enemy." "It's madness." "I don't understand you, my friend." "A man who speaks Portuguese, English, Italian, French..." "German, Greek, Latin and Sanscrit..." "A philosopher." "It's difficult for him to understand a businessman." "Now your true enemies, that withered old elite... they understand you only too well:" "which is why they are your enemies." "The English are building an empire on the ruins of my companies." "Sometimes I even lose heart." "But you shouldn't." "If you're afraid, don't go ahead." "lrineu, there are good chances that I will become... the next head of the ministerial cabinet." "That is very good." "I think we should try to iron out your differences with the Emperor." "I've been thinking, if you made some grand gesture... something no one could possibly criticize, I think the Emperor... would come to understand you better." "But what, for example?" "Laying an underwater telegraph cable to Europe... was one of the old Emperor's dreams." "Huh?" "An underwater cable." "A great undertaking." "But I'll only do it on one condition." "which?" "That I am paid nothing." "Juraci, hurry up with those flowers." "Mom, dad was a Baron, and now he'll be a Viscount, what comes next?" "After that comes heaven, Irene, after that, heaven." "It's all lovely, Matilde, lovely." "0h, my God, do you think it's going to rain... just as everyone should be leaving their houses?" "God is great, Dona May." "It's just a thunder storm." "The dog's bark is worse than his bite." "My god!" "Come here, Joaquim!" "Hurry, close the window." "0h, Dona May, your party." "lansã's powers are almighty." "lrineu." "lrineu, there'll be no party." "what?" "The rain." "The streets are already flooded." "Just as well." "It's no time for celebration." "I'm on the brink of bankruptcy, May!" "I never thought this could happen, but it has!" "Are things that serious?" "l'm on the brink of bankruptcy!" "I'm being pressured from all sides." "You're being pessimistic." "l'm being realistic." "You've faced crises before." "Not like this one." "The situation is terrible, May." "Uruguay is bankrupt." "The government continues to issue paper money non-stop." "Now they'll force my bank to exchange this paper for gold." "In short: the people will come at me like dogs!" "I've had 300 thousand pounds sent from London." "I still don't know how I'll pay for it to see whether I can hold out." "But can't the government help?" "Paranhos is Prime Minister, and the Emperor... has just made you a Viscount." "The Emperor made me Viscount because I laid the underwater... telegraph cables to Europe, for free." "He still doesn't like me." "Paranhos has done everything he can." "If my situation doesn't improve... he'll suffer on my behalf." "lrineu lent a fortune to the Countess, and she mortgaged some belongings." "Anyway, she died without paying the debt." "when lrineu wanted to collect, the heir... the most cynical man I've ever met, wouldn't pay." "He simply wouldn't pay, Matilde." "My husband wanted to make good the mortgage... and the whole thing ended up in court." "Do you know what the outcome was?" "lrineu lost." "lrineu lost, Matilde." "He not only didn't receive what they owed him... but he had to hand over to the heirs a tenth of his fortune... by way of indemnity, for having dared to call in a debt from a "gentleman"." "Go to bed, Matilde, go on." "I'll wait up for my husband." "Putting money in Uruguay was one of the worst mistakes of my life." "And opening a bank, worse still." "I wasn't content with just an arm... I had to put my neck on the chopping block." "But I'll not be defeated just like that!" "Tomorrow I go to Montevideo." "And I'll only leave again when the gold arrives... and the situation is resolved." "Uruguay should be grateful to you." "Eternally." "Pour me a glass, May." "Please." "Thank you." "El Banco Mauá has become our country's "dueno"." "It has been exploiting us for decades... ln order to receive interest of 40% a month..." "Mauá has seized the customs income, ruining our economy!" "Down with Mauá!" "Exploiter!" "There's Mauá!" "There's Mauá!" "That's who's responsible for our misery!" "Down with Mauá!" "The shame of all Uruguayans!" "Uruguay is an independent sovereign nation." "Things are very grave, sir." "I've been very worried about lrineu." "Just listen to what he writes:" ""The situation in Montevideo is very delicate." ""Politicians incite the people against me." ""Murdering me in the streets would give these people great "pleasure."" "How can things have gone so far?" "Successive political crises have undermined the bank, Dona May." "And that recent revolution was the last straw." "what about the money raised from the sale of the Amazonas navigation... company and the electricity company?" "It was used to cover more pressing debts." "If lrineu doesn't pay the account holders... the bank will be liquidated by the Uruguayan government." "This is just the beginning." "News of the bank's closure would have an explosive effect here." "0ur account holders would panic." "They'll rush to the bank to get their money." "0nly at the moment, at the moment, that money..." "Yes, what about their money?" "Dona May, it'll be all right." "It'll be all right." "The gold will get to Montevideo and everything will be resolved." ""Murdering me in the streets would give these people great "pleasure."" "Has the ship arrived?" "The gold?" "No, sir." "Just this letter." ""Gold detained in Rio." ""English will only release against cash payment." ""Awaiting further instructions, Ricardo."" "It's over." "Uruguay is a lost battle." "Mauá out!" "0ut!" "Exploiter!" "Now the war will be decided in Brazil." "Yes, Valentim, your boss is in trouble." "I passed his bank and people are invading it... trying to get hold of their money." "They say the Baron can't pay." "And you think that's funny, do you?" "It's all the same to me." "I don't meddle in white man's business, Valentim." "Viscount, excuse the delay." "Please..." "The Emperor has asked me to receive you... now that your good friend Paranhos, Viscount de Rio Branco has resigned." "I hope to God that Mauá Bank will pay everything it owes the Treasury." "Hope to God?" "Considering your belief's... I'd have expected you to claim this... in the name of the Great Architect of the Universe." "Not God." "As a matter of fact, I've never met a bankrupt man... who didn't claim he would pay fully all he owes;" "nor, however, have I ever come across a bankrupt man who paid." "My patrimony is far greater than my debts, Viscount." "This crisis is momentary." "I order to overcome it and avoid a moratorium... I requested a loan from the Bank of Brazil." "I don't believe this is the Bank of Brazil headquarters." "The bank's president has placed a series of obstacles... in the way of the loan." "Deep down, it is a personal retaliation against me." "which is why I have decided to come to the Emperor... confident that he will take into consideration the plight... of hundreds of small shareholders." "The government does not meddle in private affairs." "Those who make bad investments lose their capital." "That will teach them not to get involved with adventurers." "I'm not an adventurer!" "I can give no other name to your obsession with diverting... the Empire from the course upon which it has been set." "Set by whom?" "By the Emperor and by us, the elite... who think." "0r should it be by blacks from the slave quarters?" "0r by your partners, the British?" "You have benefited, for decades, from other cabinets." "That is over now." "May, we must prepare for the worst." "I had to request a moratorium." "I've been granted three years to save my business affairs." "0r we hand over everything we own." "what about your partners?" "They should share the losses." "when there's profit, everyone wins." "why, now, are you the only one to lose out?" "No one should suffer on my behalf." "You did everything for Brazil, and what do you get in return?" "Envy, spite, hatred." "From the Emperor, too." "Brazil doesn't deserve you, never has done." "we should go to Europe, where the name..." "Viscount Mauá is still worth something." "Leave Brazil?" "No, not while the debts..." "who pays debts here?" "How many people owe you?" "Have any of them ever paid?" "I still have a chance." "The railroad case has yet to be tried, and there's no way I can lose." "Tell me: have any of them ever paid you?" "If I win, the hundreds of thousands of pounds the English... owe me will solve my problems." "Mr." "Ambassador." "Pleasure to see you again, Excellency." "The pleasure is mine." "How are you, well?" "...and for years, your honor, Viscount Mauá scrupulously... fulfilled his duties in the construction... of the Santos-Jundaí Railroad, while his partners... without any convincing explanations... avoided paying their part of the expenses." "If the railroad exists today, it is exclusively thanks to... my client's efforts and sense of responsibility." "we demand from the Sãon Paulo Railway the full, immediate... payment of the 8 thousand réis which are owed us." "Thank you!" "Excuse me." "I had to come, Viscount." "It's madness what they're doing to you." "The court will retire for thirty minutes." "we're going to win, I'm sure of it." "I know the judge, he's an honest man." "I'll go and have a word with him." "As you know, I've lived in England for many years." "And was minister of our legation at St. James Court." "I've come to Brazil especially for this trial." "I've brought irrefutable evidence for your decision." "The deadline for the presentation of documents has already expired, sir." "Nevertheless... I insist." "Viscount Mauá, I never imagined... or aren't they from the Viscount?" "what is it you see?" "Réis or Pounds?" "Pounds." "Stay on the stronger side, Excellency." "After hearing both parties, I feel... fully able to judge this case." "I rule that Mr. lrineu Evangelista's case is just and that his partners... must repay the 8 thousand Réis which he invested... in the construction of the Santos-Jundaí railroad." "However the São Paulo Railway was founded in London... by British citizens." "In accordance with the Recognition of lndependence Treaty... any conflict of interests between English citizens... can only be resolved by a British court." "That is the decision." "Bastards!" "Bastards!" "Yes?" "what do you want?" "who are you?" "Mr. Queiroz." "l couldn't pay." "Forgive me, Mr. Queiroz." "No!" "what is it, lrineu?" "That nightmare, May." "I had that nightmare again, May." "It's nothing, darling." "It's nothing." "As of today, the Mauá House is declared bankrupt..." "Mr. lrineu Evangelista de Souza will lose his trading license... with the immediate closure of all his establishments... in Brazilian territory." "Mr. Almeida." "Yes?" "Be conscientious, but rigorous." "Viscount, my colleagues and I... are experienced specialists in... detecting tax evasion." "Let's be practical, to avoid us being here for days and days." "write down a number." "If my colleagues and I agree to the amount... we put the paper aside, and today... tomorrow at the latest, we'll conclude the audit." "If the amount is too low, you write down another." "In the end, we always come to an agreement." "All right, I understand, you want me to bid first." "Get out of my office, you miserable wretch!" "0ut!" "Even the clothes we're wearing, lrineu?" "Everything." "Everything of the slightest value." "Even our wedding rings." "I'll pay everything, everyone, down to the last penny!" "Yes." "Viscount, the men from the auction are already here." "Tell them I'm just coming." "Your wedding ring, May." "My wedding ring won't come off." "I know we must hand over everything, lrineu." "But it is already a part of me." "Even if I wanted to, I couldn't get it off." "How much do you offer to start the auction off?" "How much for this magnificent abode ... formerly belonging to the Marquise of Santos." "How much for Viscount Mauá's house?" "Careful with that." "Viscount." "Yes?" "You don't know me, I'm Valentim's wife." "Valentim's wife." "we live nearby." "Valentim." "He's nearly dying." "Good afternoon." "He's come to visit Valentim." "Viscount, is that really you?" "How are you, Valentim?" "woman." "I'll send for a doctor." "we'll take you to the infirmary." "You'll get better." "It's no use, Viscount." "I wouldn't last long anyway, it would only be throwing money away." "Valentim, once, a long time ago... you told me something I've never forgotten." ""Assanhiã dadá ulutirê... choose your boss well, he'll govern 'your destiny."" "Forgive me, Valentim." "No point in getting upset, Viscount." "You gave me my freedom, there's nothing better than that." "And if I'm in this misery today, well... you're not God." "But perhaps one can put too much trust in a bad boss." "No face, no name, but a boss." "That was my downfall." "It all went wrong, didn't it?" "You must get to the infirmary." "I'll tell plenty of stories about you yet." "If they don't remember me, that's just bad luck!" "I know I was there." "At least I'll be able to take that little taste of life to the worms." "I'd like to take another taste with me." "It's time we broke our agreement." "what agreement, man?" "Not to drink another drop." "You've not had a drink, all this time?" "Not a drop." "But I want to, so much, Viscount." "I wouldn't want to be buried without having had my tipple." "There, there's a bottle." "Please, Viscount, have pity." "Good, very good indeed!" "Viscount, don't let me drink alone." "I certainly needed that." "It's funny, when we're going to die, isn't it, boss?" "You're not going to die Valentim." "I'm sure that..." "Your Majesty." "I am very grateful to you for receiving me at this time... when everyone has turned their backs." "I confess this audience puzzled me." "I can't imagine what it is you have to say to me." "That's just the problem." "I have nothing to say to Your Highness." "I have nothing to say, except that I regret so much." "Regret?" "l regret..." "Regret having been wrong for so long." "Not having told you before, what I shall tell you now." "Your Majesty was wrong about me." "You thought I wanted to be powerful and rich, just as a whim." "It's not true." "I wanted to be strong, yes;" "I wanted to be very strong." "Because early on I discovered that is the only way to survive." "I soon discovered that my life, my future... would be linked to Brazil's destiny." "If Brazil grew, I'd grow with it." "I wanted to be powerful, to transform the Empire... to stand up to powerful nations man to man... and the interests of the elite." "Many times my fortune was in your hands." "At the decisive moment, they failed me." "I lost." "But what Your Majesty doesn't realize is that Brazil lost even more." "This defeat will cost us centuries, Majesty." "Prometheus, too, dared to steal fire from the gods." "And what happened to him?" "He had his entrails devoured by vultures." "The gods are cruel to those who challenge them." "Fortunately, the Emperor is only a human being." "And very cultured, with a love of science." "However, in governing the Empire you seem to be ignorant of Galileo." "Your Majesty believes that the Earth is motionless... and that the sun revolves around it." "You want Brazil to remain static." "I fought for motion in everything:" "men, ideas, the economy." "I lost." "Even so, Majesty, Brazil has moved... for that is the way of the world." "Your lecture has been most interesting, Viscount." "I'd love to continue this stimulating conversation." "Perhaps you could return another day?" "That is unlikely, Majesty." "I'll be too busy rebuilding my life." "You may retire." "I enjoyed the journey." "Are you tired, May?" "No, I'm not old like you." "I'm young, I have nothing left, have everything to conquer." "0nce, when I was a boy... I came to these fields with my father." "we wanted to catch a parrot." "And did you?" "My mother packed our lunch, we rode off, it was Sunday, a lovely day." "And we stopped on a riverbank, my father and I." "My father was a very strong swimmer." "Did you catch a parrot or not?" "we ate our lunch." "Do you I don't know, I can't remember whether we caught the parrot or not." "But that's not important." "Something I've never forgotten is that... day with my father, in these fields." "l'm getting cold." "0h, you must be getting old." "I'll lend you my coat." "TEN YEARS AFTER having BEEN MADE BANKRUPT, lRlNEU paid ALL" "his DEBTS AND REC0VERED his MERCHANT'S REGlSTRATl0N." "H0N0URED 0NCE again, THANKS T0 his lNC0MPARABLE business SENSE" "HE quickly BECAME 0NE 0F THE richest MEN in brazil 0NCE again." "HE died in 0CT0BER 1 889 AT THE AGE 0F 76 with MAY" "his LlFEL0NG C0MPANl0N BY his side." "A few weeks AFTER his DEATH, THE republic was PR0CLAlMED" "AND THE EMPER0R was exiled T0 EUR0PE." "D0M PEDR0 ll died in paris Tw0 YEARS LATER." "Tradução dos diálogos:" "Hugo Moss"