"FROM THE ROMANCE OF JORGE AMADO" """CAPTAINS OF THE SAND"" "A FILM BY cecilia AMADO." "Calm down, kid, you'll crush all the flowers!" "What about him, Bala?" "Come on!" "We've got the cure for all ailments:" "Rashes, colds, women's colic, old man's aches, sore fingernails, drunkenness, constipation or loose bowels." "Have you got anything for courage?" "A real man's courage, when the chips are down?" "You're not old enough for that, are you?" "Sure." "Well I've got a special preparation for you." "With jurubeba, catuaba, roast peanut shells." "What about boldo?" "Boldo's no good for that." "You got me scared." "What if there are side effects?" "That's not my field!" "Everything at my stall is natural." "No side effects." "If it doesn't do you any good, it won't do you any harm." "Hey Boa Vida, you going to hang about all day?" "Come and give a hand, come on!" "Bala told me to stay, I'm not leaving!" "I'm staying here with Dona Luiza!" "Hey Dona Luiza, give me an orange, will you?" "I'm so hungry!" "Since when do oranges fill you up, lad?" "Yes they do." "Just the one." "Come on." "I'll pick a nice one for you." "Hey Dona Luiza, you've still got a nice rack on you." "Nice and firm!" "You're such a dirty little boy." "Can't you see I'm old enough to be your grandmother?" "Oh my God!" "Imagine having a grandmother like that?" "With all due respect, Dona Luiza!" "So I see!" "You sure were born in Bahia, Boa Vida!" "I wouldn't fit anywhere else!" "You certainly wouldn't." " Here's your orange, go on." " Thanks Dona Luiza!" "Hey Balal." "How's it goin', Boss?" "No one else would risk jail for that old man's ugly ring." "I like it!" "So you think you'll get that bitch with this ring?" "So come along, maybe you can get someone too!" "Show the bitch the ring to see if the wants you, baby." "Baby, Sem Pernas?" "Is that what you said?" "Sure you're a baby!" "You screw whores." "Wanker!" " Go get some whore!" " Where's yours?" "Just those old sluts!" "You don't go with anyone!" " You'll not get anyone!" " Scram, you little whore!" "Just in time for a scrap." "Let's go inside, I've got a job for you, Sem Pernas!" "Show him the ring, pussycat!" "What's going on, baby?" "Holy Mary, Mother of God," "Pray for us sinners now, and as the hour of death, Amen." "So Bala, how did it go today?" "This was all there was, look!" "In the afternoon of the second day of the month the Vitoria neighbourhood was the scene of another burglary." "A band of young guys armed with knives and sharp razors invaded commendator Alcebiedes Menezes's residence." "The police believed that the action had been staged by Pedro Bala, the chief or the well known:" "Captains of the Sand." "The place is more like a palace, but there's only one couple living there." "It's perfect for you, Sem Pernas." "For them to treat me like a dog, I'm not going." "The lady's son died not long ago." "She Will like you!" "I'm not going!" "You're going and that's settled." "You should see all the gold stuff, Sem Pernas, it's dazzling." "You've been inside, Boa-Vida?" "Well, I haven't actually been in, but Tonho told Querido there's a room filled with gold." "Gonzéles has agreed to fence the lot for us." "But we'll have to get a move on." "Bala, Gonzéles is such as slimy lizard!" "He pays lousy!" "He might not pay much, but at least he keeps his mouth shut!" "As dead as night, he never says a thing, not even when you want him to." "If he does it'll be him ends up in jail!" "All right Ezequiel, if you're not in on the deal, then off you go and let us finish setting things up." "Go on!" "You'd go crazy, Professor, from the door you could see the walls covered in paintings." "So he's probably a collector." "We are going to be loaded." "I don't want no fooling around this time, Sem Pernas, did you see?" "Come on, Bala!" "Look here, Querido, I'll give you till Thursday." "All right." "So Bala, you know I made a promise and we mustn't let him down." "Don't you worry, Gonzéles." "Hang on." "Sem Pernas is already at the old lady's house." "We'll resolve this this week." "What's up Grande?" "They're looking our way from time to time." "This here ain't no kids game!" "Wait a minute and I'll show you the size of it." "Hey, sit down!" "Take it easy, Pedro Bala, you watch your tongue." "Anyone would think you didn't know the Captains of the Sand." "They're not children, by a long shot!" "See you Thursday." "I give you my word." "He's really angry." "This one's for you, Querido!" "What's up, Grande?" "They're coming." "Let's finish this because I've had enough." "But..." "Querido?" "You're finished, you owe me 20.000 contos..." "What else do you want?" "So you're leaving already?" " Go ahead and talk with these kids!" " I was planning to!" "Are you up to it?" "That was easy." "You only fool suckers with that marked pack of yours, but at capoeira I'm the boss!" "I'm better than you at cards, capoeira and I'm also better than you in bed!" "Idiot!" "Oh really." "Get him, Bala!" "Now what?" "Huh?" "Pussycat?" "Say it:" "I'm a pussycat, pussycat!" " It hurts!" " Pussycat." "I may be a pussycat, but cleaning out those sailors was a cinch." "Sure, you wiped them clean, even their small change." "They were going to be left naked." "Now leave me alone, I'm going after some pussy to eat." "Wait Gato, I'll come with you." "You and who else?" "You think I need you to get chicks?" "And Dalva's out of your league anyway." "Dalva, Dalva!" "My star, my constellation." "Take from me a little love and the last of my cash." "May God give it to you twofold, pops." "If you could measure my love, you'd not charge me a cent." "If I fell for that sort of line," "I'd be even poorer than I am now, and worse than that I might even be your wife." "Your lack of a future is such a joy, Dalva." "Meet you next week?" "At this rate, I'll be leaving this place feet first." "Poet Joaquim do Bigode!" "Won't you come in for a quick bite?" "A bite?" "You're a great banquet and my muscles are asking for reinforcements!" "Maybe at the crack of dawn!" "Don't make it a wasted trip, spring chicken." "Business is slow, I'll give you one on the house, huh?" "Come on!" "Wait, I'll go call her." "Hey!" "You pretending you can't hear?" "What is it?" "Get out of here!" "Don't insist, you're too small." "Do I look small?" "You're too big for your boots, kid." "What about tonight, I can show you how big I am." "Better make it tomorrow!" "Tomorrow!" "And till then?" "I'll go crazy!" "What's wrong?" "Don't like music?" "Look, it's just a question of habit!" "Little Augusto loved playing the piano for me." "Black folks don't play the piano." "Who told you a lie like that?" "You're a boy, you can learn what you want." "This weekend Raul is going to Rio de Janeiro and he'll bring you a bicycle." "If Sem Pernas wavers..." "I don't know." "Gonzales is watching us." "He doesn't trust us." " No way, Gonzales ain't stupid!" " What a gorgeous babe," "I'd throw her on the sand and end up having to marry." "So lovely." "Look, here comes the screaming queen." "Where did you get those clothes, didn't they have any for men?" " Go fuck yourself!" " Go fuck yourself." "You all upset?" "Oh take it easy, Sem Pernas, put that down!" "Are you crazy?" "Tell that son of a bitch to stop fooling around with me, Bala!" "Let's stop this right now!" "Give me that, Sem Pernas!" "What's go into you, sit down!" "Calm down, Sem Pernas." "So?" "It's taking too long." "Everyone asking after you." "Where's the kid with the limp?" "I know the whole place now." "We just have to wait for Mr. Raul to go on a trip, then we can do the job no sweat." "You'll miss the carousel." "Yeah." "Father José arranged for Pirulito and Volta Seca to work on a carousel they're setting up in Bonfim." "Get down, get down!" "Get down you too!" "What about Sem Pernas, isn't he coming?" "He's enjoying the good life and has forgotten about us lot." "Of course not, Boa Vida." "Stop stirring up trouble." "Sem Pernas is acting weird." "Angry like a stray dog." "But he's never been calm." "Look what I brought!" "There's not enough for everyone, but you can share." "Father, you shouldn't have." "They're like those cakes in the shop window!" "But that's what they are, Joéo Grande!" "Did you steal them?" "Have more respect for the father, Boa Vida!" "But if he's no money, what did he buy cakes from the store with?" "He's right, but I didn't steal them," "I took the money from the church, which is for charity, and I thought it only fair." "Cheers, priest!" "And all the boys held hands and flew up in the colorful balloon, which carried them to the end of the earth." "And tomorrow we'll continue the story." "Let's go to bed?" "Are you crying, Augusto?" "Did anything happen?" "You don't need to cry, now you've another mother to care for you." "Vadinho?" "Hey... spring chicken!" "Me?" "'yes= you!" "Can you do me a favor?" "Oh forget it, you must be waiting for your food." "No!" "The one I was waiting for isn't coming!" "Go to that middle street and ask for a man called Vadinho." "Tell him that Dalva is waiting." "So who's this coconut candy, Vadinho?" "Dalva's messenger boy." "She's begging me to go back to her, poor thing." "Well, what should I tell her?" "That she was lucky." "I didn't beat her up good and proper." "In fact, tell her my bed's full." "Gorgeous!" "And he even had the gall to borrow money to visit his sick mother in Cachoeira." "I'm such a fool." "Here!" "I cleaned out the whore." "What?" "I cleaned out the slut!" "Keep it!" "You keep it!" "Your payment!" "Spring chicken!" "Boa Vida!" "Wake up, Boa Vida!" "Wake up!" "Wake up, Boa Vida!" "Wakw up, misery guts!" "Wake up, Boa Vida!" "Get up, Boa Vida, aren't you a man?" "Wake up, Boa Vida, Bala's calling you!" "Wake up, Boa Vida!" " It's deep!" " So swim!" "So swim!" "I can't!" "I don't know how to swim!" "Sem Pernas said this is where the piano is, right beside the room filled with coins!" "You can have this one, Gato!" "Gato!" "Gato!" "That woman will be the end of you, Gato!" "Grande you'll have to keep an eye on the Trapiche!" "You all up there and I stay here?" "Too many people will only get in the way!" " But I'm in, right?" " Yeah!" "Damn it Bala, don't leave me out!" "But is only going to open the door and beat it so he doesn't chicken out halfway through." "Bala, watch out for Sem Pernas's nanny, her bedroom is right next to the kitchen." "Don't you worry, Professor!" "I'll take care of her myself." "This is where the whole coin collection is, this one's for you." "Bala, this is Master Aurélio dos Santos I was telling you about." "The man with fingers of gold and the voice of a bird." "Sailor, capoeira dancer, womanizer and stutterer." "More or less." "My pleasure, Mr. Aurélio!" "The pleasure's mine, Pedro Bala!" "We're celebrating one of the Captains of the Sand's best hauls, they're true artists these kids!" "The Captains of the Sand are the souls of Bahia, the vagabond souls of Bahia!" "A cachaga toast to seal our friendship!" "Just two fingers!" "The souls of the poets of All Saints Bay!" "What about the rest?" "You took too long, now you'll have to wait." "When I pass on the merchandise, you'll get the rest!" "Are you double crossing me, Gonzéles?" "We agreed I'd receive everything now!" "We've delivered the lot!" "Come and see me next week and we'll settle everything." "Trust me!" "Almire?" "Let's go outside?" "It'll be good, don't be a pussy." "If we're caught it'll be your fault." "Because, I'm not willing." "Go on ahead and I'll meet you there." "What are you doing here?" "Shut up!" "How come you're going through other people's things?" "Shut up and go quietly because Almire is waiting for you outside." "Or do you want everyone to know?" "Know what?" "That you're stealing?" "Pirulito, wake up Pirulito!" "Bala... hey Bala!" "What's that?" "Look at this, Bala!" "Ezequiel's going through everyone's things!" "Give that back now!" "Don't worry about him, he's had too much to drink!" "Give the damn thing back!" "Here!" "What were you doing with the boy's thing?" "Just looking." "Liar!" "In the dark, everybody sleeping." "You stole it." "And it's not the first time, I saw you!" "Shut your face, cripple, so now you're a saint?" "We're all thieves anyway, so what?" "Not in here, we're thieves outside and you know that, Ezequiel." "Stealing from a friend ain't right." "I know what's right, Bala, you're not my father." "Get out now!" "And anyone else who thinks the same can go too." "Get out, you son of a bitch!" "Let Bala settle this himself!" "Your life's going to be hell, Pedro Bala!" "Get out!" "Here!" "I keep this one for you, Pirulito!" "Sem Pernas won't like it, right Bala?" "He never wanted anything." "He gave that great jacket to Gato and everything." "So I'll take it for Father José Pedro's blessing today!" "Then make sure you ask for some food because forgiveness never filled anyone's belly." "I'm hungry!" " Come and see your drawing." " What drawing?" " Did you do this?" " Yeah!" "Where did you learn to draw?" "I didn't learn it anywhere." "When I feel like it I draw." "He even draws other people's feelings." "If he'd gone to school he'd be rich by now." " Can you read?" " I sure can, sir." "Why don't you go to school to learn some more?" "No!" "That's not my scene." "Kid, you've got talent." "Here's my card." "That's my address, come and see me if you need anything." "Thanks, sir." "Keep the cigarette holder and I'll keep the portrait!" "Did they rob you, sir?" "No, we were just talking." "But if I hadn't come along they would have mugged you." "You should be careful, sometimes they may look like kids, but they're not." "Thanks!" "Nothing but bones." "Have you got a cigarette, Bala?" "Hey, aren't you going to keep the man's card, Professor?" "He liked you, he might even help you become a famous painter." "Don't talk rubbish, Bala." "All we'll ever be is thieves, you know that." "Who gives a damn about us?" "Ezequiel was right." "We're just thieves." "Just thieves." "It was Omolu who sent smallpox down on the town, right Querido?" "I've heard of the pox but not smallpox." "It's all the same thing, Grande, if you're not vaccinated you might catch it." "All I know is, business is dead slow." "Even Gonzales has disappeared." "Folks are all in hiding." "I think it's great, my babe's got more time now." "She has more time on her own." "Watch out, Gato!" "Illnesses breed down at the whorehouse, if you keep fooling around you'll end up catching something." "Dalva's nice and clean, no risk at all." "Had to be a dog to beat Gato!" "I'm the best!" "Hi there Almire." "What's wrong?" "I'm itching all over." "You're burning hot!" "What about this itching?" "You've got the pox, right?" "No I haven't, Barandéo!" "You've got the pox!" " Help!" " It's just itching!" "Shut up, Barandéo!" " Almire's got the pox!" " Shut up!" "Keep away, keep away!" "Shut up, Barandéo!" "Keep away, go on!" "What's going on?" "You got the pox, have you?" "Help me, damn it!" "Get away!" "He's got the pox all over!" "Get away, you idiot, if one of you has it, the other does too!" " I haven't got no pox!" " Get away!" "Yes you have!" "Even on your dick!" "I'm not the only queer one around!" "Get out!" "You're to get out!" "You queer!" "Pedro Bala isn't here!" "We'll wait for Pedro Bala to arrive!" "Like hell we will, get out you queer!" "I'm a Captain of the Sand too!" "Get out poxy!" "He's one of us!" "And we'll wait for Bala to get here!" "Shut up!" "You're not in charge around here you dumb thief!" "Put that down Volta Seca, that's a piece of shit!" "What's all this about?" "We're all brothers here!" "I'm no queer's brother!" "He's leaving today!" "He's leaving!" "Leave him alone." "Let him be!" "Where did you catch it, Almire?" "I told you not to sleep around!" "What about Barandéo?" "He pretended it wasn't his business and disappeared!" "Yellow bastard." "Just let him try coming back now!" "Careful, Bala!" "How are you?" "The poxy one's staying is he?" "Everyone'll catch it." "Shut up, Sem Pernas!" "We can sort out a problem like this." "We're a group!" "You'll catch it, Bala!" "You'll catch it!" "You'll catch it!" "Get away, cripple, go on!" "I don't want to die, Bala!" "I don't want to die!" "I can't think of anything else, Bala!" "There's not much to think." "Everything's out of control." "Better take him to emergency." "They'll look after him there!" "At the Lazareto he'll die, Grande!" "The place is infested, you walk in alive and come out dead." "Querido!" "Hey Querido!" "Querido!" "Hey, Querido!" "Querido!" "Take Almire to his mother's place?" "Since when does Almire have a family?" "Of course he does." "Or do you think we're just born like that, out of nothing?" "It's really smallpox?" "And not just a mild attack, Querido." "He's covered in it, and terrified of going to Lazareto." "Well, Querido?" "Dora?" "Child." "Holy Mother, take the soul of our brother, and give us strength." "I'm asking your protection, Holy Mother." "Hail Mary, full of Grace, The Lord is with thee," "Blessed art thou among women." "And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." "Holy mother Mother of God," "Pray for us sinners now," "And at the hour of death." "Amen." "Everyone knew Almire was going to die." "That's my fault?" "For setting up a robbery, I'm okay." "To trick half the world, I'm okay." "That fag Almire gets smallpox and it's my fault." "Like hell it's my fault." "I am not responsible for having brought this disease to the world, was, I?" "I wasn't." "They go around saying it was Sem Pernas." "Well let them, I don't care." "Come on Gato, come and dance with me, come on!" "Come on, handsome." "Here, look!" "Come on!" "What's wrong?" "What is it?" "Is my spring chicken out of sorts, lost his wings?" "Don't be silly, Gato, come!" "Especially now the pox is dying out and everything's going back to normal!" "Come on, come on, Gato, come!" "Like the ring?" "You prefer the ring or the record player?" "Honestly?" "Go on, tell me!" "You're jealous." "I'm not jealous, I'm angry." "So you and your anger can scram." "Go." "Go." "Dalva?" "Can I sleep here tonight?" "Sure." "The ring's worth that!" "Zé!" "Hey Zé Fuinha!" "What is it, Dora?" "I'm hungry!" "Let's go a bit further and I'll ask for some bread!" "I don't want to go any further!" "I want to go home!" "Look, I'll find something to eat and then we'll talk, okay?" "Keep an eye on our things and don't you leave here for any reason on earth." "Do you hear, stay put!" "I'll be right back." "Mister, give some bread?" "Me and my brother, we are living in the streets, and we're hungry." "Take it, but do not return here, so you get the bad habit of asking things to people." "Zé?" "Zé?" "Zé..." "Zé Fuinha..." "Where are you, Zé?" "Have you seen a boy, this tall." "This tall." "Hey Zé, where are you?" "Baiana!" "Baiana!" "Have you seen a boy, this big?" "No dear, so many boys pass this way." "He's pale like me!" "I don't know, honey." "There are always kids hanging out by the church." "Zé!" "Zé Fuinha!" "Zé!" "What did I tell you, huh?" "Take it easy, he just came to see the drawing!" "You can have it all, I've eaten mine." "The boy told me you've nowhere to stay." "Yeah, our mother died," "I'm looking for work for myself and food for Zé Fuinha." "Fuinha, what a name." "Where do you sleep?" "We slept on the square last night." "Right, Dora?" "Dora?" "That's a nice name." "It's dangerous to sleep on the streets." "Yes, but I'm not scared." "Let's go, Zé!" "Wait!" "Here, have his portrait." "Wow, isn't that you, Zé?" "It's just like you." "You can stay with us." "Are you mad, Professor?" "No, I don't think so." "It's no palace, but it's better than the street." "Who'd have thought it, that's quite some catch." "Just look at those thighs, Sem Pernas!" "Back off, Boa Vida!" "Shut up!" "Who's the chick?" "Shut up!" "She and her brother were on the streets." "Their parents died of the pox." "Well that's quite some little tale, Professor!" "Get out, Volta Seca!" "You think you and Grande can have her to yourselves, do you?" "Everyone out!" " Hurry up, my iron's already hot!" " Get out!" "Can't you tell she's just a girl?" "Calm down, Volta Seca, you hurt the Professor!" "Have you no respect, Volta Seca?" "Can't you see she's just a girl?" "Since when do bandits respect damsels?" "I can see her ripe little breasts!" "I'm warning you:" "I'll stab the first one to tries coming closer." "Get back, Boa Vida!" "What's this, a revolution?" "What's going on?" "What's this chick doing in here?" "She's cute, right Professor?" "She's not a woman of the streets, Bala!" "They want to screw her and not share her with us!" "What's the idea, bringing a woman here, Professor?" "She's just a child!" "You screwed her and now we can do the same." "And I'm first!" "Bala!" "I'm not kidding!" "If you come here you'll have to fight me." " Are you crazy, Grande?" " No, I'm not, Bala!" "See, Bala?" "!" "He's even challenging you now!" "She's an orphan!" "I brought her to help her, not to get off with her." "Dora, let's get out of here!" "I'm scared." "Don't be scared, Zé!" "I'm here." "It's just a bunch of kids, like us." "You're right, Professor!" "Let's leave the girl alone." "But tomorrow she's leaving." "Those are the rules." "And she can stay in my corner." "Calm down, Boa Vida." "Don't worry." "No one's going to mess with you now." "Come on, let's go, everyone!" "Back off, Grande!" "No one's going to mess with the girl now." "How's Professor?" "It's nothing." "Dora's already looking after his wound." "They're good kids, they're just not used to seeing women and go all wild." "I'm mad at Volta Seca, though." "Which one's Volta Seca?" "The one who slammed my head." "I was so scared of him." "He's okay really." "Even Sem Pernas, who seems really evil, he's a good guy." "Sem Pernas is the cripple, right?" "Yeah!" "How did you know?" "Sem Pernas could only be the nickname of a cripple." "That's him, all right." "And Pedro Bala?" "He's the boss, right?" "Yeah." "Dora's the pest's name?" "Yeah!" "Pretty, isn't it?" "I wouldn't know." "A pretty name means nothing to me." "Hey." "Seeing as how you're taking care of Professor's wound, could you take a look at mine?" "Are you the daughter of a pox victim?" "Professor told me one of you kids died." "That was Almire." "They took him to his family." "He ended up at the Lazareto and never came back." "He used to date Barandéo!" "Almire dated Barandéo?" "Watch your tongue, Boa Vida!" "But didn't catch anything!" "I play music, you know?" "Yeah, a musician and a gossip." "Good at both." "When we get to the Trapiche I'm going to pluck up the courage to tell Dora to go." "It's been three days already." "Bala, she's nowhere to go." "What about her little brother?" "You know a woman at the Trapiche is like stoking a fire." "She's driving the guys crazy." "Damn it, Bala!" "I thought you said the Captains of the Sand protect boys off the streets?" "Girls aren't boys, period." "She's cute though, right Professor?" "As gorgeous as the day is long." "But I can no longer control the boys." "She calls me Pedro." "She what?" "Yeah, Dora calls me Pedro!" " Is Gonzéles around?" " Yeah." "Pedro, as if I were someone." "Hurry up, man, go get Gonzéles!" "Mother Aninha, Mother Aninha!" "Mother Aninha, Mother Aninha!" "They raided the "terreiro" and took the figure of Ogun, son." "I've tried everything, but the police chief says he won't hand it over." "That it's the law and we're not allowed to worship." "Arresting saints, whatever next?" "!" "We've got to do something, Bala!" "Ogum is very angry." "It's too risky." "Pirulito, I found her!" "You hiding?" "The Professor is going to tell us a story." "Come on." "Fuinha is waiting for you." "Aren't you coming, Volta Seca?" "No." "I'm keeping watch." "While Cornélio and the other sailors danced with whores and filled themselves with rum..." "Hang on, Professor!" "Ls rum all pirates ever drink?" "They're always drinking rum in these stories!" "Keep quiet Pirulito, let Professor tell the story." "Lobo, the Captain of the Seas, managed to board the enemy ship and reach the room with the treasure." "You got settle uh kid?" "So kid, you still a virgin?" "Get away!" "Mariazinha here can take care of that sort of thing." "Take a good look, pretty good-looking, huh?" "You think I'm into plucking boy's cherries?" "You don't know me." "Stay calm and I'll take care of you." "Lubricated!" "You scared the kid." "You shut up, I'm here because of you." "You've such bad manners!" " You robbed me!" " You drunk!" " You robbed me!" " Drunk!" "You've nothing!" "You're a drunk!" "Let's cool it here, this is a police station, not a ballroom." "Geraldo Albuquerque Luz?" "That's me!" "Geraldo!" "Mariazinha is Geraldo!" "Mariazinha is Geraldo!" "Getting a saint out of a police station." "What a far out plan!" "Who's ever heard of a saint under arrest?" "And Bala's performing a miracle." "Mind that tongue, Sem Pernas!" "Speak ill of saints and you'll end up dead." "What are you taking about, saints don't exist." "If saints existed, you think there'd be misery?" "It's just to fool poor folks like him." "He's always asking God, who never gives him a thing." "But I pray a lot for you, Sem Pernas!" "Well don't!" "Don't pray because it's not working." "So, kid, what's the story?" "I came from Mar Grande with my dad." "He sails a schooner, and because of the storm I lost him." "So your dad leaves his kids wandering around?" "No!" "I was with a friend of his, Mr. Ranulfo." "I think he thought I'd gone back with him." "But then I lost both Mr. Ranulfo and my dad." "Sure." "Then you decided to mug those ladies out in the street?" "My dad always said if ever you're in trouble go to the police and you'll be safe." "I even spoke to that man there, and he said it wasn't a hotel." "So I pretended to mug the ladies so he'd bring me inside." "He's lying, sir, he making it up." "He was stealing from those ladies." "Send him to the reformatory and he'll soon stop making up stories." "So your dad runs a schooner?" "And where does he anchor here in Salvador?" "Opposite the market." "The names of all schooner owners at the market are listed here." "You know that if his name isn't here you're in for a beating all the way to the reformatory, right?" "You'll soon see what we do with liars." "What's your dad's name?" "What's your dad's name?" "What's your dad's name?" "Aurélio dos Santos!" "The Santos from Mar Grande!" "Where did you learn to tell so many stories, Professor?" "I picked them up reading." "You tell them so well." "Pedro is taking his time." "It's normal, he may not be back today." "The plan's crazy, but it has to work." "Finish telling the story of Pedro's father." "He was a stevedore who organized folks to go on strike." "Turn a little." "There, stay like that!" "Bala's father was a Communist." "A Communist, my God!" "He got people to fight for the things they needed." "Querido de Deus knows all about it." "They say he was a hero." "So Pedro is like his father, right Professor?" "Yeah, he's his son all right." "No." "I mean a hero." "Dora, can I ask you something?" "I just can't understand Dalva," "I spoil her to death and she simply refuses to see me." "I'm really angry." "What did you do wrong, Gato?" "I didn't do anything," "I just took some lose change from her purse, she caught me and threw me out." "Bitch!" "Gato, you don't understand women yet." "Guys, at this rate I'll never finish this drawing." "Professor, what a bore, only you're allowed to talk!" "So are you going to do it?" "You must always be alert." "Don't only pay attention to what you're doing." "Watch the other too." "A smart fighter always thinks the other may be better." "So Professor..." "Hey!" "Come for a bit of practice?" "No, today I came to bring a friend!" "What's this?" "Today I've come to do capoeira with Querido de Deus!" "Now I'm a Captain of the Sand too." "You think if you dress like that you'll become a man?" "I don't want to become a man!" "I need to be so patient with you Dora!" "This is for men, not girls!" "Oh, a bunch of boys who think they're men." "Are you going to smoke?" "Because to be a man you have to smoke." "Are you going to smoke?" "Listen to the rubbish Boa Vida is talking, that to be a man you have to smoke." "That's the biggest piece of nonsense I've ever heard." "I want to be like that Rosa Palmeiréo Professor told us about:" "Valiant with a razor and strong doing capoeira." "You see, Professor?" "You went and told Dora those made-up stories about macho women, now she wants to be one." "It's not made up, it's true." "And what should we call you now?" " Déro?" " No, you can call me Dora!" "They call you Bala, don't they?" "To me Bala sounds feminine." "Well at least one of the Captains will be good-looking." "L30y Dora!" "L30y Dora!" "Hey, watch where you're going?" "Imbeciles!" "Damn it!" "They've stolen my watch!" " Oh, I don't want any help." " Ow, help me!" "Poxy scum!" "These pests don't even respect invalids nowadays." " Did they steal anything, son?" " No, no, no!" "No?" "Are you all right?" "All right?" "He stood shouting help, help!" "It was so funny, and doing somersaults." "But you needn't have been so rough." "I nearly flew across the street." "Easy, Sem Pernas, we were running so fast." "And you saw, right Dora, how you got too close to Sem Pernas?" "I never even saw when you handed the watch to Sem Pernas!" "She nearly got hurt like me." "No she didn't, you're just clumsy and fall easily." "Let's go, Grande!" "Let's go, Grande!" "Where to?" "Let's take the merchandise to Gonzales, we'll be back at the Trapiche in a while." "Watch the Professor, Dora." "He's a crafty devil." "What's that supposed to mean, Joéo Grande?" " What is it, Professor?" " Oh, nothing." "You staring like an idiot." "Only my mother could do something like that." "It's such a good job." "My mother was a washerwoman, so I used to fix the clothes she washed." "Gato, pass me the scissors." "Here." "How's that?" "You can't tell it's been fixed." "What's that candy, a gift from old leatherface?" " Get away!" " Give me a piece." " Get away, Gato!" "Let go!" " Give me a piece." "You know, Sem Pernas is screwing an leathery old spinster, you know." "Ugly as sin." "She was already ugly back in the slave days." "Want a piece?" "Let's go, Gato!" "If you want to go then now's the time." "Bye, mother!" "What about Fuinha?" "Fuinha went fishing with Querido de Deus tonight!" "How come you're scratching like a dog, Sem Pernas?" "It's nothing." "Let me see if you've got lice." "Sem Pernas, put your head here." "Dora?" "Do you miss your family?" "I don't." "I don't miss being beaten." "Sem Pernas?" "What's your real name?" "I haven't got one any more." "I have one sometimes." "The last was Augusto." "I like you like that, with no clothes." "You're more boyish." "I like you like that, smiling." "We could make plenty of money together." "You put up your beauty and me my cleverness." "Boy!" "Cheeky!" "Bandit!" "Have you got a light?" "It was that Ezequiel, right?" "Yeah!" "Him and his friends in Russo's gang." "Does it hurt?" "My rage hurts." "But I'll show him." "I'll crush the lot of them." "He's here, Volta Seca!" "Are we really going there, Bala?" "Sure." "I'm not taking such cowardice lying down." "Four against one, Professor." "He mentioned Dora." "Said we've a whore among us!" "He's such a piece of shit, that Ezequiel!" "Professor, see the damage?" "Today Dora kissed me." "When are we going there, Pedro?" "I want to leave right after sunset." "I'll use the razor Joéo Grande gave me." "What are you talking about?" "Are you out of your mind, Dora?" "No, I just know I'm coming with you." "You going to let her, Bala?" "Yes, he will." "The Professor has a lot on his mind." "He's just worried about you." "Pedro, do you want to be my boyfriend?" "I'll be anything you want." "Ezequiel, you piece of shit, where's your courage now?" "You caught me off guard before!" "Qw!" "Don't run!" "Don't run." "Come on, it's man to man." "Have you brought the whore to share with us, Pedro Bala?" "The only whore I knew was your mother." "Get him, Ezequiel!" "Go on, Bala!" "Go on, Bala!" "Go on, Bala!" "Stay back, Gato!" "You lost this fight a long time ago, Ezequiel." "Police!" "The police, Bala." "It's an ambush!" "Everyone out of here!" "Come on, Bala!" "Come on, Pedro!" "Bala... no!" "Open!" "Open!" "Stop fighting now!" "Or you'll be in for a right beating!" "You hear?" "Very well, Pedro." "I hope you're aware that we crush those who don't obey the rules." "Look at me!" "I prefer it that way, eye to eye so I can see how you shape up." "That's the deal here." "There's no use in getting all worried about bad boys like you, you're born evil, you die evil." "Sometimes you're better off dead." "You'll learn to go by the book." "Take him back to solitary." "You'll stay there till you soften up!" "Are we just going to sit and do nothing?" "No way, brother, no way." "There's nothing we can do, Gato." "Right now we need to let things cool off." "Everyone's on the lookout right now." "Bala dug his own grave." "The question now is, where's Dora?" "Father José Pedro talked to the folks from the church where the girl's reformatory is, an old convent down by Rio Vermelho." "We understand how difficult the first days are, but the sisters only want what's best for you." "You must seek comfort from your prayers." "Faith is a precious source of nourishment." "I pray every day, father." "But I miss my family so much." "I can't live without them." "Your brothers miss you too, Dora." "But they're going to come for you." "My God, you're burning with fever." "Dora, trust me, you must let the sisters look after you." "I'll come as often as I can." "What's wrong, Gato?" "Couldn't sleep?" "No way." "Such a mess." "The boys all split up, Bala inside." "It's as if time stood still." "Can I stay a few more days with you?" "Well, if you don't get in the way." "I think it's time for us to get the hell out of here." "This life really stinks." "Oh, my God." "My spring chicken's all upset." "Come here, little spring chicken." "Come here, come on." "Easy there, Pedro Bala." "My God, this hole sure stinks." "Pure shit!" "I want water!" "I want water!" "Here's your mug of water." "I want more." "Tomorrow I'll bring you another drop." "I want more!" "I want more, damn it!" "You were born to be a thief." " Your life's going to be hell, Pedro Bala." " You'll never be a real person." "We'll never separate, will we Pedro?" "No, never." "I could ask Mother Aninha if we could marry at her "terreiro"." "Ls being married by Mother Aninha official?" "Sure it is." "And when will we be married?" "When you grow up." "But I am grown up." "Get up, Pedro Bala, let's go!" "I've heard he's being sent to work in the sugar plantations." "That's the worst place, all day cutting cane." "At least now we can bust Bala out of there, there was no chance when he was in solitary." "But breaking in is still really difficult." "We don't want to break in, Gato, we want to get Bala out." "And he will get out." "And at the Trapiche, how are things?" "The boys said the cops haven't been there yet." "Neither Bala nor Dora have squealed!" "It's time to get back." "You keep giving the orders in there, Sem Pernas, so there's no confusion, you're good at giving orders." "Hang on, Professor!" "Why Sem Pernas?" "What's wrong with that?" "Hey, hey, hey!" "What's wrong with that?" "Stop!" "Just until things return to normal." " What if they don't?" " They will." "Come on, let's go." "Come on, get a move on now!" "Hey you, grab that cane." "YOU, Off you go, go on, go on!" "You come here!" "Hurry up, kid!" " I'm not doing anything!" " Just to stay in practice." "What about you?" "Monkey from hell!" "Huh?" " I'm working." " Shut up!" "Want a beating?" " Do you?" " No sir!" "What's going on?" "Get up, boy!" "Are you disobeying?" "!" "Are you disobeying?" "!" "Come here." " Take him to the infirmary." " Right away, right away!" "Pedro Bala, Pedro Balal." "Pedro Bala run!" "The occurrence, only now announced by the State Reformatory, took place last Thursday." "The rebellion was lead by the thief and leader of the infamous Captain of the Sand:" "Pedro Bala." "Oh yeah!" "Bala!" "The authorities say they won't rest until they apprehend this criminal." "I doubt the police will arrest Bala again." "I'd like to see them try!" "It's time we fetched Dora, Professor." "Grande, tell Mother Aninha to summon the saints to our side." "Dora!" "Pedro!" "Wait!" "Where's Dora?" "We just want to take Dora!" "She's sick." " Dora!" " Stay there!" " For God sake!" " You stay nice and quiet, sister!" "Have mercy, child!" "You can't take this girl, she's too sick!" " She's sick of you!" " Pedro, take me!" "For God's sake!" "No, she's sick!" "Take me, Pedro!" "You stay nice and quiet with the children." "I don't want to hurt anyone." "Let's go, Grande!" "Zé, my darling!" "You're so big, so strong." "I can even knock down Querido de Deus at capoeira now, Dora!" "Now I can protect you." "No one will ever mess with you again." "What do you want to be when you grow up?" "I want to be Pedro Bala's woman." "You'll never be far away, never again." "Pedro..." "Now I can be your woman." "Stop that, Dora!" "You're hot." "You have to rest." "We can't wait any longer." "Come, my Pedro!" "Dora!" "Dora!" "Dora!" "Dora!" "Dora!" "Dora!" "Dora!" "Dora!" "Professor!" "What's going to happen to us now?" "They'll be the way they are." "They'll take their course." "And me?" "Querido de Deus will teach you to fish." "You'll grow and become strong." "You'll know the sea like the back of your hand." "And you'll have kids, who'll be of the sea just like you." "I don't want kids." "Well forget the part about kids, if you like." "I don't want kids." "Nothing more will come of Dora, right Professor?" "But Dora has already become something." "When brave folks like her die they become a star." "A big star moving from one side to the other." "She's always be there, you'll see if you look." "But in there morning you can't see any stars." "Well, someday you'll learn to see." "You can learn to see?" "Yes, you have to learn everything." "And the others?" "What do you mean?" "You said what would happen to me, you should know what'll happen to the others." "Volta Seca will go into the backlands and become a brave "cangaceiro" outlaw and appear in a series of stories which everyone will read in the newspaper every night." "Hey Bala!" "Pirulito will become a priest." "And he'll be Pope." "The first poor Pope." "He'll help the boys and stop thieving." "Since he's the Pope, right?" "Can you imagine the Pope stealing?" "No way." "Not even in Bahia." "Vida Boa will write his songs and no public celebration will be complete without him singing." "Cool, right?" "Joéo Grande will build a bigger "Porta do Mar"" "and everyone'll go there." "Vida Boa will play at all the parties there." "And Gato?" "Gato?" "Gato will go to llhéus with his girlfriend." "Dalva will be a cabaret star and drain every last cent from all those cacao ranchers." "And Gato will just live it up." "I just don't know about Sem Pernas." "But I think he'll end up becoming an acrobat." "Sem Pernas, an acrobat?" "That's impossible!" "It's possible." "E verything's possible." "And you?" "Me?" "I'll go to Rio de Janeiro and become an artist." "I'll take your portraits for everyone to see." "The world will come to know the Captains of the Sand." "And Bala?" "Pedro Bala will follow his destiny." "There's no one he won't try to help." "He'll be like his father." "He'll organize all the boys in Bahia." "And everyone will listen to him." "He's going to fight for what is the most important thing in life: freedom!" "TO JORGE AND ZELIA, PEDRO BALA AND DORA, STARS IN BAHIA'S SKY"