Original subtitles

The queen.

[ exclaims in Spanish ]

That one.

[ laughter ]

To La Tules, the greatest gambler in Santa Fe.

In all Méjico.

[ man shouting in Spanish ]

Oh. Your Excellency.

MAN: Sí, Miguel?

American troops-- a whole army under General Kearny--

have entered New Méjico through Raton Pass.

And all the settlements along the line have surrendered.

And the army is now advancing on Santa Fe.

This is the end.

No, Governor, not for us.

Only for cowards, Governor.

♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

In the year 1846,

this was one of the most famous addresses of Santa Fe,

the elegant gambling establishment

of the woman known to everyone as "La Tules."

Born in poverty, but now rich, beautiful, clever,

and the acknowledged favorite of the ruling governor.

La Tules has won for herself everything a woman could ask for,

except social entrée.

Then in mid-August of that year,

the American Army of the West took over New Mexico,

and events occurred that forced her

to gamble for the highest stakes in her life.

This is the story of...

At last report, they left San Miguel del Bado.

A few kilometers from here.

We can stop them at Apache Pass.

The whole American Army?

Sí, señor.[ chuckles ]

Easily in that narrow canyon.

Give me 100 well-armed men and four cannon.

Sí.And we will wipe those gringos off the map, eh? [ chuckles ]

!¡Vamos, amigos! !¡Viva Méjico! !¡Viva Méjico!

Just who is the comandantehere?

Perdón,Your Excellency.

If you will issue the orders, Governor.

Not so fast. Not so fast.

Once past the canyon, there will be no stopping the Americanos.

I need time to think!

I will be waiting outside, Your Excellency.

[ door opens ]

[ door closes ]

[ exclaims in Spanish ]

It is like a thunderbolt.

The United States declare war last spring, remember?

I know, I know, but nothing happened.

Are you going to put up a fight?

No.

You'’re probably wise.

Why to risk the life of our young men in a hopeless cause?

Then you agree it'’s hopeless?

Any good gambler knows when the cards are against him.

Stop the army at the pass,

and another one will take his place.

I shall spare myself the humiliation of surrender.

General Kearny will, uh, treat you with dignity.

[ scoffs ] He'’ll have my head.

Just because that is the way you came into power?

Through the assassination of your predecessor?

[ sighs ]

We shall free the capital tonight,

head for Mexico City.

"We"?You will accompany me, of course?

No.

We'’ll be well protected.

I shall take my entire staff-- over 200-- as bodyguard.

You think I'’m a coward.

You would rather see me killed, imprisoned?

No.

I am only saying that I cannot leave.

You can establish another salon in Mexico City

and move in social circles that never received you here.

Perhaps.

Then what is there to keep you?

Miguel.Miguel...

Miguel Sisneros, the young man who brought the news?

Sí.

What is he to you?

My son.

Your son?

By an early marriagein Taos.

Why have you kept this from me?[ chuckles ]

Admit to a son, 21?

He would never leave New Mexico.

You heard him just now.

This is his country, his heritage.

He will give his life for it.

He may, if he stays.

You love this boy?

More than anything

or anyone else in the world.

Then I have my answer.

[ door opens ]

There will be no resistance.

Let them come.

[ whinnying ]

[ sputtering ]

Señora! Señora, the Americans!

[ horse whinnying ]

I understand they are very handsome, Luna.

We will join the rest of the citizens in the plaza, huh?

♪ [ drumroll ]

♪ [ continues ]

Detail, attention!

Present arms!

♪

♪ [ continues ]

[ chattering ]

Order!Order!

Arms!

I declare this territory

to be part of the United States of America

under the name of the Territory of New Mexico,

and hereby absolve

all those persons living within its boundaries

of any further allegiance to the Republic of Mexico.

[ chattering ]Those of you who remain quiet and peaceable

and are willing to pledge an oath of allegiance to the United States

will be considered as good citizens

and regarded as such.

Those found in arms

or instigating with others against the United States

will be considered as traitors

and dealt with as such.

[ chattering in Spanish ]

Miguel Sisneros.

Raise your right hand.

Do you pledge your oath of allegiance to the United States of America?

I do.

Don Diego Archuleta.

Raise your right hand.

Do you pledge your oath of allegiance to the United States of America?

I do.

[ door closes ]

Why don'’t you look where you'’re going, greaser?

Do not call me that.

Oh, you don'’t like it, greaser?

No, I do not like it, gringo.

Were you out of your mind to draw a knife

on an American officer,Miguel?

I had them, down to their very souls.

All of them.Please, Miguel.

Yes, I will even shout it in the plaza!

But you took an oath of loyalty to the United States.

It was in English.

But you understand English,

and you understand what would happen to you

if it will hit headquarters that you'’re antiamericano?

They will see you as a traitor!

I hear rumors of insurrection, Miguel.

You are not involved,are you?

Shouldn'’t I be?[ scoffs ]

You should be sensible enough to accept reality.

If you mean, by reality, the yoke of the gringos, I will never-- LUNA: Señora.

Señora! Señora?

Come in, Luna.

A message from the headquarters of the americanos.

"Colonel Sterling Price,

acting military governor,

"present his compliments,

"and request a private audience,

"at the earliest opportunity,

to discuss a matter of utmost importance."

[ exclaiming in Spanish ]

Miguel-- Miguel, if some harm happen to you,

that could be the end of my word.

Oh, I shall tell the colonel that it was a mistake,

that the lieutenant start the fight.

Oh, I shall pay any sum of money he has.

Mama, I can fight my own battles.

I am not a boy!

Luna, tell the message

that I will receive Colonel Price

at 5:00 this afternoon.

Sí, señora.

[ sighs ]

Um, my mistress-- uh, she will receive the colonel

at 5:00 this afternoon.

Good.

Then maybe I'’ll get to see you again.

I, uh-- I noticed you that first day in the plaza.

Prettiest girl there.

My name is, uh, Sergeant Malone, First Dragoon.

My name is Luna.

Hasta la vista,then, till 5:00.

To our country.

I'’ve, uh, come here today

on a rather delicate mission, Doña Tules.

Delicate?[ groans ]

To the point of embarrassment.

You have the ear of a man ready to confess that he'’s bankrupt,

and he would like a loan from the house.

How did you guess?

It is something that I meet quite often in my business.

That'’s exactly why I'’m here, señora.

You, out of funds?

Oh, not myself. The army.

The americanos?

Huh! Unthinkable.

Well, it'’s only temporary.

Any week now, funds will arrive from Washington.

But in the meantime,

we urgently need supplies for troops that are moving south into Mexico.

Go on. Go on.

Would you tide us over, señora,

with a loan...

[ sighs ] of a thousand dollars?

I had expected a completely different reason for your visit.

A far more personal reason.

Oh?

Thousand dollars, huh?

And interest, of course.Of course. Of course.

There is a regimental ball this Saturday night

at the house of the Peraltas.

I had imagined you were coming here today

to offer to escort me.

I shall be honored,señora.

Then, when you call for me,

you will have $1,000 in silver waiting for you...

at two percent interest per month.

You gave money to the americanos.

Madre,I'’m ashamed of you.

I'’m only being realistic.

Nothing is to be gained by fighting the Americans.

Better to learn to live with them.

To eat with them, drink with them, dance with them?

Oh, it was a wonderful ball.

I was quite the most beautiful woman present.

You bucked your way in.

How else?

Oh, if you could see the faces of those women

when I led the grand march on the arm of Colonel Price.

Hmph! They will never snub me again.

I'’m more experienced than you in the ways of the world,my son.

I came to Santa Fe as a young girl,

poor, without friends,

working for a living any way I could.

I even slept on cold, dirt floors.

How do you think I got where I am today?

By gambling.

Gambling every step of the way,

and winning.

Now I'’m gambling on the Americans.

I have faith in them,

and I know they are here to stay, Miguel.

That is where you are wrong, Madre.

Before the year is up, they will be out too.

Out of New Méjico, out of Santa Fe!

Miguel, please.

Mark my words, it will happen.

And I, Madre-- I shall be a part of it.

Miguel...

Tonight, Calle Guadalupe.

The password'’s "insurrecto."

This is where I live.

[ footsteps approaching ]

[ gasps ]

[ door closes ]Colonel Archuleta.

Hang all colonels.

[ door closes ]No...

I must go.

Buenas noches.

[ door closes ]

Since our last meeting, plans for the insurrection have been completed.

The date is set for December 24th.Christmas Eve?

ARCHULETA: The signal for the revolt will be the ringing of the bells

for midnight Mass.

Every American must be killed or driven out.

You understand?

I have here drawn up this agreement to stage the revolt

and will ask each of you here present to sign it.

Posterity will know who fought for freedom

and who groveled before the gringo enemy.

Don Tomás Ortiz,

as our future governor, your name should hit the list.

Miguel Sisneros.

If this paper is found,

it can mean death to all of us.

Have no fear, amigo.

It will not be carried about freely.

We will hide it... right here.

[ soft clank ]

Sh.

Why did you send for me?

[ sighs ] To show you something.

My loan to the American army.

Paid with an interest.

They are honest. You will have to admit it.

They give their word.

You have gone over to the gringos.

Miguel, I love this land and its people

as much as you do.

I will give my life for them.

Then fight for them.

For what, Miguel?

When you have lived as long as I have,

you will understand the foolishness

of fighting where there'’s no chance for victory.

For every American whose blood you spill,

there will be ten more to take his place.And we will kill them too.

Miguel, I love my people.

I am one of them.

What I know-- they have better chance

to lead a good life under the Americans.

[ scoffs ]

My son. My son.

Hatred only breeds more hatred.

It is nearly Christmas,

the season of peace and goodwill toward men.

That is very well for you to say with your bags of American gold and your charming colonel,

the successor, perhaps, to Governor Armijo!

[ sighs ] I'’m sorry, Mother.

I deserve that.

[ door opens, closes ]

[ bell tolling ]

I-- I cannot find him anywhere.

[ tolling stops ]

It'’s only striking 6:00.

[ exclaims in Spanish ] What I am to do?

If-- If the americanos are warned...

Will be the end of the insurrection.

And Miguel.

Luna... [ mutters ]

Sí, señora.

[ knocking on door ]

Colonel Price.Doña Tules.

Well, merry Christmas.

May I come in?Please.

You'’re cold. Let me get you a glass of wine.

No. There is no time to lose in the five hours.

A revolution is afoot.

A band of insurrectors are planning to take over the city tonight

and murder all the Americans.How do you know this?

They were overheard.

The church bells at midnight are the signal.

Have you any idea of their leaders?

Colonel Diego Archuleta,

Don Tomás Ortiz,

Don José Martinez...

Anyone else?

Miguel Sisneros.

[ casino chips clacking ]

[ sighs ]

Oh, Dios.

How I love this country.

[ church bell tolling ]

[ tolling continues ]

[ tolling stops ]

[ dog barking in distance ]

There is no insurrection!

And that is how the Christmas Eve revolt of 1846 was nipped in the bud,

and the lives of all the Americans in Santa Fe saved.

Fifteen of the conspirators were arrested. Among them, Miguel.

They were given a fair trial and freed,

since no written proof could ever be found

to convict them of their part in the plot.

La Tules, whose picture here was sent to us

by the Historical Society of New Mexico,

had gambled for the highest stakes in her life and won.