Original subtitles

[Music]

Heat.

Heat.

Heat.

Heat. Heat. Heat.

[Music]

[Applause]

Heat. Heat.

[Music]

gentlemen to the state of Arizona.

Arizona.

That's good, Governor.

The state of

Arizona. I kind of like the sound of it.

I'm glad I live to see this day. Mr.

Griff, no thank you, Governor. Choice

Savannah. I'll smoke this one. You must

have something very special there. Very

special. Are you writing any more books,

John? No, it was just a sideline with

me. I've been working with the

Department of Interior all these

years. A friend of mine gave me this

cigar.

celebration for him, too. His 30th

wedding

anniversary.

Gentlemen, I'd like to propose a

toast to a real lover of

Arizona, to my friend, James Edison

Rivas. The man who called himself the

Baron of Arizona. Yes.

He will always be a part of the Arizona

legend. Were it not for him, perhaps you

gentlemen would not have formed your

senatorial committee on statehood as

fervently as you did. Oh yes, I remember

that cheap swindler.

Swindler? Yes, but cheap. Oh, there was

nothing cheap about James

Rivas. Only remember what you read in

the papers, Mr. Reynolds. But I don't

understand, Mr. Griff. Uh, he's your

friend. Yes.

I've always thought you were bitter

enemies. On the contrary, Governor was a

challenge to have such a man as an

adversary. He put up a most magnificent

fight against the government. What on

earth made him dream up such a fantastic

swindle?

Ambition. Wasn't he a clerk in the Santa

Fe land office at one time? Yes, he was.

And it infuriated him that ignorant

people inherited land because the United

States recognized Spanish

grants. So, he decided to steal Arizona

with forged documents. Didn't he spend

many years perfecting his plan? Yes,

many years. He studied ancient records

and learned to forge them. He studied

languages. and he adopted the manners of

a gentleman of

culture. Knowing all these things were

necessary to his

scheme, he created a man called Miguel

de Peralta, the first baron of

Arizona. He was now ready to put his

plan in motion.

One rainy night in

1872 just outside

[Music]

Phoenix and Pito Alvarez. Yes.

There is a girl living here by the name

of Sophia.

Yes. She was left with you when she was

one year old.

[Music]

I am James Ras from the land office in

Santa Fe.

Come in Mr. really

miss Arizona for months. It did not rain

here.

Oh, thank

[Music]

you. Do you mind?

[Music]

Would you like a good? I do not smoke,

Mr.

Alvarez. The government of the United

States is a very fair government. You

know

that. It recognizes Spanish titles to

land grants. Do you know what a land

grant is? Yes.

Well, it seems that back in

1748, the king of Spain gave to Miguel

de Peralta a grand of land in America.

Did you ever hear of Peralta? No. He was

the first baron of Arizona. Baron in

America? Yes. And according to the laws

of this country, his direct descendant

is the rightful heir to the Peralta

Grant. The heir?

Oh, yes. That that means that the per

person related to him today owns all

that land.

What is this to do with Sophia?

Her real name is Sophia de

Peralta. Here are the papers to prove

it.

You

uh you make family for

Sophia with these papers. Read it.

[Music]

I do not read.

Well, according to these papers, she is

the last of the

Peraltas. Sophia, she's singing Dolores

to sleep.

Who is Dolores?

This is Estraittita, Dolores's sister. I

make family for Sophia, too. But not so

good for her like these papers.

They're called the lucky little mother.

Sophia. Sopia.

[Music]

To Rivas, this undernourished child was

the basis of his claim to establish an

empire. He knew it would not be

difficult to convince her that she had

noble blood. I suppose it stunned this

Papita Alvarez.

Yes, but he was happy for the child.

Rivas took them from their adobe shack

to his home in Santa Fe where he lost no

time in molding her into a baroness.

Good morning. Good morning. You are Miss

Loma Morales, unmarried, a teacher from

Las Vegas

College. Pipito, this is Miss Loma

Morales. Mr. Harris. Loma? What kind of

name is that? LMA means a hill. I was

born in Yakaloma.

Were the terms in my letters

satisfactory? This is the child Sophia

de Peralta. She is a

baroness. Do you wish the position as

her governness?

[Music]

The child showed

promise. Llama taught her how to walk,

sit, curtsy, eat, and listen. And while

Sophia learned how to write, Rivas was

writing in his own

fashion. Writing on a stone, the

foundation of a false claim that would

stun a nation.

You all remember that inscription on the

rock. I have marked this stone the heart

of my grant awarded to me by Ferdinand

6, King of Spain on December 20,

1748. I am Miguel dea Peralta Baron of

Arizona take possession on this day,

August 12, 1750.

[Music]

Read to me again. Again? Read to me.

Where did you get this book, Sophia? In

your room.

You must never take what is not yours.

Yes, sir.

Sit down here beside me.

Once upon a time, there was a little

princess who had royal blood in her

veins. But no one knew it except a

prince who spent many years and in many

lands looking for her.

It is very pretty.

Sophia.

Sophia. Happy birthday, Bars.

The Colorado will be your private

Riviera. Every day will be a holiday.

New Year's in the Painted Desert,

Christmas in the Heila Valley, and

Thanksgiving in the Pine Timber. And the

Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon will be

your playyard.

That's a real birthday present, Sophia,

from the United

States. Over

113,000 square miles, as large as Italy,

and it's all yours. Every mile, every

foot, every

inch, I promise you this birthright,

Sophia,

are you going away for a long time?

There are many important documents to

gather so that you can inherit all this.

Can't you do it here? I'm afraid it's

not that simple. Then I do not want it.

What did Aristotle say of dignity?

He said dignity

consists not in possessing honors but in

deserving them. And and I shall try to

deserve them. Good. You and I must never

lose our bearings, Sophia. Not even for

an

instant. You must have dignity. Only

peasants cry. I know, but I want to go

with you. I want to go with you. I want

to go with

[Music]

you. I want You are Sophia de Peralta,

Baroness of Arizona. Say it.

Sophia de

Peralta. Baroness of Arizona.

He then established evidence of Sophia's

birth and falsified records creating for

her an entire family of noble blood, the

family of one Miguel de Peralta. And

before the ink certifying them was dry,

he falsified the existence of her

parents and carefully arranged to have

them properly laid to rest.

[Music]

Having provided Sophia with the

necessary ancestry, he sailed for Spain

to complete his worldwide forgery.

He had only one more act to perform. The

falsification of the original land grand

book of Ferdinand V 6th which was in the

well-guarded archives. The biblotaker in

the monastery of Alcantra

[Music]

The father guardian will see you now.

Oh, thank you, brother.

[Music]

Have you come for a short visit? I've

come to

stay. Oh, uh, forgive me, father.

I mean, I I would like to stay very

much.

But why have you chosen our order?

Well, I have made careful survey,

father, and from the little I know of

your order, I feel very much attracted

to

it. There is much to prove before you

can join our order. After all, you must

admit we know nothing about you. Charity

commands us to accept you on your face

value. But for practical purposes, you

will have sufficient time to prove

yourself. By the time you are through

with your novisian, we will know more

about you.

Oh, brother Anthony, welcome to the

library of Alcantara. I'm brother

Gregory, the custodian. May I assist

you? Oh, thank you, brother Gregory.

This is our scriptorum where we study

and do most of our spiritual work.

That's very interesting. We have a fine

collection of books which you will

enjoy. The scribe room where our experts

copy and illuminate manuscripts. The

illumination is

magnificent and the

calligraphy. The repair room where we

strengthen and sew bindings. Is this for

sewing the bindings? Yes, that's right.

And the uh press? Yes, the

press. Uh those are cakes of ink. Yes,

we make our own ink and have not changed

the formula in five

centuries and this is our

biblote. This is where we preserve our

ancient books and uh priceless

records. You were surprised to find them

chained. I can understand. But to re

remove a book is strictly forbidden.

Well, but surely no one would dare.

Well, who knows? Once a rare book

collector, acted rather strangely in

this cell, and we were compelled to

summon the civil police from Sevilla to

investigate

him. The Mazarin

Bible, the first work of Gutenberg,

printed in 1450.

I thought it was in two volumes. You're

right, brother Anthony. Christopher

Columbus's son borrowed the second

volume and

uh never returned

it. The books and uh records are

listed. You're welcome at all times.

Thank you, brother Greger.

[Music]

[Music]

He lost no time stealing ammonia from

the infirmary and milk and meal from the

kitchen. He mixed his solution and tried

it out. He had to make sure he could

remove the ink.

[Music]

You rub the surface of the page with

pummus to smooth the irritated grain.

[Music]

[Music]

That night he gathered his equipment and

hurried to the

biblote to forge the Peralta grant in

the 1748 volume.

[Music]

This was his first major catastrophe,

but he never admitted defeat. For months

he practiced ancient

penmanship. For months he made attempts

to enter the Biblioteaker while the

others were

asleep. But he

failed. One day however he conceived a

simple but most effective plan of

gaining entry into the Bibliotecha where

he could work. In his cell, he

deliberately left a sample of his

penmanship.

[Music]

[Applause]

Brother Anthony. Yes, father. Did you

write this? Yes, father. I'm assigning

you to the library to assist brother

Gregory. I prefer fieldwork. You've been

here 3 years. You're a hard worker, but

your talent would be wasted. But father,

I really I suggest you go to the

library.

Yes, father.

[Music]

And this is our

biblote where we preserve our ancient

books and priceless

records. To remove one of the books,

Brother Anthony. Yes, Father. The books

and documents are listed.

Will you get the land grant records of

1748, please?

Yes, the binding must be repaired. I

wonder what condition the other copy is

[Music]

in. Uh, you may keep the keys. Brother

Gregory is ill, but we'll be well

tomorrow. You are custodian of the

library for tonight. When Brother Paul

has finished repairing the binding, be

sure to return the book. Yes, Father

Guardian. Oh, Father Guardian. Yes.

Is there another copy of such a valuable

book? The 1750 volume. It was written

here, but the Marcus de Santella has it.

He is secretary to the

king. Are you ill?

No,

father. I was just thinking of a book. I

understand your concern for ancient

documents. But do not despair. They're

well preserved in his castle near

Madrid.

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

Hey, hey, hey.

[Music]

Oh,

I came here to the archive to seek peace

within myself. Father,

you are tempted to run

away. I am not for this kind of life.

Father, others have been tempted

too.

Meditate. We shall talk tomorrow.

You know how it is, father. There are so

many reports, so many complaints. But in

your case, we came just as soon as we

were notified. I'm glad you came today.

I

Oh, brother

Anthony. Brother

Anthony. Brother

[Music]

Anthony, brother Anthony.

I did not think he would run away. Run

away? The wagon? He has taken our horses

and wagon. We'll bring them back. That's

not the way. He would not speak to me

for fear I would inspire him to stay.

Yes, he did appear frightened. As I was

telling you, father, your complaints

finally brought official action.

Tomorrow, all holes in the mountain

roads will be filled, even those beyond

the Roman bridge.

[Music]

[Applause]

Heat. Heat.

[Music]

Now come on.

[Applause]

So mine,

father, your horse is dead. Father, your

wagon

firewood. I found you. Me, Rita. I'm not

a monk, Rudy.

To escape police, I had to wear this

rope.

Who are you?

A wanderer like Cain, looking for a

woman of my own.

[Music]

My dating she was beautiful, but I told

her that a Spanish promise is like a

Spanish pepper. It burns whoever tastes

it.

Here's a hat. Oh, thank you, Angie. And

here's a coat. Ah, I think this will fit

you. Ah, thanks. What's the matter?

Aren't you going to finish the stew I

made for you? Oh, certainly, Angie. It's

excellent. It's your horses.

Two years ago in Madrid, I was dining

with royalty one night. One of them said

that no amount of washing could turn a

gypsy white. I accused him of insulting

the gypsies. You said that to a

nobleman? I spit in his face and

received 20 lashes on my back. That pig

of a nobleman was the Marcus to

Santella. Santella, secretary to the

king. He's a pig. He prays every night

to the devil. He is reach. I know. And I

have a plan. In his house is much gold.

I know exactly where it is hidden. But I

need help. And we can all share in that

great wealth. It's too dangerous. She's

right. A thief never takes chances. We

can get that gold. Then why do you need

us? I told you I have a plan. As it is,

they chase us like dogs from one

province to another. Madrid.

The Marquees would order half of Spain

to hunt us down. Does a girl make

decisions for you? She has a man's

shrewdness.

A shrewd woman would know when to trust

a man. Now, why should we trust

you? We don't know who you really are

or where you come

from. Tomorrow you leave our camp.

[Music]

I told you to leave tomorrow.

Take me with you. I want to go with you.

I will not be in the way. I will be good

to you. I will be very friendly. Perhaps

you will take me.

Yes. Yes. I can see you in Paris,

London, America. Everybody bowing to

you, treating you like a lady.

But you marry one of your own and have

many dirty-faced children. No, no, no,

no, no, no.

But you can't leave your people, Rita.

They depend on you. They listen to you.

I hate them.

[Music]

Oh, Rita, you're like a rich curtain

before a doorway of wild and wonderful

miracles.

There is no longer a curtain.

Each ban is a

sin and I want to confess them all to

you. You make it very hard to

refuse. I've known many women, but with

you it's different with you, I'm afraid.

Is it true what you said that no washing

will turn a gypsy white? It takes money.

It's all yours. Money I've saved,

stolen, hidden from the others. I hate

living in the woods like an animal.

People spitting at me and treating me

like a mongrel. It's not enough for what

we both want. Then we shall get more.

The Marcus to Santella has much

gold. Enough to dress you in fine gowns

and take you far away from anything.

Anything you say only promise you'll

take me with you.

I don't understand.

Ita last

night she said it was too dangerous to

go to

Madrid.

Today she says we go to

Madrid. I don't like this moving around

all the time. It makes me feel like a

vagabond.

[Music]

Where is the tall gypsy? The one with

the lovely beard. Ah, Maressa, I see a

rich fat man in your life. My husband is

not a fat man. Marqueest Santella is a

handsome man. Oh yes, Maressa. He is

beautiful. It was because of me that he

permitted this

party. Unless you bring the tall gypsy

at once, I'll have you driven

off. No, wait. I thought I saw him go

into the house. No, he's in the woods

making a love potion for you.

I think he's in the house. Oh, he's

waiting for you in the woods. He told

me.

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

What are you doing here?

The gypsy girl told me that you would be

here. She lied. She's jealous. And so am

I. Last night, you promised you'd spend

every moment with me tonight. We must be

cautious. Your husband. I love my

husband, but I'm bored with him and his

musty old books.

Only a fool would waste his time on old

books when he has a beautiful young

woman to love. Please don't leave with

the others. Stay here in Madrid. We can

be together often.

It's too dangerous here. I'll meet you

near the fountain. I'll go first you

father. Promise.

I

[Music]

promise. I've known many

women, but with you I'm afraid.

[Music]

[Music]

But he never kept the rendevous with the

Maresa because he had more important

things to

do. He now was ready to come out into

the open.

Sophia was traveling in Europe. He wrote

her to meet him in Paris. How do you

like Paris? He's good, but I like

Arizona better. And uh Sophia in there

counting the hours. Loma helping her

with the dresses. Papita the bonapart

sails from Laah next week. Book a

passage and reserve the bridal suite. We

go home.

Bridal? You married you? Not yet. Well,

now you tell me everything. What you do,

where you go, how you live, how do you

send so much money? You found the

senorita in Spain, huh? At a bull fight,

maybe. No, I found her outside of

Phoenix. Huh? I'm going to marry Sophia.

Mr.

Rivish, he's good. All you do for

Sophia, for me, is good. But it's only

right for a man to take a woman as wife

when he loves her. But don't you believe

that I love her? I do not mean it that

way. But uh she's uh not a girl now.

She's a woman. You don't know Sophia is

woman. I know her better than anyone

else in the world. But you cannot put

together cake to iron or a girl to an

old man. Old man? Well, well, why not

leave the decision up to her?

Yes, she has a good

head. We leave it to

her. Is she still singing Dolores to

sleep? Call the lucky little

mother. Call her.

Sophia. Sophia.

[Music]

But aren't you happy to see

me? I cannot see you for the tears.

[Music]

Are my cheeks blushed? You can't see in

the dark. I'm so

excited. Did you notice my necklace? You

said it from Mexico. And the comb. Do

you remember? From Sevilla. The one I

like best is is the music box from from

uh Madrid.

Sophia, how does it feel to be a woman

of dignity and and beauty?

Why don't you ask how it feels to be

lonely? You two.

All my life, I've known two men. The one

who came out of the rain and the long

black cape. The other one who was always

in my dreams.

Sophia, am I too old for your

affections?

too

old. I am grateful to have learned in

all my travels what so few women ever

learn how to recognize love.

I could never explain why,

but it would fill my heart if you would

become my wife.

[Music]

Oh, I've wanted it this way ever since I

realized what I wanted.

[Music]

Oh, Sophia,

Sophia, I have known many, many

[Music]

women. But with

you, I'm afraid.

Hey, that's a pretty fancy carriage.

Well, now we'll see what a baron looks

like.

[Music]

people. Come on.

[Music]

Come in.

[Music]

I am the baron of Arizona. Howdy, Baron.

I am Miller, surveyor general. No. May I

present Mr. Miller my wife? The baron is

Sophia de Peralta. How do you do

Baroness? We wish to claim full

recognition of the Peralta land grant.

There's uh been quite a lot of

excitement in town since your man told

us you were coming. Royal is something

new in Arizona.

Our agents have collected the necessary

copies of all certified documents. The

royal decree signed by Ferdinand V 6th.

The history of the Peraltas, the

fetician.

Are you sure the meats and bounds in

this location are uh I am. There must be

some mistake. Why? This

grant Why why it it it takes in

practically the entire territory of

Arizona. It does take in the territory.

It also includes all mineral rights, all

rivers, all grazing ground. I'd advise

you to investigate this claim at once,

Mr. Miller, for you are living on our

land. Good day,

sir.

[Music]

According to your records of 1750, the

stone marker would prove a definite

location and evidence that Peralta

actually took possession. Well,

maybe. This is pretty wild country

around

here. There is no stone.

If you say so, Mr. Miller Mr. Miller Mr.

Miller Mr. Miller

[Music]

Peralta. Peralta. Peralta. This man

Rivas claims to own everything from the

smallest shack to the capital in

Prescott. If the land belongs to him,

the sooner the people know it, the

better. Why? So they'll be saved court

costs. Mr.

Secretary, we're whipped.

Gentlemen, because of the Peralta

grant, the New Mexico Arizona boundary

has just been altered.

Congress has refused the territory of

New Mexico admission as a state to the

union until the revers bounds are

clarified by us.

Well, Griff, what about the signatures

on the document? This is a

good but very often a fine rapper

conceals inferior tobacco. You're the

greatest expert in the country.

Are these papers forged?

I think so. Now, no, now don't get

excited.

Why should a land office clerk finance a

child's education when he could have

bought the grant from her for a few

dollars and claimed it for himself?

Why did he marry her? Well,

why? To protect

himself. As long as a true Spaniard

inherits the land, he knows the

government will not violate the treaty.

Gentlemen, it has the stench of swindle.

The signatures on these papers appear

authentic, but they're still only

copies.

Well, Griff, what do you suggest? To

examine the original source upon which

this claim is founded in the monastery

of Alcantra in Spain.

[Music]

Come in,

sir. The president of I am occupied.

Not too occupied to see gun through a

southern railroad.

Well, I've sent word to you more than

once to come to my

office. Your manners are as impossible,

sir, as your chances to continue

operating in Arizona.

Say, what do you know about that?

You're not going into the railroad

business, too, are you? Now, see here,

Reebus. Baron. Baron, I want you. Your

lawyer told you that I hold the threat

of stopping by injunction all railroads

trespassing our land. He advised you to

capitulate. It's interesting, isn't it?

Yes. Since I don't want to impede

progress, I'm permitting you to advance

me $50,000.

50,000 as a first installment for an

immediate quick claim deed. Just the

amount I was going to offer you for my

right away. Well, in that case, I shall

remove you from the trespasses list.

Thank you, Baron. Thank you.

Oh,

Baron, how about buying an interest in

some of your mineral rights? How much of

an interest?

Oh, a 100,000 as a starter. That's not a

very interesting start.

Mr.

Gunther, I understand that you own that

uh magnificent mansion outside of

Phoenix. That's right.

Well, now that would be a very

interesting down payment on some of my

mineral rights.

Baron, you've got yourself a house.

I'm a land owner. We all are. We want to

know where we stand in my private office

without an appointment. Just a moment,

gentlemen. Let's not have any violence.

At least not until I get my story. I'm a

clearer of the New York World. You don't

mind answering a few questions. Baron,

is it true you're collecting thousands

of dollars in revenues, rents, and

royalties even before your claim has

been recognized in any court? Would a

railroad advance me a penny if there

were a question regarding the validity

of my claim? Not if I know those

railroads. This is Gunther of Southern

Railroad. Mr. Gunther, are you paying me

for right of way through my land?

Well,

yes. Why don't you wait till the

government recognizes his claim

officially, Mr. Gunther, and be forced

to pay him an impossible figure? That

would be poor business

foresight. If I were you men, I would

settle right now for what he demands.

Why don't all of you gentlemen listen to

the railroad man? That's why he's so

rich.

Baron, my publisher, Mr. Pulitzer, wants

me to write you up as the man who

changed geography.

This is only the beginning. This is

sufficient for me. Nothing is sufficient

for anyone who can change

geography. My dear, I've I've just

bought a private railroad car for us.

We'll go all over our territory sometime

next month. Oh, let's not go anywhere

for a long time. I have so many wonders

to get used

to. This is our first real home.

Anything you say, my dear.

Is it unlady like for a baroness to to

shout to everyone that she loves her

husband? Never mind everyone. Just shout

it to

[Music]

me.

Heat. Heat.

Well, I did it. You sure nobody was

home? No, nobody was home.

Tom, it's wrong. He's just a lot of

fancy words. That little explosion will

scare him right out of town. Don't

worry, Carrie. We ain't going to lose

our home. I ought to turn you into the

sheriff. He can't take the law into his

own hands. It ain't up to him to scare

the baron out of here. It's up to the

government, Hank. Nothing will stop me

from tangling with you if you get in my

way. You just got a room in town, that's

all. You got nothing to lose. We got

everything.

Did you ever read it?

I thought you might like a copy. My

name's Griff. My library is

complete. How do you do, Mr. Griff?

Cigar. Thank

you.

Writing books is a

sideline. I'm with the Department of

Interior. Oh, what exactly is your job,

Mr. Griff?

Not a very pleasant one, sir. I expose

falsified wills, ancient manuscripts,

and

uh Spanish land

grants. I can understand the

government's reluctance to part with

Arizona. I have prepared for a thorough

investigation of all

documents, but I don't appreciate the

inference or falsification of papers.

I've never yet met a claimant who

appreciated my presence in the case.

Griff, come to think of it, your name is

familiar. I heard of you when I was a

clerk in the land office at Santa Fe.

Frankly, didn't you read my book?

I really don't recall it.

I've just returned from Spain after

following your trail from Mexico City to

Madrid. Surprised? On the contrary, I'm

pleased with your energy. I hope that

your investigation proved interesting.

Interesting enough for another book. Oh,

and when you write it, send me a

copy. Your penmanship was truly a

masterpiece, a work of

art. This is a good, eh? But it's a pity

your claim is a bad cigar wrapped in a

rich Spanish leaf. Could

they?

Oh, it's autographed.

[Music]

Hallelujah.

Ever.

[Music]

How do you do? How do you do? May I

present Mr. John Griff of Washington DC,

my wife, the baroness Sophia de Peralta

Revas. How do you do, Mrs. Rivas?

Forgive me. This is very

important. Mr.

Rivas, during the investigation of your

wife's parentage, did you go to the

Guadalajara cemetery? Yes, Mr. Griff. I

did. And that is where her father and

mother are buried. Yes, it is. Mr.

Martinez. Is this the man?

See, is he the one who told you he was

looking for the tombstones of Pedro and

Maria de Peralta?

See, is he the one who paid you to cut

words on two unmarked tombstones in the

Guadalajara cemetery? He paid me to cut

flowers and keep the grave nice and

beautiful.

Martinez, you know the seriousness of

perjury. What is prejury?

Did you see this man today?

I see him 11 years ago. He was looking

for Peralta family. You told me he

bribed you. What is bribe?

Poor devil. I can understand what

happened and why you did

it. It won't do you much

good. Mr.

Griff, you think my husband is a

fake? Mr. Griff, look at

me. Tell me, am I a fake?

[Music]

Thank

you. You're welcome.

Yeah.

[Music]

I felt a sense of guilt. Don't let their

resentment disturb you, Sophia. It's

wrong. Something is wrong. I never want

to come here again.

I mean it.

You must accept certain terms, Sophia.

Perhaps I'm not proud enough to accept

such terms. I forbid you to speak like

that. I remember when you forbaded me to

eat raw sugar. Then remember that you

were a

Baroness. Now compose

yourself. Sit down, my dear.

How do you do, sir? How do you do,

Barrett?

May I present Mr. Richardson, Secretary

of the Interior, my wife, the Baroness,

Sophia de Palter Rivas. An honor,

Baroness, on our part, Mr. Secretary.

What you sit down, sir. Thank you.

Well,

sir, we've had our best agent

investigating your claim for six tedious

months. Well, I have implicit faith in

the integrity of our Washington experts.

We can't afford delay, Baron. It's

costing the people too much. And you

leave us no alternative but to make good

on the multitude of land titles we've

issued. Well, I'm certain the government

findings will be fair, and I shall abide

by their official confirmation or

denial.

How much is the barren worth to you?

Well, that's a difficult figure to

reach, Mr. Secretary. As you are well

aware, there are treasures of unmined

gold and silver and uh the rich grazing

land and a most difficult figure to

reach.

Well, the United States is prepared to

pay you $25

million for the purchase of the

territory of Arizona.

I regret that we must decline your

officer.

What do you expect? Recognition of the

Peralta grant.

Baroness. Baron.

Do you remember the day you sobbed like

a little peasant?

I did not want Arizona.

I wanted to be with you.

But I promised you your birthright,

Sophia. Now it's yours. All of it. Every

mile, every foot, every inch.

What is it you really want?

And not only that, but my father was the

first white American to to pitch a tent

in Phoenix since I was 8 years old. I I

helped him plant and plow until we got

enough to buy our own piece of land from

the government. And then this fell comes

along who says he's a a baron, whatever

that is. And every time I tried talking

plain horse sense to him, he told me to

settle with one of his clerks. Well, I'm

going to settle with this baron himself.

There's your chance, Lassie. There they

[Music]

come. Clear the road.

Clear the road. Next, we'll have to pay

you to breathe this air. Prieous, you

think the government would sell us land

that doesn't belong to them? No. And any

man who speaks like that is a traitor to

his country? Citizens of Arizona, we

don't want your homes or shops or

livestock. Then why are you trying to

scare us into paying for what's already

ours? I have terrorized no one. I don't

want to hurt you. I want to help all of

you develop Arizona into the richest

barony in the world. That ain't for

America. That's for Europe. We ain't

slave workers. And you ain't our king.

No. But I am the baron. And what goes

with the barony must and will be

recognized by all of you. Just as it was

recognized 10 minutes ago by the United

States government. We heard you forged

them papers. There will be all kinds of

rumors. Why don't you go to the surveyor

general's office right now? There's a

man there who can straighten you out on

this matter. He's from Washington. He

just offered us $25 million for our

land. But I turned him down. I'm not

interested in money. I'm interested in

land and its development. What if we

don't have the money to pay you? What if

we don't have the money? What will you

do? I shall evict you.

James.

[Music]

[Music]

I feel like Caesar's wife before he was

murdered. You've sacrificed much, but

the effort will be worthless if

something happens to you.

I saw the faces of those people today.

They hate us. They're afraid of us. Once

you were afraid of me, remember? I was

never afraid of you. I loved you the

instant you gave me the second piece of

candy.

And I'm not happy to be the baroness.

That's because you still feel a sense of

unnecessary guilt.

Why must we have all that I have?

It would take me days to cover the

acorage around this house

alone. I don't want a dead baron. I want

a live

husband. Oh, I know only peasants cry,

but I I love you. I love you. I love

you. I love you.

[Music]

You ain't take my farm away from me.

You'll have to shoot me

also. Heat. Heat.

[Music]

[Music]

James Addison de Peralta

Rivas and Sophia D. Peralta Rivas,

husband and wife versus the United

States of America. The plaintiffs asked

the government to confirm their title to

the territory of Arizona. This is the

most unusual case in the history of land

claims. Every spectator has land at

stake. And I paid the baron $4,000. Do I

get my money back? I don't want to be

compelled to have you arrested, but this

is now a federal court. And while you

have the sympathy of the government, I

will tolerate no further disturbance. Is

that

clear? Has the government any legal

proof exposing my claim as a forgery?

No.

Has the government any evidence to prove

the ancestry of the baroness Sophia de

Peralta Rivas false? The government has

not. Have you any proof to discredit the

Peralta claim?

No, your honor. I accused the government

of casting a cloud of suspicion on the

integrity of my wife. the Baroness

Sophia de Palteras. I accuse the

government of encouraging mobs to

violate our privacy and to make attempts

on our lives. I accuse the government of

costing us the hatred, suspicion, and

distrust of the people living on our

land by the deliberate delay of the

recognition of our claim. I accuse the

government of violating the treaty of

Guadalupe Dalgo and the Gadson purchase.

And I demand that the government

according to its own law legally,

officially and permanently confirm the

title to the Peralta land grant.

Is the government prepared to question

witnesses?

No, your

honor. Don't you even wish to question

the plaintiffs?

No, your honor. This sudden move of the

United States being on the defense has

come as a complete

surprise. At this moment, we're

unprepared to establish evidence that

will prove that the original baron of

Arizona, Miguel de Peralta, was a

mythical gentleman created by the

fertile brain of Mr. Rivas. Because the

government is the defendant, it is

essential that this proof be produced as

quickly as possible. It shall be

presented as soon as we are ready. Your

honor, let the court point out that if

this proof is not valid, the United

States of America will be compelled to

surrender Arizona to the plaintiffs. We

understand the gravity of the situation.

Why even at this moment we are awaiting

reports that will prove the grant and

all the papers colossal forgeries. We

shall prove that the woman known as the

Baroness of Arizona inherited an utterly

fictitious and fraudulent title. We

shall prove that her husband James Ravas

is a fake, a forger, a swindler, and a

thief.

Yes.

Up to now, I fought my husband all the

way. Poor showing for a wife, isn't

it? I was on your side. I felt sorry for

you. I did not like the thought of

taking away your land, even if it does

belong to us. I tried to erase the

barreny and all it

represented. But now I can think of

nothing but my husband.

In this room, he was publicly accused of

being a fake, a forger, and a

swindler. I will not tolerate such

charges, not even by the government. My

husband is not a fraud. He is not a

swindler. He is not a forger. I have

nothing to offer him except my love and

my faith in him. And if it's fight you

won, it's fight you'll get. No one calls

my husband a thief.

Well, your honor, is the land ours? Or

isn't it?

We've got a little business to settle,

Baron, and we made sure nobody would

disturb us.

This fellow Griff's all right, but we

believe he's telling the truth. We got

an idea you're going to outsmart him.

And that's really got us worried. And if

we don't have the proof, it means

Arizona's handed over to you like a shot

of bourbon. You heard what the judge

said, but we don't want to see it go

that far. Is this a vanguard of the

vigilante committee?

Maybe. Maybe. We don't like your kind

scaring people into giving you money

just so they can hang on to land that's

already theirs. That's very interesting.

I'm touched by your public spirit,

gentlemen. What do you propose I do

about it? We ain't like the others who

want to lynch you. That won't help the

government much. You know a lot of fancy

words, Baron. We heard you in court

today. Just write a confession that it

was all a mistake about the land grant.

That'll make it easier for

everybody. Start writing.

[Music]

How was she? Who left her there with

you? You American citizen. How old was

she? Are you a good American? Who left

her there with you? How are you in this

country? I want you against such

tactics. They put words in my mouth. I

do not know what they want. To me, he's

the baron. She is the baroness. Mr.

Albertas,

you will forgive the government for

annoying you. Yes. Yes, Mr. Griff.

I'm sorry. You know how it is. All

right.

Unfortunately, this case is going to

take time.

Rivas knows I know he forged the

documents. He also knows it will be

difficult to prove

it. Very

difficult. But what I don't like about

this is the feeling of mob justice. That

means people will be killed.

You remember once before we walked like

this near my little adobe shack, huh?

Long time ago. And you remember that

night? For months it did not rain in

Phoenix. It was so dry one could not

even spit. And then it rained. A

miracle. Then you knock on the door. A

great miracle.

Rain brought life to the earth. You

brought life to

Sophia. But it is not your fault. People

call you a fake. Cuz that miracle in the

rain was one big lie. What are you

talking about?

I I know all the time Sophia is not a

Peralta. What? It is true. But I checked

with everyone. They said she was

abandoned with you. They all said she

was illegitimate. No, she did have her

mother and father. But there was a

reason why I could not let anyone know

this. What reason?

She has Indian blood in her. I promised

her people before they die, I tell no

one.

So she will be like other girls. You

know, it make it easier for Sophia when

she grow up, and she get married. I

promised them I take good care of

Sophia. She will eat good and learn and

be a fine woman. But I am

poor. And always Sophia, she has nothing

but the pigs and the mud.

Nothing. And then you

came and I made my plan. You made a

plan? Yes. But I did not think it would

mean fights and shootings and lynchings

and taking land from people. I did not

think this. I think it would mean good

chance for Sophia to have everything I

could not give her. So I

lie. I do not say you have found the

wrong child. I say

nothing. Oh, I do not sleep. I I'm sick

inside. But all the time I say to

myself, Pipito, this is good for

Sophia. Oh, but now I know it's wrong.

It's

wrong. It is because of me that Mr.

Grief say you writing on the paper is

false. It is because of me. He says

Sophia is not a bara. He is a smart man.

I will go to him and make a stop to all

this. I will make a stop to people

getting hurt.

I will tell him it is not you, but me

who is the

fake. Well,

I'm I'm sorry for what I did to

you, my friend.

[Music]

[Music]

You're leaving?

Yes.

Peter told me about myself.

Did he?

Is that why you're going away? No.

Then it's because of what I am.

That's not why I'm leaving. Then what is

it?

I'm a fake.

Told me you would blame yourself for his

fraud. Did he say that?

Yes. You don't

understand. He had a reason for lying.

It was for

you. I have no reason. It's for

myself. Now your eyes look sick. You've

been crying.

I don't want you to feel guilty because

of me. Oh, good heavens,

Sophia. I've spent years developing your

mind, and yet you're unable to to grasp

what I'm saying. I tell you I'm a

forger. The whole scheme is one big

fraud. There never has been a Peralta. I

created the family out of my own mind

and faked it with ink in the records. I

married you because it was part of my

scheme, not because I loved

you. Well, I'm ready for your contempt

and your disgust.

Take a good look at

me. Take a good look at your

husband. Now you know why I'm leaving.

I don't want you to go.

Look, we have over $500,000. We can go

to Europe. They'll never find us. Oh,

let's not have any illusions, James.

We're guilty, both of us. You may go.

I'll take the money back to the people.

Now, you're having illusions. I am Mrs.

James Rivas. And one of us must have the

dignity to accept

punishment. One of us must have the

dignity to recognize love. I'll always

love you. Nothing can change that.

You still want me. I'll want you until

the day I die. It is not death that is

dying that alarms me. It is not your

crime. It's your weakness that alarms

me.

Arizona seems so

[Music]

small. You suddenly seem so

great. Now I know what I was looking

for. A woman who would love me for what

I am.

No man can live without

[Music]

that. No man can ask for more.

This will make you feel better, dear.

Thank you. None for me,

L. Mrs.

Rivas, you sent for me? Yes, Mr. Griff.

I uh I have a statement to make.

Strangely enough, I was on my way to see

you when Mr. Alvarez came to my office.

Oh, Mr. Griff, you were

right. My claim is a bad cigar wrapped

in a rich Spanish leaf.

I am guilty of the criminal act of

forgery with intent to defraud the

government of the United

States. My wife is innocent of any part

in the

conspiracy. And Lo Morales and Papito

Alvarez believed my story of her

ancestry. They are blameless. That's

very interesting, Mr.

Rivas. Excuse me a moment.

Troy, your honor,

ladies, will you please be seated? What

is this?

The Court of Private Land Grant Claims

is now in session. What? This is quite

an occasion, Mr. Rivas, one of

historical

significance. This federal court has

been granted the permission to sit

wherever and whenever it wants, and

we've decided to hold court here in your

home to avoid a mob riot in a public

hearing. Mr. Rivas, we have legal proof

that will indict, convict, and sentence

you to the penitentiary. Proof? My

forgery is

flawless.

Remember this,

the 1748 volume of the Spanish land

grants. I must admit, this is the finest

example of forgery I've ever

seen. Now, we had the ink on this page

analyzed. It contains the tenon acid of

oak. No, that's impossible. I made that

ink myself, and the monks haven't

changed their formula for over 500

years. A monk named Brother Paul came to

Alcantra from the north of Spain. He

brought his own ink. Every word on this

page was written by him with his own

ink. Except this account of the grant

awarded to Peralta by King Ferdinand of

Spain. This was written with ink which

had no

oak. You used the ink made in the south

when you forged this page.

You didn't need my confession, did you?

No, not now.

Would it be a a long prison term? It's

according to how much money you return

to the land owners. The lavish manner in

which you spent the money will determine

the years of your imprisonment.

But there's all the

money. I'm tired. I need a

rest. Father Guardian told me to

meditate. I should have listened to him

that night. The court cannot guarantee

the rest, but you'll have sufficient

time to meditate.

Well, I will help you gather up all my

records and receipts and papers. You'll

need them. They're at my office.

Mr.

Alver, I'm going to request leniency for

you. Frankly, your honor, I don't see

criminal intent in his

conspiracy, just ignorant devotion and

sentiment. Are you ready?

Loma, I've never thanked you for all

you've done for

Sophia, the influence you've had on

her.

[Music]

I'm I'm

grateful. Court is now adjourned.

Are you ready, Mr. Grim?

Yes. By the way, Mr.

Grievous. Did you read my book?

It was my

Bible. The land in Arizona don't belong

to no parent. It belongs to you and me.

We paid for it. We paid for it with

money and we paid for it with our hard

work. Or maybe these government men need

all right. But I'm saying it takes them

too long to act. We got to do something

now.

There's only one thing about this case I

can understand. What's that? After

devoting so many years to this scheme,

what made you confess?

[Music]

I fell in love with my wife.

[Music]

Get that side

[Music]

down. The baron is coming. The baron is

coming.

Joe, I don't like this

quiet.

Yeah, funny. I never seen the square so

empty this time of night.

[Music]

Heat. Heat.

Heat up

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

here.

[Music]

Heat.

Heat.

[Applause]

Heat.

Heat.

[Music]

Heat.

Heat.

[Music]

Heat.

Heat.

[Music]

Heat. Heat.

[Music]

This will learn you. You don't take land

that don't belong to us.

James, go on and hang me, you stupid

idiots. Hang me and the land will never

be proven yours. Go out and hang me.

What's the matter? Haven't you got any

brains? Isn't there one man among you

with sense enough to realize that once

I'm dead, you'll never be able to prove

anything? Ask the government man. He'll

tell you that's why he was with me. To

question me to save your property. You

know the law. Tell him what'll happen if

they hang me. Tell him what'll happen to

their land. What's Lynchon got to do

with proving the land is ours?

Hang me and you hang your ranches and

farms and shops and mines. Hang me and

you'll never give Griff a chance to get

at me. He can't try a dead man. I've got

to be alive if you want to prove that

the land is yours. I've got to answer

questions. I got to identify documents.

I've got to be legally cross-examined by

the United States government. What do I

have to do to pound it into your thick

skulls? Hang me and you hang all your

claims with you. Go on, hang me.

[Music]

Heat. Heat.

[Music]

I thought I told you to leave me.

Get

in.

[Applause]

Heat. Heat.