All language subtitles for The Other Conquest (1998)

A film by
SALVADOR CARRASCO

THE OTHER CONQUEST

Produced by
ALVARO DOMlNGO

Written, Directed and Edited by
SALVADOR CARRASCO

ln 1519 the Spanish conqueror
Hernando Cort�s and his small army

rode into the Aztec capital
of Mexico

where they were welcomed
by the Emperor Moctezuma.

Within two years the Aztec civilization
was an orphan state

and the survivors were trying
to adapt to a new world

without families, homes,
temples... or gods.

Great Temple, May 1520

> >Mother!< <

La Coru�a, Spain 1548

Ever since he returned
from Mexico

Friar Diego
hasn't spoken a word.

lt's been a week
since he last ate.

What do you mean?

l've administered his last rites.

l think he wants to die.

ln the name
of the Father, the Son

and the Holy Spirit...

l convert you into a Christian.

Friar Diego!

Peace, at last...

the final journey.

The final journey!

The final journey?

To where, Friar Diego?

To where all mortals go.

> > All this happened to us.< <

> > We saw it. lt touched us.< <

> > This was our fate.< <

> >By putting it down on paper< <

> >our essence shall live on.< <

Mexico (New Spain) 1526

> > Sun God, why have you
abandoned us? < <

> > Topiltzin, my dear grandson,
what are you thinking? < <

> >l'd like to offer my codex
to our sacred Mother.< <

> > We've lost our only mother!< <

> >Don't start with that again!< <

> > They've destroyed
the ceremonial center.< <

> > We must use a holy place
they can't find.< <

> > Are you out of your mind? < <

> > The barbarians won't let us
be with our gods.< <

> >Do you know what would happen
if they found us? < <

> >Nobody's forcing you
to come with us.< <

> > And leave you alone
to be protected< <

> >by this little codex-maker? < <

> >l'm not going to lose you.< <

> > You do well, Topiltzin.< <

> > This codex is the word
of our people.< <

> >lt's worthy of
our Mother Goddess.< <

Friar Diego!
Give me your hand.

l don't like what you said
to our soldiers

about these acts
of purification, Crist�bal.

Excuse me?

Much of what you
told them at sunrise

could be taken
as blasphemy.

Or as an absolute truth,
Friar Diego.

On this side of the ocean,
anything a captain says

or doesn't say to his soldiers
is an absolute truth.

Especially if they're
inexperienced

and have just arrived
from Spain, like yourself.

Try to see with your eyes,
not with your faith.

Captain, we're supposed to be
in this together!

Only because l have to be.

Cort�s has imposed you
on me like a shadow.

Besides, what l told
my men is true:

The only result
of the Crusades has been

that Muslim ideas entered
the Christian world.

And if you insist
on converting the lndians

the same old story will be
repeated here in New Spain.

And that is?

A conversion that is
never complete, Friar Diego.

> >Mother Goddess,
guard this codex,< <

> >our mirror
of life and death.< <

Why doesn't the friar
carry the cross?

Save them by killing?

Don't you worry.

The lndians will take care of that
with their damned rituals.

ls this what you wanted us
to destroy, Captain Crist�bal?

We serve the Virgin.

My God!

Hurry, that's the sound
of an act of savagery!

> >My child,< <

> >take and eat
of the great mushroom< <

>> so that you do not
feel this day< <

> >or the next.< <

Down with savagery!

> >Part of me wants you to become
one with our Mother Goddess...< <

> >but another part wants you
to stay here with me.< <

> >Do not suffer.< <

> > This is what
my heart desires.< <

Follow me!

> >Don't forget me.< <

You really do come
from another world.

> >Grandmother!< <

What are you doing
in God's name?

You're behaving
just like them.

Preach by example!

l absolve you
of all your sins

in the name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit.

> >Forgive me,
Mother Goddess.< <

Yes,

take a good look at her.

That lovely woman

is Mary,

the Mother of God.

Yours is nothing but...

a handful of stones.

- What has he done to you?
- Silence, Friar Diego.

The older one knows
where the gold is!

> >ln memory
of our grandmother,< <

> >don't tell him
where we hid the codex!< <

Break the base!

> >Better to live.< <

Nothing but fetishes here!

Not a speck of gold!

lf only our soldiers
had as much faith

as the lndians have
in their idols.

> > You should have let me die.< <

> >Now our history
is nothing but smoke.< <

> >l'll make sure
that you live,< <

> >not die for us.< <

> > You shall become
the voice of eternal fire.< <

Shut up, you dog!

l can smell
your foul breath!

Look out!

What's gotten into that lndian?

Stop!

No more violence,
l beg you.

The Queen of Heaven
knows what she's doing.

Stupid friar,

you'll never convert them.

> >Brother!< <

> > We meet again!< <

> > Topiltzin!< <

> >How did you manage to escape
from the barbarians? Tell me.< <

> >l wanted to talk to you about that.
l didn't escape.< <

> >l work for them now
at the new market.< <

> >l want you to join us.
Tell them you've changed.< <

> > You can still
be with our Gods in secret.< <

> > So this is what
you've come for? < <

> >Go back to them!< <

> > What about your promise
to protect our grandmother? < <

> > We must adapt to survive.< <

> >l don't adapt.
l know who l am!< <

> >Don't be unfair!< <

> >My words mirror the beliefs
of the Emperor Moctezuma.< <

> >l didn't understand,
but now it's clear.< <

> > We have no other option.< <

> >Brother,< <

> >please forgive me< <

> >for what l shall have to do
to save you.< <

> > Save yourself.< <

> > You don't know
what you're doing.< <

> > They're here.< <

> > A fair price
for your brother's soul.< <

> > Why have you betrayed me? < <

Captain! Why don't we
just kill him here?

Cort�s wants him alive.

You are in the presence
of Don Hernando Cort�s,

Governor and Captain General
of New Spain

by the Grace of His Majesty,

the mighty, illustrious,
invincible

and Catholic Emperor
Charles V,

King of Spain.

> >Don't say anything,
don't do anything.< <

> >Don't judge me
for being here.< <

What a concise language!

This lndian female
is deceiving you!

Are you guilty as accused?

Word for word, Tecuichpo.

> >Does your heart
repent of anything? < <

Answer!

Are you the bastard
who tried to kill our venerable

Friar Diego in a temple
we had just consecrated

to Mary the Mother of God?

Do you doubt my word,
my lord?

Think what you will of us...

Wait.

...but our missionaries have come
to this godforsaken land

only to save your souls.

> > Their missionaries
want our souls< <

> >but they don't know
where to look for them.< <

Doesn't this head understand

that l can burn you alive
for your insolent crime?

ls it really the same
for you people

whether you live or die?

Doesn't he know who l am?

The lndian translated it
word for word.

Or is he silent
because of who l am?

My lord,

forgive my intrusion,

but do you know
who this young man is?

No, l don't know.
No one has told me.

Captain, for your own good,

l hope you have not
kept anything from me.

No, my lord,
he doesn't know either.

He doesn't deserve to know.

Have him leave.
l'd like to speak to you in private.

Bring in the scribe, so l may dictate
this lndian's death sentence.

Guard, watch him!

His name is Topiltzin,

one of the natural sons of my father,
the Emperor Moctezuma.

A son of Moctezuma?

And l only know of this now?
lmpossible.

ln the other time,

Topiltzin made codices
for our Mother Goddess.

Spare me your heresies,
Tecuichpo.

Topiltzin and l are Moctezuma's
only children

here in the capital.

No need to remind you
that l'm the legitimate heiress

to my father's fortune,

but since l'm a woman,
people have reservations.

Don Hernando,

it would serve you to keep
my half-brother close by.

And his dimmed reason?
Was he born like that?

No,

it's recent.

As l said, he used to make
unique codices.

He's like this because of your
evil Captain Pedro de Alvarado,

and the massacre you carried out
at the Great Temple.

And this one?

Who is she?

Tecuichpo, the
daughter of Moctezuma.

What happened
to his mistress Malinche?

Did Cort�s hang her next to
Prince Cuauhtemoc in Honduras?

No, he got fed up with her
and gave her to Captain Jaramillo.

He gave away the mother
of his first born?

First born?
A half-breed?

Your treachery
made him like this!

Come in, you gossips!

You, write this down.

Tonight,

a small group of lndians
will be gathered

in the Palace Square

and the ritual descent

of the icon of the Virgin Mary
will be performed.

lt is my royal will

that this natural son
of the Emperor Moctezuma

then be...

severely punished,

made to renounce,

and converted to Christianity.

But his crime deserves
burning at the stake!

Captain Crist�bal Quijano
of Seville

will carry out the whipping
of the lndian named Tepilsin--

Topiltzin!

Cuauhtlahtohuac Topiltzin!

Should l listen to her?

No.

Call him Tom�s.

Crist�bal will give the lndian
33 lashes with the leather whip.

Then, after Dr. Ojeda
has taken care of his wounds,

Tom�s will be sent to the Monastery
of Our Lady of Light,

where he will be educated
in the one true faith

by Friar Diego of La Coru�a...

and taught the Castilian language
by the noble woman

who, from this day on

and in the eyes of all,

will be known
by no other name than...

Do�a lsabel Moctezuma,

to whom l here and now grant
the Province of Tacuba.

lsabel Moctezuma,
or lsabel Moctezuma-Cort�s?

The first.

Your mixture

is disgusting to God!

There's no reason
to believe that.

lf God were disgusted
by mixtures--

heaven forbid--

He'd have to get rid
of a good number of Spaniards.

Were l this gold necklace so that
l could live between your breasts,

Do�a lsabel.

Honor me by wearing it

at the conversion
of your brother Tom�s,

a great Christian
occasion for me.

Thank you, Don Hernando.

Don't think that l've
fallen for your story.

Why have you saved
that proud lndian's life?

l never lie to you,
Don Hernando!

His mother was my father's
favorite mistress.

As you are mine!

No, please,
Don Hernando!

Facing Topiltzin
has not been easy for me.

His eyes remind me of my husband
Prince Cuauhtemoc,

whom you killed for no reason!

What more
do you want from me?

l left Malinche for you.

l've given you
the light of the true God

and part of my kingdom!

What else
do you want from me?

That l give up everything

and become the scapegoat

for your people's disgrace?

Watch it!

Bring her down!

l...

born in darkness...

and until today known
by the pagan name of...

Topiltzin,
l renounce!

How can you not realize that
you're not what you think you are!

l am Don Hernando Cort�s,

Governor and Captain General
of New Spain

by the work and grace of this hand
and of my own words.

l have never needed
anyone else!

Give me your word
then, for once,

that my brother
Topiltzin shall live.

lf Tom�s is in fact
your half-brother,

as l would like to believe,

l give you my word
that you and Friar Diego

will convert him to one of us.

And not only in language,

but more importantly

in ambition and spirit.

On my honor, Do�a lsabel,
l give you my word.

And He became man.

Captain Crist�bal!

And thus,

l ask our eminent scribe
Ram�n Quevedo

to consider this conversion
at an end,

so that all of us,

Spaniards and lndians,

can be worthy

and responsible witnesses.

Who is this sodomite?

Why is he,
and not Friar Diego,

pronouncing
Topiltzin's renouncement?

Perhaps because Friar Diego
doesn't approve

of how you pay homage
to the Lord, Don Hernando.

> > This is my body,< <

> >this is my blood.< <

> >Even though
your skin is white...< <

> >l will never abandon you.< <

You damned Judas!

> >Brother!< <

Bosco!

Damn it,
where is my interpreter?

Bosco! Come now,
l need you!

Be it well known

in this time
of light and iron,

that we've only acted here

in defense of the Virgin Mary.

And so, our deeds are absolved
by the grace of His Majesty

Don Hernando Cort�s

in his struggle
against the heretics

who still crawl among you!

> > Your blood is worth nothing!< <

He says that your words
are not worthy

of the Great White Lady.

Nobody dare move until
this sentence has been carried out!

ln memory
of my father, stop him!

You've forbidden
public use of the chain!

Can't you see
he wants to kill him?

There's nothing to be done.
He has the power now.

You have to know
when to use authority,

and when to use patience.

The lndians will take care of
Crist�bal the first chance they get.

So you won't do anything?
You gave me your word!

l thought you were
more of a man than this.

You're worse than Crist�bal.

He doesn't pretend
to care about my people!

l don't give a damn
about your people!

lt is you l care for.

Deliver me, God,
from the Apocalypse.

This is all your fault!

lf that scoundrel
Crist�bal kills him,

it will weigh
on your conscience forever!

l'm not responsible for what
they do in the name of God!

Why have you come
to take away what is ours?

Crist�bal!

Monastery of Our Lady of Light
5 years later

''...and if His Majesty
won't give me this land,

l'll take it from him.

lf laws must be broken
in order to rule,

they shall be broken.''

> >Here's the signature plate
l stole from Cort�s!< <

> > We'll cause him real trouble
with King Charles V.< <

> > Sign it.< <

> > Sweet revenge.< <

> >l hope you know
what you're doing.< <

> >Be careful.< <

Have the guards escort her
back to Cort�s' palace.

> > Switch to Spanish.< <

Good afternoon,
Do�a lsabel.

How is our pupil doing?

Every week Tom�s shows
improvement, Your Excellency.

Please excuse me.

What a strange Spanish class
you were having!

lt might be the acoustics,

but from over there it sounded
as if you two were barking.

Some things can only be said
in Mexican, Your Excellency.

Oh yes, such as?

And that is?

To search in the deepest
part of yourself,

both with your heart
and with your liver.

Just as the heart
is the organ of love,

the liver is the organ
of knowledge.

Oh, and l believed
we thought with our brains.

Though l must admit
your metaphor is interesting.

Until next Friday.

> > And may God be with you.< <

Friar Chicken! Make sure
Do�a lsabel's carriage is ready!

Yesterday, l found you
praying devoutly in church.

You asked me all kinds of imprudent,
though sincere questions

about the birth of our Savior.

Full of hope,
l allow myself to believe

that you're on your way
to a genuine, profound conversion,

like those who are not afraid
to question their beliefs.

But today, l find you and Do�a lsabel
whispering in Mexican,

and now you also try
to lecture me on body parts.

This way.

You'll have to choose between
one world and the other, my son.

Unfortunately for you
and your people,

the two have little in common.

And the way l see things,

you really don't have
much of an option.

> > We are made of one piece.< <

> > Tecuichpo...< <

> >the survival of our blood
depends on us.< <

''Considering that Tom�s

was only a pawn
in Do�a lsabel's scheme

to dishonor you by forging
your letters to the King of Spain,

l hereby appeal to your sincere
devotion to the Virgin Mary

so that you may keep Do�a lsabel
from returning to this monastery

and refrain
from punishing Tom�s,

for it has become
my utmost mission in life

to save this lndian's soul.''

Don't even think of it!

She's never coming back.

''Oh, you miserable,
ignorant sinner!

How will you answer to God,
who numbers each of your evil deeds?

But even the greatest temptation
can be useful,

for thus is man humiliated

and enlightened.

And we shall always suffer

because the original state
of innocence has been lost forever.''

Thanks be to God.

My love,

have the wine poured.
l'll be right there.

As you wish, my lord.

Nevermore shall you risk my honor
before the King of Spain,

before yourself...

or anyone else.

Just bury my honor
along with our child...

painful love of mine.

> >My lord, my unending sorrow,
you can harm me no more.< <

> > This is my body...< <

> >this is my blood.< <

Make my blood flow
if you must,

it shall not be in vain.

Why did you never let me
reach you, Tecuichpo?

The child l am carrying
is not yours, Don Hernando.

This is my body,

this is my blood.

What are these?

Oh, to bring down his fever.

How long has he
been like this?

- l wouldn't know.
- Ever since...

that story with Cort�s' ''lady''?

Even you know
about it already.

And you come here just
once a month from out of town!

Poor lndian.

What a rival in love he chose...

His Majesty, Don Hernando.

No one understands why

Cort�s hasn't had him
burned at the stake.

He owes that to Friar Diego.

Holy Mother!

lnto your hands
l give up my body!

But my spirit, never.

Hold him!

> > You are the chosen one.< <

What in God's name is this?

lt's a token of gratitude
from Cort�s to Friar Diego.

To the sacristy.

So you've fallen back
into one of your trances.

Maybe this will
bring you out of it.

Neither Do�a lsabel
nor you had any right

to even touch Cort�s'
private correspondence!

Tampering with official documents
is a very serious offense!

ls that what you
came here to learn?

To falsify the truth!

To falsify the truth is better
than to destroy it!

Have you forgotten what you did

in the Temple
of the Mother Goddess?

You turned my people into ashes.

Our truth went up in smoke.

What truth?

Sacrificing innocent virgins
to satisfy your bloodthirsty idols?

You and l, deep inside,

share the same belief,
Friar Diego,

even though we come
from different worlds.

We live in all times
and in all places.

From the beginning,

we have been meeting
in different ways.

That is why you and l don't mind
being locked up here...

together.

Our encounter is inevitable...

and eternal.

May God bless you, Tom�s.

And may He save you
from Do�a lsabel's fate...

who preferred
to take her own life

rather than be tortured
for her crimes.

What did you say?

Open the door!

Open up!

Open!
Don't be a coward!

Open!

What is it?

The crazy lndian...

Topiltzin!

Tom�s, you mean.

He's escaped.

Behold the man!

At least we've found him
in humble prayer.

Thank God.

Make sure no one enters.

Why do you disappear like that?

lf the guards found you here,
they'd surely beat you up.

That lovely woman

is just as true as yours.

What matters now

is that this
is the new word.

We too are the children
of the one God,

to whom heaven
and earth belong!

Find him a simple...

very specific task...

to keep him busy

and responsible towards others.

He who doesn't work
loses his human qualities.

And by no means

is he to enter the sacristy.

So you really enjoy pain?

You damned eunuch!

He's escaped again
thanks to you!

You are forbidden
to come to the sacristy!

What do you want here?

lt must be the devil
who gives you this strength!

This time l won't forgive you!

Let me go in!

Can't you see you're
putting our destiny at risk?

Shut up!
Shut up at once!

Stop it, you bastard!

Enough!
Don't beat him anymore!

He's got enough
problems already.

lf l could,
l would send you!

But believe me,
only l can do it!

You would die
if you even touched her!

How can you be so blind
to the truth?

> > Sister!< <

> >Mother Goddess!< <

> >lnto your hands
l give up my body!< <

> >But the strength
of my will, never!< <

> >My child...< <

> >ask him how on earth
he found these caves.< <

How did you find these caves?

> >My own God...< <

has sent me to find a cure
for Topiltzin, son of--

> >l know who Topiltzin is.< <

There's nothing to be done.

Topiltzin is now a spirit
without the limits of a body.

l don't deserve it after
what l did to you in the bath...

but l need another serving.

You've had enough to eat.

l have to recover my strength
and l need food for that.

l haven't slept in days.

l'm told l have sinful visions.

Spare me the explanations.

Have some more then,

what do l care?

More hosts!

lf you only knew how much strength
l need to accomplish my mission.

Yes, l already heard that
you're going to save the world.

Just do me a favor--

leave me alone.

A known evil is better than

feeding human flesh
to one of your bug-eyed gods.

You converts eat yours.

Hasn't Friar Diego
explained to you

the sacred mystery
of transubstantiation?

Yes, in great detail.

Have you seen how lovely
the icon of the Virgin Mary is?

Which one?

There are so many images
of the Virgin Mary.

No, no,
one of them...

the one in the sacristy.

She's the one we can see...

but can never understand.

Where are you going now?

Me?

Nowhere.

- Where to?
- Back to the sacristy.

On the contrary...

l'm staying.

But perhaps...

we'll never meet again.

l thank you from my heart

for all your kindness...

Mother.

lt's all right.

Am l not here?

Are you not safe
in my arms?

Don't say anything
to Friar Diego.

Rolando!

Summon your guards,

and keep close watch
outside Tom�s' cell.

He's not to go out
under any circumstances.

And if he does...

he'd better not.

How about
just tying him down?

Do as l say.

First, l want to know

if he's planning
on doing what l think.

> >Mother!< <

> > Topiltzin...< <

> >Now you have left us.
Wake up.< <

> >May our venerable Mother
keep you forever with dignity.< <

Go and call
Don Hernando Cort�s

and tell the conqueror...

that you bear
a message from heaven.

Tell him that l,

Friar Diego of La Coru�a,

bid him come to the Monastery
of Our Lady of Light.

That before
he leaves for Spain

to reconquer the King...

he must witness the miracle

of how
two different races

can be as one
through tolerance

and love.

Your ways
are truly a mystery.

God of all.

THE OTHER CONQUEST