Original subtitles

TRAGIC JUNGLE

If the 'comitiveiro' haven't come yet, he won't come.

And this mate?

Changa-y.

See if they left something useful.

Woman! Woman!

There's a woman with them!

First the fugitives.

C'mon.

A lot of bad herb mixture, right?

Not a leaf.

All yerba for chimarr�o.

Equal and dry.

Neither spicy nor bitter.

Canela-de-veado, how much?

I've been in the plantation since I was a little boy.

Saw my father being killed by the Company's 'comitiveiros'.

And I've never seen my father mix herbs...

With a single leaf of such an ordinary plant like that canela-de-veado.

I don't want to increase the weight.

But increase the profit.

Yeah, but sometimes the herbs get mixed even when we don't want it.

Two 'mil-r�is' for 25lbs.

This amount, I take only for our sweat and fears, and thanks a lot.

But for the yerba mate, how much do you offer?

You know it's hard to escape from the Company with illegal yerba mate.

I won't pay a cent more.

Very well.

The yerba mate is sold.

Now I'd like to propose to you another business.

The Company has a granted land 200 leagues long.

With almost all the world's yerba mate inside.

But they get very angry if a changa-y cuts down a single tree.

That I already know.

Let's talk about the other business.

What do you want?

You are escaping...

and must be in a hurry to get to the city.

And this woman will slow you.

She's yours, isn�t she?

Is she worth much?

A whore.

She's walked with us a long time.

If you'll excuse me, I'll invite her to stay.

I'll pay her the price you would pay.

Deal?

Man...

you're pushing the limits.

If I were not in such a hurry and might make such a noise...

my answer would be a bullet in your belly.

It's a pity.

It's a pity.

Do you want to share it now?

No, we'll share in Ponta Por�.

No more sorrow, my friends.

The best way to work around here is still being a changa-y.

This time we earned enough money to have a good party.

With my share, I'll have food and drink, dance and women.

And I'll drink until the liquor comes out of my ears.

After the party, when you run out of money...

and want to go back to the woods,

will you let me know?

Will you, Pablito?

Damn the woods, but I'll come back. Money always runs out.

Changa-y always come back to the woods.

Shoot to kill?

No.

Get down!

On your feet! And with your hands crossed over your chest!

You can't escape!

I'll give you one minute!

Then we'll shoot!

A man can bear it! Kill or die!

We stay! You run!

Wait!

Take the woman, too.

I stay where you stay.

Hey, changa-y!

Your time is finished!

You'll have fire!

Go, woman! Right away!

Devil's woman!

You're finished, changa-y!

You don't wanna die for nothing!

Do you?

It's madness, Pablito.

The Company has uses for a woman that lives with the changa-y.

Straighten up.

Hey, Cur�!

Three have escaped.

These are their things.

You may count it, if you like!

Oh, damned eyes!

They hurt more and more each day.

What is it? Isn't that the agreement?

For the fugitives, yeah.

But today was my lucky day.

I bring you more things.

What the hell things?

Damned light!

Good!

We're really in need of good workers.

The woman is good.

When there's a party, she will relieve several men.

For the souls of those who died thirsty.

Do you know her name yet?

It's Flora.

And the changa-y that goes with her is Pablito!

Which of you is Pablito?

This one.

And this is Pyt�.

You know the Company's punishment for the changa-y?

Brave.

You are brave, boy.

I need brave men.

You work for me as a 'comitiveiro' and will be forgiven.

One way or another, changa-y don't change.

His life is to harm the Company.

The punishment for changa-y is death.

- Isaac! - I'm here, Cur�!

These men will have to produce at least 1 ton.

Until when?

Until they pay what they stole from the Company's lands.

And the woman?

If she was still a changa-y woman,

she'd serve all the workers.

But now they are not changa-y anymore.

They are workers for the Bonanza farm and work for the Company.

Take care of your wounds.

I want the men reinvigorated for the work.

Casimiro.

Keep your eyes on them.

If necessary use the whip too.

You will help Ur�. Now you are a peon.

The others wait, we'll go to that shack.

I've never heard that you had pity or sympathy

for man or woman,

animal or plant.

What are you made of, Cur�?

Why... do my eyes hurt so much?

Why?

You are weak, Isaac. It's OK to be weak with the women.

But in the plantation life, you have to be tough with the men.

I'm not white or black or Indian.

My skin...

has the color of the chopped yerba mate.

I'm made of that.

Of yerba mate.

Damned yerba!

The thing that hurts me and scares me more,

is that if the yerba mate is finished,

I'd have to die.

I'm good for nothing else.

The fair amount.

Fair. Not more not less.

Two certificates.

For corn and meat, as payment for that yerba mate.

For all of it?

Your debt in the office will be higher than a coconut tree.

The fair amount.

Sharing your earnings, you'll never have credit in the office.

You'll never be free.

I sweat to earn my pay...

to eat with who I want to.

Understand?

Tomorrow there will be a dance.

Isaac!

Where is Flora?

And Flora, Isaac?

Why is she not here?

C'mon!

How could you forget the best of them all?

Come on, woman! Have you forgotten the party?

C'mon!

Today, the women have no owner or husband.

There are a lot of workers waiting to have fun,

and you are the best around here.

I don't like to do that, but I have to.

Let's go! Let's go! C'mon!

Can't you see that she doesn't want to, Isaac?

C'mon, guys! Here's Flora!

If she was still a maiden,

but that one, doesn't have even the smell anymore.

Nonsense, Pablito.

They are too many.

And they are well armed.

Here!

Over there!

I'm...

keeping...

this woman for myself.

I'm sorry, Pablito.

We never know how much we like it when we like this way.

It doesn't matter how many men have a woman, Pablito.

Even less, if the woman lives in this world of yerba mate plantations.

Flora...

Men like that their chosen woman has never been touched.

Because...

we can do everything...

because of her and for her.

But it's not the same when we know that other men have arrived first.

And said, and done...

the things that we might say and do to her.

It's not always...

but sometimes it happens that we really like.

So...

it's the end for the others.

And the little is enough for everything.

That's the way I like you.

But that can't erase the memories of the others.

And if I could smell the smells left from all the men that you had.

You'd have many smells.

But tell me now...

if you have any complaint against me,

no matter how small.

Flora,

I don't want anyone,

any more,

touching you.

Well done, guys. You had far too much fun.

See they don't fool you in the numbers.

- How many men? - Three.

Come on, guys!

Now, it's time to work!

Get ready, because the journey begins right now.

You come with me to Ponta Por�.

When I get back, we'll escape.

Escape?

I'll be a changa-y again...

when the money is finished.

Don't try to escape, understand?

Because your friend and that woman stay here.

You should only go to the office if you are really hungry.

Isaac!

Take your hands off there, woman!

You know what I want. And I'll get it.

I'll work until Holy Week and repay my debt in the office,

to be free from this hell.

But I won't be able to do that, if I share my food with you.

Whoever comes, shoot without mercy.

Get down.

Stay under the cart until I tell you to leave.

Too quiet to be changa-y.

Too happy to be Company men.

If I could, I would tell the Devil to touch him.

It's a yerba mate trader.

His life is to exploit the changa-y.

The Company has a message for these types,

anywhere they appear.

You can get up! C'mon, guy!

You are brave, Casimiro!

It's a pity you are a Company man.

You bastard! Come on! Show your hand and bet!

By force, anyone can have a woman, Cur�.

That bastard, Pyt�, is the one who gives her food.

Pay attention to the game, Isaac.

I'll take a look in the lower shack.

Oh! Such passion for a woman like that.

If you were 16 years old...

Isaac!

I can swear and bet, Isaac...

that you'll like them anyway just like that.

Doesn't matter if is Maria or Joana,

thin or fat,

white or Indian!

I...

if I were you...

I'd take Flora by force

this very night.

By surprise.

How long will it last this trip?

Won't Pablito come anymore?

Oh, you have such desire.

Like there are no men here.

Woman.

I want to tell you something. Come here.

You can say it.

She can hear you where she is.

My talk is with her.

If you interfere,

I'll have a serious talk tomorrow.

Understand?

It's my friend's woman. He's not here. So I take care of her in his name.

Man...

aren't you thinking of going away after Holy Week?

It's the only thing I think of.

So, if you get in my way tonight, it'll be very difficult for you.

Well...

so, I'm not going away.

And now, enough small talk.

Go back or come here.

What's the problem, Pablito?

You annoy me so much...

You were still sucking your mother's breast...

and I knew already everything about women.

You annoy me so much...

because you are a real fool.

I pray to God, Pyt�...

that I haven't delayed your departure in Holy Week.

It was not the way you expected, was it?

Damned women.

They never give what we expect of them.

It's your fault, you know, Cur�?

If you hadn't provoked me, my pleasure wouldn't have been spoiled.

What I had was not what I wanted.

Bulllshit, Isaac.

This damned world of yerba mate...

that changes the way we live.

For the Devil's tail!

You are in love, Isaac.

May I?

Have you ever loved liked that?

I'll bite my tongue,

but I won't tell any word of that.

Damn!

Don't you feel how hot it is?

This is the rain coming.

It's Casimiro.

He'll drink all he can.

Told him?

Everything?

Including what I did?

Have you told how I was caught?

That Isaac only took you after...

Go, you Devil!

Go to hell!

Look!

That's the storm!

There's nothing in the world freer than the rain.

When you have, it's good to eat well.

But when you don't have, you can eat not so well.

I know of many that ate snake.

It's easy.

The rattlesnake is meek, despite all that poison.

It's easy to kill the rattlesnake.

You only have to hit it firmly once.

And cut it a few inches behind the head.

But, the frog...

that I can't take.

I'd rather eat wood than swallowing this worm.

I have enough food for two.

I told her to go to the Devil's company, what could I have done instead?

You.

If it were you, wouldn't you do the same?

Easy, man, it's only a woman.

Tomorrow there'll be another.

Don't complicate things, Pablito.

I want to go away in Holy Week, but without a 'comitiveiro' chasing me.

Before it gets cold, do you want?

I'm not a worker, Pyt�.

I'm changa-y.

I have to remember that.

God forgive me.

But I'd like to see Death's face.

I could help you in this matter.

I've brought death to many people.

I have never seen a woman like you refuse a man like me.

I have told you, haven't I?

That Pablito is over for you.

In the lands...

down there, where the river gets wider,

When the feast time comes,

women with love to give,

wash their hair in jasmine water.

Oh, Flora!...

If I knew some jasmine bush...

not far from here...

I'd gallop off to get some, to prepare...

myself...

a long wash for your hair.

- Uh! - Still!

Stay still, my perdition.

It would be nice if you liked something in me, Flora.

How beautiful would be this world.

How could it not be... beautiful?

Well.

If it has to be this way,

this way it will be.

I won't lay a finger on you.

Not me...

nor anybody!

I won't get Pablito killed because he is a good worker...

and it's a Company matter.

But you will not be his.

Well, woman.

Cross this line without me, you know what happens. Pablito will suffer.

For a changa-y revenge is liberty, Pyt�.

I leave Isaac,

I leave Flora, who doesn't interest me anymore.

And escape with you.

I owe the office, and I don't think of escaping.

In Holy Week I'll hit the road!

Even if you pay everything, Pyt�.

Do you think they will let you go?

A man is a man!

And can always escape.

But the Company's 'comitiveiros'...

what do they wear?

Skirts!

I know of many that reach the woods...

but none that have crossed the border.

I won't get in your way...

but I won't help you.

I think you are hastening death.

I heard you wanna go away.

It's true.

For my accounts I paid everything I owed you.

For your accounts. But not for the Company's accounts.

See there, Isaac.

You almost managed to reach Holy Week without debts. Look here.

But you fed a woman...

Those expenses are not his. They are mine.

Look, boy.

Around here, the debtor is who takes the provisions from the office.

It was you?

You can transfer it to my name.

One more year in the plantation will be enough...

for him to pay this debt.

C'mon.

I will run. Saturday. Against the winner of the winners.

Those who complain will have no party, understand?

I'll be out in less than 15 minutes.

In that time you can't take your hands off this tree. Not a finger out of place.

Five!

Four!

Three!

Two!

One!

A bastard! It's what you are!

You didn't want to give me victory!

You could, if you wanted a little.

Because of this horse she escaped.

Tell me, who could take Flora knowing she is yours?

Huh, Isaac?

Damn it, what a man this changa-y!

There are only two ways for fugitives, isn't it true.

He's out there in the woods, searching the border.

You never lost a trail or brought a fugitive back healthy, right?

So, Pablito being a worker, you have to go after him.

That's a Company matter.

I'll go only if Cur� tells me to go.

I'll wait for you in the shack.

Beware of Cur�. In Holy Week he gets angry, you know.

Isaac!

Cur� is sleeping.

He could shoot if someone make a noise in his shack.

Won't wake up until tomorrow.

Don't say it. I've already heard what you came to say.

Keep calm, I've called the men already.

We'll go soon.

Maybe I could go too...

You are really going downhill.

Do you still want that woman back, Isaac?

You know, Casimiro.

If you capture the men before the border, there's no need to bring any of them alive.

But the woman has to come back, to serve all the men.

These are Company's orders.

What will happen to Flora?

You lose a a rival...

and gain twenty.

That way!

Easy, the obstinate horse is the one that advances less.

You are not in a hurry, are you?

Damn it!

Can't you see that they're still at full strength?

See the cuts in the wood.

A single blow.

That means strength in the arm and resolution in the stroke.

Let them spend all this power.

And when they lose strength and control, we'll attack.

We'll sleep here.

They have to sleep too.

What do you think?

They must be feeling our breath on their necks.

Well, we can sleep two hours, or Joe will explode.

Who prepares the terer�?

From here to the border the bushes are thick.

We can hear anyone walking from 200 meters away.

Keep your eyes open and a bullet ready.

Let's choose our pairs because the dance is beginning.

C'mon, the border can't be far now.

Make this woman shut up, Pablito!

Ten minutes.

If they leave the woman now, they still can cross the border.

You go that side! Let's encircle them.

Don't spare ammunition with the men, but don't hurt Flora!

Don't touch her!

In the yerba mate plantations, as usual,

you can go first.

Come with me!

Go on, Pablito!

Go on.

They are surrounding us.

You coming or staying?

Take Pablito!

Let's go, Pablito!

To harvest the yerba mate!

Go away!

Go away, Pablito!

I want, Pablito, for you to go.

To cross the border...

and reach the other side alive.

I want, Pablito.

Do that for me.

Nobody touches the woman for now.

When we get back to the farm, then... she'll be for all the men.

Isaac, you take care of her.

But don't use anything but your eyes, understand?

Come on.

Flora...

It was probably at night that God made you.

That way! C'mon!

Smart, that Pablito!

He'll probably wait for the night.

Stop shooting, he is done.

Pablito!

It's a real truth that you turned out to be a good one.

For me you are a real man!

Do you hear, Pablito?

Oh, Casimiro!

That's not my final word, sir.

It was a pleasure to fight you.

Now come out.

Or would you rather die like a rat, uh?

Oh, Casimiro, I'll not ask for your blessing.

C'mon.

If you have something to say, say it now!

You know that I can charge you more for my skin.

It's true what I said, Pablito!

It would be good have a pal like you.

But on our side.

So, Casimiro?

Can we talk?

Yeah, we can talk.

Come out!

I like to see the eyes of a man I'm talking to.

Show yourself!

He won't shoot.

He has a proposal, needs me alive.

Let's see, boy!

What have you got?

Still keep your word of honor, Casimiro?

Like people have always said.

So that's my request:

I put the gun down and give myself up.

Wow, boy.

You won't ask me to let you live, will you?

You know the rule.

You know the Company's orders.

Well...

So you'll execute the orders as usual...

but promise me you won't tell Flora...

that I died here...

and couldn't cross the border.

It's a deal?

Hey, Casimiro!

Boy...

we live an entire life dealing with creatures without honor or value.

And when we find a man and a woman worth something...

they are on the opposite side.

And your friend?

Is he part of the deal, boy?

That one you won't take anymore.

Casimiro...

Is it yes or no?

Boy...

if I had a brother...

I'd like he was like you.

I hope your guardian angel is around here now.

"Those who don't know these things...

think the yerba mate grows in the gardens..." Hernani Donato

THE END

Subtitles: FormerKing