All language subtitles for portugalsa

PORTUGAL lNC.

The paths that will lead the Prince
to power are numerous and many.

Some inherit power and others
conquer it through luck or talent.

Others only attain power
through criminal or treacherous acts.

They will attain power

against the will of many and by means
a thousand works and dangers

and will maintain power
through audacious and daring acts.

But we cannot say it is an example
of virtue to kill or betray one�s friends

or to lack either
loyalty or compassion.

LlSBON, END OF THE
TWENTlETH CENTURY

My dear! My dear!

Fear not, you did the right thing...
God and l will be watching over you.

Congratulations!

Behave yourself, young lady.

Good luck!

First the Church, then the Government
and finally the Opposition!

Jacinto, congratulations...

Thanks, Pedro.

Congratulations...

You� ve a fine bride...

Thank you.

This is for you.
So are you happy, Mum?

Yes...for you.

Fancy a cod pasty
and a glass of red wine?

Jacinto, do you think l might
have a word with Boaventura now?

l believe in the free market,
that� s where l made my fortune.

But we were educated
in other principles Alexandre.

Don� t try to tell me
that its profits and the market

that should determine
which companies should survive.

There are other values at issue,
the national interest, friendship...

l know you� re preparing to buy
the Banco Popular from the Spaniards,

with assistance from the Government.

You� re fully aware that my Group
depends on the relationship

of mutual confidence that we� ve built up
with the Banco Popular

and if this relationship changes
it could cause me severe difficulties

and perhaps the lay-off
of thousands of workers...

During my years of exile in Brazil
while l fought to recover

what had been stolen from me
in the 197 4 Revolution,

you never demonstrated
a flicker of solidarity

and on business trips to Brazil
you never asked me whether

l could help you or whether
l might like to be your business partner.

Even today, in the dire straits
you find yourself,

you can� t find the humility
to request help or support...

lnstead you talk about workers
and unemployment

as if you gave a shit about them!

Think carefully, Alexandre...
think before taking a decision...

Are you sure that Boaventura
will buy the Bank?

Hum. hum!!!

You know perfectly well that if the Bank
remains in Spanish hands

it� ll destroy my political career.

Trust me.
Have l ever let you down?...

Jacinto, Minister.
As you requested,

in today� s Board Meeting
of the Banco M�tua

l approved a special credit line
for the Boaventura Group.

Thank you, Francisco.
Jo�o Nuno has also confirmed

that the Bank of Portugal
will not oppose the transaction,

even though it means
that Boaventura will acquire

over 20% of the banking market.

That� s enough conspiring for today.
Come on Francisco, let� s dance, sorry...

lt� s for you, Mr. Boaventura...

l� ve just received confirmation of the
loan to purchase the Banco Popular.

- On our terms?
- On our terms.

l� m not spending another cent in
Portugal.

Not after everything
they stole from me in the Revolution.

The Minister would like
to have a quick word.

May l ask him inside?

Congratulations, Mr. Boaventura.
The Popular is finally to return

to Portuguese hands!

Thank you very much, Minister.
l� m simply doing my duty

as a businessman and a Portuguese
citizen.

You� re probably aware
that certain voices in the media

have suggested that you won� t hesitate
at the first opportune moment

to sell at a profit and return to Brazil.

l� d like to reassure the Prime Minister
and guarantee there won� t be a change

in the ownership structure

of the Boaventura Group
over the next ten years

and that there will be a significant
increase in support for national industry?

You know l� ve always tried
to contribute towards our country� s

progress and development.

Between men of honour
written contracts are unnecessary.

l have your word then, Mr. Boaventura?

Yes. Dr. Jacinto is my witness.

Mr. Boaventura!

Have you come to tell us
about your boys,Father Francisco?...

You� re the one who could give me
some information.

l� m going to interview Pedro
on my programme.

What do you want to know?

The Bank of Portugal� s position
in this story.

Shall we have lunch together?

Don� t you know harassment of a senior
official of the Bank of Portugal

is a crime?

What about harassment
of a friend� s wife?

Pedro?

Headline news.
Pedro Castelo Branco in the clutches...

of the Media!

ls it true that Pedro is your guest this
week?

He� s the one in the limelight
in the Boaventura deal.

ls your party for or against?

Off the record.
lf we were in the Government

we� d do exactly the same thing.

But since we� re in the opposition,
we� re against.

How about a group photo?

Jacinto. Francisco.
Help me out. Let� s get organised...

Wait Pedro� s missing... Pedro!

Pedro! Pedro!

Minister! Come on
the Country needs you.

A flower...

Nothing... Jo�o Nuno,
you betrayed our group when

you joined the Commies...

Let him be...
we forgive the follies of youth...

On second thoughts,
l never did belong to this group...so...

Wait...
make way for the newlyweds...

in the middle.

We� re fine over here.

Come on.

Forget it... we� re fine as we are.

F�tima� s the only one missing.

lf she� d been in Portugal
l� m sure she would have come.

She� d never miss a chance
to try to seduce Jacinto.

Why didn�t you call me?
... out of pride?

We always have to be the strongest
don�t we?

We know no limits,
we admit no defeats.

You needed my help...
and l needed you so much...

l would have done anything for you!...

The Prince must win friends
and exterminate his enemies.

Make himself beloved and feared
by the people.

Be prepared to prevail by force or
deceit.

He should also maintain the friendship
of the rich and powerful

until he is suffiiciently powerful
to no longer need them.

Bastards!!!

l need to know all details
of financial movements

over the last year.

From now on, no sale or purchase order
leaves this office without my consent.

... We should therefore know...
That there are two kinds...

we should therefore know...
we should therefore know

that there are two kinds of combat...
we should therefore...

Enter.

l wanted to have a word with you alone.

l� m worried about you.

Get to the point.

There are many interests at stake
in the Boaventura deal, Francisco,

and there are people in high places
who don� t like the way you� ve influenced

everything and everyone
in favour of Boaventura...

Joaquim Castro
could have told me that in person...

l� m worried that you� re sending
Pedro and Jacinto up a blind alley

Don� t worry, l know what� s best for them.

And you take care
of the company you keep,

Paulo, it� s better to avoid
certain neighbourhoods.

Check.

How many pieces will you have
to sacrifice before checkmate?...

Doctor F�tima?...
Will you be needing anything else?

No thank you, Mr. Silva.
You can go home.

Mr Afonso Resende

The minister should always smile

and never give a straight answer
to any question...

Let� s put the make-up on then...

Use something highly absorbent.
The minister� s skin is very oily.

Well? Ready?

Returning to the opening topic
of this interview

and the key issue that concerns
the Portuguese at the present moment.

Does your government support
the agreement reached between

Boaventura Group and the Spaniards
enabling the Portuguese businessman

to take back control
over the Banco Popular?

My government is in favour
of the existence

of strong economic groups in Portugal.

l trust and believe that
the majority of the Portuguese

share my faith in the capacities
of Mr. Boaventura and his patriotism.

You don� t think that you could be placing
your political career at risk?

There are still men of honour
in Portugal and l� m certain

that Mr. Boaventura is one of them.

That journalist had been bought,
Minister!

She forced you to swear
your trust in Boaventura.

l need Jacinto...

What?

Nothing...
Call Dr. Jacinto Pereira Lopes for me...

l hope the honeymoon� s over...

Hi, Pedro? Everything went very well.
No, l didn� t see you on TV... sorry...

Okay, fine...
l� ll stop by in your office tomorrow,

before going to see Boaventura...
Okay...see you.

And one of the finest economists
of her generation.

With a PhD from Harvard
and an elegant woman

with recognised good taste...
Doutora F�tima Resende.

Why did you leave the university
in order to return to Portugal?

Because my father� s good name
is more important to me than my career.

But as a true professional,
you also like a good challenge?

l wouldn�t disagree.
l like a good challenge!

What� s she trying to say with this?

Who? F�tima?

That this is a pyramid
and a paper knife... in crystal...

Don� t take me for an idiot... what does
this mean in your secret code?

You� ve got more experience
than me in esoteric interpretations.

But if you really want to know
why don� t you talk to your Aunt Felismina

who is... a woman of virtue
that communes with the spirits...

Leave my aunt out of this... if it wasn� t
for her we wouldn� t have this house

...thanks for the house, Rosa.

This is the R�dio Club Portugu�s -
the News.

Good morning.
Trading in the Lisbon Stock Exchange

opened strongly again this morning
as a result of the purchase

of the Banco Popular
by the Boaventura Group.

This acquisition provoked a wave
of enthusiasm amongst investors,

after Alexandre Boaventura promised
yesterday to strengthen his Group

with acquisitions of more
leading Portuguese companies.

At the same times
the Securities Market Commission

decided to launch an enquiry
into the brokerage house, Resende,

thus confiirming rumours
of possible financial malpractises

that may have been at the origin

of the suicide of the broker,
Afonso Resende.

ln the inauguration of the hospital
in Vila Flor,

the prime minister declared
that the government...

lt concerns Dr. F�tima Resende,
who returned in a hurry to Portugal

as a result of her father�s
business transactions.

The brokerage house is in a bad way
and risks going bankrupt.

Do our banks have credits
on the Resende brokerage house?

l� ve left a full report on your desk.

Put him through please.
Yes?...

Might l ask the reason for your interest?

A beautiful woman
always merits special attention.

Without them you can� t build empires.

Director:

The brokerage house, Resende,
will always honour its commitments.

And the death of my father
won� t change that.

You can take my word on that.

As soon as l have a precise idea
of the situation, l� ll be in touch.

A very good afternoon to you.

Alexandre Boaventura
buys the Banco Popular.

DEAL OF THE CENTURY

""We support
a strong national banking industry""

comments the Minister
Pedro Castelo Branco.

The Government�s greenlight
for the take-over of Banco Popular

by the well known businessman,
Alexandre Boaventura,

continues to have a positive impact
on the Stock Exchange...

l apologise for turning up unannounced.

For the love of God, F�tima,
there� s no need for apologies.

My door is always open,
especially for you

What brings you to the home
of a humble servant of the Lord?

l need to know whether the ""M�tua""
will grant me a loan?

My father� s brokerage house
is in dire straits.

lt depends on the amount
and the collateral...

Ten million euros
and l don� t have sufficient collateral...

That puts me in a difficult situation.

You know l� m nothing more
than a mere servant

of the wealth and riches
that have been confided to me....

l can� t do anything for you...
but there� s a great deal you can do...

Dr. Jacinto?

The Minister will see you now.

l have to address Parliament
later this afternoon

and you know that in my position
l can� t run the risk of fait d�accompli .

l� m counting on you.
l need you to keep me informed

of all Boaventura� s movements...

lf you� re talking about Banco Popular,
you can relax.

Rumour has it that if this goes awry,
my head will be the first to roll.

And that you� ll be my replacement.

You know perfectly well
that l don� t want to be a minister.

And that l would never betray you.

We can� t delay matters any longer.

The decision has been taken
and is irreversible...

But, Dr. Jacinto,
the Government guaranteed

that the Banco Popular
would reinforce its support

for Portuguese economic groups...

What government?
What bullshit!

lmmediately pay off
the outstanding loans

the Bank made to you
or l� ll draw down the collateral

you presented and take over your group.

You� ll regret this, Alexandre.

l love watching them crawl...

A man like that doesn� t deserve
to be in a position of power.

Dr. Jacinto, l� m counting on you
to explain our position to our friends

in the government....
and in the opposition of course...

Of course...

lt appears that your name
is being mentioned to occupy a place

in the government?

They� re just rumours, Mr. Boaventura.

Just as well, l can� t abide two-timers!

lt� s your son.

He was caught trying to rob another
shop and requests your assistance.

Forget him. He ceased to be my son
many years ago.

Mr. Boaventura,
if there was ever any conflict

of interest between our Group
and national politics...

l would never hesitate to stand
on your side.

No, Dr. Jacinto:

We must always bend national politics
to suit our business interests.

Dom Jos�, how are you?

As has been stated
quite clearly in this Commission,

the Government had always
acted in the national interest...

ln the interest of Boaventura!...

Don� t interrupt me
Right Honourable Member

You are the one who should
set aside for a moment

the interests of the economic group
he is associated to

and concentrate his energies on the
Country he represents in this House.

l am in a position to guarantee

to my fellow members of parliament
and to the Country

that the Banco Popular
will henceforth remain in national hands

which they should never have left
in the first place.

lf for any reason
this commitment is not honoured

l hereby give my word
that l will resign forthwith.

Dr. Jacinto?

lsabel, please ask Dr. Teles
and Dr. Alvaro to come to my office.

But...

And l don� t want to be interrupted.

Rosa didn� t like my present?...

Perhaps she didn� t understand
what l meant to say...

The only way to climb
the pyramid of power is with a dagger....

is that why you came to see me?

No. l came to visit the youngest and
most talented board director

of the country� s largest economic group.

When l was a two-penny student
intern and you a rich little girl,

you never took the initiative
to visit me...

But we spent some good times
together...

Yes but you preferred to leave
for the United States...

And you fell into the arms of Rosa,
with the blessings of Francisco...

Don� t attack Francisco.
He was the one who kept us together...

...in order to use you.

But we always benefited
from the interesting titbits

of information that he gave us..

That� s exactly what l need right now:
a titbit of information.

There are no more titbits to be had.
The deal is done.

Boaventura bought the Banco Popular
and now holds a majority stake,

thus returning the bank into national
hands.

Boaventura in shining white armour...
saviour of the Nation...

...we could have dinner so that
you can tell me the rest of the fairytale.

l just got back from my honeymoon...

Why don� t you tell Rosa
that you� ve got a meeting?...

You make a pretty good temptress
when you put your mind to it.

l await the chance
to put that talent to the test.

Just so you don� t have the excuse to
say you didn� t know where to find me...

Rosa, could you come in here
please?

Listen, Rosa, l� m scheduled
to attend a concert tonight in the CCB

on behalf of the Banco M�tua
and l have another engagement,

l thought you might be able to substitute
me...

l� d be delighted.

One other thing, Rosa: does Jacinto
know about your problems?

Which one, Francisco?

You know perfectly well which one.

Neither that one nor the other.

Just as well.

lt� s a wife� s duty to avoid
inflicting suffering on her husband.

lt was exactly because l considered you
to be the right woman for Jacinto

that l supported your marriage
and helped you in purchasing shares.

l hope you don� t disappoint me.

lt� s been difficult to persuade Jacinto
to be more ambitious...

l want to know everything,
absolutely everything.

l get the feeling that there� s something
we� re missing here.

And l hired you for Boaventura
exactly so that l could know everything.

But everything seems to be running
so smoothly...

the deal with the Banco Popular was
a complete and outstanding success.

Yes, but we have to be prepared
for what comes next.

lt won� t stop here.
And l have the distinct feeling

that there� s something we don� t know.
And that makes me nervous.

Joaquim Castro has strong backing
and won� t stand by idly...

Dr. Jacinto...

lsabel, l thought l told you
l didn� t want to be interrupted!

Sorry, but it�s Mrs. Rosa...
your wife.

Yes. No...
You know classical music� s not my fort�

Fine, l� ll spend
a few more hours in the office...

Enjoy yourself. Kisses.

Things in the brokerage house
went from bad to worse

and he was too proud to ask for help.

l was one of his great admirers.
l always had a soft spot for your father.

lt� s a shame you didn� t show that,
when you still had the chance.

l don� t understand.

Boaventura� s bid for the Banco Popular
was well above its share price quotation.

One word from you

and the brokerage house
could have paid off all its debts.

Do you realise what you� re suggesting?

Yes. And you still have the chance
to redeem yourself.

You just have to whisper
in my ear what l want to know.

You know perfectly well
that would be illegal...

lsn� t everything with value
in some way illegal?

You don� t trust me, do you?

Or don� t you trust yourself,
when l come too close for comfort?

l prefer to maintain a strict separation
between business and pleasure.

So why did you invite me for dinner?

A crepe suzette for madame?

Exactly.
And a coffee for me now please.

You don� t mind?

Don� t stand on ceremony with me...
in any way...

Just cut the bullshit, okay?!

Your problem is that
you� re too worried

with what others might think.

Why do you always stop short?
Because you came from nothing

and achieving something
is always better than going back?

Follow your desire instead
of sitting there like a wet blanket!

You� d like to give me a good slap!
Go for it! What� s stopping you?

Or, why not
make the most of the situation?!

Wouldn� t you like to rip
off all my clothes

and lie me down on top of this table
and fuck me senseless, right here?!

That would be nice, wouldn� t it?

You� re capable of anything,
but don� t risk a thing.

Leave her! Leave her

And you leave me. You...you....

Are you sure this is what you want?

Absolutely.

- And you won� t regret it?
- No.

Just as well...

Wait...l� ve got a surprise for you..

Great view.

lt was one of my cousins
that rented me the house,

but she didn� t offer any family discount.

l� m trying to convince her to sell it to me.

You mean you� re going to stay here

Take that for granted.
Whatever it takes.

Life is full of surprises,
isn� t it?

When we least expect it,
something happens

and everything� s turned on its head.

For instance,
if it wasn� t for that vagrant,

we wouldn� t be here together now.

Deep down, we should thank him,
don� t you think?

Remember those letters
you once wrote to my father?

You were working
in the Bank of Portugal

and transmitted him confidential
information

on big decisions in the pipeline...

Mr. Afonso Resende, the interest rate
is due to go up next Friday...

Mr. Afonso Resende
the lMF has imposed a 20% devaluation

of the escudo over the next three
months...

Mr. Afonso Resende, the Government
is planning to privatise the bank...

Mr. Afonso Resende...
Mr. Afonso Resende...

Mr. Afonso Resende...
Mr. Afonso Resende...

l found them in my father� s safe.
l only learned about them now

because he never said a word.

But it helped me
understand a great deal.

ln particular,
that we were made for one another.

You can tear them up.

What� s bred in the bone
will come out in the flesh...

At this rate you� ll never get to be minister

Cat got your tongue?
Transformed yourself into a phantom?

Come on, say something,
show me you� re still a man!

Who ever said l wanted to be a
minister?!...

What do you want then?

To continue
at Boaventura� s beck and call?

Or do you prefer working
as Pedro� s spy?

You� re never satisfied are you?

l� m content with what l� ve already
achieved

What? You� ve achieve nothing!
lf it wasn� t...

Yes?...
Good evening, Mr. Boaventura?...

How are you? Of course l can.
Yes sir, l� ll pass by tomorrow.

Good evening.

The master only needs to whistle

and you come running
with your tail wagging.

Sorry.

lt is better to be adventurous than
cautious, because fortune is a woman

and if you wish to keep her
under your power

it is necessary to beat and ill-use her.

l never get tired
of watching a horse being shoed

and appreciate the skill and art of the
farrier.

When l was a kid l used to escape here
to help Mr. Manuel

our farrier at the time.
He taught me how to ride.

Dr. Jacinto,
what would be your reaction

if Santamaria proposed to acquire
a significant stake in Boaventura...

That depends...
on whether the shareholding violates

the agreement you made with the
government...

Dr. Jacinto, didn� t you learn in school
that all pacts obtained through violence

are null and void?

The agreement with the government
was imposed on me

and l only accepted them
because it was the only means

whereby l could retrieve
what was rightfully mine.

You pledged to keep the group
under national control...

What nation?
The nation crumbled after the revolution,

and respectable citizens
were left unprotected.

l have every right to protect myself.
Look after number one.

That� s my cardinal rule.

... and anyone working for me
has to accept me the way l am...

The Boaventura Group
stands at a crossroads,

and l still haven� t decided the way
forward,

but if l choose to reach
an agreement with the Spaniards,

l� d like to be able to count
on your unconditional support.

l don� t know, Mr. Boaventura.
You have every right to fight

to attain your objectives, but that
would leave me in a delicate situation.

l� m growing old... and won� t live for ever.
l can� t count on my son,

but l think l�ve found the right person
to continue my work at Boaventura...

a work that not everyone
understands, like the politicians

who always attempt to interfere.
Especially in this little country,

Dr. Jacinto, that never understood
or accepted great men...

Peace and joy!

That� s exactly what l need, Francisco.

What� s on your mind, Jacinto.

lt� s pretty serious.

l don� t know what to do...
l have the impression that Boaventura

is preparing to violate the agreement
he made with the Government

and l will have to choose
between loyalty to my boss

and my friendship with Pedro.

We must try to divine the path
traced by Our Father for each of us,

even if that requires us being subjected
to the trials and suffering of this world.

l� m sure that� ll help me enter
the kingdom of heaven,

but l need a bit more
down-to-earth advice at the moment.

To top it all, F�tima� s pressurising me
to hand her information

about Boaventura� s business dealings.

lf she thinks she can do what she likes
with me,

she� s got another think coming!

Love and hatred are one and the same...

You should realise that F�tima
is like one of those warriors

who not only know how to wield a sword,
they know how and where

they should inflict wounds.

My advice is:
disarm her or make her your ally.

Mum...

Where have you been?

Do you want something to eat?
l� ve saved some rice and bean dish...

from yesterday,
it� s one of your favourites

No thanks, Mum l� m not hungry.

lt� s a bad sign
when someone sits at the table,

empty handed,
without even an appetite!

l just want to relax a little, Mum.
Remove my feet for a second

from the mud l� m wading through.

You� ve only got yourself to blame.
Why can� t you face reality.

You� re afraid to go your own way.

What do you know about my life?

l know, l know...

l know you� ve got
a good-for-nothing wife

and you married her
instead of dumping her.

l know you� ve got a bunch
of so-called friends

that are constantly using you

and for whom you� re always willing
to give more.

l know that you� ve got a boss
who exploits you

and that you� re always willing
to carry out his orders

That� s me to a tee?
And you know why, Mum?...

Yes. Because you� re ashamed of me...

and of yourself...

l� m not and have never
been ashamed of you.

l was ashamed to always be
the best at school

and at the end of classes have to work
in Mr. - Am�ndio� s grocery store

while the others,
even those who flunked their exams

would hang out in the bar playing
snooker.

l was ashamed
of watching my friends play football

while l distributed canisters of gas.

l had a raging desire to buy books
and had to wait every month

for the Mobile Library to visit
to be able to read.

Fury and anger...

for everything
l dreamt of possessing and never had.

No, Mum. l never again
want to desire something so desperately

and not be able to have it.

S�rgio, bring the mare over here
and tie her up...

the male will soon calm down.

lt� s nature� s way for the female
to subdue the male, but...

there� s nothing better than money
for dominating the female!

Did you send out orders to our banks
to put pressure on F�tima Resende?

Yes.

We� re almost there Fernando...

l think it� s time we started planning
our return trip to Brazil

and this time maybe
we won� t be returning alone....

But we need all our artillery
prepared for the final battle...

Take a good look, Maria Helena,
at the grandeur of these premises!

This was the largest industrial complex
in our country...

this represents
the life� s work of a great man...

Since this is the first biography
since the 197 4 revolution

of one of Portugal� s
greatest industrial magnates,

l� d like to take some photographs
of Mr. Boaventura here.

What do you think?

l� ll have a word,
but he doesn� t like to set foot here.

lt reminds him of former times...
when he held great power....

when industry
was the engine of this country.

Now it� s just the Stock Exchange,
speculation...

Maria Helena
as well as being a very fine journalist

is also a very attractive woman...

Dr. Fernando...
we� re her on business, right?

Of course, business before pleasure!

ln addition to the biography
of Mr. Boaventura

l� ve got another excellent proposal
to make to you...

Oh yes?

Mr. Boaventura, needs an intelligent
person such as Maria Helena...

to oversee his public image and that of
his group...

He needs a Public Relations firm,
not a journalist.

Mr. Boaventura is a sly fox,
he wants something a little more subtle...

As a result of his wheeling and dealing
a highly esteemed newspaper

has fallen into his hands...

and Maria Helena could be the future
editor.

Ah, but what about the staff!

We� ll restructure...

and Maria Helena can hire journalists
she trusts to work alongside her.

Don� t let anyone enter.
Certainly, sir!

l� m waiting to hear the reason
you invited me here...

A true citizen of Europe.
Straight to the point...

Fruit of 15 years of European
integration...

To which you were once a fierce
opponent...

My Leftie youth, my dear chap...

But come on,
don� t beat around the bush.

Get to the point.

Here� s my proposal...

That� s an offer l can� t refuse...

Mr. Boaventura is very generous...

What does he want in return?

Yes?
Ah, it� s you Maria Helena!

Commemorate?

Of course l� ll go with you.

Where?

Take..it..off..Take..it..off...

Well?

You sure he can be trusted?

Don� t worry...he� s a college student.
A struggling youngster...

l� m thinking of buying
Afonso Resende� s brokerage house.

Forgive me for saying so... but
that doesn� t seem such a good idea...

Don� t muddle in affairs
that don� t concern you...

Santamaria is getting impatient

and we can only conclude the sale when
we� re sure Dr. Jacinto is on our side.

The Government is bound to be against
and we can� t run any risks at this stage.

l� m getting tired of this shit-hole of a
country...

We� re well on the way
to finally resolving that problem...

with the journalist, Maria Helena...

...The one from whom
we commissioned your biography..

Ah... a good friend of Father
Francisco� s... and yours...

...She made a very special invitation
to Dr. Rosa Pereira Lopes.

lt� s your son, Mr. Boaventura!

lgnore him. My son died long ago.

Dr. F�tima...
The bank manager refused

to authorise a transfer
to pay this month� s salaries

because he said our overdraft is already
in excess of one million euros...

... he said he� s received orders
and that his hands are tied...

Mr. Silva, you can tell the staff
not to worry

and that their salaries
will be paid on time, as always.

Dr. Rosa?

l don� t know whether you are aware,

but Mr. Boaventura made an offer
to your husband,

and he� s been thinking it over
but hasn� t responded yet

which is causing us problems.

Mr. Boaventura would like
to count upon your influence

over Dr. Jacinto...

l� m screwed...

What� s the matter

lf l don� t convince Jacinto
to support Boaventura,

they� ll divulge these photographs...

This time you went too far...

...lf that bitch hadn� t turned up
l� m sure l could have made him

do whatever l wanted...

Calm down. l� ll sort things out.

Marta?...
Could you come to my office please?

Whenever l see you,
you never fail to take my breath away.

Bastard! You said
you� d never done anything illegal

and you advised Rosa
to buy shares in the Banco Popular

before the take-over bid...

Rosa bought shares
in the Banco Popular?

So... Either you tell me the next deal
that Boaventura has up his sleeve

or your career will terminate
before it ever got started.

You know perfectly full
that l� m capable of doing anything

to defend my father� s good name!

l already told you that l don� t know
what Boaventura is planning to do,

and even if l did l have
many good reasons not to tell you.

Fine, if you can� t choose
between him and me, l will...

l� d be grateful if you gave Mr Boaventura
my business card when he arrives.

How funny! You� re just the person
l wanted to talk to!

Well Dr. F�tima, what� s the business
deal you� d like to propose?...

You instruct your banks to authorise
payment of the staff salaries

in my father� s brokerage house
and l� ll provide you

with some very important information
concerning Dr. Jacinto Pereira Lopes.

l� m all ears.

What� s the big hurry?

Read this confidential document that
Joaquim Castro received from Spain.

Seems that Boaventura
is planning to resell the Banco Popular

along with the rest of his group
to Santamaria,

in breach of the agreement
he made with the Government.

Why don� t you give this to Pedro,
he� s the only one who can do anything!

You� re the one working for Boaventura

and Joaquim Castro needs confirmation
of the deal in order at least to recover

the shares that the Banco Popular
holds in his group.

Don� t count on my support...

You think you can defeat these guys
on your own?

Yes!
l� ve got nothing to lose...

l thought you did!

For the record, if you� re in any
involved with the Boaventura deal,

after he returns to Brazil
you won� t even be able to find

a job sweeping the streets.

Did Boaventura whistle again?...

Whore...

Good day, Father Francisco.
We haven� t seen much of you recently...

l� ve been extremely occupied...

l� m dying to hear the reason
for such an urgent visit...

You� ve come to talk about your boys?

Rosa Pereira Lopes is not the best way
to reach Jacinto, Mr. Boaventura...

you should have spoken with me first...

Dr. Jacinto is very different from
the person you recommended to me

when l returned to Portugal
to recover that which is rightfully mine.

Unfortunately he� s indispensable
in order for me to overcome

the resistance that the Government
will put up to a business deal

that l soon plan to make.

Jacinto may follow in the footsteps
of the circus animal

who is taught to perform tricks
through a mixture of hunger and beatings

and who later turns on its trainer.

This deal is very important for me,
Francisco.

l want to return to Brazil in peace,

after getting revenge
on this bunch of scoundrels

that dared to challenge me....

Maybe l can help you...
but leave Rosa out of this...

Yes?.. Speaking.
At the estate?

l look forward to it...

l wouldn� t like to get on her bad side...

The horse is a thoroughbred
but needs a firm hand.

You� ll have the chance to train it.
lts yours.

Mine?

Unfortunately although your banks
have raised our credit,

l won� t have much spare time

You deserve more... much more...
you deserve to move in other circles...

l don� t know if you� re ready
for the proposal that l� m about to make,

and l also don� t require an immediate
reply...

You want to buy our brokerage house?

No... l want to propose an alliance...

...turn right and you can� t miss it.
Okay. See you, Pedro.

lf you had to choose between

being loyal to a friend
and to an employer,

what would you choose, Mum?

l think you� ve reached a point
where it� s become risky

to run errands for others but you still
haven� t gained sufficient courage

to get them to run errands for you.

l don� t think that even Father Francisco

could summarise my situation
so succinctly.

Don� t talk to me about priests...

priests earn their living listening

to poor people� s complaints
in order to forward them to the rich.

Now you� ve arrived
in the rich man� s world

you should cut out the middle man.

Goodnight.

l knew as much as you did.

Boaventura never told me anything
about selling to the Spaniards...

on the contrary he said he planned
to invest more and expand

the group� s sphere of activities.
Who gave you this?

l don� t know,
it was delivered unaddressed.

Come on, Pedro.
Forget about it.

This must be
another one of Castro� s stunts..

Boaventura comes from the generation
that thinks they can do as they please...

which gives us the right to do
whatever it takes... to defend ourselves.

Hey, Pedro.
l realise you� re in a tight spot,

but l sincerely can� t see
how l can help you.

You have to tell me...

All of you,
Paulo, F�tima, Francisco

are so used to treating me
like one of your minions,

that you don� t realise

that you behave exactly
as Boaventura does!

He doesnt deserve your loyalty.

That� s for me to decide.
Get one thing straight:

the Jacinto who received orders
with a tug of his forlock

is dead and buried!

Tell Dr. Jacinto to come in now...

l was told you wanted to speak to me...

Mr Boaventura...

l� ve thought long and hard

about the possibility
of selling the group to the Spaniards

and l� ve decided to give you
my full backing...

but it� s my duty to advise you

that the government� s reaction
will be violent...

l don� t owe a thing to those upstarts

who pretend they� re out
to save the people

while they feast their greedy eyes
on what doesn� t belong to them.

l do as l please
and don� t have to answer to anyone!

And what do you want me to do?

Draw up the contract between
Boaventura and the Santamaria Group

so as to ensure that our position is
unassailable.

Don� t pull such a face.

Don� t worry what your former colleagues
will think of you.

Make your own way...

the higher you climb,
the more they� ll respect you.

You know what freedom is, Dr. Jacinto?
True freedom?

Not letting others prevent
us doing what we want.

That� s why people with power are free.

Which do you prefer?

Depends who it� s for...
l prefer the more classic...

But it� s not for a classic marriage....

You plan to marry?

l do.

Congratulations!
l hope you� ll be very happy.

Happy? Only the stupid and na��ve
marry in order to be happy!

A man should fear women

when they love us
and also when they hate us...

l� m going to marry
because l have no suitable successor

...the best l could find
turned out to be an idiot...

That� s the trouble with monarchies!

And what democracy
haven� t resolved either.

On the contrary, we� re run
by a bunch of thieving bastards

with petty ambitions
who sell everything on the cheap.

Business, Dr. Jacinto,
big business, has its own ethics,

that takes no prisoners...
and requires a sense of greatness

that is beyond the grasp
of ordinary mortals.

But that� s all water under the bridge.

lf you haven� t got anything more to say
for yourself, you can leave.

Dr. Jacinto!

You� re invited to the wedding.
And Rosa as well, of course.

Dr. Jacinto! Don� t you want to know
the bride� s name?

She� s one of your old friends:
Dr. F�tima Resende.

Yes?

Open up.

Are you really going
to marry Boaventura?

Yes...
And l� m going to join the Board.

Are you sure
that� s really what you want to do?

Why shouldn� t l?

lf the person by your side thinks big,
you think bigger,

if he rises, you ascend to the peak!

This necklace matches the ring
that your fianc� is about to offer you.

And you know what really pisses me off!

l was the one who helped him
while he showed me

that he can buy anything he wants...
even the woman

l� ve always been in love with!

You never thought of being happy,
just happy?

Our happiness resides
in being in the centre of big battles.

There are two kinds of combat.: one
based on the law, the other on force.:

the fiirst is native to man,
the second to irrational instincts,:

once in combat the prince
must therefore know whether to use

the animal or human qualities
within him.

l hope it� s worth the build up.

Read this.

But this is explosive!...
What do you expect me to do?

You know better than l do...

Okay... but l don� t understand
why you� re doing this...

You� re backing Boaventura into a dead
end, and shitting on Pedro...

which is fine for me...
but what� s in it for you...

unless you� re planning
on becoming a minister?

No, Paulo.
l� ve no plans or desires to be a minister.

Spaniards buy
the Boaventura Group!

An economic scandal
broke this morning in Lisbon

when Di�rio de Not�cias newspaper
published a copy of the Protocol

to sell the Boaventura PLC
to the Santamaria Group,

Spain�s largest financial group, which
will thus conquer an important share

of the Portuguese banking market.

Minister, is it true that you� ve already
handed in your resignation?

No it isn� t... l� ve come to Parliament
in full exercise of my duties

to explain the measures to be taken
by the Government in this situation

that we did not create
and for which we are not responsible.

...The Portuguese Government
has decided to give instructions

to the Bank of Portugal
to veto the deal established

between Mr. Alexandre Boaventura
and the Santamaria Group,

given that this deal stands
in clear breach of the agreements

established between the Government
and Mr. Boaventura...

Minister, where are these
agreements?...

Mr. Boaventura vigorously denies
having assumed any commitment

to maintain his group under national
control.

Minister: The time has come
for you to keep your word: Resign!

We�ve just received word
that the Minister of Finances,

the minister responsible
for the support granted by the State

to the businessman,
Alexandre Boaventura,

handed his resignation
to the Prime Minister

who immediately accepted it.

The Government has announced
in the meantime

that it has decided to veto the deal,
and has requested the intervention

of the Bank of Portugal.

l confiirm that l handed
my resignation to the Prime Minister

but my conscience is clear, and l always
acted in the highest national interests...

Don� t you feel betrayed
by Alexandre Boaventura?

How will the government retrieve
the funds granted to Boaventura?

Who do these upstarts think l am?
Some highwayman?

l� ll set the picture straight...

Fernando, summon this rabble.
l� ll tell them what l really think of them

and this Country of scroungers.

Don� t react in haste. Keep your cool.

Dr. Jacinto and his team of attorneys
can draw up a response for us.

Dr. Jacinto?

Wasn� t he the one responsible
for drawing up the legal foundations

of the Protocol?

And wasn� t he the one who took part
in all the negotiations

with the Government?

Dr. F�tima is right:

it� s important that he assumes
Boaventura� s position in public.

And explains that the veto
has no legal foundations

and that our deal can be implemented.

lt� s time to show our heavy artillery!...

l hope it� s going to be worth my while

being called out here
at this time of night...

Since we� re in a crisis situation
l� ll get straight down to business:

the Boaventura group
needs your newspaper

to launch a campaign on our behalf.

lt� s essential that several influential
columnists write opinion articles

on the matter and that readers� letters
appear criticising the Government.

l� m not sure
if l can fully satisfy your demands...

the readers� letters are no problem,
but l think it will be very difficult

for our columnists,
however generous of spirit they may be,

to make a radical change in their
opinions.

Maria Helena: if they don� t change,
tomorrow there won� t be any opinions.

What do you want me to do?

l want you to convince
your fellow Members

of the Board of the Bank of Portugal

that the sale of the Boaventura Group
to Santamaria is perfectly legal

and that there are no grounds for a veto,

despite the Government� s insistence
to the contrary.

And what if l, and the rest of the Board,
don� t hold this opinion?

Worse for us all... especially for you...

The Country would learn
of your little drug habit,

which would result in your resignation

and the nomination of another
board member for the Bank.

Afterwards who knows whether or not
the Board will change its opinion...

And if l manage to persuade the Board
to decide in favour of Boaventura PLC,

what do l get out of it,
in addition to the photographs?

Mr. Boaventura� s eternal gratitude...

which may materialise in many
mysterious and wondrous manners.

Dr. Fernando Oliveira:

You can tell Mr. Boaventura
that Jo�o Nuno Menezes

despite being a deserter
who abandoned the ideals of his youth,

will not betray his friends
and is not for sale.

And also tell him that l� ll do my very best

to ensure that the Board
approves the veto

proposed by the Government.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you for visiting this institution

that has always been so badly treated
by the media and the public authorities.

True to my habit
of getting straight to the point,

l would like to state that the agreement

reached by me
with the Santamaria Group

is perfectly legal in the light
of national and community legislation

and that no State
may obstruct this agreement

without standing in breach

of the right of freedom of circulation
of capital and persons,

a cornerstone of the European
Community.

l repeat, neither
l nor the Boaventura Group

stand in breach
of any law or norm of the State.

l would therefore like to inform you
that we will be appealing

to the Community institutions in Brussels

against the decision
of the Portuguese Government

to block the deal.

Dr. Jacinto Pereira Lopes
will explain the legal foundations

underpinning our position.

Ladies and gentlemen:
l� m sure that the agreement established

between Alexandre Boaventura
and Jos� de Santamaria

does not violate the laws that govern us.

But the fact that a company or man
does not stand in breach of a law

does not imply that he is
either good or just,

it simply establishes him as innocent
before these laws.

l have no doubt that all men tend to act
in their own personal interest,

and while understanding
that a man when betraying a friend

or breaking a promise may be taking
a reasonable course of action

to attain his goals,

l can� t help but consider

that such actions are censurable
even when perfectly legal.

ln my opinion,
in this dog-eat-dog world of ours,

there must be limits.

A notion of good and evil
must persist above the law.

A business act
that violates ethical principles

and is based solely on the silence
of the law frees me of any obligation

to accompany the authors
of such an act.

l am convinced that this agreement
violates the principles

that l was brought up with,

stands in breach of prior
unwritten agreements,

is a failure to keep one� s word,
and stands in bad faith.

l therefore hereby
present my resignation from all positions

l hold in the companies

of the Boaventura Group...

Thank you very much.

Dr....? Dr. Jacinto... Dr. Jacinto...

Dr. Jacinto, for RTP... for RTP...

Dr. Jacinto...

ls it true that you� ll be joining
the government?

The R�dio Clube Portugu�s

has ascertained that
Dr. Jacinto Pereira Lopes

will be invited
for the post of Minister of Finances.

His nomination is warmly backed
by political analysts

and even by many members
of the Opposition...

Sorry for my behaviour
back there in Parliament...

but l� m sure you realise l had no
choice...

Forget it...it doesn� t matter any more...

Why don� t we leave all this
and go far, far away....

just the two of us...

You� re the only one who can see
the light at the end of the tunnel

in the midst of all this confusion.
What do you think l should do:

support Boaventura or the Government?

Let the dust settle
and you� ll soon recognise

who holds the reigns of power.

Yes. Speaking...
Now is fine...

Good evening,
how are you Prime Minister...

Of course... l� d be delighted...

Dad.... Dad...

Upon this a question arises.:

whether it be better
to be loved than feared,

or feared than loved.

The Prince may wish to be both,:

but because it is diffiicult to unite
these qualities in one person,

it is much safer
to be feared than loved,

when, of the two,
either must be dispensed with.

Minister!

Will Mr. Boaventura� s death
affect the Government� s position?...

How did you feel

when you learned
of this morning� s tragedy?

The Minister of Finances deeply regrets
the death of the great businessman,

Alexandre Boaventura...
together with his son.

Mr. Boaventura
made a unique contribution

to the development of the Country

and the national economy.
Thank you very much.

Dr. F�tima Boaventura has been
nominated Chairman of the Board.

What� s your reaction to this nomination?

ln relation to alterations
in the Board of Directors of the Group,

l have no comments to make.

Thank you very much,
good morning to you all.

lt� s going to be a pleasure
doing business with you.

On the Government� s instructions, the
M�tua Central de lnvestimentos, the
state-owned bank chaired
by Father Francisco,

purchased the Boaventura Group,
thus avoiding it falling
into Spanish hands

Jacinto Pereira Lopes and F�tima
Resende are increasingly seen together
in social events

and gossip magazines are rife
with rumours of a forthcoming wedding,
to be celebrated by Father Francisco.