Estrada de Palha

Hello.

Good morning. What brings you here?

I have an urgent letter for you.

Thanks.

Make yourself at home. And stay as long as you like.

Are you going somewhere?

I have to leave immediately.

Fernando Carneiro

Alberto?

You look like an outlaw.

I'll pass by your house tonight.

I started working at Don Fernandes' place.

And now I live there, too.

It was dangerous living here alone with he boy.

And how is my nephew?

He's at home.

I came as soon as I heard you were back.

Why aren't you dressed in black?

The boss doesn't want other people's sadness in his house.

I've come back to take you away with me.

Your brother was killed at the Hill Reed Bed.

But where exactly?

They say it happened over near Pimenta's land.

I'll go and fetch the sheep.

Things are getting worse all the time. Your brother was killed by bandits.

There are ambushes in the reed beds.

It seems like most of the sheep have been stolen.

There won't be many left for us.

I'm here to avenge my brother's death.

I have to go to work.

They'll have noticed I'm missing by now

I'll pass by later to say goodbye.

You don't have to wear those rags any more.

Your brother's clothes are over there. Take whatever you want.

He would've liked that.

I was sad to hear that you'd left the mission over there.

Thanks for writing to let me know.

And I'm sorry.

You were the last person I wanted to hurt.

But I wasn't born to follow rules.

I had to breathe in my own way.

And seeing other worlds brought with it other needs.

I just hope you don't get lost, my son.

What do you plan to do now?

I came to sort out my family's affairs. And to take what belongs to me.

So, are you planning on taking Noémia and the child with you?

Yes.

They're my responsibility now.

Be careful, my son.

That might not be what she wants.

Is there something I should know, Father?

— What are you doing here? — Fetch Fernandes for me.

Come round the back.

Go on.

Give your uncle a kiss.

Where are you going armed like that?

I'm going to find your sheep. And the shepherd's murderer, too.

How much is the reward?

My workers are all scared. After what happened to your brother...

I want to know where they are and who's got them.

As soon as I heard you were back, I knew there'd be trouble.

But I'd rather it was you that fetched the sheep.

The only trouble I'm bringing is for you.

Just because your old man died and now you're the Lord of the land,

it doesn't mean that the people here are your slaves.

I see you don't plan to stick around for too long.

When I leave I'm taking Noémia and my nephew far away from here.

We'll see about that...

I need a horse.

A shepherd on horseback. This I've got to see.

Rent it to me.

I'll pay you back with a week's work.

Just bear in mind that my horse is worth much more than your twenty sheep.

Paulinho!

Prepare him a horse.

Stop!

What's going on here?

No one passes here.

Don't move a muscle.

What's your name, traveller?

Who wants to know?

António Bacelo.

Captain of the Royal Guard. At your service.

Alberto Carneiro — mountain shepherd.

A shepherd?

Riding a horse?

I'm on my way to retrieve some stolen sheep.

Then I have to tell you that you must pay a toll.

But this route is free.

Listen...

your horse grazes, does it not?

And drinks water, too.

So you have to pay.

I don't owe anything to anybody.

Besides, I plan to return this way with a flock of sheep.

And then I will pay what's due.

Then I must inform you that you shall not pass...

without me defending myself against such disrespect.

Listen, I don't want any trouble. I just want to be on my way.

According to Article 10 of Chapter 9 of "The Duelling Code",

you have the right to choose your weapon.

Or you may use your own, if you so wish.

Choose your weapon!

If you leave me no choice, mine is already loaded.

You have to the right to choose the place of combat.

Right here will do.

No. It must be on flat land.

One, two, three...

four, five, six, seven, eight...

nine, ten.

According to The Duelling Code, when one of the participants is not killed,

but merely wounded, he has the right to revenge.

I'm sorry, but I don't intend to kill you.

So what can I get you?

A glass of wine.

What brings you to these parts?

I'm a shepherd.

So where are your sheep then?

I'm looking for them.

Some of them were stolen

when they killed my brother.

The others have been found and retained by the King's officers.

Where are you from?

Covas da Serra.

So you're António Carneiro's son?

That's right.

I knew you when you were just a lad.

But there are so many bandits around nowadays.

Weren't you a priest?

And I thought you went to America, too.

I was never ordained as a priest.

So now you've come back to this damned place to get into trouble?

I had to come and settle my brother's debt.

Apparently he was killed by a gang.

Watch what you say, son. The walls have ears.

Unfortunately, things aren't what they used to be.

You can't even trust the King's men now.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Bacelo.

He wanted me to pay a toll to pass.

But he regretted it.

Careful!

Things are really different nowadays.

You'll still be crossing Pimenta's land today.

Keep your money!

And this one's on me,

in memory of your brother.

Thanks very much.

Good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Alberto Carneiro.

I've come to fetch the flock.

We've been waiting for someone for the past few weeks.

Are these the only ones left?

These and some others scattered about here and there.

They didn't take them all because they can't hide them.

And things left unhidden may soon be found.

Careful! There are things that one would rather not find out.

The agreement is four sheep per hundred for you, right?

That's what was agreed.

So it's ten animals then.

Nine and a half is no good to anybody.

Right?

Thanks.

Take the ones you want.

What I'd like to do is come back for them tomorrow.

I'm going to try and find the rest.

It's a deal.

I've waited for this long, I might as well wait another day, eh?

Thanks very much.

Sit down.

Come and eat with us. You look famished.

Thanks.

Don't be scared. We don't hurt hungry people.

Our issues are with the authorities.

Discontent is everywhere.

Yet the king is proclaimed as a great saviour wherever he goes.

Dog of Hell!

We should do the same to him as we did to his brother and father.

What are you doing around these parts?

I've been abroad for a few years.

Things were very different when I left.

Now I'm back because bandits killed my brother. He was a shepherd.