Hernán

MEDELLIN (SPAIN) 1499

Go on, Aisha. Take it off.

You know I can’t.

Just for a minute. Take it off.

Your cousin is watching.

Gonzalo, what did I tell you? Go away! Go!

And now?

Go away, Hernan.

I have to finish this before my father gets back.

I can help, if you like.

Our hands say it all.

Yours belong to a gentleman.

They have never known work.

It’s true.

I have never known work.

But I do know how to kiss!

Cousin! He’s coming! He’s coming!

You have to go!

Run! Come on!

Hey, you two! Round here again?

You’ll see when I speak to your parents!

Whatever you have to say, you can say it to me.

Run!

Are you coming, or what?

Run!

On guard!

Run!

Look...

the sea is right over there.

But...

you cannot see the sea from here.

I can, in my imagination.

And what else do you imagine?

Well, Amazon women, giants with one eye,

monsters with three heads,

extraordinary landscapes...

and treasures never before seen.

You know what?

One day I will leave here,

I will set off to see that world.

- And you will come with me. - Really?

Yes, you will be my squire.

Promise me.

Promise you will take me with you.

I promise, cousin.

I will not leave here without you.

You see?

All that will be ours some day.

Garrido! That rope.

Get to work, soldiers!

Will they withstand it?

Tighten that!

There are hundreds of us, Alvarado. We'll be loaded up with weapons and shields.

- Gold. - And the gold.

Do you think the bridges will withstand it all?

Do not fret, Sandoval.

What did the Captain say?

All I know is that we will leave by the Tacuba road.

When?

Well, the last bridge still isn’t ready.

Sandoval, don’t worry!

Don’t worry! Come on!

Come on! Give me that.

Holy Mother...

rid us of our enemies...

and from all these idolatrous savages.

Blood!

Blood!

Blood!

Blood!

Blood!

- Botello! - Blood!

What’s wrong, Botello?

The Virgin was crying tears of blood...

for us.

That is a wooden board.

It cannot bleed.

Hunger...

makes us see things that do not exist.

Soldiers.

The Virgin was crying tears of blood, for us.

Either we leave this place,

or they will rip all our hearts out!

Enough, Botello! You are scaring everyone.

Botello is right. We’re all going to die!

Cortes deceived us!

He promised us riches and we are starving!

Silence!

Listen to me...

we are the King’s soldiers.

Together we have fought...

and won many battles.

And that is what we must continue to do.

Work as one!

We will finish these damned bridges,

and we will get out of here. Alive!

Alive!

Alive!

You can't see that girl anymore.

We are longstanding Christians of pure blood.

Do you agree, Mother?

The Moors aren't like us.

If they wish to live here we allow them to,

but we can't mix with them.

Don't delude yourself. They also think we're different.

- But why? - Be quiet!

This doesn't concern you. Always covering for your cousin,

meddling in things not of your age.

If you were my son, I'd give you a good slap!

Don't say that, Mother. He's done nothing wrong.

- Aisha is my friend. - Not anymore.

She'll be my friend, Father.

Whatever you do.

I'm taking you to Salamanca tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

You'll stay with your Aunt and study Law.

- No! - Yes!

Your mother and I have decided.

You will study and carve out a good future.

We have two bridges.

If we work all day, we will have a third by tomorrow.

Three bridges.

Three will be enough.

No. Tell your men not to rush the work.

Melting down the gold is going very slowly.

Let’s take the gold that is melted and leave tomorrow.

Botello...

had one of his visions.

Everyone is scared and nervous...

Superstition!

Just like you always say.

We are not going anywhere without the gold.

- Listen... - No, I won’t listen to you, Gonzalo.

God is on our side.

I know.

Now I need you to be, too.

You more than anyone.

I'll follow you unto death and you know that...

- Very well. - But don’t bring God into this.

I want nothing to do with him.

Dear cousin and brother Gonzalo,

sorry so much time has passed since my last letter.

With the start of a new year,

I have had to attend the many people I know here.

Gentlemen, the sons of great families,

future bishops...

who came to acquire the wisdom

that only this city can provide.

I am perfecting skills that I will keep all my life...

like sharpening my wit and making quick decisions,

before my opponent in the debate

takes advantage of my weaknesses...

- I won. - Or my hesitation.

Cheat!

- Do you accuse me of cheating? - From the very start.

Liar! I demand you retract and apologise.

Let’s make our apologies outside.

Well then, the only option is to fight.

Do not imagine it is all confinement,

study, Latin phrases and libraries.

There is still time to roam the streets

and enjoy the open air and our camaraderie.

Kill him!

Come on!

Come on!

First blood, Cortes.

Admit you cheated!

You are defeated.

To the death!

I take it all back!

I take it all back!

Mercy, Cortes, for pity’s sake. Mercy!

Never accuse me of cheating again!

Long live Cortes!

How about another jug of wine?

How about it!

Who’s buying?

I will. And if the money runs out...

I am a resourceful man!

Long live Cortes!

Dearest cousin and brother Hernan,

do you remember our moments reading The Adventures of Esplandian and Amadis?

When we used to imagine the warrior women

and their queen California...

Men with fishes’ tails

or the giants with one eye in the seven enchanted cities.

Soon, we will see them with our own eyes.

You must know, cousin, that the new governor of the Indies,

Nicolas de Ovando,

of your father’s acquaintance,

is organizing his next expedition.

I can see it in your faces...

What lies on the other side of the ocean?

Is it true what they say about the lands beyond the sea?

How many times have you wondered?

I heard about a monster with three heads.

There is no such monster.

No monsters at all, just men.

Men like us?

Yes, like us. But different.