The Pride and the Passion

Well? It's the big Cannon again, sir.

Get rid of it. Leaveit for the French?

I told you, get rid of it. Yes, sir.

Yes, sir? Ah, major.

You have accomplished the impossible.

How can a seven ton, 42-foot Cannon

slip through your fingers and not leave a smear of rust?

They must have destroyed it, sir.

It was too large to be practical, in my opinion.

In my opinion, you don't know peas from powder.

General jouvet wants that Cannon.

Your orders are to recover it,

not evaluate it. Yes, sir.

And vidal? Yes, sir?

The English want that Cannon, too,

enough to send an agent to Spain to get it.

Do not fail.

The general is the kind of man who will find work

for both of us in the stables.

Yes, sir.

Engfish? Enghsh.

Take me to army headquarters.

Enghsh.

I'm looking for general larena's staff.

They've moved?

Retreated.

Where?

Who are you?

We are the Spanish who do not retreat.

Guerrilleros.

If your business has to do with this province,

you talk with me.

My orders are for general larena.

Sorry.

Juana!

Read these orders.

He is called Anthony trumbell, a naval captain.

General larena is to turn over to him

a huge Cannon, and the men to haul it to santander.

What for?

To keep it out of Napoleon's hands.

The English are fighting him, too, you know.

Why did they send a sailor?

Because I speak Spanish, and have studied ordnance.

Guns.

You would like to see this gun?

I would like to see it, yes.

Thank you.

Do the English have such a Cannon?

No one in the world has such a Cannon.

Is it bad?

It can be repaired.

Can you do it?

If I had the men.

I have the men.

Blacksmiths, carpenters?

Guillermo, Francisco, pepe.

Listen to the captain.

I'll need six heavy wooden beams,

and take the gears from the guns they left.

Carlos, get them, and get everybody on the road.

Oh, and rope. I'll need all the rope you can get.

Anything else?

That's all for now.

Yes, captain.

Get those mules moving!

Let it swing clear!

No. No. More to the left!

Miguel! Miguel!

French cavalry! How far?

Across the valley.

They will be here in an hour.

Leave the gun where it is.

Leave it? Let it hang.

It's easier to hide all this up here.

Get Jose off the gun. Quickly!

Ramon! Take some men from the ropes and cut the trees.

Help them! Help them!

Carlos! Bring up the men!

Secure the road!

Miguel: Hook up those mules!

Tie those tightly! We are moving.

I think this is the best route to santander.

Yes, captain.

But this gun is going to avila.

I beg your pardon? Avila.

But you said... I said nothing.

You know my orders.

General larena agreed to give us the gun.

But, uh, general larena is not here.

You can't fight your way across half of Spain with 200 men.

With this gun, I will get all the men I need.

You have no powder for it. I will get it.

But the whole world is fighting Napoleon.

Compared to that, avila's a flyspeck.

I do not know about the rest of the world, captain.

Avila is French headquarters in sprain.

But it's 1,000 kilometers from here.

The entire country's swarming with French. You'll never get there.

We will get there.

Avila has a wall, captain,

and this gun was made to fight walls.

We will get there no matter what it costs.

If it costs the lives of every one of us,

we are going to take avila.

And the French will then know their day in Spain is over.

You must be mad, all of you.

Captain, you want the gun in santander,

and I want it in avila.

Go with us.

Show us how to use it, how to move it,

and afterwards, we will help you get the gun to santander.

How do I know you'll keep your promise?

You do not.

Get the captain's horse.

I prefer to walk with the gun.

You might get tired, captain.

Bring the horse.

Captain...

Your face is dirty.

Man: Bonita juanita!

It is late.

What are you doing?

Taking the englishman some food.

He did not eat with the others.

Then he does not eat. I ate. You ate.

He is no different than we are.

But he is different.

How?

He knows about guns.

You need him.

You said so yourself.

Isaid nothing. I do not like him.

Miguel, you're jealous.

Anybody who looks at me.

And this one more,

because he can fire the Cannon and you can't.

How do you know? Maybe I can.

You know you can't.

You say things you don't mean, and then you're sorry.

We need him, Miguel. Admit it.

I do not like the way he looks at you.

Miguel...

I do not like the way you look at him.

That is still my privilege.

You know this Miguel, and you know him well.

You know he has the gun, and where it is.

I am waiting for you to tell me.

Make no mistake, I speak to you as your enemy,

and I shall be your executioner.

Very well.

An example must be set.

Ishall begin by hanging all 10 of you.

For every day after, I shall hang 10 more.

And 10 more.

If necessary, every woman and child in avila,

until we loosen tongues

and I am told where this Cannon is.

Now take them out.

Carry out the order.

I'm doubtful, sir.

I'm doubtful that these hangings...

I know. I know.

You wouldn't think it was worth it to them.

How big can a Cannon be?

At half the size, it would excite their imagination.

The people of an occupied country begin as martyrs.

Give them something to rally around and die for,

and they explode into a new army.

That is the real danger of this Cannon, general.

I'm not stupid, sermaine. I know we have to find it.

We ought to be able to build and assemble this raft in about three days.

There'll be 100 logs underneath,

and we'll lash the Cannon to this platform.

I think we can get it across the river.

I think it will sink.

It won't.

But in any event, it's the only way,

unless you expect the river to dry up.

I expect to get this Cannon to avila.

This way, we might lose it.

Not if I get cooperation.

I repeat, we'll need 100 logs.

All right.

You get the men, start cutting the trees.

You got your way, captain, but if this Cannon sinks...

I tell you, it won't. And I'm sick of your threats!

I do not like this.

You don't have to like it. It will succeed anyhow!

All I have is your word for this. That is not enough!

Then don't do it! Call the men back!

All right! Wait.

I know, and both of you know

the reason for this stupid argument.

If you are going to cross the river, we are wasting time.

Let it out easily!

Pull! Pull! Keep pulling!

Get to the other rope!

Look at it. Mud up to its barrel.

I wish I'd never seen the thing.