By the power bestowed upon me by His Majesty King Charles IV,
as royal judge of this Real Audiencia of Caracas,
the inquiry for the actions that occurred in previous days is now open.
Actions that indicated a conspiracy against His Majesty was in place,
as well as an attempt on the life of your servant in these lands, myself.
And so, with no further delay or demur,
let the inquiry begin.
The commanders of the mainland territories
gathered in a location to discuss and confer
on the most convenient methods to adopt,
in order to restore freedom to the American people.
Based on the research,
that location was your printing office,
which you used to print revolutionary pamphlets and flyers!
Why didn't you report it? Are you an accomplice?
And you, under no coercion,
and being of sound mind,
identified as perpetrators of such conspiracy,
Captain Manuel Gual,
Lieutenant José María España,
both tried in absentia,
as well as the tailor Joaquín Montesinos, who is present here.
So, did you aim to overthrow the King and his subjects,
and establish a republic in this territory?
Yes.
Louder!
Yes, Your Honor.
Is that why you wanted to steal weapons from the battalion of mestizos?
Yes? To carry out that revolution?
Who else was in on this plan with you?
Nobody else.
It was just me.
Do not take us for fools.
Are you saying you wanted to steal those weapons
to start a revolution,
and form an army by yourself?
Where are your accomplices?
Who else is behind all of this?
Who came up with the idea?
How are all these detainees involved in this conspiracy?
They are not.
I came up with it by myself.
It was only me.
These people were not involved.
Do you deny that you know Captain Gual and Lieutenant España?
Do you deny meeting with them at the printing office,
and handing out these cockades and these manifests?
Who made them?
Father, professor, I'm done.
Adela made these cockades,
so that we can easily identify
everyone who supports the cause on this day.
It was me.
I made them.
I made them all myself.
Yourself?
How did you know the weapons were behind that place?
Of course! You had that woman on the inside.
She let you know about the routines and schedules,
and the rest of the information, didn't she?
That's not acting alone, for God's sake!
I don't know what you're talking about, Your Excellency.
Are you also going to deny that you attempted to kill me?
No.
I am not going to deny that I tried to kill you with everything that I have!
For each one of your injustices!
Take him outside!
For each one of your humiliations!
Get this bastard out of my sight!
- Get him out of here! - For all the taxes...
- that we must pay to the Crown! - Get him out!
To the dungeon!
For my friends!
And for my comrades!
Because we owe nothing to your Crown!
Now you see, Simón. That's how conspirators end up.
No matter where they come from.
CARACAS CARLOS PALACIOS'S HOUSE
Thieves end up just the same.
No matter where they come from.
PORT OF LA GUAIRA
After I'd seen how things transpired,
I could not stop thinking that Professor Rodríguez was right.
In Caracas, we were not yet ready to leave behind the King's rule.
And we were a long way from being ready.
Were you followed?
Hey, were you followed?
Yes, they were following us, but...
don't worry. It's OK.
Gual and I managed to lose them.
Gentlemen.
This is a tragedy. I can't believe that we were betrayed.
The fact that they've stopped following us doesn't mean they'll leave us alone.
They have put a price on our heads.
I think we need to focus on leaving this place.
That's true. We have everything ready.
We will leave for Trinidad.
We know someone there.
Feel free to join us.
Trinidad?
Even if we did,
are we going to abandon our sacrifice for the cause?
All the people who risk their lives?
Gentlemen, please.
Their fervor is intact. Their spirits remain firm.
No.
Staying here would be suicide.
For now, our best and only option is the island.
I agree. We can't take any risks.
That's why we'll leave before the crack of dawn.
- Here. - What are we going to do?
We couldn't get anything.
Well, we couldn't, but...
we have food and we have a fire. Let's focus on that for now.
- Let's see, plantains... - Yes.
They need tailors everywhere.
I may not be my father, but I have learned a lot.
I can work.
OK, then that is what we'll do.
María Luisa? Don't you feel sad for Mrs. Carmen?
She had the cockade, too.
I know.
But...
we had no other choice.
And thanks to what we did, we are now safe and sound.
I know.
We are safe, but we left them alone.
We betrayed them.
Adela,
- we didn't betray them. - We did.
No, listen.
Come here.
We must make a promise.
- One day... - Yes?
there will be a movement that will be big and strong.
One day, there will be a people who will finally walk free,
who will be independent.
One day, you and I will walk outside.
And on that day, we will be part of that movement.
I...
I only pray that they don't suffer.
So do I.
Joaquín Montesinos, tailor by trade,
is convicted of the following crimes:
bribery of a Spanish army officer,
and treason and conspiracy against His Majesty, the King.
Treason...
that he will pay for with his life.
Excuse me.
He will be beheaded.
And his extremities...
will be spread all across the city.
So that you never forget the punishment
for trying to conspire against His Majesty,
King Charles IV.
Let it be known!
If we remain faithful subjects,
the King will always reward us.
If we betray him...
God will show us the path of Hell!
We are all subjects of His Majesty, the King!
That must never be ignored or forgotten.
I have nothing to repent for!
Because I have not committed a sin!
The one who has sinned is him!
Traitor!
I am willing to give my life,
so that you are not under the rule of any king!
So that you don't bleed out from paying taxes when you work!
Or from injustices!
I might die,
but our reason and ideals will not!
The seed has been planted!
Now it is your duty to make it grow!
To reap the fruits of freedom!
Long live the people!
The democratic people!
YEARS LATER ARAGUA VALLEY
- Wake up! We're almost there. - Hey!
Wake up!
Dear Carlos,
after the difficult events in Caracas,
we set out on a journey to Hacienda La Concepción.
The one in Santo Domingo de Guzmán.
We observed with fascination, the many fields of cacao.
We are using this time so that Simón can appreciate firsthand,
the future commodities of a first-born son...
until the time comes for him to join the army.
The ship leaves in a week,
and the cacao production will be ready in two days.
Can we make it?
Yes, sir. We are progressing as planned.
If we maintain this pace,
the cacao beans will be on their way to Spain in eight days, as planned.
That shipment must make it. If you miss it,
there won't be a day's pay for you, or the workers.
And there won't be food for the slaves.
Don't worry, sir. It'll happen.
We are drying and packing all the time, as you can see.
Sir,
this is my daughter, Josefa.
She came to help us. She was staying with an uncle.
I hope you don't mind.
She is very good. She likes to help with the work.
I can see that.
No, I don't mind.
It's all good.
You can tell she works hard, and eats very little.
Carry on, child.
Keep on helping us.
Finally, you're here!
Get to work!
Good morning.
What can I do for you, sir?
My name is Gregorio del Pino.
Inspector of weights, measures, and markets
of the noble and loyal city of Santiago de León de Caracas.
Sent by the royal judge, Mr. José Patricio de Rivera.
Please, look.
"To verify weights, prices and measures...
- at the Court of King Charles IV." - That's right.
Sir,
I think you've gone the wrong way.
I beg your pardon, sir?
This is the Hacienda San Mateo, is it not?
- Indeed. - Very well.
You are Mr. Carlos Palacios.
- I am. - Very well.
You requested a license to export cacao and sugar, did you not?
Well, I have come here to corroborate
that your cargo weighs what you say it weighs,
and that it complies with His Majesty's official rule of weights.
Sir, Luis Tinoco, at your service.
I am the foreman.
- How do you do? - Sir, I am absolutely certain
that the cargo weighs what we have said it weighs,
and is ready to be shipped.
That's what they all say.
But don't worry. We will weigh the cargo again.
If the weight respects the law,
then there is no problem.
Bring the weighing scale.
This is the official scale.
Where can I work?
Behind the house, sir. I'll be with you shortly.
Let's go.
This has never happened before, Mr. Carlos.
And it will not happen now.
The more we resist, the more trouble he'll cause.
I know these officials.
Make him feel important.
Let him look, then he can go and leave us alone.
Yes, sir.
Hey, Mr. Rayo!
Get me a horse!
Go get me one!
- I will leave on this one. - I'll catch up, Juan Vicente.
I will take this one.
I bet I'll catch you!
Be careful, Juan Vicente.
Yes, I know.
Go ahead! I bet I'll catch up with you!
You are on!
Come on!
Let's go!
Be careful, Simón!
Come on! Get me a horse!
Go ahead, mother.
I will catch up later.
- We will be waiting for you. - Sure, go ahead.
Look.
You can clearly see it does not weigh an arroba. It weighs less.
That means
you are trying to steal from His Majesty.
I beg your pardon, sir, but...
we would never dare go against His Majesty's will.
Is this the scale you have always used?
Yes, sir. For years now.
Then you have been stealing from His Majesty for years.
You say an arroba is equal to 30 pounds.
That's correct...
in Castile.
But here in Aragon, an arroba equals 36 pounds.
So, you have incorrectly weighed all your cargo.
I cannot authorize this export.
You can't do this to us, sir.
We have always received our certificate of export.
Until today.
Fortunately, we're here now to put everything in order.
It is your choice.
Either you choose to complain,
or you help us arrange these packages,
so that we can weigh them again, and see how many arrobas we will export.
Shall we begin?
Excuse me.
Find Mr. Carlos, and tell him what's happening.
- Tell him to come here now, please. - Yes, sir.
...I know. We've arrived.
I can't wait to be there.
Help me with the baby, please.
Please take care of everything, Pablo.
Help me unload the things we brought from Caracas.
Wake up the kids!
- So they can see my mother's house. - Yes.
- Unload everything, Pablo. - The children are asleep.
Nothing will wake them up.
Mr. Carlos!
- Mr. Carlos! - Yes?
Father sent me here to tell you what the man from the council is doing.
I see. Come closer. I can't hear you well.
The inspector told my father that we are using the scale wrong.
What?
Yes. He says the pounds Father has weighed are...
are...
He says his arrobas weigh 30 pounds,
and he weighed them at 36.
From Aragon.
Yes. I know, child. We've always used the Castile weight here.
- Yes, sir. That is what Father told him. - Yes?
Oh, not so fast.
- Please, let me go! - You know what I want.
I've passed along the message. Let me go!
Come on.
Please!
Uncle!
- What? - We're here.
Don't worry. You're safe.
Pretty child, isn't she?
Tell your father that since he's incapable of dealing with the inspector,
I will come and take care of it.
Come, Juan Vicente.
Hey, Matea! Where are you going?
- I'll be back in a moment! - Come help!
Unload everything, quickly!
The masters want their things in the house immediately.
It's your father's, isn't it?
I think about them every day.
Many things have happened since we left.
I just went by the place Mother liked, and...
I felt she was there.
I felt her presence.
As if she wanted to say goodbye.
Was Tomasa buried here as well?
I don't see her grave.
My little monkey!
Mama!
Master.
Oh, Mama!
You don't see a grave,
because there isn't one.
I'm not dead yet.
Why didn't you say you were alive?
I did.
I asked them to tell Master Carlos that I was alive
on the last census.
Didn't he tell you?
No.
He didn't tell you?
No, he didn't.
My little monkey.
Master?
Oh, Mama.
The only thing that's for sure, is we have 120 arrobas of cacao
that must be shipped to Madrid in a week,
because the sale was closed, sir.
Sold, paid, and spent!
You know what, sir?
You should go back to Spain with all your things.
You can take your Aragonese scales and hang them on your balls.
Pablo Clemente!
Please, control yourself.
- Have you always needed that permit? - No. We never did!
- It was always a requirement, ma'am... - Shh!
Gentlemen...
I must take my leave.
My ship cannot wait.
I have many more visits to make.
If I were you, I would start weighing and packing.
Instead of babbling.
Babbling?
Babbling, yes.
Why don't you start weighing it yourself!
You don't know who you're messing with. I'm warning you.
I will send someone to speak with the judge right now,
so that he's aware of the abuse we have been subjected to by you!
Are you threatening me?
Don't make me laugh.
If you happen to see His Honor, the judge,
please tell him I send my kindest regards.
And that I came here, and I did everything he asked me.
I will stop by Caracas to greet him when it is time to arrange my retirement.
Thank you. If you'll excuse me.
Sir...
My pleasure. What did you say your name was?
Gregorio del Pino.
Inspector of weights, measures, and markets
of the noble and loyal city of Santiago de León de Caracas.
Oh? That's good to know, Mr. Gregorio. My pleasure.
I'm Simon Bolívar, future army officer.
Would you accept an invitation?
An invitation? Are you serious?
Yes. Invite him to sleep in our pig sty!
Stop that. Please, excuse him, sir.
I think it's a little late for you to be heading off.
Why don't you stay for the night, so we can talk
about what we need to do with that cacao shipment?
I am sure we can reach a compromise, don't you think?
It would be an honor.
I accept, Mr. Bolívar.
I am about to retire from this job.
My body needs to rest.
Thank you so much.
He came to humiliate us.
And what does Simón do?
He invites him into our home.
Are we lackeys now?
Are we mestizos?
If we lose the crop, we all lose.
Not just us.
What will happen with those you hired to gather it? Let's hear it.
I don't give a damn about them.
That good-for-nothing inspector must leave this house now.
No, we must do everything we can to rescue the crop.
That's precisely why I asked him to stay.
That's all great, but what do you expect him to do?
I don't know.
I did it to give us time, but we need to think of something.
I think His Honor, the judge, is pursuing a vendetta against us.
Although, I think that is very strange.
I've heard Mr. Gregorio is an honest man.
Yes. I've heard the same thing, Simón.
- Honest? Are you sure? - Yes.
Of course this is a vendetta from the judge,
because you went to him and told him I was a thief.
So we are at fault for telling him?
And not you, for colluding with him to sell our property?
Sell our property?
How dare you, you corrupt pig. The devil is an angel in comparison.
The issue is, if the judge is truly after us...
he won't rest until he sees us ruined.
Mother always said,
"We are nothing but creoles." That won't change. It'll never be enough.
Enough. It would be enough if we had people in the Council of Caracas.
- The Council of Caracas? - Yes.
- If we had people there... - How would that change things?
...those crooked Spaniards would not treat us, the Bolívars,
the way they are treating us now. That would change.
If that is the solution, the inspector post would be vacant.
We need someone from the family to fill that post.
Don't look at me. I am always busy managing the hacienda.
I wasn't thinking of you.
I think Pablo Clemente is our man.
His quarrel is not with you.
Are you talking about me?
The madman?
I know what to do.
Where are you going, Simón?
I'll try to convince the inspector not to use his scales.
Very well.
I wager my pocket watch that you won't convince him.
I wager that I will.
This pocket watch...
was my mother's.
And by the way...
Keeping from Matea that her mother was alive is...
the most disgusting thing I've seen.
Who is Matea?
Oh, shut up, you pig. By God, you are wicked!
Respect the immigrants.
Weights and Measures Inspector of the Council of Caracas.
Almost everyone...
almost everyone died.
Everyone but me.
When you left,
your father wouldn't let me take care of him.
He wouldn't let me into the shed where they kept them.
I wanted to help him.
How could I leave him alone?
But he insisted.
He even pushed me away.
Then I understood.
He wanted to help me.
He wanted me to be safe, so I'd come back to look after you.
To look after us, Mama.
Who else?
I'm pregnant.
Oh, little monkey!
Who is the father?
I fell in love, Mama.
Oh...
Tomasa.
I am so happy to see you again.
I am the one who's happy.
Oh, how you've grown. You're a man now!
You, however, look just the same.
I am looking for Luis.
He, um...
He's playing cards with the others. Should I take you?
Thank you for what you did before.
I was very scared.
No.
Be thankful I happened to pass by.
Try to stay away from him. He is...
not honorable.
Gentlemen, a lucky strike.
Highest number.
I have won.
I am out. Thank you.
But why? Your daughter is right there. She's welcome to join us.
I am out, sir.
Go ahead, Luis.
Excuse me, Mr. Simón.
Cheers, Mr. Gregorio.
Cheers, you dirty old man...
Next.
Daughter,
I don't want to see you alone with a Bolívar again.
Neither the uncles, nor the nephews.
None of them.
Father, you were the one who sent me for Carlos, that pig of a man.
I had no choice, but I never want to see you near them.
- No, but Juan Vicente is different. - What?
All Bolívars are the same.
Just like their father.
They are the kings of the valley.
They will never seek you out for anything good.
They only want to ruin you.
Don't you ever forget that.
Never. Now, go to sleep!
Well, gentlemen.
Last hand.
Remember that luck can always turn at the last moment.
I see you like your cards, young Bolívar.
But we'd have to reevaluate the wager.
Oh? Reevaluate the wager?
What do you call reevaluating...
a wager?
The watch...
and a slave.
You know, I've never had a slave.
You own many.
If I win...
you give me a slave.
Healthy and strong. Agreed?
Fine.
Agreed.
But if I win,
I take my mother's watch,
you give me your scales...
and you will guarantee our cacao will be shipped
exactly as we originally weighed it, sir.
Well, those are very daring terms.
I would not dare to agree to that.
But, I beg your pardon, maybe we...
Think about it, Mr. Gregorio.
Perhaps this is your last chance to own a slave.
Imagine yourself in retirement with that tired body, as you told me...
and with a slave.
- I accept. - Very well.
Very well. In that case,
since we are raising the stakes,
I'm wagering this brooch, a gift from María Antonia.
It's worth more than two watches and five slaves.
Please, don't tell her. She'll send me back to Caracas. Let's go!
- Let us play. - Simón...
A word?
What is it?
Be wary of him.
Even if you win,
he won't let us ship the cacao.
Why wouldn't he?
Because that is the mission he was assigned by the judge.
What do you think? He'll leave with his tail between his legs
and say that he failed because he lost a wager.
He's just another player on the table.
No Spaniard is "just another player."
Play your hand well.
Hey, young man!
Will you not honor your word? Let's play.
Of course I will.
By all means, Mr. Gregorio. Let's play.
- Let's play. - Yes.
Let's play.
That's two.
And three...
- I'm in. - Yes, in.
Any changes, cousin?
- Changes... - Yes, cousin.
- Two? One? - One.
- One? - One...
One? Here you go.
- Give me one. - No.
- No, hey... - Sir?
Two or one?
- One. - Very well. Here.
Let's play cards.
I'm staying. I have no changes.
Let's play. Let's see...
I want...
- Shut up already! - Shut up!
Shut up!
- Full house. - Full...
- Full house.
- Full... - Full house, cousin.
- Full... - Do you?
Wait a minute!
The both of you?
Then I'm out. I have nothing.
- You are out, too? - Out...
- I am out, yes. - Gentlemen, you have nothing.
The game is mine.
Wait. Hold on a minute!
You say you've won? Let me see the hand.
There is nothing here.
I bluffed and you both fell for it. The game is mine.
Oh! This is a trap!
You...
and this fucking stutterer are lying to me!
He doesn't really stutter, does he?
- He always has, sir. - Yes.
- Always... - You heard him.
- I have always... - No. I cannot accept this.
- I have always... - Excuse me, but I'll take
my watch, my money, my scales, everything.
Wait. Listen to me, Mr. Gregorio.
You know very well that I won.
I have no reason to show my hand.
And you both quit.
But that's OK. If that's how you play, go ahead.
Take the watch, take it all.
You're the highest authority here.
You can leave without honoring your word. We saw nothing.
But are you telling me I cheated?
What do you call coming here to play the judge's game?
You must respect me!
You are an honorable man, Mr. Gregorio.
Everyone here knows that.
We know you've impeccably fulfilled your duties for more than 30 years.
Are you going to miss the opportunity
to finish your last assignment with a perfect flourish?
Do you know how many people we can feed with that cacao shipment?
Will you be able to sleep at night
knowing that you tarnished your legacy in the last moment?
Very well.
If that is your decision, by all means.
Please, take everything.
Take the watch.
You may also take a slave.
But keep in mind, from this moment on,
that in the memory of every Venezuelan, and everyone here looking at you,
your legacy will no longer be that of...
the honorable Mr. Gregorio.
Straightforward and sincere.
Instead, we will remember you as someone who did not honor his word...
here tonight.
Fine.
Keep everything.
Before I change my mind.
This is as far as I go.
Mr. Gregorio!
Here.
- Cheers. - Cheers.
Subtitle translation by: Isanie Pino