Christopher Columbus (1949) Movie Script
1
It's the end
of the 15th century,
1475-1480.
The Mediterranean is
the center of the world
and the world is a strange one
to our eyes.
There isn't much of it, just Europe,
a little of Africa,
Britain, an island outpost
in the North,
Japan and China,
dim lands to the East.
The rest is water,
the limitless ocean sea.
Most sensible people
believe the earth is flat,
but here and there,
a crackpot theorist
is convinced that it's a sphere.
That you can sail right around it.
It's 1485 now, and one
of these crackpot fellows
is toiling up the long slope
to the monastery of Rabida, in Spain.
Diego, come and look.
What's the matter?
- I'm so tired.
You'll soon be able to rest. You
see that building over there,
the one on the hill?
That's Rabida,
where the friars live.
They'll give us food
and a bed for the night.
You think you can walk
as far as that?
I'll try.
- All right.
And if you're a good boy
and keep very quiet,
maybe they'll help me
to see the Queen.
How can they do that?
- Ah, that's a long story.
Tell me.
- No, no.
Please, Father.
Promise you'll never
mention it to anyone else.
I promise.
Cross my heart.
Well, the Prior, Father Perez,
is the one I want to see.
He used to be
the Queen's confessor.
And it may be that he'll
give me a letter to her.
Will you really see the Queen?
- I hope so.
Only remember, he mustn't
know what we are after.
If he suspects
he'll be careful.
So, we're just two weary travelers,
you understand?
You're welcome, brother.
What do you seek?
Of your charity. A little bread
and a cup of water for the child.
Will you come inside?
- Thank you.
Pax domini sit tecum.
Et tecum pax.
I see you're a scholar,
my son, as well as a traveler.
Certainly a traveler, Father.
I have sailed as far
North as Iceland,
as far as south as Guinea,
and eastwards, to the Golden Horn.
But that is to have reached
the limits of the world.
Of the known world, yes, Father,
but of the actual world...
not by a thousand leagues.
How can you say that,
never having seen it?
Have you ever seen
heaven? Or hell?
We have sound reasons
for believing they exist.
I have sound reasons, too.
What are they?
- The same as yours:
faith and revelation,
to which I can add
cosmography and mathematics.
What is that
you have there?
Bread and water
for the child, Father.
That's what
they asked for.
And we have
nothing better to offer?
I brought the boy
an apple, too.
An apple!
Take them inside.
Father Jose will show you
to the guest chamber.
I hope you'll do us the honor
of spending the night here.
You're too kind, Father.
- Not at all.
You shall pay for your supper by telling
us more about this new world of yours.
There's no need
for us to go yet.
Stay and drink
another cup of wine
and tell us why you're
so impatient to sail to India.
For two reasons, Father.
First, because there are
thousands of heathens
in those parts
waiting to be converted.
And because they are
rich in gold and spices.
And the first reason is
better than the other.
Gold has its uses.
True, and most of them bad.
But why you sail to the West?
Because that's the
quickest route to India.
How can that be
when India is to the East?
You agree that the earth
is a sphere, like this.
That is the accepted belief
among philosophers.
Very well.
Then, here is Spain
and here are India,
China and Japan.
now, if instead of traveling east
by land we travel west by sea,
we come in some 3000
miles to Japan again.
And where do you go now?
To France. And if I'm
unlucky there, to England.
But why to France?
Because a voyage like this
needs ships and money.
Perhaps the French will give them to me.
The Portuguese won't.
Two years I've been
kicking my heels in Lisbon
trying to explain my scheme to people
who can't see beyond their noses.
But why go to France?
Why not Spain?
I know no one
at the Spanish court.
I am a foreigner without influence,
without friends.
What chance have I got?
My son, do you believe in the
workings of a divine providence?
Of course, father.
Because it may be providence
what brought you here today.
I don't understand.
- I'll tell you.
For many years, I was
confessor to the Queen.
I believe that if she
were to hear your story,
she might lend it
a friendly ear.
You mean, you...
You could give me
a letter to the Queen?
No.
- Oh, but I thought you...
My son, in affairs of state
you must learn to move slowly.
I will give you a letter
to a friend of mine at court.
She will introduce you
to others with influence.
And one day, if providence is still kind,
you may meet the queen.
Come and see me in the
morning before you leave.
Thank you, Father.
What happened
to the boy's mother?
She's been dead
these two years, father.
I'm glad you decided
to leave him with us.
He'll be safe here and it
will provide an excuse
for your coming
to visit us again.
Goodbye, my son.
- Goodbye father
I shall never cease
to give thanks
that providence
led me to you.
My son,
one of the lessons I've learned
in the course of a long and
not entirely uneventful life,
is that providence works best when
she's aided with a little knowledge.
I don't understand, Father.
Don't you? Do you mean to tell me
that you didn't know who I was
before you
arrived here last night?
Well, naturally
your reputation...
As the queen's confessor?
Yes, Father.
I admit it.
I hope providence will continue to
assist you to meet the right people.
Goodbye, my son,
God be with you.
Goodbye, Father.
- I leave you with the boy.
Wait here please, sir.
Your servant, madam.
The good Prior writes of your
project with great enthusiasm.
Are you sure that
he couldn't be mistaken?
Father Perez is
a learned man, madam.
I wouldn't presume
to doubt his judgment.
I didn't say
I doubted him.
I know him
too well for that
But you I do not know at all.
That is my loss, madam.
And an omission I trust
will soon be rectified.
There's no need to practice
your pretty speeches on me.
I hear too many of them
around the court.
Do you seriously believe in a
new world across the ocean?
I'd stake my life on it.
You may be asked
to do that one day.
I am ready.
If I can arrange for you
to see the queen...
I said if.
You'll be ready with evidence and
arguments to support your case?
Madam, I can talk
for two hours on the subject
without repeating myself.
I don't doubt it.
But please save that
for the Queen.
Then, I shall see her.
Call on me again next Thursday
and I'll tell you what
progress I've made.
But I...
Your servant, madam.
Mind where
you're going, idiot.
I humbly beg
your lordship's pardon.
I'm not a lord.
I trust that omission
will soon be rectified.
Who is he?
I haven't seen him about before, have I?
No, but I think you may see a
great deal of him in the future.
What's his line?
New worlds across the sea.
What New World?
Where?
He wants their majesties
to give him a fleet of ships
so that he can sail west
across the ocean
and come to Japan
and India that way.
Then, he's crazy.
He seems very sure of himself.
Stuff and nonsense,
the whole thing's ridiculous.
We shall be the laughingstock
of the civilized world.
Stuff and nonsense,
the whole thing's ridiculous.
We shall be the laughingstock
of the civilized world.
Exactly what I said, sire.
Let us at least hear all he has
to say before we condemn him.
We have
more important things to do
than to listen to sailor stories
about imaginary islands.
There's a war on.
You have our leave
to withdraw, sir.
But Your Majesty...
You have our leave
to withdraw!
Master Columbus?
Yes.
- I have a message for you.
The Queen will see you in her
apartments tomorrow morning.
The Queen?
- At eleven o'clock.
Come closer.
I dislike speaking
to people at the distance.
You seem to have interested the
Duke of Medinaceli in your ideas,
as well as Father Perez.
He writes that
he's ready to help you.
What do you say to that?
It's a matter
for the crown, madam.
It's too great a thing
for anyone less.
You seem to have
impressed the Duke.
I talked to him, Your Majesty.
Has he talked
to you too, Chancellor?
He does nothing else
but talk, Your Majesty.
I understand you have also talked
to expert gentlemen in Portugal,
who are not impressed.
They know very little
in Portugal, madam.
Indeed. That's rather my
experience with my own experts.
Talk to me, then. Freely.
But briefly.
Briefly, madam?
With all the proofs I have to give,
at least an hour.
An hour? And indulging
myself as it is?
Assuredly, madam.
Now, then. Briefly.
I have knowledge of
certain lands to the west,
which can be rich...
- Yes, yes.
India is to be reached
by a short western passage,
I know all that,
I've read it in these letters.
Forget your maps and
reckonings and calculations.
They may be right or wrong.
But when you speak of new
lands along this route,
what is it that you imagine?
What is it that you see?
I see an empire for the
sovereigns of Castile and Aragon
such as no monarch
ever dreamed of.
A land whose illimitable riches
would pay for these Moorish
wars a dozen times.
What else?
The holy sepulcher itself could be
rescued from the power of Muhammad.
It's an ambition many great
princes have lived for
and have died without seeing.
Humbly, it is mine.
For the glory of Your Majesty.
You have heard
that the noblest aims
can cause men to twist the
facts to serve their theories.
Majesty.
I am sure of what
I shall discover
as if it were under lock
and key in my room at home.
Set all my proofs aside
and this I still know
that I was elected.
Pre-ordained.
Inspired.
Madam.
Yes, yes, very well.
I think you had better remain
here while the court stays.
You should be
provided for meanwhile
and your project shall go
to a royal commission.
Does that satisfy you?
I'm deeply grateful,
Your Majesty but...
But you're impatient, I know.
You must curb
your impatience and wait.
It's good for the soul.
Are you married?
My wife died some years ago,
madam.
Oh, I'm sorry.
So, we are kept waiting
while this foreign quack
peddles his crazy notions
to the Queen?
A fine set of affairs,
I must say.
If you ask me, it's a disgraceful
waste of time and public money.
This upstart mountebank
from Genoa.
The fellow who can't even
speak Spanish correctly.
Have you heard his accent?
He expects us to listen
to his crackpot schemes.
It makes me sick.
Don't you think you'd better
reserve judgment
till you hear
what he has to say?
I know what I think now.
Gentlemen,
master Columbus is waiting,
shall we take our places?
We are here, sir,
by command of their royal highnesses
to hear your proposals
in full detail.
To weigh them
and to question you,
and afterwards, to report
on them to the sovereigns.
You are assured
of a fair and proper hearing
and I now invite you
to set forth your arguments.
My... proposals, gentlemen,
begin and end
with one assumption:
that the earth is round.
A sphere,
like a ball or an orange.
And one deduction,
which I make from that assumption:
if the earth is round,
and who nowadays doubts it,
it must follow that a man who
traverses the earth by land or sea,
will one day return to the
point from which he started.
That, in essence, is the foundation,
the kernel of my proposals.
In support of them,
I have massive evidence
which I fully believe will
convince your excellencies.
These calculations show that we can expect
to reach India after sailing some...
750 leagues. But if we leave
mathematics and physics
and turn to the Scriptures,
we find justification for supposing
that there is land
between us and India
And where do the
Scriptures say that?
The prophet Esdras,
your excellency,
tells us that God commanded
the waters be gathered
into a seventh part
of the earth.
In other words,
there are six parts of land to one of water.
Judge, then, from that how much land
must still remain to be discovered.
I would like to draw your attention to
the writings of the Venetian, Marco Polo,
who speaks of lands to the
east of India and Cathay.
Lands which must, therefore,
lie between us and India
if we travel westwards around
the circumference of the earth.
Master Columbus,
we have been here for three days.
We have listened most
patiently to your proposals,
your theories, your suppositions,
your assumptions.
But so far,
we are without evidence of any sort.
Have you no proof
to give us?
With all due deference,
I think you have had the proof.
Proof by deduction is a form of
proof known to every mathematician.
And to a lesser degree,
by every marine.
What do you say
to that, Lord Admiral?
The fellow's right enough.
if you accept
that the earth is a sphere,
then you must accept that by sailing
to the west you'll come to the east.
If you go on long enough.
May I say something?
- By all means.
If, as some of you
seem so sure,
I'm not among you.
But if the earth is a sphere,
then master Columbus's case
automatically falls to the ground.
Why so?
- Because, sir,
if you sail down
the slope of the sea,
how could you ever hope
to sail up it again?
What is
your answer to that?
The wind will blow the ships
back again, of course.
What, uphill?
Water does not run uphill.
That is exactly
what I'm saying,
the whole scheme
is preposterous.
Contrary, sir, is you
who are preposterous.
You're behaving
like an over-grown schoolboy
and deliberately making asinine
remarks in order to discredit me.
That will do.
- But I submit your excellency...
That will do.
Because we understand
your natural impatience,
we shall not impose any punishment
on you for your behavior,
but you will apologize to the
learned gentleman forthwith.
Learned gentleman...
- Master Columbus!
Very well, I apologize.
The Commission is adjourned until tomorrow,
at the same time.
Been waiting long?
Three years.
- You're not serious.
Oh, I am. Believe me,
three years is not long.
Not for a Royal Commission.
Well,
I hope they don't keep me waiting that long.
What are you after?
- An appointment as a notary.
I hope you get it.
- Thank you.
And you?
- What about me?
Well, what are you after?
All I want is to present
Spain with enough gold
to fill a treasury
for the next hundred years.
Enough land to make it the
greatest power in the world
and enough glory to
satisfy a hundred kings.
You think I'm mad, I suppose.
No. Of course not but...
if you can really give them all that,
why didn't they take it?
I'll tell you why.
May I come in?
Please do.
I want to talk to you
about my cousin.
Has she been to see you yet?
- No.
When she does,
do what you can
She's anxious
to come back to court.
That won't be easy
after what happened
last time.
That was ten years ago.
The Queen has a long memory.
Especially where
her husband's concerned.
I know. I know, well...
Do what you can, she's...
a nice little thing.
A pretty little thing,
perhaps.
I'm not so sure
about the "nice".
That's a question
of taste, I suppose.
Oh,
I saw that fella Columbus down below.
Well?
- I think he's waiting to see you.
Suppose he is?
Don't you think it would be kinder
to tell him he hasn't a chance?
I thought the Commission
hadn't reported yet.
They haven't.
- Well?
When they do,
the answer will be "no".
He might as well
give up now as later.
Oh...
Well, master Columbus,
what is it this time?
The same as last time.
When do I hear something? When can I start?
I can't tell you that.
- Does anybody know?
You must be patient
a little longer.
Patient?
I waited two years in Portugal,
I've waited three years here.
Where am I at the end of it all?
Back where I started being patient.
It's the war, you know.
- If it wasn't that, it'd be something else.
Look at me, I'm so shabby I'm
ashamed to be seen in public.
I've worn my clothes out rubbing
up against anteroom doors.
I can't do anymore.
- I know, I'm sorry.
Does me good to pour out
my troubles to someone.
The court returns next week.
Come and see me then.
I may have news
for you.
Juana!
How wonderful
to see you again.
Oh, I'm sorry,
I didn't mean...
I present master Christopher Columbus.
Madame Beatriz de Peraza.
Christopher Columbus?
Not the man who wants to sail
around the world the wrong way.
The same.
- But how delightful.
You don't look
like a crank at all.
Should I? - Well
it's rather a fantastic idea, isn't it?
I don't think so.
- Tell me confidentially.
You're not really serious about this,
are you? I mean, it's just...
an area to make money, isn't it?
- Certainly not.
You mean you really
think you can do it?
Certainly.
- But how terribly thrilling.
Look, I have nothing much
to do this evening.
Why not meet me in the Court of
Oranges and tell me all about it?
You're surely not interested
in the ravings of a lunatic.
Oh...
I deserved that, didn't I?
I do apologize.
Now, will you meet me
and tell me all about it?
Very well.
Your servant, madam.
Master Columbus!
Master Columbus, come in
and help us celebrate.
No, no, thanks.
I'm not in the mood.
Oh, please, surprise me.
It's not every day
one gets a court appointment.
You got it.
- Come along.
My friends, master Columbus.
Master Columbus, my friends.
We are drinking
to Diego's new job.
Come on, drink to Diego.
My friends, I thank you,
I shall try to be the best notary
in any town, in any province,
in any country in the world.
Need I say more?
No!
What's your line?
Ships.
- How many have you got?
None.
- He will have.
Very soon.
- Who's going to give it to him?
The Queen.
Tell him about your scheme,
Christopher.
Tell them what you told me
this afternoon.
Hey, Diego, what sort
of celebration you call this?
Bring us some more.
- I'll get another.
Maids may come
Maids may go
Good red wine
Will ever flow
U p aloft
Gales may blow
Wine keeps me warm below
I must go.
Excuse me.
You're not leaving?
- Yes, I must.
I hoped you'd stay and tell
us more about your voyages.
At the moment, my voyages
take place entirely on land.
I'm glad you got
your appointment.
Goodbye -
I'm sorry we're such a poor company.
Oh, it isn't that.
Well, if you
must know the truth,
I'm penniless and I can't sit
and drink other people's wine
if I can't buy around in return.
- Is that all? Listen.
Listen, I live here
with my cousin.
There's an empty room upstairs.
You're welcome to stay
as long as you like.
No, it's all right.
There's something
you can do for me in return.
What?
Take me with you when you go.
On your voyage
Why do you want to come?
Because I believe you're about to
make some wonderful new discoveries.
I want to be there when you make it.
- Bless you for that, anyway.
Then, you'll stay?
- No. No, thank you.
Beatriz!
This is master Columbus.
The man I told you about.
The man who wants to sail
around the world the wrong way?
The same.
- Somebody else said that to me today.
What's so funny about it?
Oh, nothing...
If you're sure you can do it.
Of course I'm sure.
- But in the meantime,
while he's waiting for his ships,
he has to have somewhere to live.
So,
I thought of the little room upstairs.
I'll take your bundle.
Thank you.
There's something
your cousin forgot to tell you.
I have no money.
- Neither we.
So, we start even.
This way!
I brought it specially
for you to see.
Am I boring you?
A little.
- I'm sorry.
You know what you need
more than charts, don't you?
No, what?
- More friends, more influence.
More... people like me,
who can say a word in the proper quarters.
But you've been away from the
court for ten years, you said.
Yes, but there was a reason for that.
You see,
when I was 17,
I was rather beautiful.
You're very beautiful now.
I hoped you'd
notice that eventually.
But when I was 17,
the king noticed it.
The Queen thought
he noticed it too often.
So, I was married
and packed off to the Canaries.
You're married?
- I was married.
He's dead.
You could say a word for me
in the proper quarters?
Why not?
If you did,
you'd be helping Spain.
But it's not really Spain
I'm concerned about.
Well, and how does it feel to
be a gay young widow at court?
I like it very much.
You have everything
you want, I hope.
Dresses, jewelry.
- Yes, why?
Don't you like my dress?
It looks very attractive.
And very expensive.
- It was.
Does it have occurred you to wonder
where the money is coming from?
From Hernan's estate,
I suppose.
I've always left
money matters to you.
They couldn't be
in better hands.
But there are some
things even I can't do.
Supposing you had your entire fortune here,
on the table,
in gold pieces,
shall we say.
And you insisted on throwing
it out of the window.
I couldn't stop you.
- Why do you say that?
That's what you're doing at the moment.
- I don't understand.
Well, it's high time
you did.
Every penny that you and I,
and the rest of the family possess,
is invested either in the Canaries
or the Mediterranean Sea trade.
If this Genoese upstart you're
so fond of gets his ships
and half of what he promises
comes true, we're ruined.
You as well
as the rest of us.
I hardly know him.
You've been with him every
day for the last fortnight.
I know next to nothing
about his scheme.
What can I possibly do?
Marry him and make
him settle down.
Marry him?
How can I do that?
Must I draw you
a diagram?
Offer him security,
position.
Anything else
you care to give him.
And he'll give up
this wild goose chase.
And if he won't? - Then,
there are other ways of disposing of him.
You wouldn't dare.
- I do a good deal
in order to avoid
becoming a pauper.
And so will you if you're
as sensible as I think you are.
I'll have to think it over.
Well, don't think too long
or it may be too late.
Sooner or later,
he'll make a full step.
They all do, you know.
And then...
I hope I make myself clear.
Beatriz.
Come and sit down.
I want to ask your advice.
Do you think
I should marry again?
Do you want to?
I don't know.
Then don't.
Marriage is difficult enough
if both people want it badly.
But if you're not sure,
then it would be madness.
You haven't asked me
who the lady is.
I don't need to.
What do you think of her?
I've never seen her.
- You know all about her.
I know some of the things
they say about her.
What's your advice?
I can't advise you
but I can tell you
there are two kinds of wives.
The wives who are
ambitious and headstrong,
who drive their men on and on
till they get what they want.
And the other kind? - The others
are the comforters, the cushions.
The wives who smooth out
their husbands' wrinkles
and tell them how
wonderful they are.
Which is the right kind for me?
You?
You need both.
Or neither.
You're not a man to be satisfied
with one thing for long.
You know?
You're quite right.
A man like me shouldn't
have a wife at all.
How can I do the things
I have to do if all the time
I'm thinking my wife will be
wondering why I haven't come home?
The children will be calling for
their father, poor little lambs.
No.
I shall take your advice.
No more marriages for me.
I must be free.
Thank you, my dear.
You made me
a very happy man.
You know what'll happen
to you, don't you?
If you're lucky enough to get your ships,
you'll go sailing off
and maybe you'll find
the new route to India.
Maybe you won't.
If you don't,
you'll probably die looking for it.
And if you do,
you'll come back and the King will say:
"Now go and find a new
route to the north pole."
And you'll die
looking for that.
And if you are not
very careful,
you'll die long before
you even get your ships.
How, of boredom?
- No.
Of a stab in the back
some dark knight.
You know you're
surrounded by enemies.
Why? Nonsense.
- It's true.
There are hundreds
of people at court
who would be glad to see you dead.
- Who?
Everyone who has a vested
interest in some other sea route.
Everyone whose trade may
suffer if you're successful.
Give it up.
And do what?
Settle down.
Can you imagine me
settling down?
Why not?
You could have
a position at court,
money, security.
Master Columbus.
- What is it?
His excellency, don Francisco,
wishes to speak with you.
Go.
I'll wait for you here.
Oh, master Columbus.
How good of you to come.
Won't you sit down?
Thank you.
I hope you won't mind my touching
on rather a personal matter.
But after all, we're both
men of the world.
There's no point
in beating about the bush.
You've been seeing a great deal
of my little cousin lately.
Yes.
You find her attractive?
I find her a charming
and congenial companion.
Exactly. But you know what people
in court circles are like.
They have nothing to do except gossip.
And how they gossip.
If you speak to a woman once,
you're in love with her.
You're seen with her twice,
you're betrothed.
Three meetings and you
might as well be married.
I hope I make myself clear.
Not entirely.
Then I'll be blunt,
master Columbus.
My cousin is a widow: young,
beautiful and unattached.
You've been seeing a great deal of her,
tongues have been wagging.
Her name has been
coupled with yours
and that means that her
good name is at stake.
I'm forced to ask you now
what are your intentions?
Well, sir?
You ask my intentions,
I will tell you.
It's my intention to cross the
ocean sea until I come to India.
That's my only thought.
And nobody,
man, woman or child,
is going to stand in my way.
I hope I make myself clear.
Of course, you must
make it clear to your cousin
that no blame attaches to her.
She cannot help her beauty any more
than the King can help noticing it.
She has a child,
they tell me.
Two, Your Majesty.
As a mother myself,
I know how painful it is
to be separated
from one's children.
Tell her that she has our permission
to return to the Canaries, at once.
As Your Majesty pleases.
And, master Columbus,
what you wish done
about him?
Nothing.
But surely...
- Surely what?
But he has laid hands on
the person of His Majesty.
I'm sure that the king
has forgotten all about it.
I advise you
to do the same.
So, master Columbus,
we meet again.
And this time there's no need
for me to ask your intentions
because you have much say
in your future plans, have you?
You may not know,
but the King has a horror of violence,
particularly when it's
directed against himself.
I've just left their majesties.
They sent you a message.
It's a very simple one:
make yourself scarce,
master Columbus.
Go back to your genuine slum.
Go to the devil,
if you please.
But don't show your face
around the court again.
Unless you wish something very
unpleasant to happen to it.
I hope I make myself clear.
Madam, I have
bad news for you.
Master Columbus
is leaving Spain.
He set out a
daybreak for France.
Madam, may I speak
with you alone?
Father Perez and the
Chancellor are outside.
They beg leave to see you.
About him?
- Yes.
The Genoese sailor seems
to have powerful friends.
Isn't that one more proof that there
must be something in what he says?
Bring them in.
Gentlemen.
I hear you've come
to scold me.
No, Your Majesty.
Simply to ask
if there's no way
preventing this tragedy.
Madam, I marvel that a woman
of such grace and understanding
should fling away
an opportunity like this
for some other
sovereign to pick up
It would be
an inestimable service
to God, your crown
and your country.
Forgive me if I say
I'm disappointed in you.
I'm sorry, Father,
he asked impossible things.
A title or two,
a little authority in lands
you and I will never see?
- But the cost.
I'd risk as much myself.
Will do now, if Your Majesty will allow me.
No, no I will not have him behold
into anyone but the Crown.
And yet, you won't help him.
Raise what is necessary on this.
- Madam,
there's no need for that.
Your word is enough.
The money
shall be advanced to you
till you're able to repay it
with gold from the New World.
And if there's no gold
in your New World?
Then, I will repay it myself.
You shall have my bond for it.
You have great faith in him.
I have, Your Majesty.
- Pray God you're right.
Send someone
to fetch him back.
Say the Queen
begs him to return.
Your Majesty.
Master Christopher Columbus?
- The same.
In the name of Her Majesty,
Queen Isabella.
So, they've come
to their senses at last.
Yes.
You see that?
- What?
The wind has just changed.
It's blowing due west.
Soon you'll see it filling
the sails of the ships
that will take us
to the New World.
Benedictio Dei omnipotentis.
Patris et Filii
et Spiritus Sancti.
Descendat super vos
et maneat semper.
Thank you.
Cast off the moorings!
"Friday, 3rd of August, 1492.
Set sail from palace on the
morning tide with three ships:
the Santa Maria,
the Pinta,
and the Nina.
God be with us
in this great enterprise."
Thank you.
- Thank you.
Is this yesterday's reckoning?
Yes.
Twelve leagues?
What about it?
Well, I never say that
but surely with this wind,
isn't that very little?
Look in my bunk
under the pillow.
Not much I keep
from you, Diego.
Open it.
"Sunday the 9th of September.
We have made
this day 19 leagues
but I've determined to reckon less than
the distance actually covered.
So that, if the voyage is long, the crew
shall not be terrified and disheartened."
But surely some of the people in the feet
can reckon these things.
Plenty. But they
won't think of it.
The Pinzon are good sailors
but they don't keep a log.
They all accept my figures.
- But suppose they question them.
Then, I'll say the currents
are against us.
Are they?
They're dead in our favor.
Who is it?
What's the matter?
- You better come on deck.
Something's wrong.
- What?
I don't know, something
to do with the compass.
The compass?
- Yes.
I'll be there in a minute.
Soon it'll pull all the nails
out of the planks.
You mark my words.
- Quiet, you!
It's all very well
for you to shout "quiet."
What is it?
It's the needle, Admiral.
- What do you mean the needle?
It's no longer true.
- The magic mountain's
pulling it away from the north.
We're adrift in strange waters,
without even
a compass to guide us.
That's a fact, Admiral.
It's a proof that we've sailed out
of the natural world
God meant mankind
to inhabit, if you ask me.
I didn't ask you.
The variation is
at least five degrees west.
Is that all?
You fools!
Even you, Cosa, a seaman of your experience.
You amaze me.
I can only trust my eye.
You mean you think
the needle it's wrong
because it no longer
points to the North Star?
Yes!
- It's wrong.
Didn't it occur to you
that it was the star that moved
and not the needle?
The star?
- Star...
Is that right, Pedro?
Try it.
Come in.
May I speak to you, Admiral?
- Of course.
I didn't say any more up above
because I didn't want to provoke a riot.
It was very sensible of you.
But...
- What?
In all my years at sea, I've never known
the compass to behave like that.
You've never sailed
this parallel before.
Beg your pardon, sir, but neither have you.
So...
how can you know that...?
- Just as I know
a great many things
that you don't.
You must trust me, Juan,
I know what I'm doing.
Anything you say, Admiral.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
So, the Pole Star moved.
- Of course not!
It's a perfectly natural
phenomenon, it must be.
I know if you go east,
the needle declines to the east.
And I suppose we've sailed
to a point where we must expect
the needle
to decline to the west.
It must be.
- But for the men, the Pole Star moved.
Yes, why not?
- Why not, indeed.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
"Tuesday, 18th September.
Ten days out from the Canaries
and 47 from Spain.
The men are in good heart.
Every member of the crew
faces what lies before us
with courage and determination."
Well?
- May we speak with Your Highness?
What do you want?
- We want to go home, Your Worship.
What do you want me to do? Put the ship
about and go back to Spain and say we failed?
Yes, Your Honor.
- What are you afraid of?
Oh, they've never been further out
than paddling for shrimp, sir.
Should I put a foot to their backsides?
- No, no, no.
Let's hear what
they are afraid of.
Well?
- Did you never hear
of the Magic Mountain,
Your Excellency?
No.
- It's like a great magnet.
It draws the ships and then,
when they get close,
all the nails come out of the planks
and the ships fall to pieces.
Where's this wonderful mountain?
- Over there, Your Reverence.
Have you seen it?
- No.
Then stop talking about things
you know nothing about.
If there were such a mountain
there's only one place
it could be
and that's the North Pole.
We're not going to North Pole,
we're sailing due west.
Anything else?
- Yes, Your Grace.
Sea serpents.
- Sea serpents?
Honorable great beasts
200 yards long
that can swallow
the whole ship in one gulp.
And the Sea of Darkness.
- Tell the Admiral about that.
That's the worst of them all,
Your Highness.
The Sea of Darkness.
Where you never see the sun again
and go on, and on
into nothingness.
Till you sail right over
the edge of the world.
Now, you listen to me.
The ocean in front of us
is the same as that behind.
There are no sea serpents
or magic mountains
or anything else between
us and the New World.
I know exactly
what I'm doing
and I don't want any more of your old
wives' tales on my ship.
if you're afraid of the dark,
I'll take your wife with me next time
and leave you home
to mind the brats.
You can't do that.
- Why not?
I ain't got none.
Let us thank providence
for small mercy.
Day?
- Nineteen.
Nineteen days since we left
the Canaries.
End of the deck.
- What is it?
Can't you see?
- No.
We are blind.
for 19 days that wind's
been blowing steadily
in the same direction
to the west.
You know what that means?
- No, what?
We never get back.
- Why not?
Suppose the Admiral sees sense
and wants to turn around and go back.
What's going to happen?
How can we sail back
the way we came
with a wind that's always
blowing from the east?
We can beat against the wind.
Yes, yes if you've got
six months to do it.
And food for six months.
And water for six months.
You know what?
- What?
We don't dare to turn around
and start from.
Why not?
Because he knows
we never get there.
Not against a wind like that.
"Wednesday, 19th September.
Received signal from Pinzon brothers
desiring to come aboard."
Coming over for a talk, see?
Now perhaps
we'll hear something.
You think they want
to turn back?
Well, they're sensible men
and good sailors, aren't they?
Of course they want to turn back.
But they can't!
They're finished.
Same as us.
And they know it.
Mark my words.
Come in.
You're welcome, gentlemen.
You drink a cup of wine?
No, thank you.
To what do I owe
the honor of this visit?
The time has come for a little,
plain speaking, Admiral.
That's why we are all here together.
- Go on.
We've been doing
a little calculating.
How many leagues
you say we've covered?
Four hundred,
a little more or less.
Our calculations say more than 500.
- Your calculations?
Oh, I know the Admiral doesn't
think it is very intelligent.
We can count
and we are prudent enough
to take some notice
of what's going on.
Now, this chart you gave us, for instance.
- What about it?
If we've sailed 500 leagues,
I said if,
surely we should
have cited Japan
or the Brazil islands.
Or some island, at any rate.
So far, not a sniff of it.
What else?
- Isn't that enough?
Give me the chart.
You agree this is our course?
- Yes.
There.
That's our approximate
position now.
So, we over-shot the island.
- Certainly.
When?
- In the night.
And why didn't we
stop and take a look at it?
Because I'm bound
for Japan and India,
not some measly little island.
We could have taken
on fresh water if you stopped.
What it would have
happened after that?
The men would have said,
"We've come far enough, let's go home."
That's true enough,
they would.
Are you sure of that?
Just as sure as I am
that we're going to find India.
Just how long do you think
that's going to take?
It depends on the wind
and the currents.
if we sail for six more days and don't
sight land, will you turn back then?
No.
- You see?
The men have had enough and the
officers have agreed to turn back.
I haven't agreed.
Let this be clear:
I will not turn back until
my mission is accomplished.
Say what you like,
do what you like,
kill me if you like,
I can't stop.
But as long as I'm alive,
we go on.
Nobody is questioning
your orders.
I'm glad to hear it.
And they better not.
If anything should happen to me,
the Queen will see you hung
as high as Haman for a set
of treacherous traitors.
There's no need to talk
like that, Admiral.
You've explained
what we want.
We're satisfied.
It's Francisco I don't trust.
He's the sly one.
- Martin's the oldest.
I'd do as he says.
- He's a good sailor, that one.
He believed your story
about the islands, too.
Why not?
Are you quite sure it's true?
As sure as I can be
of anything.
And the weed around that crab
they found was riverweed?
Looked like that to me.
The Polar Star did move?
What are you trying
to say, Diego?
I just wanted to ask yourself if
you're sure of what you're doing.
Do you doubt me?
Not unless
you doubt yourself.
What makes you think I do?
You're so careful always to
convince everyone we're near land.
A whale spouts and you cry
"That's a sign land is near."
A bird lights on the deck and you say
"that's no marine bird, that's a jay."
It was a jay.
- You see a bank of cloud
and that's a sign of land.
Weed, shellfish,
everything is
a sign of land.
It's nearly three weeks since we left
the Canaries. How much more of it?
200 leagues, roughly.
-200 leagues?
And you pretend
we're near land.
I had you
to keep the spirits up.
You're really sure the land is there?
- Yes.
Truly?
- Yes.
It must be.
It must.
"Monday, 8th of October.
30 days out from the Canaries
and all well.
The crew have taken
new heart and have ceased to grumble.
I tell you he's mad.
He thinks that because he says
there must be land there,
there will be land there.
But the thing is,
did God say there must be land there, eh?
Answer me that.
No.
- All right,
then, who are you
going to trust?
God, or this jumped up
admiral from Genoa
who's never commanded
a ship before?
Is he greater than God?
Is he to decide
whether we are
to live or die?
No, of course not.
- Look at that.
30 days we've been sailing
these benighted seas.
You want to sail them
for 30 more?
No.
- All right.
Now, there's only
one way to deal with him.
What's that?
Throw him overboard.
Overboard?
- Yes!
If he's so sure there's land,
then let him swim to it.
What about the others?
- Mr. Arana can join him.
But Cosa's all right,
he'll turn back with us
when he sees which way
the wind is blowing.
Now, who's for doing it?
Good. Now,
don't make a move
till I give you the signal.
Can I speak
to you, Admiral?
Privately.
I have no secrets
from Diego.
Would you trust him
with your life?
Gladly.
Why do you ask?
Because your life
is in danger.
Let's have it.
The men are going to mutiny.
How do you know?
I know. What are you
going to do about it?
Are you with me or them?
Why you think I'm here?
Silly question,
I shouldn't have asked it.
How many others
can you count down?
Three, besides myself.
Maybe four.
They can't do much,
they haven't any arms.
They are all they need.
A knife or two,
mile and spike,
meat axe,
and 40 of them against
six of us, including the boy.
When do they start?
Tonight.
After the Salve Regina.
Have your three on the
quarter deck with us
when the Salve Reginabegins.
Hey, Admiral.
Hey.
Are you addressing me?
Yes, I was.
What do you want?
- We want to know
whether you're ready to turn
back and start for home.
Yes! And at once!
It's no business of yours
but the answer is no.
All right, we'll turn back
and sail without you!
Come on, lads!
Land ho!
Mutiny is a crime
punishable by death.
You all know that.
I could string every man
on the yard arm
right now.
But I'm not going to.
I'm not even going to hang your ringleaders.
And I'll tell you why.
This is a glad and historic day
in the history of Spain.
Today, for the first time,
men have crossed the ocean from East to West
and discovered
a new route to India.
Today, Spain is
mistress of the seas.
And while all this is happening,
you're sniveling
about the safety
of your miserable skins.
Rebelling against the
authority of your betters.
I'll say no more,
the incident is closed.
You can pick up your weapons
and return to your duty.
But I hope you'll all
thank God,
that in His infinite mercy,
He's saved you from the fate
you deserve.
See what you did?
- What did I do?
You're the one that ought
to be flung overboard.
He's still asleep.
- Asleep?
It's the relief after all
he's been through.
Went to sleep the moment he got
in here last night and hasn't stirred since.
Well, you better wake him.
- Why?
That land we saw last night?
Well, it's not there
this morning.
What's that?
What did you say?
There's no land
in sight, Admiral.
I swear
by San Fernando!
I might have known it.
The crew are looking ugly.
And the Pinzon brothers
are coming over.
They are just
lowering away a boat.
I'll be there in a moment.
Of course you're
disappointed to find
that we didn't sight land.
I'm disappointed too.
But it's no more
than I expected,
a false land fall,
half a dozen false land falls.
You're bound to get them
when you're sailing new seas.
But the fact remains
that we are near land.
How do we know?
- Because I tell you so!
But I don't ask you to
accept me on trust forever.
We'll sail west for three
more days and nights.
If by thorn on the fourth day,
we haven't sighted land,
we'll turn around
and make for home.
Does that satisfy you?
Hey! What does
master Pinzon say?
The Admiral gives
the orders here, not I.
And you heard
what he has to say.
It's good enough for me and it
should be good enough for you.
And if we don't
sight land then?
Martin] Go about
and make for home.
How do we know
he means it?
Because I say so!
Now! Publicly!
At the end
of three days,
if we haven't sighted land,
you can cut off my head,
throw me overboard, do as you please.
Is that clear?
- Yes.
All right, now get back
to your watch.
"Tuesday, 9th of October.
This morning, I promised the men
that if we did not sight land
within three days and nights,
we would turn back.
Today made 32 leagues,
but no sight of land.
Pray God we find it soon."
It is, I tell you.
It's quite fresh.
Here, what's that?
He's tasting sea water,
he says it's fresh.
Huh? Give it to me.
Well, it's fresher
than it was yesterday.
You call that fresh?
Fresh!
"Wednesday,10th of October.
Today the sky is overcast.
But we sighted
a great flock of birds heading south.
I'm sure we're near land."
One of the boys fished it up
half an hour ago.
Diego!
Where did it come from?
- You see these carvings?
That was done
by a human being.
And it proves
that we are near land.
I hope you're right.
- So do I.
Admiral! Admiral!
A branch
with flowers on it!
Flowers, huh?
You can't eat flowers.
But what do you think
it is, then?
That Devil stuff.
That's to lead us on,
that's all that is.
"Thursday, 11th of October.
Thus far and no land.
Another 12 hours will decide."
Well, you can go on looking if you like.
I'm going to sleep.
Wake me in the morning
when we turn back.
Diego.
Diego!
Yes?
- Look over there.
Where?
- There?
Do you see anything?
A light?
- I...
Yes.
Yes, I can.
Cosa!
What? You see something?
Look, over there.
A light.
We've done it.
You've done it.
Yes.
Now, I think I'll...
I'll go and rest.
They're ready for you
to go ashore, Admiral.
Oh, Lord God,
who has brought us safely
to the end of our journey.
We thank Thee
for all Thy mercies.
Help us, we pray Thee,
to govern these new
lands wisely and well.
And to bring the inhabitants
within the knowledge and
understanding of Thy Kingdom.
For the greater glory
of Thy name.
Amen.
- Amen.
In the name of their majesties,
Ferdinand and Isabella,
King and Queen
of Castile and Aragon.
I now take
possession of this land
and name it San Salvador.
I declare that this is
Spanish soil for all times.
And that the natives, hereof,
are subject to Spanish rule.
It is our earnest desire that they
shall be taught the Spanish language
and embrace
the Christian faith.
For the greater glory of God
and in accordance
with the wishes
of our most sovereign
lady, the Queen,
In witness, hereof,
stands this protocol
drawn up this 12th day of October
in the year 1492.
"Sunday, 14th of October.
Today, we moved freely among the natives
and traded with them.
They are a friendly people,
guileless and unwary-like.
Eager to welcome us and generous
in their dealings.
The country is obviously rich.
The natives wear pieces
of gold on necklets and in their noses."
You see this?
Very beautiful. Magic juju.
Plenty strong, lovely.
I give it you,
and you give me that bit
of yellow rubbish, eh?
What do you think
you are doing?
Just a little
honest trading, Admiral.
Honest trading?
A broken piece of worthless crockery
for an ounce of gold.
- They don't know it's gold.
That makes it
all the worse.
He wants this,
he does really.
You want it now,
don't you?
Wantee? Wantee?
There you are.
If you don't understand,
I'll explain.
We are here to convert
these natives to Christianity,
not to exploit them,
is that clear?
Yes, Admiral.
- A piece of gold like that...
it's worth at least
a Falcon's bell.
Well...
"Thursday, 22nd of November.
So far, I have not
come upon Japan or India as I expected.
But I have found one large island
which natives call 'Cuba'.
And which is rich in spices and gold.
And many smaller islands,
the location of which
I have marked on my charts.
It seems to me
that there cannot be under the sun
land superior in fertility.
In mildness of cold and heat.
In abundance of good fruits
and pure water.
The men are well
and in good spirits.
Up to the present,
among all my people,
nobody has even had a headache
or taken to his bed
through sickness.
Indeed, my only trouble
has been with Martin Pinzon,
who continually disobeys
my instructions.
I am convinced
he is plotting against me.
Whom do you suppose
the King will be glad to see?
The man who arrives home
first with a cargo of gold,
or the man who stays behind
and carries out instructions?
Well, are you with me?
- Aye, aye, sir!
Or not?
All right.
- Good.
Better not let the men
know anything
about this until I say so.
Carry on with your orders,
leave the rest to me.
Understand?
- Understood.
He's not taking any notice.
Should we fire again?
- No.
Do we change course
and follow them?
No, he's faster
than we are.
We'd never catch him
unless he wanted us to.
That's true enough.
- The thing is,
is he going to look for the goldmines
or is he making for home?
My guess is the gold.
I don't know.
- Perhaps he'd like
to be first home
with the news.
Whichever it is, we'll meet again
one day.
And I shan't forget
what's happened tonight.
"Saturday, 1st of December.
Today I came upon
more wonders,
the like of which I never thought
to see in this world."
What do you suppose
this could be?
A fishing net?
- No, the mesh is too big.
Well, perhaps it's used
for storing something.
Yes, maybe. But what?
It's a bed.
Diego!
We could sling 50
of these aboard ship
and every man Jack of the crew could
sleep in comfort.
I shouldn't do that.
- Why not?
It's too comfortable.
Once you got them into these,
you'd never
get them out again.
See what I mean?
What do you suppose
he is doing?
Drawing in the smoke
and blowing it out again.
He seems to enjoy it.
Doesn't that just prove
how backward they are?
You never see a civilized man
doing a thing like that.
He wants you to try one.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I wonder what they're saying
about us at home.
That we're dead,
I expect.
Can't blame them,
can you?
By this rate, it'll be
Easter before we return.
Oh, no, we'll start back
in a day or two.
I shan't be sorry to see Spain again.
- Nor I.
Evening, Admiral.
Should I take over?
Yes, I'm ready for bed.
Tonight, I shall sleep
like a child.
I think I shall turn in, too.
Goodnight, Juan.
Goodnight.
We're aground, sir.
I can't see that.
But how did it happen?
The helmsman
let her drift.
The helmsman
in charge of the watch?
No, sir, I was.
- Nevermind that now.
Can we refloat her?
- I don't see how, sir.
"Christmas day, 1492.
Last night, the Santa Maria
went aground in Caracal Bay.
The master, the pilot and the helmsman
had all gone to their beds
and only a boy was at the tiller.
Even so, the vessel
might have been saved
if my orders had been
faithfully carried out.
As it is, she's a total loss.
And I have ordered her stores
to be brought ashore."
Vicente wants to know if he can break up
her timbers and bring them ashore, too.
Well, they'll help to build
a fort or a hut or two.
All right.
And what do you wish us
to do about Cosa?
Nothing.
- But he was the officer at the watch.
The whole thing is his fault.
- No, it's God's will.
Well, everything's God's will.
- If this hadn't happened,
we'd have sailed back
to Spain. All of us.
Now, it will be different.
we shall leave 40 men here
to explore the islands
and start a colony.
And teach the natives Christianity.
And because
I was to go free
Whatever you say.
- Diego.
Yes?
- I want you to stay here
Stay here?
- As a governor. Will you?
Well, yes if you wish it.
I do.
It may be many months before
anyone will return here again.
I've got to cross the
Atlantic alone this time.
No convoy, no companions,
just the Nina.
I want to be sure I've left the New World
in good hands.
I'll do what I can.
- You don't mind staying behind?
Why should I mind?
I shall be in paradise here.
In that ship, alone,
I may be in paradise
ahead of you.
Bring a chair for the Admiral.
A chair?
Bring a chair.
We're all eagerness to hear of your
discoveries, my Lord Admiral.
Thank you, Your Majesties.
I hardly know
where to begin.
The bare facts, we know.
We have read your letters
and taken great pleasure in them.
Thank you, madam.
So, these are the men
from the new lands.
Yes, Your Majesty.
In those lands
they live naked,
though they paint themselves,
as you see.
We procured them clothes
for the voyage.
Mother, what's that bird?
What is it Admiral?
This is the talking bird
of the New Land.
Talking bird?
- Yes, Your Majesty.
Long live the King,
Long live the Queen.
Long live the Admiral!
I was merely making the point
that in everyone's life,
there is a moment in which it reaches
the climax of his achievement.
If he's a fisherman,
it's the day he makes a record catch.
If he's an admiral,
it's the day he wins a great battle.
Or discovers a new land.
What you say
to that, Chancellor?
I agree with my Lord Bishop.
But the great thing, of course, is to have
the wit to know it and make the most of it.
What would Your Majesty say was the
greatest achievement of her reign?
The discovery of New Lands
or the conquest of the Moors?
Which would you say?
- Conquest of the Moors.
Your reason?
- Because that is
something which only a great
commander could have accomplished.
Master Colombus' achievement?
Couldn't stand in the same class.
It's merely something
that was bound to happen.
Bound to happen?
- Well, it stands to reason.
Sooner or later,
some ship sailing idly in that direction
would have come
upon the New Land.
That's all there is to it.
- You agree, Admiral?
I would like to borrow an egg,
with your Majesty's leave.
An egg?
- If Your Majesty pleases.
Why do you ask
for an egg, Admiral?
I should like to ask
your guest a riddle.
A riddle? But Her Majesty
just asked you a question.
With your majesty's permission,
I will ask you to solve my riddle first
and then I'll answer the question.
- We're all attention.
The riddle, Your Majesties,
is how to make an egg
stand up on end like this,
using nothing
to support it. Will you try?
It's impossible, of course.
Your Majesty?
It's beyond my wit.
And mine.
It's beyond anybody's wit.
It's impossible.
On the contrary, sir, it's easy
when somebody shows you how.
And that, Your Majesties, is the answer
to master Bobadilla's question.
Most things are easy when someone
has shown you how.
Most things are easy when someone
has shown you how.
Too easy, perhaps.
in the years that followed,
new fleet sailed the ocean seas.
New lands were added
to the map of the world.
But it was not a peaceful world.
Death and disease took their
toll or the early colonists.
It was scarcely
10 years later
that an old man,
old before his time,
worn out by intrigue and rebellion,
laid in a hut in the jungle and dictated
a letter to the Spanish court.
To Juana de Torres.
Salutations and greetings.
I write to you, dear lady,
because I know you are
near to the Queen
and can see that she is told
the truth.
I know there are
persons at court
who wish to do me injury.
Who will not hesitate
to belittle what I have done.
They judge me
as a governor
who had gone to Sicily
or some other city
under regular government.
When I ought to be judged
as a conqueror
who has placed under Their Majesties'
sovereignty a New World.
Whereby Spain,
which was reckoned poor,
as become the richest of countries.
Bobadilla's right,
something must be done about it.
Every ship that comes back
from the new lands
brings another story
of disorder and bloodshed.
What's the man up to?
He's been given enough power.
- Too much, sire,
if I may be allowed to say so.
He seems to resent
anybody else
having any sort of entry
to the new land.
Instead of colonizing
and keeping order,
all he does is to go aimlessly
cruising about from island to island.
Oh, come on now,
that's not altogether just surely.
He claims to have discovered
the mainland of Cathay,
what the natives call Cuba.
With the greatest of respect, madam, he also
claims to have found the Garden of Eden.
I won't have him ridiculed.
His discoveries have given
Spain a great new empire.
Nobody denies that, it's what he's doing
with the empire that we're complaining about.
It's easy enough to stay at home
and criticize.
Especially when the person concerned
isn't here to defend himself.
But Your Majesty, the amount of gold
he sent home last month
was scarcely enough
to pay for the carrying of it.
Of course, always
plenty of parrots.
But who wants parrots?
And it isn't as though the slaves
he sent home were worth anything.
They're such poor stuff.
I wanted the people
of the New World converted, not enslaved.
So did we all.
- True, true.
The slaves should be sent back,
every one of them.
I quite agree.
He'd no right to do it.
It was completely
against instruction.
Yes, there I can't defend him.
The trouble is that
the man's unreliable.
One can't trust him.
- Exactly.
He may be a great sailor and discoverer,
but he can't govern.
If he can't govern,
we must do it for him.
But I don't want him disgraced.
He's done much for us
and for Spain.
No, of course not.
He shall keep his titles,
if that will make you happy.
To the Lord Admiral
of the ocean seas
and Viceroy
of new lands, greetings.
We've commanded our good servant,
Francisco de Bobadilla,
to take ship and present himself to you,
in order that he may act as Chief Justice
and Royal Commissioner
of the New Land.
With power to arrest all those who
mutiny or rebel against our royal person
and, for the settlement of all just
grievances, etcetera, etcetera.
You can fill in
the details, Bobadilla.
Yes, sire.
- And may be...
The 28th, sir.
- The 28th of 1499.
I, the King.
I, the Queen.
These articles allege that you have
shown yourself persistently hostile
to those of Spanish blood
who have come to these islands.
That you have sent Spanish gentlemen
to labor that is unworthy and degraded.
That you have made unjust war
on the native population.
And that you have retained
for your own use and enjoyment
gold, land, and other goods,
rightly the property of the Crown.
Have you anything to say?
To you, nothing.
Very well.
You're under close arrest.
You will be shackled
and sent back to Spain for trial.
Stand over here.
All right, son,
you may go.
Wait outside.
Please, forgive me, Admiral.
it grieves me beyond measure
to see you treated like this.
But in front of these... soldiers...
you understand?
Yes, sir, I understand.
Come and sit down.
You're in pain, Admiral.
I'll have them taken off
directly we sail.
No. I shall wear them
until the Queen herself
orders them to be removed.
One more word, Your Majesty,
and I have finished.
It is seventeen years
since I first came here to serve you.
Eight of those years
were spent in discussion and frustration.
I was laughed at and
rejected but I was right.
I have placed
under your sovereignty
more land than there is
in Africa and Europe.
More than 1700 islands,
not counting Hispaniola.
And what is my reward
for all this?
To be arrested
and put in chains.
Your imprisonment was
highly displeasing to us.
It was never our intention,
you must know that.
Then, I am to be reinstated as Viceroy
of the New Land?
Master Columbus,
you have suffered much, endured much.
Now, we think it best
that you should rest for a while.
All your money and titles
shall be restored to you.
But, for the present,
it is better that you stay here.
That's right, Admiral.
We'll talk about future plans later on.
But I shall die if I
don't go back to sea!
For the moment,
we think it best
that you should not.
Majesty!
This is worse than my shackles.
Look after him.
You're worn out.
Come and rest.
- No.
I rather go home.
Things are difficult just now,
with Naples and Venice.
There's a war on, you know?
- There's always a war on.
They'll agree to
another voyage soon.
You'll see.
- It's too late.
If I go on 20 more voyages,
I'll never recover
from such ingratitude.
Don't they realize
who I am?
Of course they do.
- It's time they did.
People will remember me
long after they are dead and forgotten.
Translated: suadnovic
It's the end
of the 15th century,
1475-1480.
The Mediterranean is
the center of the world
and the world is a strange one
to our eyes.
There isn't much of it, just Europe,
a little of Africa,
Britain, an island outpost
in the North,
Japan and China,
dim lands to the East.
The rest is water,
the limitless ocean sea.
Most sensible people
believe the earth is flat,
but here and there,
a crackpot theorist
is convinced that it's a sphere.
That you can sail right around it.
It's 1485 now, and one
of these crackpot fellows
is toiling up the long slope
to the monastery of Rabida, in Spain.
Diego, come and look.
What's the matter?
- I'm so tired.
You'll soon be able to rest. You
see that building over there,
the one on the hill?
That's Rabida,
where the friars live.
They'll give us food
and a bed for the night.
You think you can walk
as far as that?
I'll try.
- All right.
And if you're a good boy
and keep very quiet,
maybe they'll help me
to see the Queen.
How can they do that?
- Ah, that's a long story.
Tell me.
- No, no.
Please, Father.
Promise you'll never
mention it to anyone else.
I promise.
Cross my heart.
Well, the Prior, Father Perez,
is the one I want to see.
He used to be
the Queen's confessor.
And it may be that he'll
give me a letter to her.
Will you really see the Queen?
- I hope so.
Only remember, he mustn't
know what we are after.
If he suspects
he'll be careful.
So, we're just two weary travelers,
you understand?
You're welcome, brother.
What do you seek?
Of your charity. A little bread
and a cup of water for the child.
Will you come inside?
- Thank you.
Pax domini sit tecum.
Et tecum pax.
I see you're a scholar,
my son, as well as a traveler.
Certainly a traveler, Father.
I have sailed as far
North as Iceland,
as far as south as Guinea,
and eastwards, to the Golden Horn.
But that is to have reached
the limits of the world.
Of the known world, yes, Father,
but of the actual world...
not by a thousand leagues.
How can you say that,
never having seen it?
Have you ever seen
heaven? Or hell?
We have sound reasons
for believing they exist.
I have sound reasons, too.
What are they?
- The same as yours:
faith and revelation,
to which I can add
cosmography and mathematics.
What is that
you have there?
Bread and water
for the child, Father.
That's what
they asked for.
And we have
nothing better to offer?
I brought the boy
an apple, too.
An apple!
Take them inside.
Father Jose will show you
to the guest chamber.
I hope you'll do us the honor
of spending the night here.
You're too kind, Father.
- Not at all.
You shall pay for your supper by telling
us more about this new world of yours.
There's no need
for us to go yet.
Stay and drink
another cup of wine
and tell us why you're
so impatient to sail to India.
For two reasons, Father.
First, because there are
thousands of heathens
in those parts
waiting to be converted.
And because they are
rich in gold and spices.
And the first reason is
better than the other.
Gold has its uses.
True, and most of them bad.
But why you sail to the West?
Because that's the
quickest route to India.
How can that be
when India is to the East?
You agree that the earth
is a sphere, like this.
That is the accepted belief
among philosophers.
Very well.
Then, here is Spain
and here are India,
China and Japan.
now, if instead of traveling east
by land we travel west by sea,
we come in some 3000
miles to Japan again.
And where do you go now?
To France. And if I'm
unlucky there, to England.
But why to France?
Because a voyage like this
needs ships and money.
Perhaps the French will give them to me.
The Portuguese won't.
Two years I've been
kicking my heels in Lisbon
trying to explain my scheme to people
who can't see beyond their noses.
But why go to France?
Why not Spain?
I know no one
at the Spanish court.
I am a foreigner without influence,
without friends.
What chance have I got?
My son, do you believe in the
workings of a divine providence?
Of course, father.
Because it may be providence
what brought you here today.
I don't understand.
- I'll tell you.
For many years, I was
confessor to the Queen.
I believe that if she
were to hear your story,
she might lend it
a friendly ear.
You mean, you...
You could give me
a letter to the Queen?
No.
- Oh, but I thought you...
My son, in affairs of state
you must learn to move slowly.
I will give you a letter
to a friend of mine at court.
She will introduce you
to others with influence.
And one day, if providence is still kind,
you may meet the queen.
Come and see me in the
morning before you leave.
Thank you, Father.
What happened
to the boy's mother?
She's been dead
these two years, father.
I'm glad you decided
to leave him with us.
He'll be safe here and it
will provide an excuse
for your coming
to visit us again.
Goodbye, my son.
- Goodbye father
I shall never cease
to give thanks
that providence
led me to you.
My son,
one of the lessons I've learned
in the course of a long and
not entirely uneventful life,
is that providence works best when
she's aided with a little knowledge.
I don't understand, Father.
Don't you? Do you mean to tell me
that you didn't know who I was
before you
arrived here last night?
Well, naturally
your reputation...
As the queen's confessor?
Yes, Father.
I admit it.
I hope providence will continue to
assist you to meet the right people.
Goodbye, my son,
God be with you.
Goodbye, Father.
- I leave you with the boy.
Wait here please, sir.
Your servant, madam.
The good Prior writes of your
project with great enthusiasm.
Are you sure that
he couldn't be mistaken?
Father Perez is
a learned man, madam.
I wouldn't presume
to doubt his judgment.
I didn't say
I doubted him.
I know him
too well for that
But you I do not know at all.
That is my loss, madam.
And an omission I trust
will soon be rectified.
There's no need to practice
your pretty speeches on me.
I hear too many of them
around the court.
Do you seriously believe in a
new world across the ocean?
I'd stake my life on it.
You may be asked
to do that one day.
I am ready.
If I can arrange for you
to see the queen...
I said if.
You'll be ready with evidence and
arguments to support your case?
Madam, I can talk
for two hours on the subject
without repeating myself.
I don't doubt it.
But please save that
for the Queen.
Then, I shall see her.
Call on me again next Thursday
and I'll tell you what
progress I've made.
But I...
Your servant, madam.
Mind where
you're going, idiot.
I humbly beg
your lordship's pardon.
I'm not a lord.
I trust that omission
will soon be rectified.
Who is he?
I haven't seen him about before, have I?
No, but I think you may see a
great deal of him in the future.
What's his line?
New worlds across the sea.
What New World?
Where?
He wants their majesties
to give him a fleet of ships
so that he can sail west
across the ocean
and come to Japan
and India that way.
Then, he's crazy.
He seems very sure of himself.
Stuff and nonsense,
the whole thing's ridiculous.
We shall be the laughingstock
of the civilized world.
Stuff and nonsense,
the whole thing's ridiculous.
We shall be the laughingstock
of the civilized world.
Exactly what I said, sire.
Let us at least hear all he has
to say before we condemn him.
We have
more important things to do
than to listen to sailor stories
about imaginary islands.
There's a war on.
You have our leave
to withdraw, sir.
But Your Majesty...
You have our leave
to withdraw!
Master Columbus?
Yes.
- I have a message for you.
The Queen will see you in her
apartments tomorrow morning.
The Queen?
- At eleven o'clock.
Come closer.
I dislike speaking
to people at the distance.
You seem to have interested the
Duke of Medinaceli in your ideas,
as well as Father Perez.
He writes that
he's ready to help you.
What do you say to that?
It's a matter
for the crown, madam.
It's too great a thing
for anyone less.
You seem to have
impressed the Duke.
I talked to him, Your Majesty.
Has he talked
to you too, Chancellor?
He does nothing else
but talk, Your Majesty.
I understand you have also talked
to expert gentlemen in Portugal,
who are not impressed.
They know very little
in Portugal, madam.
Indeed. That's rather my
experience with my own experts.
Talk to me, then. Freely.
But briefly.
Briefly, madam?
With all the proofs I have to give,
at least an hour.
An hour? And indulging
myself as it is?
Assuredly, madam.
Now, then. Briefly.
I have knowledge of
certain lands to the west,
which can be rich...
- Yes, yes.
India is to be reached
by a short western passage,
I know all that,
I've read it in these letters.
Forget your maps and
reckonings and calculations.
They may be right or wrong.
But when you speak of new
lands along this route,
what is it that you imagine?
What is it that you see?
I see an empire for the
sovereigns of Castile and Aragon
such as no monarch
ever dreamed of.
A land whose illimitable riches
would pay for these Moorish
wars a dozen times.
What else?
The holy sepulcher itself could be
rescued from the power of Muhammad.
It's an ambition many great
princes have lived for
and have died without seeing.
Humbly, it is mine.
For the glory of Your Majesty.
You have heard
that the noblest aims
can cause men to twist the
facts to serve their theories.
Majesty.
I am sure of what
I shall discover
as if it were under lock
and key in my room at home.
Set all my proofs aside
and this I still know
that I was elected.
Pre-ordained.
Inspired.
Madam.
Yes, yes, very well.
I think you had better remain
here while the court stays.
You should be
provided for meanwhile
and your project shall go
to a royal commission.
Does that satisfy you?
I'm deeply grateful,
Your Majesty but...
But you're impatient, I know.
You must curb
your impatience and wait.
It's good for the soul.
Are you married?
My wife died some years ago,
madam.
Oh, I'm sorry.
So, we are kept waiting
while this foreign quack
peddles his crazy notions
to the Queen?
A fine set of affairs,
I must say.
If you ask me, it's a disgraceful
waste of time and public money.
This upstart mountebank
from Genoa.
The fellow who can't even
speak Spanish correctly.
Have you heard his accent?
He expects us to listen
to his crackpot schemes.
It makes me sick.
Don't you think you'd better
reserve judgment
till you hear
what he has to say?
I know what I think now.
Gentlemen,
master Columbus is waiting,
shall we take our places?
We are here, sir,
by command of their royal highnesses
to hear your proposals
in full detail.
To weigh them
and to question you,
and afterwards, to report
on them to the sovereigns.
You are assured
of a fair and proper hearing
and I now invite you
to set forth your arguments.
My... proposals, gentlemen,
begin and end
with one assumption:
that the earth is round.
A sphere,
like a ball or an orange.
And one deduction,
which I make from that assumption:
if the earth is round,
and who nowadays doubts it,
it must follow that a man who
traverses the earth by land or sea,
will one day return to the
point from which he started.
That, in essence, is the foundation,
the kernel of my proposals.
In support of them,
I have massive evidence
which I fully believe will
convince your excellencies.
These calculations show that we can expect
to reach India after sailing some...
750 leagues. But if we leave
mathematics and physics
and turn to the Scriptures,
we find justification for supposing
that there is land
between us and India
And where do the
Scriptures say that?
The prophet Esdras,
your excellency,
tells us that God commanded
the waters be gathered
into a seventh part
of the earth.
In other words,
there are six parts of land to one of water.
Judge, then, from that how much land
must still remain to be discovered.
I would like to draw your attention to
the writings of the Venetian, Marco Polo,
who speaks of lands to the
east of India and Cathay.
Lands which must, therefore,
lie between us and India
if we travel westwards around
the circumference of the earth.
Master Columbus,
we have been here for three days.
We have listened most
patiently to your proposals,
your theories, your suppositions,
your assumptions.
But so far,
we are without evidence of any sort.
Have you no proof
to give us?
With all due deference,
I think you have had the proof.
Proof by deduction is a form of
proof known to every mathematician.
And to a lesser degree,
by every marine.
What do you say
to that, Lord Admiral?
The fellow's right enough.
if you accept
that the earth is a sphere,
then you must accept that by sailing
to the west you'll come to the east.
If you go on long enough.
May I say something?
- By all means.
If, as some of you
seem so sure,
I'm not among you.
But if the earth is a sphere,
then master Columbus's case
automatically falls to the ground.
Why so?
- Because, sir,
if you sail down
the slope of the sea,
how could you ever hope
to sail up it again?
What is
your answer to that?
The wind will blow the ships
back again, of course.
What, uphill?
Water does not run uphill.
That is exactly
what I'm saying,
the whole scheme
is preposterous.
Contrary, sir, is you
who are preposterous.
You're behaving
like an over-grown schoolboy
and deliberately making asinine
remarks in order to discredit me.
That will do.
- But I submit your excellency...
That will do.
Because we understand
your natural impatience,
we shall not impose any punishment
on you for your behavior,
but you will apologize to the
learned gentleman forthwith.
Learned gentleman...
- Master Columbus!
Very well, I apologize.
The Commission is adjourned until tomorrow,
at the same time.
Been waiting long?
Three years.
- You're not serious.
Oh, I am. Believe me,
three years is not long.
Not for a Royal Commission.
Well,
I hope they don't keep me waiting that long.
What are you after?
- An appointment as a notary.
I hope you get it.
- Thank you.
And you?
- What about me?
Well, what are you after?
All I want is to present
Spain with enough gold
to fill a treasury
for the next hundred years.
Enough land to make it the
greatest power in the world
and enough glory to
satisfy a hundred kings.
You think I'm mad, I suppose.
No. Of course not but...
if you can really give them all that,
why didn't they take it?
I'll tell you why.
May I come in?
Please do.
I want to talk to you
about my cousin.
Has she been to see you yet?
- No.
When she does,
do what you can
She's anxious
to come back to court.
That won't be easy
after what happened
last time.
That was ten years ago.
The Queen has a long memory.
Especially where
her husband's concerned.
I know. I know, well...
Do what you can, she's...
a nice little thing.
A pretty little thing,
perhaps.
I'm not so sure
about the "nice".
That's a question
of taste, I suppose.
Oh,
I saw that fella Columbus down below.
Well?
- I think he's waiting to see you.
Suppose he is?
Don't you think it would be kinder
to tell him he hasn't a chance?
I thought the Commission
hadn't reported yet.
They haven't.
- Well?
When they do,
the answer will be "no".
He might as well
give up now as later.
Oh...
Well, master Columbus,
what is it this time?
The same as last time.
When do I hear something? When can I start?
I can't tell you that.
- Does anybody know?
You must be patient
a little longer.
Patient?
I waited two years in Portugal,
I've waited three years here.
Where am I at the end of it all?
Back where I started being patient.
It's the war, you know.
- If it wasn't that, it'd be something else.
Look at me, I'm so shabby I'm
ashamed to be seen in public.
I've worn my clothes out rubbing
up against anteroom doors.
I can't do anymore.
- I know, I'm sorry.
Does me good to pour out
my troubles to someone.
The court returns next week.
Come and see me then.
I may have news
for you.
Juana!
How wonderful
to see you again.
Oh, I'm sorry,
I didn't mean...
I present master Christopher Columbus.
Madame Beatriz de Peraza.
Christopher Columbus?
Not the man who wants to sail
around the world the wrong way.
The same.
- But how delightful.
You don't look
like a crank at all.
Should I? - Well
it's rather a fantastic idea, isn't it?
I don't think so.
- Tell me confidentially.
You're not really serious about this,
are you? I mean, it's just...
an area to make money, isn't it?
- Certainly not.
You mean you really
think you can do it?
Certainly.
- But how terribly thrilling.
Look, I have nothing much
to do this evening.
Why not meet me in the Court of
Oranges and tell me all about it?
You're surely not interested
in the ravings of a lunatic.
Oh...
I deserved that, didn't I?
I do apologize.
Now, will you meet me
and tell me all about it?
Very well.
Your servant, madam.
Master Columbus!
Master Columbus, come in
and help us celebrate.
No, no, thanks.
I'm not in the mood.
Oh, please, surprise me.
It's not every day
one gets a court appointment.
You got it.
- Come along.
My friends, master Columbus.
Master Columbus, my friends.
We are drinking
to Diego's new job.
Come on, drink to Diego.
My friends, I thank you,
I shall try to be the best notary
in any town, in any province,
in any country in the world.
Need I say more?
No!
What's your line?
Ships.
- How many have you got?
None.
- He will have.
Very soon.
- Who's going to give it to him?
The Queen.
Tell him about your scheme,
Christopher.
Tell them what you told me
this afternoon.
Hey, Diego, what sort
of celebration you call this?
Bring us some more.
- I'll get another.
Maids may come
Maids may go
Good red wine
Will ever flow
U p aloft
Gales may blow
Wine keeps me warm below
I must go.
Excuse me.
You're not leaving?
- Yes, I must.
I hoped you'd stay and tell
us more about your voyages.
At the moment, my voyages
take place entirely on land.
I'm glad you got
your appointment.
Goodbye -
I'm sorry we're such a poor company.
Oh, it isn't that.
Well, if you
must know the truth,
I'm penniless and I can't sit
and drink other people's wine
if I can't buy around in return.
- Is that all? Listen.
Listen, I live here
with my cousin.
There's an empty room upstairs.
You're welcome to stay
as long as you like.
No, it's all right.
There's something
you can do for me in return.
What?
Take me with you when you go.
On your voyage
Why do you want to come?
Because I believe you're about to
make some wonderful new discoveries.
I want to be there when you make it.
- Bless you for that, anyway.
Then, you'll stay?
- No. No, thank you.
Beatriz!
This is master Columbus.
The man I told you about.
The man who wants to sail
around the world the wrong way?
The same.
- Somebody else said that to me today.
What's so funny about it?
Oh, nothing...
If you're sure you can do it.
Of course I'm sure.
- But in the meantime,
while he's waiting for his ships,
he has to have somewhere to live.
So,
I thought of the little room upstairs.
I'll take your bundle.
Thank you.
There's something
your cousin forgot to tell you.
I have no money.
- Neither we.
So, we start even.
This way!
I brought it specially
for you to see.
Am I boring you?
A little.
- I'm sorry.
You know what you need
more than charts, don't you?
No, what?
- More friends, more influence.
More... people like me,
who can say a word in the proper quarters.
But you've been away from the
court for ten years, you said.
Yes, but there was a reason for that.
You see,
when I was 17,
I was rather beautiful.
You're very beautiful now.
I hoped you'd
notice that eventually.
But when I was 17,
the king noticed it.
The Queen thought
he noticed it too often.
So, I was married
and packed off to the Canaries.
You're married?
- I was married.
He's dead.
You could say a word for me
in the proper quarters?
Why not?
If you did,
you'd be helping Spain.
But it's not really Spain
I'm concerned about.
Well, and how does it feel to
be a gay young widow at court?
I like it very much.
You have everything
you want, I hope.
Dresses, jewelry.
- Yes, why?
Don't you like my dress?
It looks very attractive.
And very expensive.
- It was.
Does it have occurred you to wonder
where the money is coming from?
From Hernan's estate,
I suppose.
I've always left
money matters to you.
They couldn't be
in better hands.
But there are some
things even I can't do.
Supposing you had your entire fortune here,
on the table,
in gold pieces,
shall we say.
And you insisted on throwing
it out of the window.
I couldn't stop you.
- Why do you say that?
That's what you're doing at the moment.
- I don't understand.
Well, it's high time
you did.
Every penny that you and I,
and the rest of the family possess,
is invested either in the Canaries
or the Mediterranean Sea trade.
If this Genoese upstart you're
so fond of gets his ships
and half of what he promises
comes true, we're ruined.
You as well
as the rest of us.
I hardly know him.
You've been with him every
day for the last fortnight.
I know next to nothing
about his scheme.
What can I possibly do?
Marry him and make
him settle down.
Marry him?
How can I do that?
Must I draw you
a diagram?
Offer him security,
position.
Anything else
you care to give him.
And he'll give up
this wild goose chase.
And if he won't? - Then,
there are other ways of disposing of him.
You wouldn't dare.
- I do a good deal
in order to avoid
becoming a pauper.
And so will you if you're
as sensible as I think you are.
I'll have to think it over.
Well, don't think too long
or it may be too late.
Sooner or later,
he'll make a full step.
They all do, you know.
And then...
I hope I make myself clear.
Beatriz.
Come and sit down.
I want to ask your advice.
Do you think
I should marry again?
Do you want to?
I don't know.
Then don't.
Marriage is difficult enough
if both people want it badly.
But if you're not sure,
then it would be madness.
You haven't asked me
who the lady is.
I don't need to.
What do you think of her?
I've never seen her.
- You know all about her.
I know some of the things
they say about her.
What's your advice?
I can't advise you
but I can tell you
there are two kinds of wives.
The wives who are
ambitious and headstrong,
who drive their men on and on
till they get what they want.
And the other kind? - The others
are the comforters, the cushions.
The wives who smooth out
their husbands' wrinkles
and tell them how
wonderful they are.
Which is the right kind for me?
You?
You need both.
Or neither.
You're not a man to be satisfied
with one thing for long.
You know?
You're quite right.
A man like me shouldn't
have a wife at all.
How can I do the things
I have to do if all the time
I'm thinking my wife will be
wondering why I haven't come home?
The children will be calling for
their father, poor little lambs.
No.
I shall take your advice.
No more marriages for me.
I must be free.
Thank you, my dear.
You made me
a very happy man.
You know what'll happen
to you, don't you?
If you're lucky enough to get your ships,
you'll go sailing off
and maybe you'll find
the new route to India.
Maybe you won't.
If you don't,
you'll probably die looking for it.
And if you do,
you'll come back and the King will say:
"Now go and find a new
route to the north pole."
And you'll die
looking for that.
And if you are not
very careful,
you'll die long before
you even get your ships.
How, of boredom?
- No.
Of a stab in the back
some dark knight.
You know you're
surrounded by enemies.
Why? Nonsense.
- It's true.
There are hundreds
of people at court
who would be glad to see you dead.
- Who?
Everyone who has a vested
interest in some other sea route.
Everyone whose trade may
suffer if you're successful.
Give it up.
And do what?
Settle down.
Can you imagine me
settling down?
Why not?
You could have
a position at court,
money, security.
Master Columbus.
- What is it?
His excellency, don Francisco,
wishes to speak with you.
Go.
I'll wait for you here.
Oh, master Columbus.
How good of you to come.
Won't you sit down?
Thank you.
I hope you won't mind my touching
on rather a personal matter.
But after all, we're both
men of the world.
There's no point
in beating about the bush.
You've been seeing a great deal
of my little cousin lately.
Yes.
You find her attractive?
I find her a charming
and congenial companion.
Exactly. But you know what people
in court circles are like.
They have nothing to do except gossip.
And how they gossip.
If you speak to a woman once,
you're in love with her.
You're seen with her twice,
you're betrothed.
Three meetings and you
might as well be married.
I hope I make myself clear.
Not entirely.
Then I'll be blunt,
master Columbus.
My cousin is a widow: young,
beautiful and unattached.
You've been seeing a great deal of her,
tongues have been wagging.
Her name has been
coupled with yours
and that means that her
good name is at stake.
I'm forced to ask you now
what are your intentions?
Well, sir?
You ask my intentions,
I will tell you.
It's my intention to cross the
ocean sea until I come to India.
That's my only thought.
And nobody,
man, woman or child,
is going to stand in my way.
I hope I make myself clear.
Of course, you must
make it clear to your cousin
that no blame attaches to her.
She cannot help her beauty any more
than the King can help noticing it.
She has a child,
they tell me.
Two, Your Majesty.
As a mother myself,
I know how painful it is
to be separated
from one's children.
Tell her that she has our permission
to return to the Canaries, at once.
As Your Majesty pleases.
And, master Columbus,
what you wish done
about him?
Nothing.
But surely...
- Surely what?
But he has laid hands on
the person of His Majesty.
I'm sure that the king
has forgotten all about it.
I advise you
to do the same.
So, master Columbus,
we meet again.
And this time there's no need
for me to ask your intentions
because you have much say
in your future plans, have you?
You may not know,
but the King has a horror of violence,
particularly when it's
directed against himself.
I've just left their majesties.
They sent you a message.
It's a very simple one:
make yourself scarce,
master Columbus.
Go back to your genuine slum.
Go to the devil,
if you please.
But don't show your face
around the court again.
Unless you wish something very
unpleasant to happen to it.
I hope I make myself clear.
Madam, I have
bad news for you.
Master Columbus
is leaving Spain.
He set out a
daybreak for France.
Madam, may I speak
with you alone?
Father Perez and the
Chancellor are outside.
They beg leave to see you.
About him?
- Yes.
The Genoese sailor seems
to have powerful friends.
Isn't that one more proof that there
must be something in what he says?
Bring them in.
Gentlemen.
I hear you've come
to scold me.
No, Your Majesty.
Simply to ask
if there's no way
preventing this tragedy.
Madam, I marvel that a woman
of such grace and understanding
should fling away
an opportunity like this
for some other
sovereign to pick up
It would be
an inestimable service
to God, your crown
and your country.
Forgive me if I say
I'm disappointed in you.
I'm sorry, Father,
he asked impossible things.
A title or two,
a little authority in lands
you and I will never see?
- But the cost.
I'd risk as much myself.
Will do now, if Your Majesty will allow me.
No, no I will not have him behold
into anyone but the Crown.
And yet, you won't help him.
Raise what is necessary on this.
- Madam,
there's no need for that.
Your word is enough.
The money
shall be advanced to you
till you're able to repay it
with gold from the New World.
And if there's no gold
in your New World?
Then, I will repay it myself.
You shall have my bond for it.
You have great faith in him.
I have, Your Majesty.
- Pray God you're right.
Send someone
to fetch him back.
Say the Queen
begs him to return.
Your Majesty.
Master Christopher Columbus?
- The same.
In the name of Her Majesty,
Queen Isabella.
So, they've come
to their senses at last.
Yes.
You see that?
- What?
The wind has just changed.
It's blowing due west.
Soon you'll see it filling
the sails of the ships
that will take us
to the New World.
Benedictio Dei omnipotentis.
Patris et Filii
et Spiritus Sancti.
Descendat super vos
et maneat semper.
Thank you.
Cast off the moorings!
"Friday, 3rd of August, 1492.
Set sail from palace on the
morning tide with three ships:
the Santa Maria,
the Pinta,
and the Nina.
God be with us
in this great enterprise."
Thank you.
- Thank you.
Is this yesterday's reckoning?
Yes.
Twelve leagues?
What about it?
Well, I never say that
but surely with this wind,
isn't that very little?
Look in my bunk
under the pillow.
Not much I keep
from you, Diego.
Open it.
"Sunday the 9th of September.
We have made
this day 19 leagues
but I've determined to reckon less than
the distance actually covered.
So that, if the voyage is long, the crew
shall not be terrified and disheartened."
But surely some of the people in the feet
can reckon these things.
Plenty. But they
won't think of it.
The Pinzon are good sailors
but they don't keep a log.
They all accept my figures.
- But suppose they question them.
Then, I'll say the currents
are against us.
Are they?
They're dead in our favor.
Who is it?
What's the matter?
- You better come on deck.
Something's wrong.
- What?
I don't know, something
to do with the compass.
The compass?
- Yes.
I'll be there in a minute.
Soon it'll pull all the nails
out of the planks.
You mark my words.
- Quiet, you!
It's all very well
for you to shout "quiet."
What is it?
It's the needle, Admiral.
- What do you mean the needle?
It's no longer true.
- The magic mountain's
pulling it away from the north.
We're adrift in strange waters,
without even
a compass to guide us.
That's a fact, Admiral.
It's a proof that we've sailed out
of the natural world
God meant mankind
to inhabit, if you ask me.
I didn't ask you.
The variation is
at least five degrees west.
Is that all?
You fools!
Even you, Cosa, a seaman of your experience.
You amaze me.
I can only trust my eye.
You mean you think
the needle it's wrong
because it no longer
points to the North Star?
Yes!
- It's wrong.
Didn't it occur to you
that it was the star that moved
and not the needle?
The star?
- Star...
Is that right, Pedro?
Try it.
Come in.
May I speak to you, Admiral?
- Of course.
I didn't say any more up above
because I didn't want to provoke a riot.
It was very sensible of you.
But...
- What?
In all my years at sea, I've never known
the compass to behave like that.
You've never sailed
this parallel before.
Beg your pardon, sir, but neither have you.
So...
how can you know that...?
- Just as I know
a great many things
that you don't.
You must trust me, Juan,
I know what I'm doing.
Anything you say, Admiral.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
So, the Pole Star moved.
- Of course not!
It's a perfectly natural
phenomenon, it must be.
I know if you go east,
the needle declines to the east.
And I suppose we've sailed
to a point where we must expect
the needle
to decline to the west.
It must be.
- But for the men, the Pole Star moved.
Yes, why not?
- Why not, indeed.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
"Tuesday, 18th September.
Ten days out from the Canaries
and 47 from Spain.
The men are in good heart.
Every member of the crew
faces what lies before us
with courage and determination."
Well?
- May we speak with Your Highness?
What do you want?
- We want to go home, Your Worship.
What do you want me to do? Put the ship
about and go back to Spain and say we failed?
Yes, Your Honor.
- What are you afraid of?
Oh, they've never been further out
than paddling for shrimp, sir.
Should I put a foot to their backsides?
- No, no, no.
Let's hear what
they are afraid of.
Well?
- Did you never hear
of the Magic Mountain,
Your Excellency?
No.
- It's like a great magnet.
It draws the ships and then,
when they get close,
all the nails come out of the planks
and the ships fall to pieces.
Where's this wonderful mountain?
- Over there, Your Reverence.
Have you seen it?
- No.
Then stop talking about things
you know nothing about.
If there were such a mountain
there's only one place
it could be
and that's the North Pole.
We're not going to North Pole,
we're sailing due west.
Anything else?
- Yes, Your Grace.
Sea serpents.
- Sea serpents?
Honorable great beasts
200 yards long
that can swallow
the whole ship in one gulp.
And the Sea of Darkness.
- Tell the Admiral about that.
That's the worst of them all,
Your Highness.
The Sea of Darkness.
Where you never see the sun again
and go on, and on
into nothingness.
Till you sail right over
the edge of the world.
Now, you listen to me.
The ocean in front of us
is the same as that behind.
There are no sea serpents
or magic mountains
or anything else between
us and the New World.
I know exactly
what I'm doing
and I don't want any more of your old
wives' tales on my ship.
if you're afraid of the dark,
I'll take your wife with me next time
and leave you home
to mind the brats.
You can't do that.
- Why not?
I ain't got none.
Let us thank providence
for small mercy.
Day?
- Nineteen.
Nineteen days since we left
the Canaries.
End of the deck.
- What is it?
Can't you see?
- No.
We are blind.
for 19 days that wind's
been blowing steadily
in the same direction
to the west.
You know what that means?
- No, what?
We never get back.
- Why not?
Suppose the Admiral sees sense
and wants to turn around and go back.
What's going to happen?
How can we sail back
the way we came
with a wind that's always
blowing from the east?
We can beat against the wind.
Yes, yes if you've got
six months to do it.
And food for six months.
And water for six months.
You know what?
- What?
We don't dare to turn around
and start from.
Why not?
Because he knows
we never get there.
Not against a wind like that.
"Wednesday, 19th September.
Received signal from Pinzon brothers
desiring to come aboard."
Coming over for a talk, see?
Now perhaps
we'll hear something.
You think they want
to turn back?
Well, they're sensible men
and good sailors, aren't they?
Of course they want to turn back.
But they can't!
They're finished.
Same as us.
And they know it.
Mark my words.
Come in.
You're welcome, gentlemen.
You drink a cup of wine?
No, thank you.
To what do I owe
the honor of this visit?
The time has come for a little,
plain speaking, Admiral.
That's why we are all here together.
- Go on.
We've been doing
a little calculating.
How many leagues
you say we've covered?
Four hundred,
a little more or less.
Our calculations say more than 500.
- Your calculations?
Oh, I know the Admiral doesn't
think it is very intelligent.
We can count
and we are prudent enough
to take some notice
of what's going on.
Now, this chart you gave us, for instance.
- What about it?
If we've sailed 500 leagues,
I said if,
surely we should
have cited Japan
or the Brazil islands.
Or some island, at any rate.
So far, not a sniff of it.
What else?
- Isn't that enough?
Give me the chart.
You agree this is our course?
- Yes.
There.
That's our approximate
position now.
So, we over-shot the island.
- Certainly.
When?
- In the night.
And why didn't we
stop and take a look at it?
Because I'm bound
for Japan and India,
not some measly little island.
We could have taken
on fresh water if you stopped.
What it would have
happened after that?
The men would have said,
"We've come far enough, let's go home."
That's true enough,
they would.
Are you sure of that?
Just as sure as I am
that we're going to find India.
Just how long do you think
that's going to take?
It depends on the wind
and the currents.
if we sail for six more days and don't
sight land, will you turn back then?
No.
- You see?
The men have had enough and the
officers have agreed to turn back.
I haven't agreed.
Let this be clear:
I will not turn back until
my mission is accomplished.
Say what you like,
do what you like,
kill me if you like,
I can't stop.
But as long as I'm alive,
we go on.
Nobody is questioning
your orders.
I'm glad to hear it.
And they better not.
If anything should happen to me,
the Queen will see you hung
as high as Haman for a set
of treacherous traitors.
There's no need to talk
like that, Admiral.
You've explained
what we want.
We're satisfied.
It's Francisco I don't trust.
He's the sly one.
- Martin's the oldest.
I'd do as he says.
- He's a good sailor, that one.
He believed your story
about the islands, too.
Why not?
Are you quite sure it's true?
As sure as I can be
of anything.
And the weed around that crab
they found was riverweed?
Looked like that to me.
The Polar Star did move?
What are you trying
to say, Diego?
I just wanted to ask yourself if
you're sure of what you're doing.
Do you doubt me?
Not unless
you doubt yourself.
What makes you think I do?
You're so careful always to
convince everyone we're near land.
A whale spouts and you cry
"That's a sign land is near."
A bird lights on the deck and you say
"that's no marine bird, that's a jay."
It was a jay.
- You see a bank of cloud
and that's a sign of land.
Weed, shellfish,
everything is
a sign of land.
It's nearly three weeks since we left
the Canaries. How much more of it?
200 leagues, roughly.
-200 leagues?
And you pretend
we're near land.
I had you
to keep the spirits up.
You're really sure the land is there?
- Yes.
Truly?
- Yes.
It must be.
It must.
"Monday, 8th of October.
30 days out from the Canaries
and all well.
The crew have taken
new heart and have ceased to grumble.
I tell you he's mad.
He thinks that because he says
there must be land there,
there will be land there.
But the thing is,
did God say there must be land there, eh?
Answer me that.
No.
- All right,
then, who are you
going to trust?
God, or this jumped up
admiral from Genoa
who's never commanded
a ship before?
Is he greater than God?
Is he to decide
whether we are
to live or die?
No, of course not.
- Look at that.
30 days we've been sailing
these benighted seas.
You want to sail them
for 30 more?
No.
- All right.
Now, there's only
one way to deal with him.
What's that?
Throw him overboard.
Overboard?
- Yes!
If he's so sure there's land,
then let him swim to it.
What about the others?
- Mr. Arana can join him.
But Cosa's all right,
he'll turn back with us
when he sees which way
the wind is blowing.
Now, who's for doing it?
Good. Now,
don't make a move
till I give you the signal.
Can I speak
to you, Admiral?
Privately.
I have no secrets
from Diego.
Would you trust him
with your life?
Gladly.
Why do you ask?
Because your life
is in danger.
Let's have it.
The men are going to mutiny.
How do you know?
I know. What are you
going to do about it?
Are you with me or them?
Why you think I'm here?
Silly question,
I shouldn't have asked it.
How many others
can you count down?
Three, besides myself.
Maybe four.
They can't do much,
they haven't any arms.
They are all they need.
A knife or two,
mile and spike,
meat axe,
and 40 of them against
six of us, including the boy.
When do they start?
Tonight.
After the Salve Regina.
Have your three on the
quarter deck with us
when the Salve Reginabegins.
Hey, Admiral.
Hey.
Are you addressing me?
Yes, I was.
What do you want?
- We want to know
whether you're ready to turn
back and start for home.
Yes! And at once!
It's no business of yours
but the answer is no.
All right, we'll turn back
and sail without you!
Come on, lads!
Land ho!
Mutiny is a crime
punishable by death.
You all know that.
I could string every man
on the yard arm
right now.
But I'm not going to.
I'm not even going to hang your ringleaders.
And I'll tell you why.
This is a glad and historic day
in the history of Spain.
Today, for the first time,
men have crossed the ocean from East to West
and discovered
a new route to India.
Today, Spain is
mistress of the seas.
And while all this is happening,
you're sniveling
about the safety
of your miserable skins.
Rebelling against the
authority of your betters.
I'll say no more,
the incident is closed.
You can pick up your weapons
and return to your duty.
But I hope you'll all
thank God,
that in His infinite mercy,
He's saved you from the fate
you deserve.
See what you did?
- What did I do?
You're the one that ought
to be flung overboard.
He's still asleep.
- Asleep?
It's the relief after all
he's been through.
Went to sleep the moment he got
in here last night and hasn't stirred since.
Well, you better wake him.
- Why?
That land we saw last night?
Well, it's not there
this morning.
What's that?
What did you say?
There's no land
in sight, Admiral.
I swear
by San Fernando!
I might have known it.
The crew are looking ugly.
And the Pinzon brothers
are coming over.
They are just
lowering away a boat.
I'll be there in a moment.
Of course you're
disappointed to find
that we didn't sight land.
I'm disappointed too.
But it's no more
than I expected,
a false land fall,
half a dozen false land falls.
You're bound to get them
when you're sailing new seas.
But the fact remains
that we are near land.
How do we know?
- Because I tell you so!
But I don't ask you to
accept me on trust forever.
We'll sail west for three
more days and nights.
If by thorn on the fourth day,
we haven't sighted land,
we'll turn around
and make for home.
Does that satisfy you?
Hey! What does
master Pinzon say?
The Admiral gives
the orders here, not I.
And you heard
what he has to say.
It's good enough for me and it
should be good enough for you.
And if we don't
sight land then?
Martin] Go about
and make for home.
How do we know
he means it?
Because I say so!
Now! Publicly!
At the end
of three days,
if we haven't sighted land,
you can cut off my head,
throw me overboard, do as you please.
Is that clear?
- Yes.
All right, now get back
to your watch.
"Tuesday, 9th of October.
This morning, I promised the men
that if we did not sight land
within three days and nights,
we would turn back.
Today made 32 leagues,
but no sight of land.
Pray God we find it soon."
It is, I tell you.
It's quite fresh.
Here, what's that?
He's tasting sea water,
he says it's fresh.
Huh? Give it to me.
Well, it's fresher
than it was yesterday.
You call that fresh?
Fresh!
"Wednesday,10th of October.
Today the sky is overcast.
But we sighted
a great flock of birds heading south.
I'm sure we're near land."
One of the boys fished it up
half an hour ago.
Diego!
Where did it come from?
- You see these carvings?
That was done
by a human being.
And it proves
that we are near land.
I hope you're right.
- So do I.
Admiral! Admiral!
A branch
with flowers on it!
Flowers, huh?
You can't eat flowers.
But what do you think
it is, then?
That Devil stuff.
That's to lead us on,
that's all that is.
"Thursday, 11th of October.
Thus far and no land.
Another 12 hours will decide."
Well, you can go on looking if you like.
I'm going to sleep.
Wake me in the morning
when we turn back.
Diego.
Diego!
Yes?
- Look over there.
Where?
- There?
Do you see anything?
A light?
- I...
Yes.
Yes, I can.
Cosa!
What? You see something?
Look, over there.
A light.
We've done it.
You've done it.
Yes.
Now, I think I'll...
I'll go and rest.
They're ready for you
to go ashore, Admiral.
Oh, Lord God,
who has brought us safely
to the end of our journey.
We thank Thee
for all Thy mercies.
Help us, we pray Thee,
to govern these new
lands wisely and well.
And to bring the inhabitants
within the knowledge and
understanding of Thy Kingdom.
For the greater glory
of Thy name.
Amen.
- Amen.
In the name of their majesties,
Ferdinand and Isabella,
King and Queen
of Castile and Aragon.
I now take
possession of this land
and name it San Salvador.
I declare that this is
Spanish soil for all times.
And that the natives, hereof,
are subject to Spanish rule.
It is our earnest desire that they
shall be taught the Spanish language
and embrace
the Christian faith.
For the greater glory of God
and in accordance
with the wishes
of our most sovereign
lady, the Queen,
In witness, hereof,
stands this protocol
drawn up this 12th day of October
in the year 1492.
"Sunday, 14th of October.
Today, we moved freely among the natives
and traded with them.
They are a friendly people,
guileless and unwary-like.
Eager to welcome us and generous
in their dealings.
The country is obviously rich.
The natives wear pieces
of gold on necklets and in their noses."
You see this?
Very beautiful. Magic juju.
Plenty strong, lovely.
I give it you,
and you give me that bit
of yellow rubbish, eh?
What do you think
you are doing?
Just a little
honest trading, Admiral.
Honest trading?
A broken piece of worthless crockery
for an ounce of gold.
- They don't know it's gold.
That makes it
all the worse.
He wants this,
he does really.
You want it now,
don't you?
Wantee? Wantee?
There you are.
If you don't understand,
I'll explain.
We are here to convert
these natives to Christianity,
not to exploit them,
is that clear?
Yes, Admiral.
- A piece of gold like that...
it's worth at least
a Falcon's bell.
Well...
"Thursday, 22nd of November.
So far, I have not
come upon Japan or India as I expected.
But I have found one large island
which natives call 'Cuba'.
And which is rich in spices and gold.
And many smaller islands,
the location of which
I have marked on my charts.
It seems to me
that there cannot be under the sun
land superior in fertility.
In mildness of cold and heat.
In abundance of good fruits
and pure water.
The men are well
and in good spirits.
Up to the present,
among all my people,
nobody has even had a headache
or taken to his bed
through sickness.
Indeed, my only trouble
has been with Martin Pinzon,
who continually disobeys
my instructions.
I am convinced
he is plotting against me.
Whom do you suppose
the King will be glad to see?
The man who arrives home
first with a cargo of gold,
or the man who stays behind
and carries out instructions?
Well, are you with me?
- Aye, aye, sir!
Or not?
All right.
- Good.
Better not let the men
know anything
about this until I say so.
Carry on with your orders,
leave the rest to me.
Understand?
- Understood.
He's not taking any notice.
Should we fire again?
- No.
Do we change course
and follow them?
No, he's faster
than we are.
We'd never catch him
unless he wanted us to.
That's true enough.
- The thing is,
is he going to look for the goldmines
or is he making for home?
My guess is the gold.
I don't know.
- Perhaps he'd like
to be first home
with the news.
Whichever it is, we'll meet again
one day.
And I shan't forget
what's happened tonight.
"Saturday, 1st of December.
Today I came upon
more wonders,
the like of which I never thought
to see in this world."
What do you suppose
this could be?
A fishing net?
- No, the mesh is too big.
Well, perhaps it's used
for storing something.
Yes, maybe. But what?
It's a bed.
Diego!
We could sling 50
of these aboard ship
and every man Jack of the crew could
sleep in comfort.
I shouldn't do that.
- Why not?
It's too comfortable.
Once you got them into these,
you'd never
get them out again.
See what I mean?
What do you suppose
he is doing?
Drawing in the smoke
and blowing it out again.
He seems to enjoy it.
Doesn't that just prove
how backward they are?
You never see a civilized man
doing a thing like that.
He wants you to try one.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I wonder what they're saying
about us at home.
That we're dead,
I expect.
Can't blame them,
can you?
By this rate, it'll be
Easter before we return.
Oh, no, we'll start back
in a day or two.
I shan't be sorry to see Spain again.
- Nor I.
Evening, Admiral.
Should I take over?
Yes, I'm ready for bed.
Tonight, I shall sleep
like a child.
I think I shall turn in, too.
Goodnight, Juan.
Goodnight.
We're aground, sir.
I can't see that.
But how did it happen?
The helmsman
let her drift.
The helmsman
in charge of the watch?
No, sir, I was.
- Nevermind that now.
Can we refloat her?
- I don't see how, sir.
"Christmas day, 1492.
Last night, the Santa Maria
went aground in Caracal Bay.
The master, the pilot and the helmsman
had all gone to their beds
and only a boy was at the tiller.
Even so, the vessel
might have been saved
if my orders had been
faithfully carried out.
As it is, she's a total loss.
And I have ordered her stores
to be brought ashore."
Vicente wants to know if he can break up
her timbers and bring them ashore, too.
Well, they'll help to build
a fort or a hut or two.
All right.
And what do you wish us
to do about Cosa?
Nothing.
- But he was the officer at the watch.
The whole thing is his fault.
- No, it's God's will.
Well, everything's God's will.
- If this hadn't happened,
we'd have sailed back
to Spain. All of us.
Now, it will be different.
we shall leave 40 men here
to explore the islands
and start a colony.
And teach the natives Christianity.
And because
I was to go free
Whatever you say.
- Diego.
Yes?
- I want you to stay here
Stay here?
- As a governor. Will you?
Well, yes if you wish it.
I do.
It may be many months before
anyone will return here again.
I've got to cross the
Atlantic alone this time.
No convoy, no companions,
just the Nina.
I want to be sure I've left the New World
in good hands.
I'll do what I can.
- You don't mind staying behind?
Why should I mind?
I shall be in paradise here.
In that ship, alone,
I may be in paradise
ahead of you.
Bring a chair for the Admiral.
A chair?
Bring a chair.
We're all eagerness to hear of your
discoveries, my Lord Admiral.
Thank you, Your Majesties.
I hardly know
where to begin.
The bare facts, we know.
We have read your letters
and taken great pleasure in them.
Thank you, madam.
So, these are the men
from the new lands.
Yes, Your Majesty.
In those lands
they live naked,
though they paint themselves,
as you see.
We procured them clothes
for the voyage.
Mother, what's that bird?
What is it Admiral?
This is the talking bird
of the New Land.
Talking bird?
- Yes, Your Majesty.
Long live the King,
Long live the Queen.
Long live the Admiral!
I was merely making the point
that in everyone's life,
there is a moment in which it reaches
the climax of his achievement.
If he's a fisherman,
it's the day he makes a record catch.
If he's an admiral,
it's the day he wins a great battle.
Or discovers a new land.
What you say
to that, Chancellor?
I agree with my Lord Bishop.
But the great thing, of course, is to have
the wit to know it and make the most of it.
What would Your Majesty say was the
greatest achievement of her reign?
The discovery of New Lands
or the conquest of the Moors?
Which would you say?
- Conquest of the Moors.
Your reason?
- Because that is
something which only a great
commander could have accomplished.
Master Colombus' achievement?
Couldn't stand in the same class.
It's merely something
that was bound to happen.
Bound to happen?
- Well, it stands to reason.
Sooner or later,
some ship sailing idly in that direction
would have come
upon the New Land.
That's all there is to it.
- You agree, Admiral?
I would like to borrow an egg,
with your Majesty's leave.
An egg?
- If Your Majesty pleases.
Why do you ask
for an egg, Admiral?
I should like to ask
your guest a riddle.
A riddle? But Her Majesty
just asked you a question.
With your majesty's permission,
I will ask you to solve my riddle first
and then I'll answer the question.
- We're all attention.
The riddle, Your Majesties,
is how to make an egg
stand up on end like this,
using nothing
to support it. Will you try?
It's impossible, of course.
Your Majesty?
It's beyond my wit.
And mine.
It's beyond anybody's wit.
It's impossible.
On the contrary, sir, it's easy
when somebody shows you how.
And that, Your Majesties, is the answer
to master Bobadilla's question.
Most things are easy when someone
has shown you how.
Most things are easy when someone
has shown you how.
Too easy, perhaps.
in the years that followed,
new fleet sailed the ocean seas.
New lands were added
to the map of the world.
But it was not a peaceful world.
Death and disease took their
toll or the early colonists.
It was scarcely
10 years later
that an old man,
old before his time,
worn out by intrigue and rebellion,
laid in a hut in the jungle and dictated
a letter to the Spanish court.
To Juana de Torres.
Salutations and greetings.
I write to you, dear lady,
because I know you are
near to the Queen
and can see that she is told
the truth.
I know there are
persons at court
who wish to do me injury.
Who will not hesitate
to belittle what I have done.
They judge me
as a governor
who had gone to Sicily
or some other city
under regular government.
When I ought to be judged
as a conqueror
who has placed under Their Majesties'
sovereignty a New World.
Whereby Spain,
which was reckoned poor,
as become the richest of countries.
Bobadilla's right,
something must be done about it.
Every ship that comes back
from the new lands
brings another story
of disorder and bloodshed.
What's the man up to?
He's been given enough power.
- Too much, sire,
if I may be allowed to say so.
He seems to resent
anybody else
having any sort of entry
to the new land.
Instead of colonizing
and keeping order,
all he does is to go aimlessly
cruising about from island to island.
Oh, come on now,
that's not altogether just surely.
He claims to have discovered
the mainland of Cathay,
what the natives call Cuba.
With the greatest of respect, madam, he also
claims to have found the Garden of Eden.
I won't have him ridiculed.
His discoveries have given
Spain a great new empire.
Nobody denies that, it's what he's doing
with the empire that we're complaining about.
It's easy enough to stay at home
and criticize.
Especially when the person concerned
isn't here to defend himself.
But Your Majesty, the amount of gold
he sent home last month
was scarcely enough
to pay for the carrying of it.
Of course, always
plenty of parrots.
But who wants parrots?
And it isn't as though the slaves
he sent home were worth anything.
They're such poor stuff.
I wanted the people
of the New World converted, not enslaved.
So did we all.
- True, true.
The slaves should be sent back,
every one of them.
I quite agree.
He'd no right to do it.
It was completely
against instruction.
Yes, there I can't defend him.
The trouble is that
the man's unreliable.
One can't trust him.
- Exactly.
He may be a great sailor and discoverer,
but he can't govern.
If he can't govern,
we must do it for him.
But I don't want him disgraced.
He's done much for us
and for Spain.
No, of course not.
He shall keep his titles,
if that will make you happy.
To the Lord Admiral
of the ocean seas
and Viceroy
of new lands, greetings.
We've commanded our good servant,
Francisco de Bobadilla,
to take ship and present himself to you,
in order that he may act as Chief Justice
and Royal Commissioner
of the New Land.
With power to arrest all those who
mutiny or rebel against our royal person
and, for the settlement of all just
grievances, etcetera, etcetera.
You can fill in
the details, Bobadilla.
Yes, sire.
- And may be...
The 28th, sir.
- The 28th of 1499.
I, the King.
I, the Queen.
These articles allege that you have
shown yourself persistently hostile
to those of Spanish blood
who have come to these islands.
That you have sent Spanish gentlemen
to labor that is unworthy and degraded.
That you have made unjust war
on the native population.
And that you have retained
for your own use and enjoyment
gold, land, and other goods,
rightly the property of the Crown.
Have you anything to say?
To you, nothing.
Very well.
You're under close arrest.
You will be shackled
and sent back to Spain for trial.
Stand over here.
All right, son,
you may go.
Wait outside.
Please, forgive me, Admiral.
it grieves me beyond measure
to see you treated like this.
But in front of these... soldiers...
you understand?
Yes, sir, I understand.
Come and sit down.
You're in pain, Admiral.
I'll have them taken off
directly we sail.
No. I shall wear them
until the Queen herself
orders them to be removed.
One more word, Your Majesty,
and I have finished.
It is seventeen years
since I first came here to serve you.
Eight of those years
were spent in discussion and frustration.
I was laughed at and
rejected but I was right.
I have placed
under your sovereignty
more land than there is
in Africa and Europe.
More than 1700 islands,
not counting Hispaniola.
And what is my reward
for all this?
To be arrested
and put in chains.
Your imprisonment was
highly displeasing to us.
It was never our intention,
you must know that.
Then, I am to be reinstated as Viceroy
of the New Land?
Master Columbus,
you have suffered much, endured much.
Now, we think it best
that you should rest for a while.
All your money and titles
shall be restored to you.
But, for the present,
it is better that you stay here.
That's right, Admiral.
We'll talk about future plans later on.
But I shall die if I
don't go back to sea!
For the moment,
we think it best
that you should not.
Majesty!
This is worse than my shackles.
Look after him.
You're worn out.
Come and rest.
- No.
I rather go home.
Things are difficult just now,
with Naples and Venice.
There's a war on, you know?
- There's always a war on.
They'll agree to
another voyage soon.
You'll see.
- It's too late.
If I go on 20 more voyages,
I'll never recover
from such ingratitude.
Don't they realize
who I am?
Of course they do.
- It's time they did.
People will remember me
long after they are dead and forgotten.
Translated: suadnovic