Fitzcarraldo (1982) Movie Script
Cayahuari Yacu,
thejungle lndians call this land,
"the land where God
did notfinish creation."
They believe only
after man has disappeared
will He return to finish His work.
With thanks to the Ashininka Campa
lndians of Gran Pajonal
with their chieftains Miguel, Nicols
and Pascual Camaiteri Fernandez,
the Campas of Rio Tambo
with their chieftain David Prez Espinosa
and the Machiguengas
of Rio Camisea.
For God's sake hurry up!
lfwe're gonna do this,
let's do it in style.
We're too late anyway.
We're going to miss Caruso!
Come on! Get a move on!
Jump!
Wait, you've got oil
all over yourface.
Come here, l'll wipe it off.
lsn't that better?
- Come on now, for God's sake!
- Yes.
Champagne for the horses!
The best!
We're gonna make it.
Madam. Sir.
This is a gala performance.
We come from lquitos,
1,200 miles down the Amazon.
- l had to row 'cos our motor broke down.
- Look at his hands.
For two days and two nights
l've been rowing
to see Caruso once in my life.
You have no tickets.
This man needs to go in there.
He has no ticket but he has a right.
- Please!
- Sir, Madam, you can't go in there.
l'm going to build an opera house
in lquitos and Caruso'll open it.
lt'll be the greatest opera ofthejungle.
Please, let us in.
You'll work with us.
Let us in, please.
Please!
l'd like to be in there myseIf,
believe me.
Follow me!
Make sure to be quiet and press
yourselves right up against the wall.
- l think he pointed to you.
- Yes.
He pointed to me.
You saw it.
He means me.
Fitzcarraldo?
How do you spell it?
What an interesting name!
My father was lrish.
My real name is Fitzgerald.
Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald.
They had trouble saying it in Peru.
Fitzgerald? From lquitos?
You're not the man
with the railway, are you?
Yeah, that's me.
What's up?
Well, the Trans-Andean Railway...
Unfortunately the projectfell through.
But the idea was a bold one.
At the moment l'm trying my luck
as an ice producer, to make money.
Here, all people wantfor their money
are the big names from Europe.
Sarah Bernhardt,
an actress who can't even sing.
But her wooden leg
is the talk ofthe town.
The ice, ah, l mean...
l'm doing all this
because l have one dream.
The opera.
The Great Opera in the Jungle!
Fitzcarraldo will build it
and Caruso will sing at the premiere.
lt's only the dreamers
who ever move mountains.
Forfive years now we've been
the richest town in the whole world.
lt's like gold fever.
May l show you the house?
When this opera was built,
there were only a few huts here.
The building
was practically in thejungle.
Prices are four times higher here
than in New York.
There are palaces being built with tiles
from Delft and Florentine marble.
And lquitos is catching up.
lt's still a filthy frontier town,
but the rubber business is growing
by leaps and bounds.
The better-offcitizens in Manaus,
if l may put it like that,
send their laundry to Lisbon
because the water in the Amazon
is felt to be impure.
- Come on!
- We're back, my children!
Do you know Caruso?
Did you go to the opera?
- You were gone for a long time.
- How was it?
- Aren't you going to stay?
- l don't know.
Molly, l don't mind you
running a brothel.
But there are too many
ofyour clients around.
Come on,
l'm just training the girls.
l got them offthe streets.
But my girls are working
in the best households.
l've nothing against the girls, Molly.
l just can't stand the sight ofdandies
who think money can buy everything.
And the opera l've got to work
on this ice production.
You could take a crack
at respectability, you know.
lt wouldn't kill you.
Respectabilityjust made me bankrupt.
l'm better offdown there by the river.
That's where l belong.
You have to understand
that l can't let my audience down.
- The kids?
- Yeah, the kids are my public.
And a pig.
One ofthose
lean racing pigs loves me.
How could she help it?
When l build my opera house
l'll see to it you have your own box
and a red velvet armchair.
lt works through a chemical reaction
ofdifferent salts.
Just imagine the possibilities ice has,
but people don't see it.
Look, the children love it.
Yeah, they eat it.
Molly, just imagine -
ice in every warehouse,
on every ship.
Yes, make your bet.
- What do you think of it?
- l'll tell you what l think.
You can read up about ice
in any school book.
lt's out ofthe question
to apply for a patent.
But l have the experience,
and it's experience that counts.
What good is ice here?
To cool the rubber?
Maybe we should magically create
some glaciers in thejungle.
And then we'll build the
Trans-Andean railway on toboggans,
loosen the brakes,
give her a push and adios!
Offshe goes,
sledding down into the valley!
Come on!
Stay here.
Don't take it to heart.
Here, this is for you.
Play a hand with us.
The precious feeling
of losing money!
There's nothing like it!
Ecstasy!
The church remains closed
till this town has its opera house.
l want the opera house!
l want my opera house!
l want to have an opera!
This church remains closed
till this town has an opera!
l will build my opera!
l want to build an opera!
l want to have an opera!
l want to have my opera.
l could have let you cool your heels
in there for two weeks.
l should have left you in there
for quite a while.
Thanks. Two days were
more than enough.
l'm sure Molly is behind this.
You're mistaken.
Come with me, l'll show you
the real reason l'm letting you out so soon.
Come with me.
They won't budge.
l felt moved.
You can do that to a horse,
but not to me.
That shouldn't be too hard to arrange.
All ofthem together,
at the same time?
Don Aquilino, The Borja brothers
and all the others?
l have my ways, don't worry.
l'll bring all my girls with me.
We'll have all the rubber barons
gathered together like flies.
And l guarantee you,
they'll be feeling good.
Great!
l'll bring my phonograph.
You need some sprucing up first.
l'm not letting you
out of my house like that.
A steam bath for Mr Fitzcarraldo!
Full treatment.
And then deliver him to my bedroom.
They can't be serious! Hey!
Hey Molly,
tell them to stop it! Help!
Well take your clothes off, seor.
All ofthem!
Everyone wants money from me.
The hospital, the fire brigade,
and now you keep talking
my ear offabout your opera.
lt gives expression
to our deepestfeelings.
- What is he talking about?
- We can't afford everything!
Our deepestfeelings!
Just take a look at this.
Come a bit closer.
Do you see?
Take a good look.
A little demonstration.
1000 dollar bills seem to taste best.
See how fast our money
goes down the drain?
You must have experienced this.
A railway is sure to swallow up
a lot of money.
How thrilling it must be
to go bankrupt.
- Let's return to ourfriends.
- Yes!
A chance to meet all one's friends
and rivals in one place
does not present itseIfvery often.
Rosita, over there!
Take the champagne over there!
Please, may we have your attention?
Quiet, please!
Please, come a bit closer.
Servant! Hold him!
He can't get away with this.
One moment!
Please, please, please!
There's no reason for concern.
Ladies and gentlemen,
don't worry.
See?
This man is harmless.
This gentleman'sjust had
a soul-stirring experience.
Sir!
My servants will escort you
to the kitchen.
My dogs' cook
will prepare you a meal.
Thank you very much, sir,
you were superb.
To your dogs' cook.
To Verdi.
To Rossini.
To Caruso.
To Fitzcarraldo,
the Conquistador ofthe Useless!
Cheers!
As true as l am standing here,
one day l shall bring
grand opera to lquitos.
l will outnumber you.
l will outbillion you.
l am the spectacle in the forest.
l am the inventor of rubber.
l will outrubber you.
Sir...
The reality ofyour world is nothing more
than a rotten caricature
ofwhat you get to see
in great opera productions.
Fitz, Fitz, be quiet.
Let's go.
He's as dead as a doornail.
He is no opponentfor you.
Madam, l'm still standing firm
on both my legs.
You're a big game hunter,
aren't you?
- What's that got to do with it?
- You don't know?
When you shoot an elephant,
he sometimes stays on his legs
for ten days before he topples over.
Good night!
Come on, girls, we're leaving.
Not through the garden. This way!
You should do like the people here.
The only money that's to be made here
is in rubber - forget about the ice.
Yes, l know,
but you need a big steam-boat.
And you need land
and hundreds ofworkers.
The rubber barons
have divided up the land,
but there's still some left.
How do you know?
Through Don Aquilino.
Why don't you pay him a visit?
Forget about it.
But you'll get to know more from him.
My territory begins right here
where the Pongo ends.
l'd say it reaches downstream
for 80 miles.
- And above the Pongo?
- l'd like to have that myseIf.
l've thought about building
a road across the mountains,
but it would be
an impossible venture.
And the most important thing
is still missing.
A ship?
And nobody
has made it upstream?
Want to see for yourseIf?
We can climb over the rock.
What's he saying?
We must be quiet.
He says, whoever talks
will be swallowed up
by the evil spirits ofthe rapids.
The lndians call the rapids Chirimagua,
"the angry spirits."
Anyone who falls in there is lost.
The native bare-asses also say,
"The water has no hair to hold on to."
ls this a rubber tree?
That's correct.
Hevea brasiliensis.
The bare-asses
call the rubber tree caoutchou
"the tree that weeps."
These bare-asses
love flowery language.
Gold, they call
"sweat ofthe sun."
Bees, "father of honey."
You know, it's no easyjob
to civilise them.
How much do you think
this stinky stuffweighs?
Around 60 kilos!
And l presume you're familiar
with the market price.
How long does it take
to make one ofthem?
Three men one week.
Presently l have a staffof8,500.
But l am thinking
of increasing to 10,000.
You're an odd fish,
but somehow
l like you all the same.
See? That's my area.
From the Pongo
to the mouth ofthe Ucayali.
Up there you see
the Peruvian Amazon Company,
a joint stock company,
and there, the Borja brothers.
What does that square mean?
That's the rubber region ofthe Ucayali,
about 14 million trees.
lt's the only area still unclaimed.
To get across the rapids
ofthe Pongo das Mortes,
you'd have to have wings.
The area is inaccessible.
What about up on the Pachitea?
No rubber trees, maybe a few,
but not enough to make it worthwhile.
The only thing you'll find there
are savage lndians.
No gold, no rubber, no nothing.
Only head hunters.
The two rivers
almost touch each other.
What?
How exact is this map?
ls there anything more precise?
Oh, l think
it's a pretty good map.
ln 1896 a group ofsurveyors and soldiers
got to the Upper Pachitea,
but most ofthem were murdered.
Then some missionaries got as far as
Saramiriza, theirfarthest settlement.
From there on you'll find only
savage Jivaros and Campas.
Two padres ended up
as shrunken heads.
Have you ever seen
a shrunken head?
Yes, ofcourse.
l mean...
No, not really.
- Have you made your choice?
- l can't decide.
l guess l'll take both.
- Molly, listen!
- What is it?
You won't believe it, Molly -
l need your money.
- Oh Fitz, not again!
- l have an idea.
An amazing idea!
Here, look at this.
l've bought some maps,
l can explain everything to you.
There!
First l have to contact a lawyer,
then get a ship.
But my money is not gonna
buy you a ship, Fitz.
You're squeezing me to death!
l can't breathe.
The document, please.
Thank you.
The act ofterritorial acquisition
is done step by step.
You and your partner sign,
you pay the money
and l will complete the document
with my signature.
Before you sign, l'd like to direct
your attention to the option clause.
What option clause?
Through its executive organs,
the Peruvian government
is insistent with no exceptions,
that a region ofthis size
be taken into possession
by deed and by proof
within nine months.
You will have to prove
that real operational steps
have been taken to exploit the region.
Otherwise your right ofexploitation
will be terminated.
The point is
that the state is concerned
that areas such as this are productively
used by competent men of business
- so that they...
- Come on, we are wasting time.
May l ask you a question
ofa personal nature?
Do you really know
what you're doing?
We're gonna do
what nobody's ever done.
We're going to be very, very rich.
You'll see.
Well?
Please, sir, sign on the dotted line.
That's it.
lsn't it marvellous?
We should be able to fix it up.
lt's wonderful.
- You haven't seen the whole thing.
- l like it already.
Watch out here.
Everything's rotten through.
The engine room.
Up the stairs.
Wait a moment.
Wait. Let me go first.
To our contract!
Please come in, gentlemen.
Now that the purchase of my ship
is settled,
let me be quite frank.
Go on.
l forced you to take Cholo as mechanic
or you wouldn't have gotten the ship.
l realise that.
Very good. Good.
l'll tell you that much -
he's a first-rate mechanic.
Now, what else is he?
The reason behind it all,
excuse my bluntness
is that l wish to be kept informed
about the activities of my competitors.
l don't want my territory contested.
Don't worry.
Every steamship owner
is a potential enemy,
but those with just a canoe
can't hurt us.
The two of us have a bet going
how long it will take
until you go bankrupt.
Oh, don't take it personally, please.
We're all sportsmen, aren't we?
No, only one of us.
l shall move a mountain.
When is she gonna be ready?
- Tomorrow.
- For days he's been telling me tomorrow.
l hope she'll be ready for launching.
l wonder what this guy's really up to.
- What's your name?
- Paul Resenbrink.
l'm Dutch.
They call me Orinoco Paul
because l know
every goddamn bend in this river.
You haven't sailed for some time.
That's right.
My last ship was the Adolfo.
My eyesight isn't so good,
but l cannot be fooled.
What do you mean?
Thejungle plays tricks
on your senses.
lt's full ofdreams, lies, demons.
l have learned to tell the difference
between reality and hallucinations.
l see that you took part in
the Pachitea expedition in '96.
Yes, as helmsman.
On the return trip l was the captain.
The captain died.
There were only five survivors.
Paul Resenbrink,
you have captain's authority.
Help me choose the crew.
We need strong, fearless men.
l'm afraid we'll find
few good men here.
First ofall we need a pilot.
Does anyone have
experience as a pilot?
Scram, you puny runt!
l'm Huerequeque.
So?
Brethren!
l am Huerequeque!
l am the best cook
in all ofel Amazonas.
l have been on every ship.
And by the way, amigo...
l'm not stupid.
l know what your plans are.
Huerequeque may tip the bottle
now and then,
but up here electric, electrico!
Also, l am the best gunman
on the entire Amazon.
- What do you think of him?
- Upstream and downstream.
- ls he really a good gunman?
- l would have to say, yes.
What was your name?
Huere...
Huerequeque.
Huerequeque, you are our cook.
Cheers, then.
- Please understand.
- Who bought the ship?
Who paid for the crew?
lt's my right to come with you.
Molly, you can't leave the girls.
What are they gonna do without you?
And what will l do without you?
l'll be back.
Fitz do you still love me?
We are partners, you and me.
Oh Fitz, you're crazy!
Oh Fitz, it's wonderful!
This is your day, Molly!
You've given the ship my name!
That's more
than my poor heart can stand.
Now comes the official part.
Here. Throw it... hard!
l don't want those seoritas
on board my ship.
These are my assistants.
l can't cook without them.
Come on, kids, come on.
Why isn't he going down
to the Ucayali?
Why is he heading upstream?
l thought he was going
to the Pongo das Mortes.
You saw right.
Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald
is going up the Amazon.
We're going upstream!
What's the idea?
We're going up the river.
That's the idea.
And, from now on, you only leave
the engine room if l say so.
What do you think you're doing?
Getting around my girls! Get lost!
Don Fitzcarraldo! Don Fitzcarraldo!
You're back at last.
l'd almost given up hope.
Finally!
Look here,
Amazon Terminal ready for action.
l see you've become a father.
l knew you'd come back.
l thought you'd forgotten about me
when the railway construction ceased.
Every year l repaint
the first class booking office.
lt looks a little weather-beaten,
but wait until your trains
cross the mountains
from the Amazon
to the Pacific,
then everything will change.
l've been here six years now,
without payment.
Therefore...
The engine is in good working order.
All the levers work,
but l must confess...
l was forced to sell a few iron parts
to the lndians.
They need itfor their machetes
and other things they need.
They used to come at night
to steal parts.
So l thought
it was better to sell
than to have things stolen at night.
l had to do it. l was left alone
and deserted on this post.
l thought you'd been sent home
like everybody else.
Let me show you outside.
The tracks reach 200 meters
deep into thejungle.
Come with me, l've invented something
to scare offthe lndians.
They've become more cautious.
l do the same thing with the snakes -
l connect an electric line to the tracks.
l connected the power generator
to the track.
The lndians got theirfingers singed!
They won't come back.
l chase the snakes
onto the rails with a stick.
On the first rail they getfried,
on the second they turn to ash.
Every year, l cut back the bushes
When will you resume construction?
The thing is, we've come here
on a different project.
Our whole financial situation
will change overnight, if it works.
What l'm trying to say is...
we need the tracks
for another purpose.
For God's sake!
No, not those from under the engine!
Don Fitzcarraldo.
Don Fitzcarraldo! Don Fitzcarraldo!
The men are removing the tracks.
l'm begging you, leave mejust a few yards
under the locomotive.
How else can l roll it back and forth
to maintain it?
Hey!
Leave those under there!
There's more out in the forest.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome. lt's all right.
Thank you.
We should have reached
the Pachitea a long time ago.
No, we haven't.
We have according to the map.
l don't rely on maps.
How can you be so sure about that?
No river tastes like the Pachitea.
lt'sjust ahead of us.
lsn't that something!
Brimming over!
Oh, these women!
That's what l need.
What's going on here?
We're going up the Pachitea.
ls that so?
Where are we going?
Amigos, welcome to the Pachitea!
Known for it's native hospitality.
Something is going on down below.
They don't seem to agree
with our course.
What?
l told you in lquitos l needed men,
not cowards who shit themselves.
So...
Whoever wants to leave,
step forward.
Welcome to Saramiriza!
Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald.
We thought you were
a government commission.
Welcome to our place, here.
Welcome.
- Happy to have you.
- l'm Huerequeque.
Welcome.
Come.
Thank you, thanks.
How can anyone learn patriotism
from a school book?
The Government requires it.
The natives get used to it
like vaccination.
The children already feel like Peruvians.
The other day l asked them,
"Are you lndians?"
"No," they said, "not us,
the ones up the river are."
Then l asked, "What are lndians?"
They said,
"lndians are people who can't read
"and who don't know
how to wash their clothes."
And what do the older people say?
Well...
We can't seem to cure them
ofthe idea
that our everyday life
is only an illusion
behind which lies
the reality ofdreams.
l am very interested in these ideas.
l specialise in opera myseIf.
What do you know about the Jivaros
on the upper Pachitea?
l was there during the disaster in '96.
Have you had any contact since then?
Some years ago, two ofour brothers
set offwith some natives.
One ofthem came back
a few days later
and said the Jivaros had
withdrawn deep into the forest.
The expedition
vanished without a trace.
Afew weeks later,
one ofour brothers was washed up.
They'd filled his stomach with
heavy stones and his head was gone.
Anyway, what do you want up there?
l'm planning something geographical.
Paul.
The crew.
Quiet down, you drunken idiots!
Stop it! Stop it at once!
You have to crack down on the men,
or you can find yourseIfa new captain.
Who's causing trouble?
Evaristo Chavez
and Fabiano, the Brazilian.
And the two women.
They must go ashore immediately,
they're the main ones.
And Huerequeque,
he's smart but not to be trusted.
Your services
are no longer required.
l give you two minutes to get ashore.
You'll see,
you did us a favour.
And the women!
Come on, move!
See to the rest!
And all ofyou, back to work.
Go on!
Reduce speed!
HaIfspeed ahead!
What are the men doing?
They've armed themselves.
Under no circumstances
are they to shoot.
That was our mistake
on the first expedition.
Go down and tell them that,
or there'll be a disaster.
What the hell are you doing?
Have you gone mad?
l'm just trying to have a little conversation
with our invisible friends.
Your stupidity will cost us our lives.
Yours first.
There is silence and silence.
And this one, l don't like at all.
There's something on the water.
Where?
There! lt's floating towards us.
Something black.
What's an umbrella doing here?
lt must have belonged to one ofthe
missionaries that the Jivaros killed.
Strange.
Seems to be a last warning.
The bare-asses love flowery gestures.
l wish they would show themselves.
Now it's Caruso's turn.
Do you see the lndians in the canoe?
Could that be a trap?
lt doesn't look like one.
No, l don't think so.
They usually attack at night.
And in bigger groups.
Shall we stop and try to make contact?
No, don't stop.
They wouldn't talk to us anyway.
Something's moving over there.
Those bare-asses
have never seen the likes ofthis.
Teach 'em some respect.
Everything depends
on how we behave.
Tell me everything
you know about them.
These Jivaro probably left the interior
of Brazil about 300 years ago.
For ten generations they've been
criss-crossing thejungle
in search ofa white God
in a divine vessel.
They believe that
at the end oftheir pilgrimage
he will show them a land
without sorrow and death.
We're gonna take advantage
ofthis myth.
What the hell has that
got to do with us?
lfa bare-ass comes too close,
l'll put a bullet right between his eyes.
But this God doesn't come
with canons.
He comes with the voice of Caruso.
Your loyal crew has deserted you.
Thatfinishes thisjourney.
Why didn't you go with them?
Because l want this whole
damned ship to turn back.
Don't mess with me.
l'll do what l like around here.
Just keep the engine running.
Those bastards!
Suddenly they were all there
with their rifles, those cowards!
Shit!
l told you all along
they were no good.
They'll never make it out of here.
There's only three of us left.
You, me and Cholo.
What, him?
Now we really need some ltalian opera.
Don't you agree?
That's the end of it.
The dream is over.
Can you turn here?
lt's a bit narrow, but it'll work.
lt won't work.
Did you say something?
Turn around.
Do you see what l see?
That's all we need!
Breaking through there
would be the end of us.
There'sjust one way to go...
straight ahead.
- You better pull ashore.
- OK.
Go down to the engine room,
very casually.
They're armed
with bows and arrows.
But they're keeping their distance.
Have you ever seen this before?
No, never.
Damn it, now they are
blocking the way.
Are they still there?
Yes!
Even more ofthem now.
Maybe a hundred canoes.
Give me a shout when the fun begins.
l wanna brighten up my last hour
with a few fireworks.
Brethren, what time is it, anyway?
Over here, bare-asses,
l'll pour you a beer.
Hurry up, l'll buy you a drink.
- Shh! Where did you come from?
- l just had a nap.
What about the others?
Have they quit?
l figured they would.
Cowards, degenerados! lmbeciles!
Shut up!
What do they say?
They're talking about
the "white vessel" - our ship.
They expect
the promised salvation from it.
They say there's a curse
weighing on the entire land.
They know that we are not gods,
but the ship has really impressed them.
But why do they play the flute?
What is happening?
My friends, l think we will continue.
See the red cliffon the right hand side?
Yes, l see it.
That must be it.
Good. We can't go much further,
or we'll run onto a sandbank.
That slope may look insignificant,
but it's gonna be my destiny.
Come on, follow me!
Now he's showing his cards.
This is it.
This is what we were looking for.
Here? This?
Do we have to climb a tree
for you dimwits to understand?
We'll build a nice platform
for the gentlemen. Up there.
l can hardly believe it.
There. There's the Ucayali.
All the river above the
Pongo das Mortes belongs to us.
l know, l know.
We'll make a railway tunnel.
No.
We're going to drag that ship
over the mountain.
And the bare-asses
are going to help us.
How the hell are we going to do that?
Just like the cowjumped
over the moon.
l like this.
Count me in.
Come in.
What is it?
l still don't understand
what you've got in mind.
Come in. l'll show you.
This...
is the Amazon.
Here is lquitos.
This...
is the Ucayali.
Right?
And here...
This is the Pachitea.
So, first we went up the Amazon...
and then up the Pachitea.
We are here right now
and we'll drag the ship
over this mountain.
Exactly there.
From here to here
we'll operate the ship
to collect rubberfrom
thousands ofworkers.
Why didn't we move up the Ucayali?
Because ofthe Pongo das Mortes.
Nobody will ever make it
through those rapids.
Yes, but how do you get
the rubber to lquitos?
We need another ship.
We'll carry it back over the mountain
and build a settlement there.
Soon we'll be so rich we'll have
all the ships we need to take it to lquitos.
- l've explained our project to the Chief.
- What's his answer?
Hejust says yes.
More to the left.
A little more.
Stop!
Again, a bit more to the left.
A little more.
Stop!
Yes, yes!
T-square at42 degrees.
- Not a bad start, was it?
- Right.
There are even children here.
lt's a good sign.
What do you think, Paul
will the lndians stick with us?
You can't tell what they really think.
But how the hell are we gonna
get that ship over the hill?
lf nothing else works,
then we'll make a tunnel.
l could even do it alone
ifwe had a perfect pulley system.
But l would need ten miles of rope
and it would take me ten weeks
to pull the ship this far.
Unfortunately,
we haven't got that much time.
We have seven more months
before the option runs out.
We have a winch and the
strength of hundreds of lndians.
We are going to drag this ship
over the mountain.
Who are your little friends?
McNamara, he's my footman.
And this is el comandante.
Here's to you, McNamara.
This is much steeper than we thought.
Now that the trees
have been cut down,
you can really see how steep it is.
We have to level the ground,
build a ramp.
And up there we'll have to make
a cut through to the top.
- That could take months.
- Dynamite!
l hope we have enough dynamite.
Careful, that'll frighten the bare-asses.
We have no choice.
Take cover! Get back!
Watch out! Danger!
Hold it, hold it!
Where are you going?
Now go back to work.
Go on.
Those logs up there.
Huerequeque, come here.
How can this trunk withstand
the pull of hundreds oftons?
lt will. See how deep we have
anchored it in the ground.
As tough as iron.
Bring it down here!
Huerequeque, come with me.
Go on.
Slowly.
lfwe had known that you planned
to move the boat on railway tracks,
l could have told you
to leave the tracks right there back
at your Amazon station.
Sorry l can't help you.
l had a bit too much to drink yesterday.
Shouldn't we tell him
that it melts away to nothing?
That's not possible.
There's no word for ice in their language.
Come on, get out ofthere!
Out! Out!
Give it a go!
Give it all you got!
l'll be damned
lt's working.
lt's moving.
- lt's moving!
- lt's moving!
Watch out!
They've been staring at the river
for two days and two nights now.
l'm sure it's because of
the terrible accident.
l can't get anything out ofthem.
They won't say anything.
And?
- They're gone.
- All ofthem?
They've really disappeared?
What do you make ofthis?
l had this strange feeling,
so l went outside.
Not a soul, nothing.
They've all disappeared.
That can mean anything.
lt could mean that they'll attack us.
But the boy is still here.
My footman, McNamara.
For that he'll be made Chiefone day.
They're back
as ifthey'd never been gone.
Don't ask me for an explanation.
l can't believe this crazy thing
Huerequeque has thought up.
Amigos, the engine is running.
- Now that's what l call brainwork.
- All you do is drink!
We could start up the engine
and drive the anchor winch offof it.
That way the ship will pull itseIf up
the mountain under it's own steam.
Now, what do you say to that?
There are times when a peasant's brain
is good for something.
You ain't no peasant!
You're the finest drunkard ever
to stagger over this earth.
- But we forgot something.
- What?
Enrico! Enrico Caruso!
Why are they doing all this?
Why are they working like dogs for us?
Why?
Why? Why?
Why?
- Why?
- No, l don't know either.
The only thing l know is that
there must be a reason for it.
They're planning something, l bet.
You must drink it.
lt is yucca.
Yucca with fermented saliva.
Go on, drink!
My God, time is flying
and we are getting nowhere.
Something's up.
The men are preparing barbasco,
a very strong poison.
And they are painted black.
But most ofthe men have hidden
in the woods and have armed themselves.
What does that mean?
As far as l know, the paint is
supposed to make them invisible.
They only do that when they go
hunting or when they go to war.
Let's return to the ship,
load our rifles.
We wouldn't stand a chance.
lt seems to me that they
are planning something.
And l fear that we four will soon
end up as shrunken heads.
l think we're safe for the moment.
How do you know?
There is a sign.
Look!
See those hands on the railing?
What has happened?
The Pongo!
We're drifting into the Pongo!
Cholo!
Paul! Cholo!
l must stop the ship!
Cholo!
We're drifting into the Pongo!
The valves first!
For God's sake, my ship!
Damn it.
Now it's too late.
Do you know what he says?
He says they untied the boat last night.
They knew all along the divine vessel
was only dragged over the mountain
so that it could drift
through the rapids.
lt had to be done to soothe
the evil spirits ofthe rapids.
l must stop my ship.
First ofall, have a drink.
Running the Pongo das Mortes
with a steamship
is a record that will
never be repeated.
Here, have a drink.
Wonderful, gentlemen.
Quite spectacular.
Have a drink.
Here's to the reconciliation
ofthe evil spirits ofthe Pongo.
l'll tell you a story.
At the time when North America
was hardly explored,
one ofthose early French trappers
went westward from Montreal.
He was the first white man
to set eyes on Niagara Falls.
When he returned, he told ofwaterfalls
that were more vast and immense
than people had ever dreamed of.
But no one believed him.
They thought he was
a madman or a liar.
They asked him, "What's your proof?"
And he answered...
"My proof is...
"that l have seen them."
Sorry.
l don't really know
what that's got to do with me.
What will you do next?
l don't know.
l'm asking because l'm interested
in buying the boat back.
My business has been
expanding lately.
The damage could be repaired
in a few days.
Oh, l assure you, l don't mean
to exploit your delicate situation.
l just heard, that a European opera
ensemble has arrived in Manaus
to give a guest performance there.
Perhaps you should go there.
They are performing an opera
ofthis fantastic German composer.
One ofthe very modern ones.
Federico, Roberto, Ricardo...
What's his name, Ricardo?
Wagner?
- He's the one who wrote Parsifal.
- Yes, l guess that's the one.
Very Teutonic, his music.
And the name ofthe Opera
is "The Puritans".
No, no, that's an ltalian opera, by Bellini.
Tell me...
Were you serious about the boat?
Hey, Cholo, Huerequeque,
come over here!
Come on.
Paul, this is the new owner
ofthe Molly Aida.
But we still have the ship
for two more weeks.
- Paul, listen.
- We don't like to give it to him.
You'll travel to Manaus
with all this money.
You'll bring back a tailcoat
and the best cigar in the world.
And from the theatre l want
an armchair with red velvet upholstery.
l have to keep a promise to a pig
that loves Caruso so much.
And then...
thejungle lndians call this land,
"the land where God
did notfinish creation."
They believe only
after man has disappeared
will He return to finish His work.
With thanks to the Ashininka Campa
lndians of Gran Pajonal
with their chieftains Miguel, Nicols
and Pascual Camaiteri Fernandez,
the Campas of Rio Tambo
with their chieftain David Prez Espinosa
and the Machiguengas
of Rio Camisea.
For God's sake hurry up!
lfwe're gonna do this,
let's do it in style.
We're too late anyway.
We're going to miss Caruso!
Come on! Get a move on!
Jump!
Wait, you've got oil
all over yourface.
Come here, l'll wipe it off.
lsn't that better?
- Come on now, for God's sake!
- Yes.
Champagne for the horses!
The best!
We're gonna make it.
Madam. Sir.
This is a gala performance.
We come from lquitos,
1,200 miles down the Amazon.
- l had to row 'cos our motor broke down.
- Look at his hands.
For two days and two nights
l've been rowing
to see Caruso once in my life.
You have no tickets.
This man needs to go in there.
He has no ticket but he has a right.
- Please!
- Sir, Madam, you can't go in there.
l'm going to build an opera house
in lquitos and Caruso'll open it.
lt'll be the greatest opera ofthejungle.
Please, let us in.
You'll work with us.
Let us in, please.
Please!
l'd like to be in there myseIf,
believe me.
Follow me!
Make sure to be quiet and press
yourselves right up against the wall.
- l think he pointed to you.
- Yes.
He pointed to me.
You saw it.
He means me.
Fitzcarraldo?
How do you spell it?
What an interesting name!
My father was lrish.
My real name is Fitzgerald.
Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald.
They had trouble saying it in Peru.
Fitzgerald? From lquitos?
You're not the man
with the railway, are you?
Yeah, that's me.
What's up?
Well, the Trans-Andean Railway...
Unfortunately the projectfell through.
But the idea was a bold one.
At the moment l'm trying my luck
as an ice producer, to make money.
Here, all people wantfor their money
are the big names from Europe.
Sarah Bernhardt,
an actress who can't even sing.
But her wooden leg
is the talk ofthe town.
The ice, ah, l mean...
l'm doing all this
because l have one dream.
The opera.
The Great Opera in the Jungle!
Fitzcarraldo will build it
and Caruso will sing at the premiere.
lt's only the dreamers
who ever move mountains.
Forfive years now we've been
the richest town in the whole world.
lt's like gold fever.
May l show you the house?
When this opera was built,
there were only a few huts here.
The building
was practically in thejungle.
Prices are four times higher here
than in New York.
There are palaces being built with tiles
from Delft and Florentine marble.
And lquitos is catching up.
lt's still a filthy frontier town,
but the rubber business is growing
by leaps and bounds.
The better-offcitizens in Manaus,
if l may put it like that,
send their laundry to Lisbon
because the water in the Amazon
is felt to be impure.
- Come on!
- We're back, my children!
Do you know Caruso?
Did you go to the opera?
- You were gone for a long time.
- How was it?
- Aren't you going to stay?
- l don't know.
Molly, l don't mind you
running a brothel.
But there are too many
ofyour clients around.
Come on,
l'm just training the girls.
l got them offthe streets.
But my girls are working
in the best households.
l've nothing against the girls, Molly.
l just can't stand the sight ofdandies
who think money can buy everything.
And the opera l've got to work
on this ice production.
You could take a crack
at respectability, you know.
lt wouldn't kill you.
Respectabilityjust made me bankrupt.
l'm better offdown there by the river.
That's where l belong.
You have to understand
that l can't let my audience down.
- The kids?
- Yeah, the kids are my public.
And a pig.
One ofthose
lean racing pigs loves me.
How could she help it?
When l build my opera house
l'll see to it you have your own box
and a red velvet armchair.
lt works through a chemical reaction
ofdifferent salts.
Just imagine the possibilities ice has,
but people don't see it.
Look, the children love it.
Yeah, they eat it.
Molly, just imagine -
ice in every warehouse,
on every ship.
Yes, make your bet.
- What do you think of it?
- l'll tell you what l think.
You can read up about ice
in any school book.
lt's out ofthe question
to apply for a patent.
But l have the experience,
and it's experience that counts.
What good is ice here?
To cool the rubber?
Maybe we should magically create
some glaciers in thejungle.
And then we'll build the
Trans-Andean railway on toboggans,
loosen the brakes,
give her a push and adios!
Offshe goes,
sledding down into the valley!
Come on!
Stay here.
Don't take it to heart.
Here, this is for you.
Play a hand with us.
The precious feeling
of losing money!
There's nothing like it!
Ecstasy!
The church remains closed
till this town has its opera house.
l want the opera house!
l want my opera house!
l want to have an opera!
This church remains closed
till this town has an opera!
l will build my opera!
l want to build an opera!
l want to have an opera!
l want to have my opera.
l could have let you cool your heels
in there for two weeks.
l should have left you in there
for quite a while.
Thanks. Two days were
more than enough.
l'm sure Molly is behind this.
You're mistaken.
Come with me, l'll show you
the real reason l'm letting you out so soon.
Come with me.
They won't budge.
l felt moved.
You can do that to a horse,
but not to me.
That shouldn't be too hard to arrange.
All ofthem together,
at the same time?
Don Aquilino, The Borja brothers
and all the others?
l have my ways, don't worry.
l'll bring all my girls with me.
We'll have all the rubber barons
gathered together like flies.
And l guarantee you,
they'll be feeling good.
Great!
l'll bring my phonograph.
You need some sprucing up first.
l'm not letting you
out of my house like that.
A steam bath for Mr Fitzcarraldo!
Full treatment.
And then deliver him to my bedroom.
They can't be serious! Hey!
Hey Molly,
tell them to stop it! Help!
Well take your clothes off, seor.
All ofthem!
Everyone wants money from me.
The hospital, the fire brigade,
and now you keep talking
my ear offabout your opera.
lt gives expression
to our deepestfeelings.
- What is he talking about?
- We can't afford everything!
Our deepestfeelings!
Just take a look at this.
Come a bit closer.
Do you see?
Take a good look.
A little demonstration.
1000 dollar bills seem to taste best.
See how fast our money
goes down the drain?
You must have experienced this.
A railway is sure to swallow up
a lot of money.
How thrilling it must be
to go bankrupt.
- Let's return to ourfriends.
- Yes!
A chance to meet all one's friends
and rivals in one place
does not present itseIfvery often.
Rosita, over there!
Take the champagne over there!
Please, may we have your attention?
Quiet, please!
Please, come a bit closer.
Servant! Hold him!
He can't get away with this.
One moment!
Please, please, please!
There's no reason for concern.
Ladies and gentlemen,
don't worry.
See?
This man is harmless.
This gentleman'sjust had
a soul-stirring experience.
Sir!
My servants will escort you
to the kitchen.
My dogs' cook
will prepare you a meal.
Thank you very much, sir,
you were superb.
To your dogs' cook.
To Verdi.
To Rossini.
To Caruso.
To Fitzcarraldo,
the Conquistador ofthe Useless!
Cheers!
As true as l am standing here,
one day l shall bring
grand opera to lquitos.
l will outnumber you.
l will outbillion you.
l am the spectacle in the forest.
l am the inventor of rubber.
l will outrubber you.
Sir...
The reality ofyour world is nothing more
than a rotten caricature
ofwhat you get to see
in great opera productions.
Fitz, Fitz, be quiet.
Let's go.
He's as dead as a doornail.
He is no opponentfor you.
Madam, l'm still standing firm
on both my legs.
You're a big game hunter,
aren't you?
- What's that got to do with it?
- You don't know?
When you shoot an elephant,
he sometimes stays on his legs
for ten days before he topples over.
Good night!
Come on, girls, we're leaving.
Not through the garden. This way!
You should do like the people here.
The only money that's to be made here
is in rubber - forget about the ice.
Yes, l know,
but you need a big steam-boat.
And you need land
and hundreds ofworkers.
The rubber barons
have divided up the land,
but there's still some left.
How do you know?
Through Don Aquilino.
Why don't you pay him a visit?
Forget about it.
But you'll get to know more from him.
My territory begins right here
where the Pongo ends.
l'd say it reaches downstream
for 80 miles.
- And above the Pongo?
- l'd like to have that myseIf.
l've thought about building
a road across the mountains,
but it would be
an impossible venture.
And the most important thing
is still missing.
A ship?
And nobody
has made it upstream?
Want to see for yourseIf?
We can climb over the rock.
What's he saying?
We must be quiet.
He says, whoever talks
will be swallowed up
by the evil spirits ofthe rapids.
The lndians call the rapids Chirimagua,
"the angry spirits."
Anyone who falls in there is lost.
The native bare-asses also say,
"The water has no hair to hold on to."
ls this a rubber tree?
That's correct.
Hevea brasiliensis.
The bare-asses
call the rubber tree caoutchou
"the tree that weeps."
These bare-asses
love flowery language.
Gold, they call
"sweat ofthe sun."
Bees, "father of honey."
You know, it's no easyjob
to civilise them.
How much do you think
this stinky stuffweighs?
Around 60 kilos!
And l presume you're familiar
with the market price.
How long does it take
to make one ofthem?
Three men one week.
Presently l have a staffof8,500.
But l am thinking
of increasing to 10,000.
You're an odd fish,
but somehow
l like you all the same.
See? That's my area.
From the Pongo
to the mouth ofthe Ucayali.
Up there you see
the Peruvian Amazon Company,
a joint stock company,
and there, the Borja brothers.
What does that square mean?
That's the rubber region ofthe Ucayali,
about 14 million trees.
lt's the only area still unclaimed.
To get across the rapids
ofthe Pongo das Mortes,
you'd have to have wings.
The area is inaccessible.
What about up on the Pachitea?
No rubber trees, maybe a few,
but not enough to make it worthwhile.
The only thing you'll find there
are savage lndians.
No gold, no rubber, no nothing.
Only head hunters.
The two rivers
almost touch each other.
What?
How exact is this map?
ls there anything more precise?
Oh, l think
it's a pretty good map.
ln 1896 a group ofsurveyors and soldiers
got to the Upper Pachitea,
but most ofthem were murdered.
Then some missionaries got as far as
Saramiriza, theirfarthest settlement.
From there on you'll find only
savage Jivaros and Campas.
Two padres ended up
as shrunken heads.
Have you ever seen
a shrunken head?
Yes, ofcourse.
l mean...
No, not really.
- Have you made your choice?
- l can't decide.
l guess l'll take both.
- Molly, listen!
- What is it?
You won't believe it, Molly -
l need your money.
- Oh Fitz, not again!
- l have an idea.
An amazing idea!
Here, look at this.
l've bought some maps,
l can explain everything to you.
There!
First l have to contact a lawyer,
then get a ship.
But my money is not gonna
buy you a ship, Fitz.
You're squeezing me to death!
l can't breathe.
The document, please.
Thank you.
The act ofterritorial acquisition
is done step by step.
You and your partner sign,
you pay the money
and l will complete the document
with my signature.
Before you sign, l'd like to direct
your attention to the option clause.
What option clause?
Through its executive organs,
the Peruvian government
is insistent with no exceptions,
that a region ofthis size
be taken into possession
by deed and by proof
within nine months.
You will have to prove
that real operational steps
have been taken to exploit the region.
Otherwise your right ofexploitation
will be terminated.
The point is
that the state is concerned
that areas such as this are productively
used by competent men of business
- so that they...
- Come on, we are wasting time.
May l ask you a question
ofa personal nature?
Do you really know
what you're doing?
We're gonna do
what nobody's ever done.
We're going to be very, very rich.
You'll see.
Well?
Please, sir, sign on the dotted line.
That's it.
lsn't it marvellous?
We should be able to fix it up.
lt's wonderful.
- You haven't seen the whole thing.
- l like it already.
Watch out here.
Everything's rotten through.
The engine room.
Up the stairs.
Wait a moment.
Wait. Let me go first.
To our contract!
Please come in, gentlemen.
Now that the purchase of my ship
is settled,
let me be quite frank.
Go on.
l forced you to take Cholo as mechanic
or you wouldn't have gotten the ship.
l realise that.
Very good. Good.
l'll tell you that much -
he's a first-rate mechanic.
Now, what else is he?
The reason behind it all,
excuse my bluntness
is that l wish to be kept informed
about the activities of my competitors.
l don't want my territory contested.
Don't worry.
Every steamship owner
is a potential enemy,
but those with just a canoe
can't hurt us.
The two of us have a bet going
how long it will take
until you go bankrupt.
Oh, don't take it personally, please.
We're all sportsmen, aren't we?
No, only one of us.
l shall move a mountain.
When is she gonna be ready?
- Tomorrow.
- For days he's been telling me tomorrow.
l hope she'll be ready for launching.
l wonder what this guy's really up to.
- What's your name?
- Paul Resenbrink.
l'm Dutch.
They call me Orinoco Paul
because l know
every goddamn bend in this river.
You haven't sailed for some time.
That's right.
My last ship was the Adolfo.
My eyesight isn't so good,
but l cannot be fooled.
What do you mean?
Thejungle plays tricks
on your senses.
lt's full ofdreams, lies, demons.
l have learned to tell the difference
between reality and hallucinations.
l see that you took part in
the Pachitea expedition in '96.
Yes, as helmsman.
On the return trip l was the captain.
The captain died.
There were only five survivors.
Paul Resenbrink,
you have captain's authority.
Help me choose the crew.
We need strong, fearless men.
l'm afraid we'll find
few good men here.
First ofall we need a pilot.
Does anyone have
experience as a pilot?
Scram, you puny runt!
l'm Huerequeque.
So?
Brethren!
l am Huerequeque!
l am the best cook
in all ofel Amazonas.
l have been on every ship.
And by the way, amigo...
l'm not stupid.
l know what your plans are.
Huerequeque may tip the bottle
now and then,
but up here electric, electrico!
Also, l am the best gunman
on the entire Amazon.
- What do you think of him?
- Upstream and downstream.
- ls he really a good gunman?
- l would have to say, yes.
What was your name?
Huere...
Huerequeque.
Huerequeque, you are our cook.
Cheers, then.
- Please understand.
- Who bought the ship?
Who paid for the crew?
lt's my right to come with you.
Molly, you can't leave the girls.
What are they gonna do without you?
And what will l do without you?
l'll be back.
Fitz do you still love me?
We are partners, you and me.
Oh Fitz, you're crazy!
Oh Fitz, it's wonderful!
This is your day, Molly!
You've given the ship my name!
That's more
than my poor heart can stand.
Now comes the official part.
Here. Throw it... hard!
l don't want those seoritas
on board my ship.
These are my assistants.
l can't cook without them.
Come on, kids, come on.
Why isn't he going down
to the Ucayali?
Why is he heading upstream?
l thought he was going
to the Pongo das Mortes.
You saw right.
Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald
is going up the Amazon.
We're going upstream!
What's the idea?
We're going up the river.
That's the idea.
And, from now on, you only leave
the engine room if l say so.
What do you think you're doing?
Getting around my girls! Get lost!
Don Fitzcarraldo! Don Fitzcarraldo!
You're back at last.
l'd almost given up hope.
Finally!
Look here,
Amazon Terminal ready for action.
l see you've become a father.
l knew you'd come back.
l thought you'd forgotten about me
when the railway construction ceased.
Every year l repaint
the first class booking office.
lt looks a little weather-beaten,
but wait until your trains
cross the mountains
from the Amazon
to the Pacific,
then everything will change.
l've been here six years now,
without payment.
Therefore...
The engine is in good working order.
All the levers work,
but l must confess...
l was forced to sell a few iron parts
to the lndians.
They need itfor their machetes
and other things they need.
They used to come at night
to steal parts.
So l thought
it was better to sell
than to have things stolen at night.
l had to do it. l was left alone
and deserted on this post.
l thought you'd been sent home
like everybody else.
Let me show you outside.
The tracks reach 200 meters
deep into thejungle.
Come with me, l've invented something
to scare offthe lndians.
They've become more cautious.
l do the same thing with the snakes -
l connect an electric line to the tracks.
l connected the power generator
to the track.
The lndians got theirfingers singed!
They won't come back.
l chase the snakes
onto the rails with a stick.
On the first rail they getfried,
on the second they turn to ash.
Every year, l cut back the bushes
When will you resume construction?
The thing is, we've come here
on a different project.
Our whole financial situation
will change overnight, if it works.
What l'm trying to say is...
we need the tracks
for another purpose.
For God's sake!
No, not those from under the engine!
Don Fitzcarraldo.
Don Fitzcarraldo! Don Fitzcarraldo!
The men are removing the tracks.
l'm begging you, leave mejust a few yards
under the locomotive.
How else can l roll it back and forth
to maintain it?
Hey!
Leave those under there!
There's more out in the forest.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome. lt's all right.
Thank you.
We should have reached
the Pachitea a long time ago.
No, we haven't.
We have according to the map.
l don't rely on maps.
How can you be so sure about that?
No river tastes like the Pachitea.
lt'sjust ahead of us.
lsn't that something!
Brimming over!
Oh, these women!
That's what l need.
What's going on here?
We're going up the Pachitea.
ls that so?
Where are we going?
Amigos, welcome to the Pachitea!
Known for it's native hospitality.
Something is going on down below.
They don't seem to agree
with our course.
What?
l told you in lquitos l needed men,
not cowards who shit themselves.
So...
Whoever wants to leave,
step forward.
Welcome to Saramiriza!
Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald.
We thought you were
a government commission.
Welcome to our place, here.
Welcome.
- Happy to have you.
- l'm Huerequeque.
Welcome.
Come.
Thank you, thanks.
How can anyone learn patriotism
from a school book?
The Government requires it.
The natives get used to it
like vaccination.
The children already feel like Peruvians.
The other day l asked them,
"Are you lndians?"
"No," they said, "not us,
the ones up the river are."
Then l asked, "What are lndians?"
They said,
"lndians are people who can't read
"and who don't know
how to wash their clothes."
And what do the older people say?
Well...
We can't seem to cure them
ofthe idea
that our everyday life
is only an illusion
behind which lies
the reality ofdreams.
l am very interested in these ideas.
l specialise in opera myseIf.
What do you know about the Jivaros
on the upper Pachitea?
l was there during the disaster in '96.
Have you had any contact since then?
Some years ago, two ofour brothers
set offwith some natives.
One ofthem came back
a few days later
and said the Jivaros had
withdrawn deep into the forest.
The expedition
vanished without a trace.
Afew weeks later,
one ofour brothers was washed up.
They'd filled his stomach with
heavy stones and his head was gone.
Anyway, what do you want up there?
l'm planning something geographical.
Paul.
The crew.
Quiet down, you drunken idiots!
Stop it! Stop it at once!
You have to crack down on the men,
or you can find yourseIfa new captain.
Who's causing trouble?
Evaristo Chavez
and Fabiano, the Brazilian.
And the two women.
They must go ashore immediately,
they're the main ones.
And Huerequeque,
he's smart but not to be trusted.
Your services
are no longer required.
l give you two minutes to get ashore.
You'll see,
you did us a favour.
And the women!
Come on, move!
See to the rest!
And all ofyou, back to work.
Go on!
Reduce speed!
HaIfspeed ahead!
What are the men doing?
They've armed themselves.
Under no circumstances
are they to shoot.
That was our mistake
on the first expedition.
Go down and tell them that,
or there'll be a disaster.
What the hell are you doing?
Have you gone mad?
l'm just trying to have a little conversation
with our invisible friends.
Your stupidity will cost us our lives.
Yours first.
There is silence and silence.
And this one, l don't like at all.
There's something on the water.
Where?
There! lt's floating towards us.
Something black.
What's an umbrella doing here?
lt must have belonged to one ofthe
missionaries that the Jivaros killed.
Strange.
Seems to be a last warning.
The bare-asses love flowery gestures.
l wish they would show themselves.
Now it's Caruso's turn.
Do you see the lndians in the canoe?
Could that be a trap?
lt doesn't look like one.
No, l don't think so.
They usually attack at night.
And in bigger groups.
Shall we stop and try to make contact?
No, don't stop.
They wouldn't talk to us anyway.
Something's moving over there.
Those bare-asses
have never seen the likes ofthis.
Teach 'em some respect.
Everything depends
on how we behave.
Tell me everything
you know about them.
These Jivaro probably left the interior
of Brazil about 300 years ago.
For ten generations they've been
criss-crossing thejungle
in search ofa white God
in a divine vessel.
They believe that
at the end oftheir pilgrimage
he will show them a land
without sorrow and death.
We're gonna take advantage
ofthis myth.
What the hell has that
got to do with us?
lfa bare-ass comes too close,
l'll put a bullet right between his eyes.
But this God doesn't come
with canons.
He comes with the voice of Caruso.
Your loyal crew has deserted you.
Thatfinishes thisjourney.
Why didn't you go with them?
Because l want this whole
damned ship to turn back.
Don't mess with me.
l'll do what l like around here.
Just keep the engine running.
Those bastards!
Suddenly they were all there
with their rifles, those cowards!
Shit!
l told you all along
they were no good.
They'll never make it out of here.
There's only three of us left.
You, me and Cholo.
What, him?
Now we really need some ltalian opera.
Don't you agree?
That's the end of it.
The dream is over.
Can you turn here?
lt's a bit narrow, but it'll work.
lt won't work.
Did you say something?
Turn around.
Do you see what l see?
That's all we need!
Breaking through there
would be the end of us.
There'sjust one way to go...
straight ahead.
- You better pull ashore.
- OK.
Go down to the engine room,
very casually.
They're armed
with bows and arrows.
But they're keeping their distance.
Have you ever seen this before?
No, never.
Damn it, now they are
blocking the way.
Are they still there?
Yes!
Even more ofthem now.
Maybe a hundred canoes.
Give me a shout when the fun begins.
l wanna brighten up my last hour
with a few fireworks.
Brethren, what time is it, anyway?
Over here, bare-asses,
l'll pour you a beer.
Hurry up, l'll buy you a drink.
- Shh! Where did you come from?
- l just had a nap.
What about the others?
Have they quit?
l figured they would.
Cowards, degenerados! lmbeciles!
Shut up!
What do they say?
They're talking about
the "white vessel" - our ship.
They expect
the promised salvation from it.
They say there's a curse
weighing on the entire land.
They know that we are not gods,
but the ship has really impressed them.
But why do they play the flute?
What is happening?
My friends, l think we will continue.
See the red cliffon the right hand side?
Yes, l see it.
That must be it.
Good. We can't go much further,
or we'll run onto a sandbank.
That slope may look insignificant,
but it's gonna be my destiny.
Come on, follow me!
Now he's showing his cards.
This is it.
This is what we were looking for.
Here? This?
Do we have to climb a tree
for you dimwits to understand?
We'll build a nice platform
for the gentlemen. Up there.
l can hardly believe it.
There. There's the Ucayali.
All the river above the
Pongo das Mortes belongs to us.
l know, l know.
We'll make a railway tunnel.
No.
We're going to drag that ship
over the mountain.
And the bare-asses
are going to help us.
How the hell are we going to do that?
Just like the cowjumped
over the moon.
l like this.
Count me in.
Come in.
What is it?
l still don't understand
what you've got in mind.
Come in. l'll show you.
This...
is the Amazon.
Here is lquitos.
This...
is the Ucayali.
Right?
And here...
This is the Pachitea.
So, first we went up the Amazon...
and then up the Pachitea.
We are here right now
and we'll drag the ship
over this mountain.
Exactly there.
From here to here
we'll operate the ship
to collect rubberfrom
thousands ofworkers.
Why didn't we move up the Ucayali?
Because ofthe Pongo das Mortes.
Nobody will ever make it
through those rapids.
Yes, but how do you get
the rubber to lquitos?
We need another ship.
We'll carry it back over the mountain
and build a settlement there.
Soon we'll be so rich we'll have
all the ships we need to take it to lquitos.
- l've explained our project to the Chief.
- What's his answer?
Hejust says yes.
More to the left.
A little more.
Stop!
Again, a bit more to the left.
A little more.
Stop!
Yes, yes!
T-square at42 degrees.
- Not a bad start, was it?
- Right.
There are even children here.
lt's a good sign.
What do you think, Paul
will the lndians stick with us?
You can't tell what they really think.
But how the hell are we gonna
get that ship over the hill?
lf nothing else works,
then we'll make a tunnel.
l could even do it alone
ifwe had a perfect pulley system.
But l would need ten miles of rope
and it would take me ten weeks
to pull the ship this far.
Unfortunately,
we haven't got that much time.
We have seven more months
before the option runs out.
We have a winch and the
strength of hundreds of lndians.
We are going to drag this ship
over the mountain.
Who are your little friends?
McNamara, he's my footman.
And this is el comandante.
Here's to you, McNamara.
This is much steeper than we thought.
Now that the trees
have been cut down,
you can really see how steep it is.
We have to level the ground,
build a ramp.
And up there we'll have to make
a cut through to the top.
- That could take months.
- Dynamite!
l hope we have enough dynamite.
Careful, that'll frighten the bare-asses.
We have no choice.
Take cover! Get back!
Watch out! Danger!
Hold it, hold it!
Where are you going?
Now go back to work.
Go on.
Those logs up there.
Huerequeque, come here.
How can this trunk withstand
the pull of hundreds oftons?
lt will. See how deep we have
anchored it in the ground.
As tough as iron.
Bring it down here!
Huerequeque, come with me.
Go on.
Slowly.
lfwe had known that you planned
to move the boat on railway tracks,
l could have told you
to leave the tracks right there back
at your Amazon station.
Sorry l can't help you.
l had a bit too much to drink yesterday.
Shouldn't we tell him
that it melts away to nothing?
That's not possible.
There's no word for ice in their language.
Come on, get out ofthere!
Out! Out!
Give it a go!
Give it all you got!
l'll be damned
lt's working.
lt's moving.
- lt's moving!
- lt's moving!
Watch out!
They've been staring at the river
for two days and two nights now.
l'm sure it's because of
the terrible accident.
l can't get anything out ofthem.
They won't say anything.
And?
- They're gone.
- All ofthem?
They've really disappeared?
What do you make ofthis?
l had this strange feeling,
so l went outside.
Not a soul, nothing.
They've all disappeared.
That can mean anything.
lt could mean that they'll attack us.
But the boy is still here.
My footman, McNamara.
For that he'll be made Chiefone day.
They're back
as ifthey'd never been gone.
Don't ask me for an explanation.
l can't believe this crazy thing
Huerequeque has thought up.
Amigos, the engine is running.
- Now that's what l call brainwork.
- All you do is drink!
We could start up the engine
and drive the anchor winch offof it.
That way the ship will pull itseIf up
the mountain under it's own steam.
Now, what do you say to that?
There are times when a peasant's brain
is good for something.
You ain't no peasant!
You're the finest drunkard ever
to stagger over this earth.
- But we forgot something.
- What?
Enrico! Enrico Caruso!
Why are they doing all this?
Why are they working like dogs for us?
Why?
Why? Why?
Why?
- Why?
- No, l don't know either.
The only thing l know is that
there must be a reason for it.
They're planning something, l bet.
You must drink it.
lt is yucca.
Yucca with fermented saliva.
Go on, drink!
My God, time is flying
and we are getting nowhere.
Something's up.
The men are preparing barbasco,
a very strong poison.
And they are painted black.
But most ofthe men have hidden
in the woods and have armed themselves.
What does that mean?
As far as l know, the paint is
supposed to make them invisible.
They only do that when they go
hunting or when they go to war.
Let's return to the ship,
load our rifles.
We wouldn't stand a chance.
lt seems to me that they
are planning something.
And l fear that we four will soon
end up as shrunken heads.
l think we're safe for the moment.
How do you know?
There is a sign.
Look!
See those hands on the railing?
What has happened?
The Pongo!
We're drifting into the Pongo!
Cholo!
Paul! Cholo!
l must stop the ship!
Cholo!
We're drifting into the Pongo!
The valves first!
For God's sake, my ship!
Damn it.
Now it's too late.
Do you know what he says?
He says they untied the boat last night.
They knew all along the divine vessel
was only dragged over the mountain
so that it could drift
through the rapids.
lt had to be done to soothe
the evil spirits ofthe rapids.
l must stop my ship.
First ofall, have a drink.
Running the Pongo das Mortes
with a steamship
is a record that will
never be repeated.
Here, have a drink.
Wonderful, gentlemen.
Quite spectacular.
Have a drink.
Here's to the reconciliation
ofthe evil spirits ofthe Pongo.
l'll tell you a story.
At the time when North America
was hardly explored,
one ofthose early French trappers
went westward from Montreal.
He was the first white man
to set eyes on Niagara Falls.
When he returned, he told ofwaterfalls
that were more vast and immense
than people had ever dreamed of.
But no one believed him.
They thought he was
a madman or a liar.
They asked him, "What's your proof?"
And he answered...
"My proof is...
"that l have seen them."
Sorry.
l don't really know
what that's got to do with me.
What will you do next?
l don't know.
l'm asking because l'm interested
in buying the boat back.
My business has been
expanding lately.
The damage could be repaired
in a few days.
Oh, l assure you, l don't mean
to exploit your delicate situation.
l just heard, that a European opera
ensemble has arrived in Manaus
to give a guest performance there.
Perhaps you should go there.
They are performing an opera
ofthis fantastic German composer.
One ofthe very modern ones.
Federico, Roberto, Ricardo...
What's his name, Ricardo?
Wagner?
- He's the one who wrote Parsifal.
- Yes, l guess that's the one.
Very Teutonic, his music.
And the name ofthe Opera
is "The Puritans".
No, no, that's an ltalian opera, by Bellini.
Tell me...
Were you serious about the boat?
Hey, Cholo, Huerequeque,
come over here!
Come on.
Paul, this is the new owner
ofthe Molly Aida.
But we still have the ship
for two more weeks.
- Paul, listen.
- We don't like to give it to him.
You'll travel to Manaus
with all this money.
You'll bring back a tailcoat
and the best cigar in the world.
And from the theatre l want
an armchair with red velvet upholstery.
l have to keep a promise to a pig
that loves Caruso so much.
And then...