Original subtitles

The Harris legion on his way of separation.

To.

All of us.

The.

The the.

They they they they.

The.

You better come back. You get the same as we got I've heard about this to burst

a woman does. You heard the half of it he's

a murder and skunk wrote with what the Marietta here tell. You mean he told you

to turn back and then you went on ahead and he attacked you thirty maybe forty of

We didn't stand a chance but to minors against a regular army you know I think

he's crazy I do not get along wrong says he ain't gonna let no more Yankees into

California and me from Georgia you better hide it for the River Hawks if you don't

you'll get you next.

The.

I don't know what that means that he has a saddle but he's been riding bareback

just to say. Something to keep out the way I have a son for the horse and for you

to. And Rico Garcia you have the ugly as those I ever seen.

Put them away. You take them you need the booze I got the top fee when you're

thinking to be as old as mine they will need all the fresh air they can get.

It's. Something doing.

That. Nitrile roots and she's going to close and they don't see a great

fiesta father. I know what I bring them to.

Once they were men. But they follow men there is to become brother to the small

mouth of the desert. That you can't. Kill him but you're who.

I'm telling you I will tear him in bits and tell you who. It must be what you got

to I will cut his throat who is he. You.

I forgot.

Who told you to kiss like that. I don't remember. Was it all right the best kiss

I've had all day. Her heart out. All of them.

Now. Let us go show those people over there how one dances the dance of the

act. Not to my walking.

Not feel like dancing.

To pursue. He looks at the small after our people find in his heart cries he

claims himself always put the blame where it belongs on the gringo.

And all the lines still alive. And I think he's right. The gringo has taken

everything our people had a long time ago what it was yesterday it is today it

will be tomorrow and if you go on thinking that way it will be forever.

You are a woman. You have a short memory. I remember twenty years of life among

the coyotes of the desert. I would like better memories.

I.

Think you're going to.

Look at. Those gringos have great sound. Great talent but a little high.

I tell her the milk is California milk not to the gringo or maybe she wouldn't

drink it.

To pursue. We must speak. When we speak not here.

I talked with Alma. You're going to marry her you should talk to her I'm not in

the mood for joking. All right I'm not in the mood either.

When I hear Alma talking I hear the words of her father who is almost my own

father. To pursue. The gringos still come the gringos still keeps us from the

homes that are ours. One fight thieves and robbers one who rode with Maria took

an oath to go on fighting the gringo to the end the end is not yet come.

You are young working.

Once.

When I was young in Monterey. I went to the sea with a small book.

I was going to empty out the ocean. I worked until I was so tired I couldn't

lift up the bucket.

And at the end of the day the ocean was still there at the end of the day I am

tired working. And the ocean is still there but we must not put the bucket down

and there is such a good life for the women and children there is so much

freedom here in the desert. Well and perhaps we should surrender to the

gringo. Perhaps there's more freedom at the end of a rope.

We'll see oh please listen to me. We have only one way to go if we are men we

must go on fighting those who choose to be our enemies.

A man can be tired and sick at heart and still do what has to be done but

it's your Gomez told us there's still another wagon train approaching. Are you

going to help Maria's people by letting these gringos into California.

We will meet them tomorrow to fight or to talk.

That is up to them.

Look I know nothing about no bandits but these miners we picked up today are

hurt real bad. Now if they can't do anything with this this man does how do

you expect us to. I hope it doesn't come to that cross. You hope in view of the

situation I think we should return to the river and try to find another way to

the coast. Oh we can't do it. We don't have water enough for food enough. We'd

have to go 300 miles north or 150 miles south. I have to get you people Los

Angeles and get myself back to the main train. If we expect to get to the coast

at all we're going to have to try it right through here. You people better

turn in.

Bill.

What do you know about this man Mendez? Oh not too much. Maybe he's just a hard

loser. How do you mean? Well he's supposed to be one of Joaquin Murrieta's

tenants. Not too many of those people have any reason to like us.

Good luck in the morning boy.

Buenos dias senor.

That's a nice little trail you're on. You know where it goes? Yeah to the coast.

Si. But first there's a grave. It's your grave senor. We have not dug it yet

Gringo. But I have the place picked out. You're from the wagons. But you have a

name. Bill Hawks. I am Tiburcio Mendez. Do you like some of the fruit of

cactus? Nope. It's a wise decision for if you do not know how to handle it you

could bite. It's a very prickly fruit but sweet on the inside. Say it Mendez.

Turn your wagons around while you yet live. It's Joaquin Delgado. He likes you

even less than I do but he say the right thing. We've been two weeks on that

desert. You know that we can't turn around go back. You know how many don't

make it when they don't listen to me. We're not here to argue. You go back to

your wagons turn them around and leave California. If you come ahead you will

die. I can make it no plainer than that. If we try to go back across that desert

mister we will die. Then you have a choice. The desert or Mendez. The wise

man chose the desert. The foolish Mendez. This is fine Hawks. You've put us into a

real hole. If we can't go on then I say turn around and head back to the river.

You got a wife over there cross. Maybe you've never seen anybody die of thirst

that I have. We don't have enough water to make the river. Bill I want to talk to

you. I know about Mendez of course. I'll grant you he's a bandit. The rights of

the original Mexican settlers in California haven't carried much weight up

till now. Now that's no secret. That's one reason I'm going to sit on the Los

Angeles bench. It may not be a cure-all but the Californios will at least have a

voice in court. Now if I could talk to Mendez. Explain to him. There's nothing

Mendez would like better than to get his hands on a United States judge. You don't

know this country. If you want to see that federal bench of yours you better start

making up your mind to do what I tell you. I'm not sure you're the best judge of

that right now. Well I think the Californios got a raw deal myself. But this is one

subject I don't want to discuss with Tabercio Mendez. And as long as I'm in

charge of your safety you're not going to see Mendez. Because he'd kill you

outright or hold you for ransom. Are you sure of that? Well I'm not sure of

anything. But I know that I'm not getting paid to let you take chances judge.

Hawks. Hawks. Yeah. I went to wait Judge Black to stand his guard but he's gone.

What do you mean he's gone? He must have sneaked off. He took a horse. Oh you make

a fine sentry cross. Where are you going? I'm going after him.

Judge Black. Come back here.

Hold it there judge. I'll hold it here senor. What are we going to do now?

Stupid gringo. But not so stupid as you. You think to run past us all by yourself

huh? I told you I came to speak with Mr. Mendez. Tabercio Mendez has no time to

waste on stupid gringos. You have us at a little disadvantage mister. Maybe you'd

like to untie my hands. You are one brave man huh? I wonder how brave. You want to

untie me now? Alma. They are thirsty. They will not be thirsty long. Give them the

water. And now Joaquin Delgado gives the orders here instead of Tabercio Mendez.

Alright. Then give them the water. Just remember it is more than the gringo has

given us. I want to see Mr. Mendez. You shall see him but you should not have

come. Are you Mendez's daughter? Si. You know ma'am that young fellow that tied us

up ties a real hard knot. Kind of stops your blood. How about cutting us loose? I

have a soft heart senor. But not a soft head. You will see my father. Hello. Judge

you are blind. Malnutrition I suppose and primitive living conditions like these. I

have seen it before. Always the children. Alright it is not our fault or theirs either.

Honest citizens can get medical care you know. Sometimes. Stand up judge.

I am Tabercio Mendez. We've met. I gave you some good advice but you did not listen.

My name is Josiah Black. I know who you are senor judge. We have little use for

gringo judges here. What does a gringo judge tell our people? He tells them to

dance with a rope. Si. We are a poor people senor but we can afford a rope. If

you will listen to me you may not need one. Why should I listen to you? Don't

anybody try it. You gringo. One of you untie the judge. You. Bill. You fool. He

is only one man. Only one gringo. Enrique I will take care of his gun. You and the

others kill him. Judge get out of here. You stop it. Leave him alone. Let him get

out. I am sorry Bill. Someone would have been killed. Come. Wait. You wanted to

talk with me senor? There are children in your camp who cannot see. Others who

become ill too easily. There will be more. You are a magistrate not a doctor. I

don't have to be a doctor to see what anyone can see. People can't live without

adequate food. At least some kind of medical care. Unless I'm mistaken you

have neither. We had them you took them from us. Mr. Mendez without the

magistrate there is no doctrine or anything else worthwhile. You should know

that better than anyone. You come with me. What are you doing? You better come

with me. Find Providencio Gomez. Bring him to me. Speak senor. Mr. Mendez how

long have you and your people been outlaws hiding in the hills like this?

Outlaws? Since the gringo found gold and went mad. You gringos have short

memories. You do not remember how it was when California belonged to Mexico and

we Californians lived on our own land as our fathers had. From San Diego to

Monterey our land was full of peace. We raised our cattle and made the wine and

the missions brought peace and order and God to our golden California. The

gringo would come and he would find open hearts and enough land to live upon and

raise a family upon. Then the war and you take California from Mexico. That's bad

enough. But then, then senor Marshall find gold in Coloma and suddenly there

are a hundred thousand gringos. They don't want land. They don't want homes. They

don't want peace. They want gold and sometimes that gold is on the land of

the Californians like the Mendez family of Sonora. Then suddenly the land

disappears under the hooves of the gringo horses and those who own the land

they had to run or to die. And when it was over, when the gold was found, the

California was no more. Except for Joaquin Murrieta and Tiburcio Mendez. Outlaws

hiding in the hills. Our government is aware of the wrongs done many of the

Mexican residents of California. That's one reason I'm here. For 15 years Mendez

has been a refuge to the Californians. They had a choice to live with Mendez

like a coyote maybe, but just the same to leave or to stay and fight the gringo

who robs them and spits on them and takes their women and finally their

lives. But what has changed, huh? You tell me what has changed. I'm a fool for

talking to you. Why don't you stop being a fool Mendez and start acting like a

man. No, you speak to gringo. You see, that's one way. You sit there like a

hurt dog licking your wounds. Sure, you've got every reason to complain, but

now you've got a chance to make it right. But instead you'd rather fight

innocent settlers who never harmed you. 15 years ago men came. They robbed you,

they burnt you out, killed your families. What does doing the same thing make you?

A man who has not been burned can speak lightly of fire. Maybe Delgado should

burn you a little and we'll see how easy you forgive. Tiburcio Mendez, we have

followed you without question. Now I ask you one. If we do not prove to the gringo

that the Californio is a man, who is left to show him?

Let him say what he has come to say. We lose nothing by hearing. There's a thing

of respect which can be lost. Speak, senor, and remember that here Mendez is the

judge and not you.

What does Tiburcio do, Joaquin? Old men grow old at the body, but he grows old at the

heart. The judge comes to talk of surrender. Tiburcio listens. He will not.

I have seen him as a son sees his father. I know him. Now this gringo comes with

his lies and talks to an old man of peace. The old man will listen. It is the

gringos. Do you understand? What happens is their fault. This magistrate may do

what all the gringo soldiers in California cannot do. Clap the wolf like

a rabbit. It must not happen, Joaquin. It shall not.

Therefore, the legitimate Spanish grants in California are recognized and legal,

no matter who holds them now. You know what that means, sir? Our lives will be

ours again, generally speaking. And your property, but not so long as you are

outlaws hiding in the desert. The law protects only those who seek her

protection and obey her rules. I'm not a child, senor. We are fighting a war that

has been over in many places. To the gringo, we are bandits. To my people, I'm a

general leading an army. To this law of yours, will we be soldiers or bandits?

Your children have committed no crimes. No, your women. Someone has. The law

demands punishment for crimes, but the law also dispenses justice. I ask you to

come with me to Los Angeles and trust in the law. This is a chance for life, senor

Mendez. Probably your last one.

Are you an honest man, senor? I am.

We will consider it. Please, you have the freedom of the camp until we make our

decision. Your father is a remarkable man, young lady. He's my father. Perhaps

the father of all of us.

Judge, 15 years in the desert. It took Moses 40 years, didn't it?

Ah, let's see now. I think it was this one and this one here, and then you come

under and...

Joaquin.

Where's your father?

He meets with the heads of families.

He is wrong, Alma. He invites our people to step into chains.

You must not think that way.

Look. Look at them. They smile. They speak soft. They make the children laugh.

The children have little enough to laugh about.

Don't you think I know that? I lead the soldiers. I fight the gringos, but I am not

blind. I am sick at what I see, but it is the doing of the gringo. I remember the

small eyes and see only the darkness, and I make the gringos pay.

Does it make the children see?

How are you taught like your father?

Thank you. I know of no wiser man.

Let him speak like a woman. He does not speak for me. I make no peace with the

murderers of my people.

Joaquin, my father is the leader here.

Your father leads only when he leads us against our enemies. There are those of

us who will not lay down our arms and walk into the tiger's mouth.

I love you, Alma de mi Alma. I want you by my side forever, but if the Bursio

Mendez betrays our cause, you must make a choice. We will not follow Mendez into a

cage.

I think there are worse places than cages. There are graves.

What have they decided, Joaquin?

I do not know, but I have fears.

We came to the desert when we were young men and young women. We had no other

place to go with honor. Now our children take husbands and wives, and still we

have only the desert. And the children to come will know only the rocks and the

cactus and the burning sand. It is a poor birthright.

But what of freedom to Bursio Mendez?

Hear him. A child of my making. He knows only of blood and hate. These are the

things that we have taught our children. I ask no one here to forgive the gringo.

We were men of peace, and they had made warriors from us. And now, Mr. Black, a

gringo magistrado, a judge, he tells us that the old crimes against us have been

recognized. I suppose he thinks we should be grateful. I can only say it has taken

the gringo a long time to see the difference between night and day. The gringo is

rolling into California like a flood. We tried to dam it up, but we could not

succeed. Who can say that we did not fail? There are some who say that we should go

down south to Mexico, where we would be welcome. That is true. But Mexico is not

our home. And who knows when the gringo would come to look for gold down there?

The gringo government sent word that some of us may find peace with honor. Some of

us may get their lands back. Some of us? But what of the others? Resistance to evil

is no crime. Those who harmed you will be punished. Those of you who are

responsible for any outrages will face the bar of justice. I say only that the

innocent will not suffer in any case. What about Senor Mendez, Judge? Mr. Mendez is

a leader of his people. My father is a great man. He fought only those who wronged us.

I don't question his reasons, ma'am. But a lot of innocent immigrants died because

of the rage he's made on wagon trains. Tell us. Tell us of the innocents who have

died. There are those of us with long memories. If it comes to honor, then I say

that honor is a way of dying. Let our names be remembered as men and women who

would not surrender to evil. The gringo sent us a magistrate with sweet words. I

say if we even listen, it is a sign that we are betraying the spirit of Joaquin

Murrieta and those who died protecting their homes. They sent us a magistrate. I

say that I sent him back to them with the cold steel of truth in his heart.

Senor Delgado is a brave man. I know something about lost causes. A lot of my

friends fought for one. We were on opposite sides. And when we fought, we hated one

another. And when it was over, there was a man, something like the judge here, and

he stretched out his hand, and they took it. Our nation's one now. It's no longer

divided. If you'll take the hand that the government is stretching out to you,

California will be one again. Maybe none of you have heard of a man by the name of

Robert E. Lee. I was there at the end. He stood out in front of his army. He could

have gone on and fought. It might have been glorious, but it would have been

butchery. This was at a place called Appomattox. And from Appomattox, his men

went back home. We have discussed it. If what you say is true, we accept your

offer and place our cause in the hands of your law.

To pursue you, you cannot do this.

The good Lord help us if you lie.

You speak only for the cowards, Mendez. Now I speak for Murrieta. Nothing has

changed. Your wagons do not come through our mountains, and neither do you.

Stop it!

Joaquin!

It is over now.

It will never be over.

♪

Have some more food, Joaquin.

Thank you.

And my heart.

Come with me, Alma. How can I live without you?

You can stay.

No. You know I cannot.

Then I cannot go.

Joaquin, my father, he's right.

I will love you always. As for your father, I will remember him as the man who

spit upon the grave of Murrieta.

♪

Who's he?

The Bursio Mendez. Hook him up, Cross. We're moving out.

You make one move, you'll...

Stay away from it, Cross!

What's the matter with you, Hawks, bringing that killer into camp?

That killer's what's gonna keep you alive for the next few days.

You're entitled to an explanation, Mr. Cross. Some of Mendez's people are determined to

keep us out of California. He's going to escort us in.

Escort us into a trap is what you mean. He'll stab us in the back the minute his people

show up.

Let's say that's a chance we have to take.

You're gonna trust him, huh?

I gotta trust him.

Well, maybe you do, but I don't.

The gringo government will do justice for my people.

I told you, only those who have committed crimes will be punished.

Only those who have committed crimes.

Hey...

You're a judge.

One thing I did not tell you about Mendez.

One thing I did not tell you about Mendez.

I was the chief, you understand?

When I give the command, my people had to obey. Those who did not, they were killed.

What are you saying?

It is true.

You look upon me as your father. If you had been another man's daughter, you would see me as Mendez.

The man who had learned to kill easily.

Your people didn't look as if they were afraid of you.

Well, they were afraid to show that they were afraid.

They had to do what I told them, you understand?

I was Tiburcio Mendez who ruled with a gun.

I think I understand.

Good.

Then...

You will remember.

Conquerida.

It is a good sky to live under.

That it should be good for my people when they return to their homes.

Father...

It will soon be done.

Good night, senor.

Good night.

You are sure Tiburcio is with him?

Yes.

And Alma.

What do we do, Joaquin?

They will not pass.

You would kill the man who raised you?

I will do what I have to do.

And Alma Mendez?

Yes.

I will kill him.

I will do what I have to do.

And Alma Mendez?

It will not be easy, senor.

When they come, aim well.

Perhaps Tiburcio will not be hurt.

He is my second father.

Good night.

It will be here, I think.

You sound sure.

Beyond the ground levels out.

Here there is shelter.

Five men with good rifles can stop the world.

You better get back there with your daughter.

I will stay close to you.

I will stay close to you.

I will stay close to you.

I will stay close to you.

I will stay close to you.

Are you going to shoot at me, Mendez?

Joaquin would like to see you dead, but I do not think he feels the same way about me.

I will stay close to you and we'll see.

Suit yourself.

Judge!

You better handle those lines from inside the wagon.

You'll need all the cover you can get.

Let's go, Judge!

I can get the gringo.

No.

You might hurt Tiburcio.

The horses.

Let them come along and we shoot their horses.

As you say.

Better to get the gringo.

I'll take care of the horses.

I'll take care of the horses.

Better to get the gringo, though. We can use the horses.

If Delgado shows up, what makes you think he'll help us?

Maybe he'll listen.

He didn't the last time.

He left his people.

The desert is lonely. Maybe he changed his mind.

You'd better find some cover.

Tiburcio, get out of the way.

What are you doing?

I'm going to get this horse loose from the rest of the outfit and have the men spread out amongst those rocks.

Give us some cover and maybe the women will get the wagons through.

Maybe.

That is a maybe as big as a mountain.

You got any better ideas, mister?

Si.

Senior Judge, come out here for a minute, will you please?

The lead horse on the second wagon.

No.

Give him a chance to turn back.

Now you talk like Tiburcio.

Alma is with them.

Senior Judge, you remember.

Mendez is the chief.

From the lips of Murrieta himself, I was the leader.

All the commands, all the orders, they came from me.

I remember.

Father, what are you going to do?

That no one else should die.

When Joaquin was a niño, I stopped him when he did something wrong.

I'm going to do that again.

Please, no. Maybe now he is a man with a gun.

You cannot come along.

I'm going.

If you wish.

Remember, Judge, your promise to my people.

Joaquin.

Joaquin.

Let's go.

What's on your mind, Mendez?

That one man cannot stand between his people and justice.

between his people and justice.

God, I've saved your worthless life.

Tiburcio, what are you doing?

Silence.

Silence.

Yes, you cloning cowards.

You attack in the darkness, all of you.

Most of all, you.

Who I chose to bring up as my own.

Go on and shake in the boots I gave you myself.

No, Tiburcio, do not do this.

You are scum that dares disobey Mendez.

You are like the scorpion of the desert.

You will feel my boot.

You can't get away now.

You are not fit to hold guns.

Drop your gun and run like your brother the rabbit.

Tiburcio, I meant what I said.

Do not do this.

Don't open your mouth to me, you son of a snake.

Take your unclean hand off that gun that I gave you

and crawl back to the rocks from which you came.

The wagons do not move.

Then I kill you myself.

Tiburcio!

Tiburcio.

Why did you do it? Why were you slow?

How else could I tell you?

It was not pride we fought for,

but justice.

But you should have shot me.

No.

The gringo judge, he knows.

Providencio,

people of Mendez.

Joaquin Delgado is like a son to Mendez.

He will take you to Los Angeles.

You will find justice there.

Something that Mendez could not find for you in the desert.

Take them, Joaquin,

as I took them

from

Mujer.

It is my word.

Then it will be done as your father would have done, Joaquin.

Your father was my best friend.

You never told me, Tiburcio.

I could not tell you then.

It was...

It was my word to your father.

His name would have killed you then.

Who was he, Tiburcio?

He was my father.

My father.

Did you then?

Who was he, Tiburcio?

He for whom you were named

Murrieta.

Raul.

I understand, father.

I am going to you, son.

Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying,

Thus saith the Lord,

I remember thee,

the kindness of thy youth,

the love of thine espousals,

when thou wentest after me into the wilderness,

in a land that was not sown.

Judge Black?

Yes?

The people of Mendez will be coming in soon.

What do you think will happen to them?

Bill, according to the law, the man we just buried

was a murderer, a thief, and a butcher.

Mendez was a criminal.

You heard him say that everything that was done

was done on his orders.

What are you trying to tell me?

The guilt was his. All of it.

But he's dead now.

I can't very well punish him.

You mean you're going to let him take the blame

for all that's happened, for all the wrongs

that his people did?

We've got a pretty good legal precedent

established nearly 2,000 years ago.

You can read about it here.

Thank you.

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© BF-WATCH TV 2021

© BF-WATCH TV 2021