The Serenos are nothing but low-class commoners.
Even worse.
Their only concern should be giving us the time or the weather.
But this government has turned them into control agents.
Those scoundrels, spying on what people discuss in private!
I understand they can even fine bad language.
And keep an eye on any deviant acts. The nerve!
It would be good to know what they define as "deviant acts".
You, Donoso. You should do something. Aren"t these people at your command?
Yes, but I'm just the Mayor, Carmen.
Every time I try to do anything, The governor contradicts me.
That"s true. Governor Concha is always meddling.
Concha is a limited man.
He"s a well-connected suck-up to General Bulnes. And they call this a democracy!
Brace yourself, Carmen. General Bulnes will surely be reelected.
This may be a democracy... But a fixed one.
Fixed or not, you must admit the people love him.
That"s true. The common people trust him greatly.
They could never recognize a proper Governor.
- Or what"s good for them either. - Yes, but let"s be fair...
You cant underplay how he terminated the Pincheiras.
And the confederacy"s defeat at Yumbel left him sky-high.
A lot of people think he won the war single-handedly.
It"s undeniable. Many see a hero in him.
An Indian Napoleon.
- They go too far, Duffy. - Not by much.
- Napoleon was no democrat. - Napoleon was a rebel.
He fought for freedom and the glory of France.
Against the monarchs who would quiet the voice of revolution.
- What is it, Cruz? - I'm sorry to bother you ma'am.
But I thought you should know that Atilio is back.
- But shouldn't he be in the Gana estate? -Yes.
But he's in the kitchen waiting to speak with you.
What are you doing here? I sent you to the Gana estate.
That's where I come from.
Was Rugendas there? Did you see him?
No. He's expected in two days time.
I assume you left the letter I gave you with Don Augusto Gana.
- I couldn't, ma'am. - What do you mean?
- Speak, Atilio. - I ran into the boss.
Your husband.
Shouldn't he be in Llancanao? And the letter for Rugendas?
Well...
He noticed the pouch I had in the saddlebag.
He wanted to know what was in it.
- I tried to play dumb, but... - Did he open it?
Of course not. Not in front of the workers. He kept it.
It's ok, Atilio.
- Finish eating and then rest. - Good evening, ma'am.
Are you ok?
I needed some peace and quiet.
But we both know I'm in the wrong place.
Go to your room. Get some sleep.
I'll go to the pharmacy tomorrow and get you some leeches.
They'll do you good.
- Do you feel sick? - A little.
What did you tell Rugendas in your letter?
I don't want to involve you in this. You've already lied enough for me.
Our lord will forgive a white lie.
God is the least of my worries right now.
What if the boss read the letter?
It was sealed with wax.
What if he read it?
Come on!
Get up!
Come on!
Spread the weight. Let's go.
Do you need anything?
I'm ok.
How is that possible?
You're reading in the dark, ma'am.
It's bad for your eyes.
I'm going to fetch a candle for you.
What's going on?!
Boss, you're soaking wet!
Tell Atilio to open the stable and put away the animals.
You'll have to forgive me, Boss, Atilio isn't around, we didn't know...
Don't touch me! I'm not faulty!
Tell Maria to heat up some food, I'm hungry.
- You didn't go to Llancanao. - What do you think, Carmen?
How did the tea party go?
As always.
Donoso is thinking of moving to Concepcion.
They will all leave this shit hole sooner or later.
Gutike!
You would be first in line, if it was up to you.
I know well what you think of this city, of these people.
Of me.
I'm going to my room.
I left some tooth powder in the commode.
Rugendas will be here in a couple of days.
I hope everything is ready to welcome him properly.
As always.
It has been a long time since
I petitioned to be reinstated in the army.
Hmm. Yes, yes, Don Eduardo.
Believe me, the government is interested in reconciling with ex-liberal officers.
But you understand, it isn't as simple as that.
The government needs to be sure of your loyalty.
Don Miguel, many years have passed since Lircay.
I can assure you, if there ever was a grudge to hold, it has gone by now.
Mhm. Yes, naturally. But to the best of my knowledge...
Mrs. Carmen criticizes the conservative government at every chance she gets.
Believe me, Mr. Gutike, I understand your haste to...
I am a soldier who wishes to be in the barracks, that is my only haste.
I can imagine you haven't missed the fact that if reinstated...
Your rank would be Lieutenant Colonel.
An excellent pay for someone in your situation.
My situation?
We both know you are deep in debt.
The lands you inherited at Llancanao have only brought you losses.
We've sowed many acres of wheat at good prices this year...
Ah, yes, too bad for that unexpected rain the other day, no?
Probably ruined the entire crop.
It's not your fault now, is it? We both know that.
You are a professional army man. Raised in the Prussian military.
You shouldn't have to deal with crops, sheep...
I imagine being a German farmer here can't be easy.
What are you implying, Don Miguel?
I just think maybe...
You should sell those lands.
And if that where the case, you can count on me to buy them.
I can give you a good price for them.
It's the latest thing. Last week I visited Doctor Duffy.
He told me it had just arrived from Europe.
It's called ether. It's amazing.
Just a tip on my gums, and I didn't feel a thing.
Fantastic. What did you say it was called?
Ether. An anesthetic. Recently invented.
I'd even say the doctor was the first to try it out here in Chile.
- Surely not on you? - Of course not.
He tried it out on a theatre actor first.
It's the funniest thing,
The actor was performing in a play called "The Imaginary Invalid".
What a ridiculous title.
Don't laugh. It's a French play.
Who's the author?
Ask Carmen, she's the cultivated one.
Moliere.
- It doesn't ring a bell. - Me neither.
He must not be very famous.
Come on, Carmen.
If we all had the free time you have, we'd all be as educated as you.
But we still have to rear children.
Excuse me, ma'am, there's a laborer outside looking for Carmen.
Carmen!
I thought we would never have this again.
Yet here I am.
- One final time together. - Don't say that.
The future is uncertain.
I've brought you things from Santiago.
Books,
Soap,
Tooth powder.
I can get that at the town pharmacy, Moritz.
Believe it or not, this town progresses while you're off traveling.
Unpack in peace.
I'll be outside, we need to speak before Gutike arrives.
Ok.
Pardon my attitude.
I appreciate your gifts.
I must see Gutike. I feel obliged.
Our past obliges us.
I don't understand.
If you had something to tell me why didn't you wait for me to be here?
Why don't you do it now?
If I write you letters, Moritz,
It's because there are things I could never say to your face.
- Have you been to the house? - I was just there.
I trust they've given you food.
There wasn't any time. I had to find you.
I'm touched.
But I don't understand the urgency.
Isn't friendship reason enough?
Friendship. It sounds so noble.
How did it go with the Governor?
I'd rather save you the unpleasantness.
Better you go home and wait for dinner.
I still have some errands to run.
- I'll come with you. - Don't worry, Moritz.
That's enough friendship for one day.
- Did you find Gutike? - At the governor's door.
What did he say?
Calm down.
Although, your husband is a difficult man to read.
A jealous mind imagines things beyond reality.
What we have...
If we talk about us, your reality and mine...
Maybe it's better to come clean.
Or maybe It's too late for that.
All that matters is I'm leaving.
What do you want from me?
A few days of bliss.
A few days of bliss?
I regret to be the source of such sadness.
I hope the good times we've had offer some consolation.
Forgive me if I burden you with my tribulations.
Rest, Moritz. I'll let you know when dinner is ready.
Carmen...
Get some rest, Moritz.
Don't get up.
So, you leave for Constitution.
Yes. Then a ship to Valparaiso.
I'm expected to pick up my things and tie up some errands.
Then a ship to Montevideo and then Europe.
We'll go with you up to Constitution, isn't that right, Gutike?
I need the sea air, and Constitution has always agreed with me.
To clear your thoughts?
Drewetke expects me there.
I'm sure he'll be glad to welcome you both.
As he always does.
As your friend, dear Moritz, I must advise against this.
How so?
I believe you are making a mistake.
Europe is glamorous, but after so many years away...
I hope you don't find yourself a stranger at home.
Europe is the center of the artistic world.
I don't think It's crazy to think an artist of his caliber can triumph there.
Here nobody can appreciate the difference between craftsmanship and art.
He's not understood here. It'll be a new beginning.
Or the end of the road.
- I agree it's a gamble, but... - As all gambles are.
You know well Edward, Europe offers more opportunities to an artist.
Europe is filled with artists fighting for the same recognition you seek.
Please, Gutike. That is so mediocre of you.
I understand your concern, but...
I'm not coming home empty-handed.
During all these years in America, I've kept in touch with people back home.
- I'm sure they will help me start over. -Who? Humboldt?
Great scientist.
But didn't you say he was only interested in exotic plants?
I believe my work will speak for me.
I carry with me thousands of portraits, scenes of daily life in Chile, Peru...
- Mexico. - What will you do with all that?
An album of the southern cone.
For example, I've already contacted an editor in Paris.
He's willing to publish a book on lithography.
Great. Then what?
Your pessimism insults me, sir.
No offense, Moritz.
Tell me if I'm wrong.
Here you have powerful friends.
But my work here is done.
I'm naturally starting to feel stagnated.
To be honest, as any good friend should...
I believe you lie to us, and you lie to yourself.
I know the reason why you wish to flee to Europe.
You already had roots here.
But the rejection by that girl from Valparaiso...
And the disdain her family showed you, has been too much for you to handle.
Maybe you are right. That humiliation has precipitated my departure.
Carmen...
You've been very quiet all day.
I don't really know what to say.
I hope you're not mad at me.
You and your husband were insufferable yesterday.
I couldn't help it.
I felt so angry when Gutike mentioned that girl of yours.
Right now when you've come to say goodbye.
I thought we had cleared that up. I thought we made our peace.
I know, Moritz.
I promised to love you, even if it had to be as one of your many friends.
You have never been just a friend.
I appreciate the honor, but it's not quite enough.
I can't accept that you fell in love with someone younger than me.
- Or that you asked her hand... - A pointless accusation.
As your husband said, the Condarco family rejected and humiliated me.
I know.
I know what it must have been for you.
But that's exactly my point.
I can take it all.
What I can't accept is that someone other than me has made you flee the country.
The only reason I wanted to marry her was to stay in Chile, close to you.
You know that.
What is it, Carmen?
I'd rather not go in. Would you mind?
But you asked me to accompany you.
Dolores and her husband wished to bid you farewell.
They made me promise to take you here, I've done my part.
But they expect you as well.
I know, but I don't think I can stomach Dolores right now.
She's such a dull woman.
I thought Mrs. Dolores was your best friend.
That should tell you how lonely I am.
Manuel!
- Where the hell is Manuel! - He's not here.
Where are the goddamned people of this house?!
- Sir, please calm down! - Let go!
Are you ok?
I've never seen him like this, ma'am.
What happened?
Mr. Artiaga and his son came today, and the Boss asked for Manuel...
He got very angry when he saw that Manuel wasn't here.
Calm down.
You can clean up afterwards. Calm down.
Tomorrow we are going for a field day with Moritz.
- Would you like to join us? - You go.
Don't be like that.
Moritz...
Carmen, I don't feel like playing games today!
It's going to be dinnertime. I'll tell Cruz to...
I want to rest.
- You must eat something. - I'm drowning.
The debts?
No, your unhappiness.
Will you be ok there, ma'am?
Yes, thank you, Atilio.
Looks like you're not going, kiddo.
- Why's that? - What is it?
- Why do you have that rifle? - Sorry, ma'am. Just following orders.
- Who's orders? - Manuel goes with you...
- Atilio comes with me to the governor's. - Is the rifle necessary?
I've been told there's a cougar roaming around. Manuel is the best shot I know.
But I trust Atilio.
Edward, my friend, it's just a field day.
- People are always making up stories... -Moritz.
This is my house. I know what I'm doing.
I bet you're drawing another landscape.
To be honest I wasn't expecting you so soon.
I'll be brief.
I've thought your offer through.
- The Llancanao lands? - Precisely.
I might be interested in selling.
But I'd like to hear a price first.
Before we get into that, I have some good news for you.
What news?
The government has asked for my approval to reinstate you in the army.
At the rank of lieutenant colonel of the Maule region.
Finally.
This means I'm officially reinstated?
It means it's up to me.
What are you implying, Don Miguel?
Well...
Before I give my approval,
I'd like to settle on a price for your lands.
- This is blackmail, sir. - Blackmail?
Please.
Watch your tongue. Don't forget, I'm the authority here.
To show you that I don't intend to take advantage,
I'm prepared to offer you three - thousand five-hundred pesos for the lands.
- It's worth at least twice as much. -Or so you say.
And maybe, if the lands were properly farmed...
But we both know that's not the case. My offer is fair.
Think about it.
You could pay off all your debts, and still have some cash left.
And once you are reinstated,
You can count on 150 pesos a month.
You cheat me right to my face. I demand...
Demand?!
You? Demand of me?
I find you foreigners amusing.
You arrive from Europe and marry our best families,
Just because you're not Indian or black, and of course there's the money.
While back home, you'd be nothing more than bakers, pirates...
Or people like you.
Second-rate officers who could only climb this high in a new country.
Listen to me Gutike. I've got nothing against your kind.
As long as you know your place, and don't pretend to be equal to us.
- Us? - Us, my dear sir.
We were born here. We built this country.
We are order, we are the law. We answer to no king.
We are the king.
You are nothing but... Upstarts and social climbers.
You can keep toiling in commerce, industry...
But the land? This land is ours, my dear sir.
Always has been and always will.
So don't pretend to have dignity.
The countrymen here bore me.
Their meaningless lives. Their useless toil.
Not even the city holds any beauty.
Everything is flat here...
The days blur together, it's always the same.
Here, life seems to stretch into eternity...
Mrs. Carmen!
What are you waiting for Moro? Help me up.
You're better at running than I am.
I could do much more, if you allowed me to.
Stay still, my lords!
- Stand down, Manuel! - Don't move!
- Stand down, Manuel! - Shut up, ma'am!
Ma'am will forgive me for shutting her up.
I thought I saw a cougar.
This place isn't safe. Let's head back.
- What happened? - I felt a noise...
The boss was stumbling around and fell. He doesn't look too good.
I'll handle this.
Let me clean you up.
You've been drinking.
I was at a tavern.
Do you think I have been a good husband?
I'm sure you've done your best.
I could say the same of you.
But apparently, nothing ever goes right.
I sold Llancanao today.
What will we live off?
Don't worry.
I'm being reinstated next week as lieutenant colonel.
We're finally going to have the stability you always wanted.
Gutike...
I'm going to Llancanao tomorrow to get everything fixed up.
I want you to go to Constitution with Rugendas.
Take Atilio, you seem to trust the boy.
I'll pick you up later.
Go rest.
I want to rest.
I want to stay close to Talca.
I want to get up early tomorrow.
It's a long trip to Constitution.
When I first met Carmen she was just a child.
A young girl from a rich family.
Her father gave her everything you could wish for in a country like this.
She was young, cultivated, intelligent.
You must know, there's not a lot of women like that.
I know.
I was a military man, just arrived in the country.
Didn't have much in common with a girl like her.
My father-in-law protested our union. You must have already heard of this.
But Carmen saw me as a representative of a more dignified society.
That awoke an enormous illusion in her.
This was meant for you.
It should have gotten earlier, but I intercepted it.
Now I fulfill my duty, and deliver it to you.
- Edward... - We've been friends for a long time.
I've always been a good friend to you.
But I'm no fool.
There's certain feelings we can't help but have.
All I ask is you don't hurt Carmen.
Gutike gave me your letter.
He didn't read it.
And you?
- Atilio. - Yes?
Grab everything and let's go.
I'm sorry, if we don't go now we might not reach the shelter.
- Are you comfortable? - Yes.
- Maybe it's best if I sleep outside. -Go ahead.
I need to be alone with my thoughts.
What you suggest in your letter implies a betrayal.
- Depends. - On what?
On where your loyalty lies.
- Don't tempt the devil, Carmen. - Since when is love a demon?
If love doesn't embellish life, it only poisons it.
Just go. I want to sleep.
Carmen, I beg of you. Don't put an abyss between us now.
I wish I had the wings of a condor.
Then I could fly far away.
And cross this bridge-less river in front of me.
There is no easy way out.
I'm no bird. I can't fly away.
But if there's one thing I can do that no bird ever will...
Is dream of it.
I beg your forgiveness but I need to rest.
Mrs. Carmen, we have a marvelous lunch prepared.
I'm sorry. I feel indisposed.
Excuse me, but you are our favorite guest.
You can't just leave without eating.
I beg of you, Drewetke, your kindness approaches rudeness.
Come in.
The way you treated Drewetke was uncalled for.
I imagine you didn't come here just to accuse me.
Why not? You accuse me each time I say something.
I hope it gives you a taste of my frustration.
Stop it, Carmen! Drop the poetry, for once!
Maybe you want something more vulgar.
This is what I was talking about. These accusations are unjust.
- The frustrations are not only yours. -Oh, no?
Believe me, I've imagined myself with you a thousand times.
I've spent eight years in this country, maybe my best years as an artist.
And now I'm about to leave forever, empty-handed!
But it's too late for that now. Our love will never...
A love full of words, Moritz!
It's like an empty house that no one can live in.
How can you say that? I've always loved you!
It didn't stop you from asking for that young girl's hand.
Only because yours was already taken! You must understand that!
I couldn't avoid your love any more than your husband's friendship.
Moritz! Your decency offends me.
- I understand your doubts... - Doubts?
I can't imagine a more hurtful word than that.
I know you love me. Or loved me.
But passion, Rugendas... That force that makes you crazy,
That makes you break everything you have, You have never felt that.
And I've blinded myself from it. Blinded by illusion.
Blinded by your light in this dark and dull society...
It's not true. Nothing you say is true. Don't make this hurt more..
I don't have to, this already hurts more than you could ever imagine.
- How can you say that? - I've wasted my best years on you too.
Alone.
Waiting every time you leave. And here I was, every time you came back.
You are the only thing that kept me alive.
Or so I've wanted to believe. But you are just a mirage.
Farther and farther away, Moritz...
What is left?
A long decay while you go off, and start a new life for yourself.
One which I've never had or never will.
You are not hungry, Moritz?
The truth is I'm only eating to avoid insulting you.
No.
The only affront would be for you to eat out of obligation.
Besides, you should be happy. You set sail tomorrow.
You were lucky to find an available ship.
Lucky?
Of course. Otherwise you would have had to wait twenty days for another ship.
By then, it would have been better to go by land.
I leave for Valparaiso tomorrow.
You'll forget me.
Ma'am says she won't come with you to the docks.
She asked that I gave you this letter.
Thank you.
My Moro,
I don't want to lose this wonderful habit,
that has become for so many years my main source of pleasure.
It refreshed my thoughts, which boredom and loneliness had almost extinguished.
My existence will always step between stormy and quiet days.
In my solitude I will feel my faint disgust with life reclaim my soul.
That same feeling of a life without a future that made me almost loathe it.
I understand there will be no happy ending to this insipid little drama.
I've spent all my life like a traveller searching for a road,
Always getting it wrong, finally collapsing to the ground,
Choosing to die there.
I was raised for a life of imagination and spirit, if I may call it that.
Will you forget me, my dear friend?
In this world filled with bright friends, all so talented and educated,
Will you forget this dark and insignificant resident of the south of Chile?
Will you forget this withered plant which you found, ignored by all,
which you restored with friendship, showing her she was worth something?
Oh Rugendas, how times and people change.
Moro...
In this desert of a life that destiny chose for me...
Had I not found your elevated and noble soul,
which understood my own spirit, energetic and noble, though decayed by a petty fate...
What might have become of me?
The sadness that sickened my soul found relief in your noble friendship.
Our friendship seems like something from heaven.
And as such we should keep it forever.
Immutably pure,
Your friend, your sister.
Carmen.