California Conquest

In the years between 1825 and 1841,

when California was a province of Mexico,

it was torn by internal strife.

Britain, France, and Russia

tried to gain a foothold in this land...

but it was the Czar of Russia who established settlements

at Fort Ross, Kuskoff, and Bodega Bay.

Czarist power on the North American continent reached its height

when Princess Helena de Gagarin, niece of the Czar of Russia,

accompanied by Russian officers,

christened a mountain in Northern California

in honor of the Empress of Russia's patron saint, Helena.

But the Czar had net considered the people of California,

who wanted freedom.

One must look at governments with the eye of a connoisseur, Juan.

A government is like good food.

Put in the right ingredients,

and you have a dish that sits well on everyone's stomach.

Si, Don Arturo.

The wrong things can make a country sick,

put in a pinch of something good here,

pinch of something else here, another pinch here...

and what have you got?

Enchiladas?

Freedom! Freedom, Juan.

A country of freedom that sits well on everyone's stomach.

And is the United States freedom the kind that sits on everyone's stomach?

The freedom of the United States

is something you will soon taste, Juan.

Already I have made many of my countrymen hungry for it.

Perhaps this very night, you will begin to cook.

What we have here should add spice to the dish.

It is a good thing no one knows what kind of spice you got there, Don Arturo--

Aye. or we might never reach the Reina de Los Angeles.

Santa Maria.

Andele! Vamanos!

Juan, quick! Your rope.

Lets pull out the bridge supports.

Now, we can ride as gentlemen should.

Who were those sons of the devil

who dare to do this to José Martinez?

Who saw their faces?

They never let us get close enough, José.

What about the rest of you?

So not only they get away from us,

but the saddlebag with the gold, too.

The gringo lovers, they will pay for this.

After the beautiful reception we will give

to Mr. John Frémont this afternoon,

we will take what that gold was going to buy.

Let's go.

Come on, you bushwhackers, get going, get 'em inside.

You want to get paid, don't you?

These crates have to be unloaded before sundown.

If that is the way American women look, Don Arturo,

maybe it is better not to have freedom.

I'm sorry, señor, I was in the back and I--

Oh, the American Star, eh?

Si, I am Don Arturo Bordega,

Very glad to see you, Don Arturo.

Is the gold safe?

Enough to buy all the guns in the stock of señor Lawrence.

If only the American government can see it our way, we will know tonight.

Any news of Frémont?

Not a word, yet, señor,

but there are other people in town.

Don Carlos de Reno, Don Herectos Abrillo,

Don Junipero, Don Fredo Brios and his brother,

The Brios brothers.

From what I know of them, we would be better off without them.

It is too bad that so many trust them, señor,

but if they--

Please, senor! Please!

My servant.

That's Ernesto Brio, sir. Mercy, señor.

Promise, I will never do it again, señor.

Mercy! Please!

Mercy, señor.

What is all this tumult?

You screech loud enough to turn my wine to vinegar.

Master, it was not my fault.

Your dog of a peon sputtered dust on me.

You see, Juan, if this were a land of progress,

you peons wouldn't always be brawling.

Peons? By the saints!

Whoa, boys, whoa. Put away that pig-sticker, señor.

Seems like every time someone pulls one of those

in this part of the country, a revolution starts.

Well, what's wrong with revolution, señorita?

They break the monotony, and California has a brand new governor.

I've heard that even this gentleman would like to be governor.

Hmm? Is that so? Seems to me if I were a young man,

I'd want a job with a future to it.

Are you an American?

Yes, any objections?

If there are, my blade have forgotten your insults, Don Arturo.

Remember that...

if you should choose to make any more.

At the right time, I shall be most delighted to lose my memory.

Aren't swords a little old-fashioned, señor?

Tradition dies hard.

I wonder if we Americans will ever understand your people.

You don't have to. It's more important that we understand you.

Perhaps, we shall have a good beginning at the ball tonight?

Adiós, señorta.

Everything all right, all right, Julie?

Sure, pop. Plates are all intact, nothing broken.

If this territory keeps on building,

we're going to have to enlarge that factory. That's sure.

Build a better gun, there'll always be somebody who wants to shoot it off.

Eh, long as there ain't no ruckus, nobody get hurt.

Hey, when you gonna start to gettin' ready for that shindig tonight?

Pop, you know how I feel about getting all dressed up like a Calvary horse.

Oh, you'll wear your best dress.

You know I always say, "when you do something, do it right."

You'll never get a husband wearing them things.

What's the matter? Don't I do a good job around here?

What do I need a husband for?

Now, you're old enough to know the answer to that yourself.

You wear that dress.

Hey, pop, there's something funny going on here.

I mean, this isn't just a ball tonight, is it?

There's something more important.

You might as well know:

Captain John Frémont's going to be there.

John Frémont? The American explorer?

Been a kind of a secret.

Things're popping, Julia.

Oh, what did he want here?

I don't know, all I know is a couple of weeks ago,

Don Esteban Mirana asked me if I'd like to see California join the Union,

and when I said, "sure,"

he just kind of smiled, went on about his business.

There's something in the wind.

Hey, I've got to wait late at the shop tonight,

and you're going to be at the ball,

and you'll be dancing.

Maybe you could do some listening, too.

Hmm?

It's a big country, Don Esteban.

A beautiful country. A country ripe for progress, Captain Frémont.

And am I supposed to represent progress?

You are an explorer, and an American.

Neither one has ever entered a new land to...

take anything away,

just to bring something.

Why not let the people of California choose their own form of government?

Technically, we are part of Mexico.

The seat of the Mexican government

is over 2,500 miles away from us,

and besides, Mexico has her own troubles.

So we are left to shift for ourselves,

practically independent territory.

So, how to choose?

Elections such as yours?

The peónes know nothing of government, sir,

and care less.

José! The coach is coming.

That's the one.

And remember, no one gets away alive.

They're going to be disappointed in any valuables they find on me.

Perhaps it is yourself that is so valuable to them, capfián.

It is a hard country in which to keep a secret.

Perhaps you--

Don Esteban!

There will be no guest of honor at the meeting, tonight.

It gets late.

You suppose the guest of honor has been detained?

Unavoidably detained.

You will make a handsome governor,

and I will have a brother in high office.

Ah, well.

The father is Sam Lawrence.

So... an interesting development.

Stay away from her, Fredo.

We can afford no complications.

You had best watch your own complications, Ernesto.

Don Arturo Bordega is as good a swordsman as you.

Señorita Lawrence?

Yes? I am Don Fredo Brios.

How do you do?

The music is inviting.

If you would do me the honor, señorita?

Thank you, I don't feel like dancing.

But they say that music is exhilarating and refreshing

as a good glass of cool water.

Hmm, it depends on how thirsty you are.

You have much to learn, señor

One never offers a beautiful woman water,

when what she really wants is wine.

Will you forgive my dear for taking so long to bring your wine?

You looking for another duel?

When a man meets a pretty girl,

it's automatically a duel.

Do you know who that was?

Not your husband, I hope.

No.

Don Fredo Brios.

The brother of the man who wanted to stick a sword in you this afternoon.

Then I'm glad he's not your husband.